The SETsquared Tech-Xpo will return to Bristol next month to showcase 10 specially selected tech start–ups pitching to an audience of investors, academics and public sector representatives.
An invite-only event, is scheduled to be held on June 20 at PwC offices in Glass Wharf, and will be sponsored by VWV, Barclays and American tech giant Oracle.
Previous successful pitchers including 2016’s Screen Time Labs and Pelipod have now been acquired whilst last year’s ‘best pitch’, Interactive Scientific, have been awarded multiple accolades in the time since.
Founder, Becky Sage, has been selected by Innovate UK as one of the top 15 Women in Innovation in the UK, and the company was invited to exhibit at the British Educational Training and Technology show.
She said: “Attending the Innovation Showcase (Tech-Xpo) represented a step change for us.
“The opportunities provided at the event have helped to build the credibility and networks that we needed to move forward as a business. The interaction with successful entrepreneurs and investors has given us valuable insight and growth.
“Preparing for pitching is exhausting and very time consuming, but when I put the work into the preparation and rehearsal I can reduce the amount of nerves that I feel which is how I approached the Innovation Showcase last year.
“I was delighted to win the pitch of the year accolade – the first of many awards for Interactive Scientific.”
Oracle has recently announced a partnership with SETsquared Bristol with their UK start-up accelerator programme which is currently accepting applications until early July.
Five lucky firms will then be selected and ‘incubated’ by Oracle with SETsquared Bristol support.
Nathan Guest, partner and head of technology at VWV commented: “VWV are delighted to sponsor the SETsquared Annual Tech-Xpo 2017 – our seventh consecutive year as a main sponsor.
“SETSquared and its ventures continue to be a cornerstone of our technology sector practice and we are very proud of our association with it.”
Centre director at SETsquared Monika Radclyffe said: “Our Tech-Xpo is always a highlight of our year.
“The world-class alumni that have pitched and progressed to incredible success in the past suggests that the 2017 showcase will also be one to watch.
“Selecting the pitchers is always a hard but enjoyable task. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our start-ups to meet with influencers, investors and potential clients in a convivial, exciting atmosphere.”
As with 2016’s event, this year’s Tech-Xpo will be filmed with the resulting video launched on YouTube shortly afterwards.