Bolton-based Near-Life is using cutting-edge artificial intelligence to transform interactive learning – and external support is helping them get there faster.
Funding from Greater Manchester eco-system
Turnover increase forecast
Increase in customers forecast
Ed-tech firm Near-Life is on a mission to make digital learning content more interactive, immersive and effective. “Humans forget almost three-quarters of new information within 24 hours,” says Mike Todd, Founder and CEO. “We’re here to improve learning outcomes by helping people to create immersive content that their audiences will actually remember.”
And with GM Business Growth Hub’s support, the company’s latest innovation – intelligent virtual characters – is helping to double its customer base and drive the next phase of growth. “The Innovation Service gave us the backing we needed to move quickly,” says Mike. “It’s helped us improve the product, enhance the user experience, and reach new clients with confidence.”
The moment that sparked a big idea
The idea for Near-Life began after Mike had returned from working with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo as part of the international effort to support economic redevelopment following the war there. Thanks to his experience, he was invited to become part of the Government’s ‘Stabilisation Unit’ that could be deployed at short notice to assist with the UK’s overseas aid efforts.
“In order to be sent ‘on mission’, you had to complete security training known as Hostile Environment Awareness Training, or HEAT,” he explains. “This was held at an army base and had a number of different immersive simulations, from landmine explosions to hostage situations. What struck me was how expensive and difficult it must be to give that kind of experience to large numbers of people. And it got me thinking: could you recreate something as interactive and effective using a game-like simulation?"
Over several years, Near-Life refined their approach, validated it through real-world projects, and gradually evolved from producing content to creating tools that empower others to build their own scenario-based learning experiences, bringing on board clients including the NHS, ASDA, St John Ambulance, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
With the market evolving quickly, Mike and his team began exploring how artificial intelligence could take their platform to the next level.
From prototype to market-ready product
Near-Life spotted the opportunity to add customisable virtual characters to training content, but turning this idea into reality meant bringing in capacity and expertise that wasn’t available in-house. They turned to GM Business Growth Hub for support.
“The idea was to make it easier for anyone, not just developers, to design high-quality, personalised learning experiences without writing a single line of code,” says Mike. “We knew this new feature would appeal to a broadening user base, as well as deepen relationships with existing clients. It would also be a key step in Near-Life’s evolution from content producer to software-as-a-service provider.”
Through our Innovation Service, the business secured a £12,000 grant covering the cost of a collaborative project with external software specialists to develop AI-powered characters that bring interactive training content to life. Working closely with the team, they helped Near-Life prototype the new feature, integrate it with the existing platform, and prepare it for real-world testing.
The business is now forecasting a 100% increase customer numbers and 84% rise in turnover from £190,000 to £350,000, in the next financial year (April 2025 to March 2026).
Mike says: “GM Business Growth Hub’s support allowed us to move fast and position ourselves at the forefront of content creation and instructional design. The project was completed in a short timeframe, meaning we could showcase the new functionality at a major international conference; this was a crucial opportunity to build momentum and engage potential global clients. We’ve also been able to plan for growth, building up our sales efforts and making sure we can support new customers as they come on board.”
This latest phase of growth builds on previous support from Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem. An Innovate UK grant of £62,000 awarded in 2022 helped Near-Life develop its platform and double both its reach and revenue. More recently, the company also secured £30,000 through the Create Growth Programme, strengthening its capacity to scale.
If you’re a business with an innovative product or service and the ambition to scale, the help is here in Greater Manchester. Contact our team today to see how we can take your ideas to the next level. Call us on 0161 359 3050 or email bgh@growthco.uk.
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