Eight exciting tech startups representing regions from across the UK have been selected for a head-to-head pitching competition in the final of KPMG’s search for the next national Tech Innovator.
Eighty businesses were shortlisted from nearly 400 entries to the competition, representing the most impressive entries from eight different UK regions. They were then invited to pitch in regional heats to find a winner that would go on to represent their region in the UK final.
The eight regional finalists, selected by a panel of industry experts, will now head to the national final to be held on 23rd July in London to find the UK’s ultimate Tech Innovator. The UK winner will progress to the Global Tech Innovator final at Web Summit 2024, where they will compete on the global stage.
Commenting on the competition, Nicole Lowe, UK head of KPMG’s Emerging Giants practice, said:
“This competition never fails to impress with the pure level and diversity of innovation coming out of the UK. Our regional tech ecosystems are home to some great talent and innovation and play such a key role in our local and national economies. We are delighted to be able to shine a spotlight on just some of the great tech being developed.
“Our finalists are fantastic examples of the diversity of the UK’s tech sector, which continues to attract global investment and flies the flag for British tech. Given the amazing quality of our finalists and the teams that sit behind them, our judges will have a very tough task next month finding just one UK winner”.
The eight UK finalists bidding for the title on the 23 of July are:
• Cellexcel – East of England winner
• Spinview UK – London winner
• Halocycle – North East winner
• Graphene Innovations – Manchester North West winner
• OGI Bio – Scotland winner
• Infinitopes – South Central winner
• Glaia – South West and Wales winner
• NetZeroNitrogen – Midlands
Commenting on being selected as one of the eight UK finalists Alex McVey, CEO and co-founder of Edinburgh based, OGI Bio, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that OGI Bio won the Scotland heat of Tech Innovator in the UK. There is a fantastic wealth of innovation happening right now in Scotland and that was reflected in the other companies we were up against, so it’s a real honour that the judges selected us. I’m really looking forward to the UK heat in London, where it will be a great opportunity to showcase OGI Bio on a national stage.”
Dr Henrietta Boyd, CEO and co-founder of Halocycle who will represent the North East said:
“Halocycle were delighted to win the regional heat and be selected from a strong field of applicants to represent the Yorkshire & the Humber and North East regions in KPMG’s Tech Innovator in the UK final. The competition is a celebration of entrepreneurship and technology advances that have the potential to leave a positive and lasting impact on the world. We are looking forward to participating in the final, showcasing our plastic recycling technology and building relationships with people we meet on this journey. Thank you, KPMG, for the opportunity.”
The nationwide competition, which is celebrating its 11th year, has uncovered British tech innovators including What3Words, Inovus Medical and 2022 winner HiiROC who went on to win the global final during Web Summit. Having shone a light on a host of tech success stories from across the country, the competition is also now in its fourth year of going global and has expanded to include technology innovators competing across over 23 countries representing major regions of the world.
The final of the UK Tech Innovator on 23rd July is open to the public to watch virtually, who are also able to vote for their winner.
Paid partnership with KPMG UK.