London showcase highlights region’s upcoming talent
Leading investors and entrepreneurs recently gathered at Microsoft’s London offices to discover the South West’s most promising startups.
Companies from across the region showcased their talent before London’s investment community at an event organised by Tech South West.
It brought together 50 investors, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to highlight the area’s cutting-edge innovation.
Organisers say the event made it clear that the region is rapidly emerging as a major force in UK tech, moving beyond its reputation as the country’s ‘best-kept secret’ for innovation.
‘The showcase captured the incredible depth and quality of innovation happening across our region,’ says Ben Cooper, Funding and Support Director at Tech South West.
‘Seeing twelve outstanding startups pitch to such a high-calibre audience of London-based investors shows that the South West has truly arrived as a major player in the UK’s tech landscape.’
‘The energy and enthusiasm in the room was palpable – these are exactly the kind of connections and conversations that will fuel the next wave of growth for our tech ecosystem.’
‘We’re committed to continuing to bridge that gap between our exceptional founders, and the investment community they need to scale.’
Image provided by Tech South West
Combining the most promising start-ups with heavyweight national investors
The event featured keynote remarks from Steve Race MP. He’s a member of the Science, Innovation & Technology Committee. Delegates watched panel discussions on market conditions and extensive networking opportunities.
‘The South West Innovation Showcase was a fantastic opportunity to bring some of the most promising start-ups from across the region together with heavyweight and national investors,’ says Steve Race MP.
‘I was delighted to say a few words about how the South West is home to a thriving start-up and scale-up economy because we have all the right ingredients – the foundational institutions that attract and retain talent, a growing ecosystem of organisations that are bringing clusters together, and a track record of success.’
‘Now is the time for investors to double down on our innovation, and help to create the businesses of the future right here.’
‘Thanks to Tech South West and Microsoft, facilitated through the partnership with Met Office, for showing confidence in our innovation and for hosting this showcase.’
Twelve companies took to the stage during the ‘Pitch Up’ session which allowed them to deliver compelling presentations to a room packed with potential investors.
The startups represented the cutting edge of South West innovation, spanning AI and deep-tech to sustainable solutions.
Local founders in the room included Additive.earth, Blue Abyss, Latent Drive, Drift Energy, Circular11, FerryX, Eden Geothermal, CirculAIRity, Wase, FlouretiQ, AnyWaste.com, and Dimension Biotechnologies.
Image provided by Tech South West
Valuable insights
Attendees at the showcase received copies of Tech South West’s newly released Q1 South West Investment Report, a comprehensive analysis of funding activity across the region’s tech sector.
The report highlights key trends and sector performance, offering valuable insights for both investors and entrepreneurs looking to understand the current landscape, and opportunities within the South West’s growing tech ecosystem.
The event was supported by Tech South West’s Funding & Finance Partners Howden, British Business Bank, RWK Goodman, Angel Investors Bristol, Kene, and Innovate UK.
Breaktime News recently highlighted the success of the Tech South West Awards.
