Farming robots, ‘Google Maps for boats’ and artificial coral reef cubes are amongst the
technologies celebrated in the first ever Tech South West Ones to Watch company
showcase in 2023.
Selected from a longlist of nominations submitted by tech hubs, clusters and science parks
across the South West, the Ones to Watch project showcases 22 of the tech sector’s most
exciting high potential companies and includes organisations hailing from across the region –
including Truro, Salisbury, Bristol, Plymouth, Totnes, Dorset and beyond.
Companies in the programme will have access to bespoke business support from Tech
South West ScaleUp Studio on key topics such as finance, marketing, investor readiness,
risk management, and talent delivered by Growth Partners Microsoft, King Recruit, Skowt
Consulting, Program, British Business Bank and Bishop Fleming. Tech South West director and Funding and Support Lead, Ben Cooper, said: ”Each of the Ones to Watch receive a package of support and benefits, including a 360 assessment to help identify areas where the businesses may require additional support from our Growth Partners.
“The scaleups will also attend two packed Growth Days full of workshops, 1-1 sessions and
roundtables in March and June, gaining expert insight to support their growth journeys.”
The Ones to Watch list includes Plymouth-based software development firm CoreBlue,
which was founded in 2016 and now employs nearly 30 people, with clients across the
globe.
Lewis Boyles-White, CEO of CoreBlue, said: “It’s been great to witness the South West
evolve into this thriving hub of innovation which is home to so many incredible tech
businesses. For Tech South West to select CoreBlue as one of their prestigious ScaleUps
To Watch 2023 is an absolute honour.”
Totnes-based fan engagement platform Filmily, Dorset online marketplace OnBuy and
Torbay’s Bay Photonics are also involved in the programme.
Steve Conibear, UK Network Director, South and East of England at the British Business
Bank, a Growth Partner for the programme, said: “The British Business Bank is delighted to
partner with Tech South West Scaleup Studio in supporting fast growing tech businesses
across the region.
“Partnerships such as this are crucial to the Bank’s objective of encouraging and enabling
businesses to access the finance best suited to their needs. The learning and networking
opportunities tech businesses across the region can access from Tech South West Scaleup
Studio will no doubt help in ensuring the already vibrant tech sector here continues to grow.”
Dorset-based savvy navvy, which develops digital navigation tools for the marine sector, is
also in the Ones to Watch showcase. Company founder Jelte Liebrand, who won Scaleup
Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2022, said: “Over the
past six years we have worked hard to constantly develop our all-in-one navigation app with
unique and user-friendly features based on feedback from users. We now have a team of 14
employees, our turnover has more than doubled this year and the number of users of the
savvy navvy app continues to rapidly grow globally.”
The company is joined on the programme by Torquay marinetech firm ARC Marine and
Exeter-based firms Klarian and Intelligent AI.
The Ones to Watch showcase forms part of Tech South West’s mission to support the South
West tech ecosystem to grow and thrive, by fostering collaboration across the sector and
shining a spotlight on the region’s vibrant and diverse tech sector.
Pippa Clarke, Chair, Head of Technology Innovation & Growth sector at Bishop Fleming, a
Growth Partner for the Ones to Watch programme, said: “From green energy to habitat
restoration, marinetech and space science, the South West is full of innovative, fast-growing
tech companies that are delivering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing
challenges. At Bishop Fleming we are delighted to be helping to deliver the Ones to Watch
programme, and providing support to companies at the forefront of the tech revolution that
are having a positive impact on the region and the wider world.”
Bristol scaleup Paranimo, Exeter-based Securious and Bath biotech firm Kelpi also make the
showcase, alongside Salisbury’s Small Robot Company, Dorset-based Husmus and Bath-
based fintech firm Seccl.
Cornish startup Data Duopoly is also featured. The company creates mobile applications
that harness the power of GPS & AI to improve visitor experience at large venues such as
the Eden Project, Cornwall’s tin mining coastline and the Falmouth University campus. CEO
and Founder Tanuvi Ethunandan said: “We want our technology to power existing consumer
facing applications to map and predict footfall worldwide. Ultimately, we connect people,
spaces and places using data and AI.”
Research commissioned by Tech South West in 2022 revealed that the sector is on track to
grow to almost £20bn gross value added (GVA) a year by 2026, creating more than 125,000
new jobs.
Devon-based Oooby, a decentralised marketplace for local, ecological food, makes the
showcase alongside Bristol-based software consultancy Deazy.
Machine learning consultancy digiLab and healthtech firm HCI Digital, both based in Devon,
also make the list alongside Newquay-based information management platform SimSage,
Truro-based audiobook disruptor xigxag and Falmouth-based 3D visualisation specialists
Amutri.
Bristol-based healthtech firm Ferryx completes the 22-strong showcase. CEO Jenny Bailey
said: “We are delighted to be one of Tech South West’s ScaleUps to Watch 2023. Being a
part of this prestigious programme will be hugely beneficial as we continue our mission to
improve the gut health of millions by giving sufferers a safe and effective treatment without
side effects.”
The Ones to Watch is made possible by the support of Tech South West Growth Partners
Microsoft, King Executive, Skowt Consulting, Program, British Business Bank and Bishop
Fleming.
View the full Ones to Watch showcase at techsouthwest.co.uk/scaleup-ones-to-watch-2023
