UCL entrepreneur selected by Morgan Stanley for prestigious accelerator programme

MyARC is a platform that enables fitness creators to train their fans at scale. Since its formation in 2021, the company has gone from strength to strength, attracting awards and investment including from Techstars.

Now MyARC has caught the attention of global financial giant Morgan Stanley, having been selected to take part in its prestigious EMEA Inclusive Ventures Lab. As part of the latest cohort, Peter also featured in an article on Sifted, the leading media brand for the European startup community (backed by the Financial Times).

Peter commented: “From being rejected by Morgan Stanley for a graduate programme, to having them invest in my business is what happens when you just keep going. The odds aren't in favour of people like me, without a network and from underrepresented backgrounds. I hope my journey can inspire other founders to realise that even with limited resources, you can create a path, overcome setbacks and make your mark.”

Dr Kathryn Walsh, Executive Director, UCL Innovation & Enterprise, commented: “Peter’s journey is truly inspiring. I’m pleased that we were able to provide support to ensure that Peter’s ideas could flourish and we wish him every success in the future with MyARC.”

A safe space to learn 

Peter completed his MSc in Management Science at UCL’s School of Management in 2019. In the same year he came up with his first business idea – using artificial intelligence (AI) to track exercise form from any regular mobile phone camera.

“Studying Management Science taught me to think more critically and there were some courses such as design thinking that lots of founders including myself still use to this day. Our course was quite unique, since every 6 weeks or so we’d have something called ‘scenario week’ which made me very comfortable pitching and presenting to a room full of people,” he says.

He received support through the Hatchery startup incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub, run by UCL Innovation & Enterprise. Here he had access to tailored advice, mentors and equity-free office space.

Peter reflects: “I joined Hatchery with another idea and concept which ultimately led to MyARC. The Hatchery created a safe space to learn and not be afraid to fail; it was the first group of people who believed in me as a founder.”

Making personalised fitness accessible 

MyARC was born out of Peter’s personal struggles with his physical and mental health.
“Fitness saved my life and if I can make personalised fitness accessible, reaching the masses through creators, then I can help save and empower countless lives too,” he comments.

MyARC has already enabled fitness creators to go from earning a minimum wage to six-figure incomes. Consumers are also thriving on MyARC, Peter notes. The platform has transformed the lives of thousands of users worldwide, from people overcoming obesity to those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. 

MyARC was recently named as the best Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) company in the UK for this year’s Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA). This saw Peter travel to the House of Lords to accept the award.

Links

Find out more about:

• MyARC
• Entrepreneurship support for students and recent graduates
• UCL Hatchery incubator programme

Photo © Morgan Stanley