Ten scaleup businesses from across the North West have been shortlisted from nearly 400 applications to pitch their businesses to a panel of industry experts in the search for the UK’s next big tech disruptor.
KPMG’s annual competition which showcases tech innovators from eight regions across the UK has been running since 2013, and uncovered outstanding tech from businesses including What3Words, Inovus Medical and HiiROC who went on to win the global final during Web Summit in 2022.
The businesses from the North West have been selected to pitch against each other to find one innovator who will represent the region at the UK finals in London in July.
Today these startups will pitch, with one crowned KPMG’s North West regional Tech Innovator in the UK winner: ABS (Morecombe), Drill Surgeries (Liverpool), LiNa Energy (Lancaster), Graphene Innovations Manchester, Rezzil (Manchester), Nanoplexus (Manchester), UrbanChain (Manchester), Zally (Manchester), Lemon (Manchester) and Grafmarine (Altrincham).
Chris Stott, office senior partner for KPMG in Manchester, said: “Our shortlisted businesses represent some of the best tech innovation in the country and it’s great to see these 10 fantastic local businesses in the running.
“They will be competing to represent our region in the UK final, so I wish them the best of luck in going all the way, hopefully following in the footsteps of St Helens-based Inovus Medical, who won last year’s national competition.
“The UK technology sector attracts investment from across the world and we have some incredible businesses right here on our doorstep who could be the next tech titan. Our aim with this competition is to uncover these businesses and shine a light on their technologies and how they are disrupting the market.
“We are looking forward to seeing the pitches from those shortlisted and meeting the founders who are hoping to be crowned as KPMG’s next Tech Innovator in the UK winner.”
Mark Lyons, investment director at Puma Private Equity, said: “I am very much looking forward to hearing the stories of the ten businesses that have made it to the shortlist and excited to meet the founders and their teams.
“Our winner needs to be able to tell the story of their business in a passionate way, but most importantly, they need to demonstrate how their technology is solving a problem and has the potential to grow into a successful business.”
The winners of each regional stage will then go on to the national final to be held in London in July. The overall winner will then go on to represent the UK at the global final, which takes place alongside Web Summit later in the year – where a panel of global judges will crown the 2024 KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator.
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