Tech South West

We're getting to know the neighbours at the Agritech South West Showcase today at Westpoint, Exeter. Aside from admiring Satellite Applications Catapult's branded merch, we've been discussing our work together on the #GrowthForge accelerator and how we're committed to delivering high-impact business support for tech founders across the South West. Satellite Catapult is supporting the delivery of the #CleanTech Track of our Growth Forge programme, joining the ranks of such brilliant partners as Plymouth and South Devon Freeport, Future Space - Bristol, Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants, Ashfords LLP, Microsoft, Program | B Corp™, British Business Bank, Howden, the new name for Aston Lark and more. Check out the full programme - and the leading organisations we're working with - at https://lnkd.in/d54BdSV6 Here's to the journey ahead 🚀 #TechFromTheCuttingEdge Daniel White Chris Dyson Joel Freedman Richard Beedell Laura Bond Eifion Jones Professor Matt Freeman

Meet our Growth Forge Coaches for 2025 🚀 A powerhouse lineup of experts to help you scale, pitch, lead and grow:  🔹 Paul Adams – Supporting tech-for-good entrepreneurs 🔹 Gideon Barker – Customer insights and data storytelling 🔹 Martin Barnes – Pitch coach and presentation expert 🔹 James Cater – Growth strategist with global tech experience 🔹 Siobhan Lavelle – Brand, reputation and comms advisor 🔹 Rhona Munro MSc – Scale-up and leadership specialist 🔹 Lucy P. – Community builder and startup connector 🔹 Anthony Story – Strategy, branding and innovation advisor 🔹 Jason Waterman – Team, culture and operations expert We’re excited to have this brilliant group on board for Growth Forge 2025. It’s not too late to apply, there’s still time to join: https://lnkd.in/d54BdSV6 #GrowthForge2025 #TechSouthWest #StartupSupport #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Pitching #Innovation #Scaleup Brett Lambe David Varney Pippa Clarke Jamie Pelmear Eifion Jones Claire Doyle MCIPR Professor Matt Freeman Ian MacIver Rupert Clerey Sarah Fasey Tom Kennard Joel Freedman Dan Pritchard

I am exhausted! 😴 It was such a great pleasure to compere the Tech South West Investment Summit this afternoon, at the beautiful Armada House. We crammed so much in those 5 hours - and the time raced by! We heard Adam Kelly of British Business Bank deliver the key note address, focusing on the great work the Bank does to distribute government investment through various channels and levers. Nikhita Govekar of Beauhurst followed up with an overview of the investment climate in the UK and South West, with a focus on the Summit’s focus - Deeptech. We then had reverse pitches from Chris Oliver of Oxford Innovation Finance, Melanie Goward of Maven Capital Partners, Angel investor and cyber expert Richard Yorke, Matthew Hicks of Fortescue Capital, Harry Alexander of QantX and Catherine Fletcher of SCVC. Followed by a highly informative and entertaining panel, hosted by the indupetedly amazing Edward Tellwright of BBB. After a short breather to grab a coffee top up, we followed up with Lauren Crawley-Moore of the London Stock Exchange. Lauren brought us up to date with developments on the LSE’s new secondary market for unlisted securities, PISCES. A major development that could create liquidity in a currently closed market. Professor Matt Freeman finished the speaker slots with a round up of the great work going on at Future Space - Bristol and University of the West of England to support early stage and scaling Deeptech businesses. I really enjoyed hosting the IP Panel. Intellectual property is such a key element for most Deeptech companies; and so it felt right to dedicate a panel to the creation of, the funding of, the protection of, the valuation of, and the asset class that is IP. We received great insight from Ben Masheder of Innovate UK Business Growth, Charlotte Ebbutt of RWK Goodman, Nathan Hulcoop of Kene | B Corp™, Ian MacIver of Howden, the new name for Aston Lark and Thomas Gigg of Inngot. Finally, we were treated to pitches from three South West based Deeptech businesses - Circular11, Zentraxa and Neuronostics. Connor Winter, Kevin Cox and John Terry smashed it! The whole event showcased the importance the Deeptech sector to the South West, and the breadth of Deeptech Innovation going on outside of the Golden Triangle. I’m deeply proud of the region’s tech sector. Next stop London for the TSW London Showcase in May, to shine the spotlight on South West based tech companies. Can’t wait!

And that's a wrap at the South West Investment Summit 2025! To the 150+ delegates who joined us today - for the deeptech discussions on #AI, #Cyber, #Quantum, #MedTech, #BioTech and #Robotics, plus the engaging panels and live pitching - thanks for making it such a vibrant and insightful event. Special thanks to our brilliant keynote Adam Kelly from British Business Investments and to our exceptional speakers: - Ben Cooper from Angel Investors Bristol - Nikhita Govekar from Beauhurst - Lauren Crawley-Moore from London Stock Exchange - Professor Matt Freeman from Future Space - Bristol And to our expert panelists who shared their knowledge and experience around investment: - Chris Oliver from Oxford Innovation Finance - Melanie Goward from Maven Capital Partners - Cyber investor Richard Yorke - Matthew Hicks from Fortescue - Harry Alexander from QantX - Catherine Fletcher from SCVC And around IP - the creation of, funding, protecting, valuing and treating as an asset class: Ben Masheder, Charlotte Ebbutt, Ian MacIver, Nathan Hulcoop and Thomas Gigg of Inngot. And finally thank you - and well done! - to our awesome pitchers: - Connor Winter of Circular11 - Kevin Cox of Zentraxa - John Terry of Neuronostics Martin Barnes himself would have been proud of the quality of pitches on display. None of this would have been possible without our brilliant partners and supporters: British Business Bank, Access to Finance SW, Angel Investors Bristol, RWK Goodman, Kene | B Corp™ and Howden, the new name for Aston Lark. Your commitment to fostering innovation and investment in our region is truly appreciated. Missed today's event? Don't worry - tickets are already available for the next SW Investment Summit, taking place in Exeter on 15 October: https://lnkd.in/dEMKahqA We're already looking forward to building on today's momentum! #SouthWestInvestment #TechSouthWest #DeepTech #UKTechWeek2025 #InvestmentSummit2025 #Bristol #FinancialFuture

Our Funding Director Ben Cooper is sharing his insight at an investor-only session this morning hosted by the Investment teams at Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect. Alongside other brilliant minds including Melanie Goward of Maven Capital Partners, Harry Alexander of QantX and Sara Palmer of Innovate UK, Ben is discussing current challenges in the South West investment landscape, founder diversity and the obstacles to scaling a tech business in the region. The session takes place ahead of our own SW Investment Summit, which sees 150 delegates come together to discuss the investment landscape in deeptech. Huge thanks to Sara Palmer and team for pulling this morning's excellent event together. #TechInvestment #Funding #Insight #ScaleUps

We’re just one week away from the first Growth Day of Growth Forge 2025, taking place on Wednesday 26th March at Future Space - Bristol. Expect workshops, partner sessions, 1-1 mentoring and a room full of ambitious founders ready to grow their tech businesses. The accelerator programme is backed by Barclays Eagle Labs and supported by partners including Microsoft, Ashfords LLP, Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants and more. It’s not too late to apply,  there’s still time to join the Growth Forge 2025 cohort: 👉https://lnkd.in/d54BdSV6 #GrowthForge2025 #TechSouthWest #AI #TechFounders #StartupSupport #BusinessGrowth Brett Lambe David Varney Pippa Clarke Jamie Pelmear Eifion Jones Claire Doyle MCIPR Professor Matt Freeman Ian MacIver Rupert Clerey Sarah Fasey Tom Kennard Joel Freedman Dan Pritchard

It’s been a busy start to a busy week! 😅 #uktechweek25 kicked off with Mayoral Hustings, with three of the four West of England Mayoral Combined Authority candidates presenting their cases for election, with questioning from Startup Coalition’s Vinous Ali putting Oli Henman (Lib Dem), Helen Godwin (Labour) and Mary Page (Green) through their paces. A difficult one for them as I sense they are focussed more on “polling” items like education, housing and transport. Whoever wins what I sense will be a close, low turnout election (as people aren’t engaged with the Metro Mayor), we need to understand how, as a tech community, we can feed into their packed objectives and challenges, aligning their policies to the tech community’s needs. A mention for conservative candidate Steve Smith who was unable to attend due to prior commitments - but sent a video message. In the afternoon it was the official launch of UK Tech Week 2025 - with Stuart Clarke MBE kicking off proceedings. Some interesting discussions were had and a panel hosted by Rosie Bennett, featuring Dan Pritchard of Tech South West, Michaela Eschbach of Cambridge Wireless Ltd, Phil Benson of UKBlackTech and Deb Hetherington of Leeds Digital. Suffice to say - a lot to be learned from closer connections and collaboration across the UK’s tech community! Today it’s Houses of Parliament for the Great South West’s Investment event! 😅

🔔 Stay in the loop with the latest South West tech news and events! Sign up for our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dqs7Zybz  Here’s what’s happening this month:  🔔 South West Tech News & Events – March Update 📢 Invest 2035: The SW Perspective Tech South West contributed to the Government’s Invest 2035 strategy, ensuring the region’s voice is heard. Early insights from 27,000+ responses highlight key challenges like skills gaps, finance, and infrastructure. Read more: https://bit.ly/3xyz123 🏛 Great South West Secures Government Backing The Government reaffirmed support for The Great South West Partnership, recognising its role in securing investment and policy for the region. Tech South West is committed to driving positive change. Read more: https://bit.ly/3xyz123 💰 Growth Forge Firm Secures £375k Investment HCI, a Tech South West Growth Forge alum, secured £375k from the British Business Bank South West South West Investment Fund—a big win for regional healthtech innovation. https://bit.ly/3xyz123 🌊 South West Joins €10M Tidal Energy Project Falmouth-based Inyanga Marine Energy Group Marine is key to SHINES, a €10M international project advancing tidal and river energy solutions. Another milestone for clean energy leadership. https://bit.ly/3xyz123 🌍 Exeter Climate Forum Announced The Met Office & University of Exeter launch a major climate science event in July, shaping discussions on carbon cycles, energy transitions, and adaptation. More: https://bit.ly/3xyz123 🤖 AI Meetup | 26 March BridgeAI Meetup in Bristol explores how teams can integrate AI into products to boost user value and revenue. Sign up: https://bit.ly/3xyz123 🚀 Free Hiring Session for Founders | 20 March Early hires can make or break a startup. Join ISL Talent’s free session on building a high-impact team—includes expert insights + a 1:1 consultation. Register: https://bit.ly/3xyz123 📧 Stay updated—subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dqs7Zybz #TechNews #Innovation #SouthWestTech #AI #CleanEnergy #Climate #Funding #Startups #TidalEnergy #Growth

Last call for tickets with only one day to go! With a Deeptech focus, you'll take part in discussions around AI, Cyber, Quantum, MedTech, BioTech and Robotics; learn about raising investment as a Deeptech business; hear about the importance of IP and how you can leverage IP to raise funding and enhance investment opportunities, all with insight from industry-leading speakers and expert panelists. Grab the last couple of tickets and join us at Armada House, Bristol: https://lnkd.in/d_8HTaJg #SWInvestmentSummit #TechEvents #TechFinance Rupert Clerey Scott Preece Edward Tellwright Ben Cooper Richard Beedell Adam Kene Nathan Hulcoop Professor Matt Freeman Lauren Crawley-Moore Ian MacIver Laura Bond Joe Bevan

Did you need more evidence that the South West is leading in the #cleantech and #sustainability sectors? A Plymouth-based tech firm has become the first in the UK to successfully produce EV battery cells from recycled materials 👇 #TechFromTheCuttingEdge Paul Bird Kris Sum Niki Davies Lizzie Tottle 💚🅱 Anthony Story Ben Cooper Dan Pritchard