Beren Kayali, an Innovation Design Engineering alumna, received a Purple Plaque from Innovate UK for winning the Women in Innovation award.

The plaque was installed in front of the Dyson School of Design Engineering Building’s boardroom UK on 1 August 2024, providing a lasting tribute to her achievements. This accolade recognises Beren’s role in co-founding Deploy Tech with Paul Meindieta, a startup dedicated to transforming water management.

Celebrating Achievement; Beren Kayali

Imperial opened my eyes to the world, I got obsessed with sustainability, learned about business mindset and got the best education in engineering and science. Beren Kayali Innovation Design Engineering'21, Co-founder of Deploy Tech

Beren’s journey in STEM began in high school when she got involved in a robotics club. "I noticed I am quite hands-on; I love solving problems with practical skills using STEM," Beren recalls. She pursued a mechanical engineering degree in Turkiye and completed numerous internships to explore different career paths. Her passion for combining engineering with design led her to apply for the Innovation Design Engineering (MA/MSc) programme at Dyson School of Design Engineering. "I felt like it was a programme created specifically for me, combining engineering and design, science and art," she says. During her final semester, COVID-19 hit, and Beren took a leave of absence. During this time, she began helping Paul, the co-founder of Deploy Tech, with the project that would become their startup. By the time she graduated, they had a solid plan to make Deploy Tech a reality.

Throughout her journey at Imperial, Beren has benefitted from the support of Imperial’s Enterprise Lab, which offers vital resources and mentoring to help students and alumni develop their entrepreneurial ventures. Her participation in Imperial’s climate innovation accelerator programme, The Greenhouse, run by Undaunted, further highlights her dedication to addressing environmental challenges through innovative solutions. Beren has also been recognised with accolades such as being named in the "30 Under 30" list and receiving the Venture Catalyst Challenge Social Impact Prize. 

The Purple Plaque celebrates her innovative efforts and aims to inspire women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

Bridging the Representation Gap; The Purple Plaque Initiative

“Beren’s creativity and determination have the potential to transform access to water worldwide. As CTO of Deploy, she’s expanded her mission from clean drinking water to solutions for farming, irrigation, and beyond. Her passion for change is truly inspiring” – Mary Ryan Mary Ryan Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise at Imperial College London

The UK is home to thousands of blue plaques, with 900 in London alone, honouring pioneering historic figures. Yet, fewer than one in seven of these blue plaques feature women, revealing a significant lack of female role models across media, business, and education.

In response to this disparity, Innovate UK launched the Purple Plaques campaign in 2019. This initiative aims to recognise the achievements of Women in Innovation Award winners. These awards include a £50,000 cash prize and bespoke mentoring to help winners scale up and bring their pioneering business ideas to market.

Beren Kayali’s recent recognition with a Purple Plaque underscores the campaign’s mission. As a recipient of the Women in Innovation Award, Beren exemplifies the kind of innovative spirit and leadership that the initiative seeks to highlight and promote. The plaque, now permanently installed at the Dyson Building, stands as a lasting symbol of inspiration for current and future students, encouraging them to pursue their own ambitious goals.

Innovating Water Management; Deploy Tech

Beren Kayali, and Paul Meindieta, co-founders of Deploy Tech, are making significant strides in the water management sector. Deploy Tech focuses on the implementation of innovative water storage solutions that are crucial for addressing climate change challenges. Their technology is particularly valuable in sectors such as drinking water, agriculture, and fire mitigation.

Deploy Tech has developed the first-ever air-deployed, ready-to-use water tank, made with concrete-filled fabric for durability and reliability. This product offers a more sustainable and affordable alternative to conventional concrete tanks, and its design ensures easy transportation and maintenance.

Since its incorporation in June 2020, Deploy Tech has raised over £1 million and received backing from several institutions, including the Welsh government. The company has also won numerous competitions, such as the Santander X Entrepreneurship Awards, further validating its innovative approach to water management.

Through her innovative work with Deploy Tech and her recognition by Innovate UK, Beren Kayali exemplifies the impactful role of women in STEM, inspiring the next generation to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship.