Derry startup SeeMe Limited selected as WE Innovate finalist

SeeMe Limited, a Derry-based tech startup that helps people preserve their most meaningful memories through an AI-powered personal archive platform, has been named as a finalist in the prestigious WE Innovate 2025 programme taking place in London tonight (Thursday, 5 June).

Pictured is Mary Blake, founder of SeeMe™ Limited. Based in Derry City, Northern Ireland, SeeMe™ Limited has been selected as a finalist in the WE Innovate programme organised by the Imperial Enterprise Lab at Imperial College London and Queen’s University Belfast.

The NW venture is among ten female-led UK startups to reach the final stage of the six-month programme, created in 2014 by Imperial College London to address the stark underrepresentation of women founders.

Each year, WE Innovate supports 25 women founders through a series of masterclasses, coaching, and mentoring. The top five teams will compete for a chance to win a share of a £30,000 prize fund at tonight’s Grand Final which is being held at Imperial. This year’s final is the first to be held in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, following the launch of Queen’s own WE Innovate initiative earlier this year in partnership with Imperial Enterprise Lab.

Founder of SeeMe™ is Mary Blake, a Queen’s alum and former Head of Tourism with Derry City & Strabane District Council. She has also worked in the education sector and as marketing manager with National Museums NI.

Speaking ahead of the final, Mary, said the idea for SeeMe™ was sparked while clearing her late Godfather Vincent’s home and uncovering letters, photos, and diaries spanning generations. “This business is very personal for me. It’s about memory, meaning, and legacy. In an age of image overload and digital clutter, I realised we’re at risk of becoming a lost generation. I wanted to celebrate the authentic human story.  I have a background of working in museum education and understand the importance of archives. I felt so strongly about all the memories we are losing through mass image dumps, and that we are failing to capture any meaningful back story, that I was naturally driven to create the platform,” she said.

“SeeMe™ means people can add memories and magic to their images and share securely and meaningfully, now and for the future. We won’t sell users’ data and our innovative tools support users to ‘curate the best and delete the rest’ as they build their own story of a lifetime. Our users can bring images to life with history and heart.”

Developed in partnership with a wider team, including developers, designers, and legal and cyber experts, the platform has already achieved Silver Level Innovation status from Innovate NI. Other organisations who have recognised the potential of SeeMe™ and supported the company to date include Invest NI, The Royal Academy of Engineering, AwakenHub, TechStart, The AI Collaboration Centre, the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund and Innovate UK.

Speaking about the platform’s global potential, Mary added: “Since launching, WE Innovate has supported over 500 women who have raised more than £40m for their ventures as a direct result of the programme. That’s incredibly inspiring. Being shortlisted for the WE Innovate final is a real stamp of endorsement for our level of originality and credibility and highlights the global potential for SeeMe™. We have been led by customer discovery and have engaged with many potential partners. Our solution is unmatched and we’re looking forward to bringing it to market.”

Mary, who has recently returned from a successful US trade mission with AwakenHub, also hopes to inspire other women founders to follow their entrepreneurial instincts. She said: “No matter what happens tonight, we are all already winners. The mentoring from Queen’s, Imperial College, and Venture Folk has been phenomenal. What’s also been truly incredible has been the support and genuine sense of community provided by being part of such an ambitious and talented group of women founders. I know we’re going to support each other all the way and see great things from everyone who took part in the programme. I’d like to urge other women founders to make the most of opportunities like this.”

Joining Mary and the team at the final in London will be four other companies from Northern Ireland who have made it through to the final of the QUB WE Innovate programme. They include: Innovascope; Iaso Solutions; Routine Roo and Dainty Grace.

The winners of the 2025 WE Innovate competition will be announced at an event in The City & Guilds Building, Imperial College London on the evening of Thursday, 5 June.

Wriiten by Lisa McElroy. E: Lisa@theprangel.com contact for further information