TechWM Calls for Regional Start-ups to take part in Tech Nation Rising Stars

By East Village

2 minutes 57 seconds

Growth

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Quick Read: Tech Nation’s Rising Stars competition is open to digital tech business at the seed to pre-series A funding stage and will see the lucky winners – chosen from 8-10 regional finalists – announced at the live final during London Tech Week, on 10 June 2024.

Tech Nation Rising Stars Awards, the ultimate pitch competition, designed for innovative early-stage start-ups in the UK, has announced it is officially open for submissions. The awards, which provide a valuable platform for tech start-ups to showcase their innovations, will close for online applications on 25 March 2024, with judges then selecting a number of regional finalists who will be invited to pitch live later in the year.

This year, Tech Nation has chosen a regional partner for each of the six locations home to leading start-ups. Judging the Midlands cohort (West Midlands, East Midlands and East of England) is TechWM, the region’s economic development agency and tech advocacy group.

On their partnership with Tech Nation for the Rising Stars awards, Yiannis Maos, CEO and founder of TechWM, commented:

“TechWM has been involved in the Rising Stars competition since it started five years ago, so we’re thrilled that we’re still able to take part, and in such a prestigious way too! It is often the case that awards ceremonies and competitions are expensive to enter or the criteria excludes startups who aren’t yet at a fully funded stage, let alone a profitable stage. That’s why competitions like this one being backed by a powerhouse such as Tech Nation is such a huge win for the UK’s ecosystem; it really is a chance for those smaller, lesser-known companies to showcase their talent and innovation on a large scale."

The Midlands is jam packed with tech and digital talent, so we already know how difficult it is going to be to choose our regional finalists. However, we’re so excited to dive into the applications and discover talent that we might not have seen yet. The deadline is drawing near so if you’re reading this and meet the criteria, please don’t hesitate to submit your application. You never know where it might lead you!”

In an effort to give start-ups the chance to showcase their creative talents and community support, the Rising Stars awards takes a slightly different approach to the usual application process, with applicants encouraged to submit their virtual pitch via Instagram (@technationhq) alongside a questionnaire. Eight to ten regional finalists are then chosen and given the opportunity to pitch in person later in the year to a panel of expert judges from across the tech and entrepreneurial landscape. Grand finalists will then be given the opportunity to pitch live at London Tech Week.

To be eligible, hopeful applicants must meet the following criteria:

- Headquartered in the UK
- A digital tech business with a product or service to sell
- At Seed to pre-Series A funding stage. If the company is bootstrapped, maximum annual revenues must be below £1.5 million
- Able to demonstrate market traction
- At least one active client or pilot
- Ambition to scale
- Able to commit to Rising Stars judging dates

The top three finalists of the Rising Stars awards will receive a prize bundle designed to supercharge their growth journey, including branding and PR support courtesy of Founders Makers; a £60k hiring pledge courtesy of Founders Keepers; a legal audit by Founders Law; and an out-of-home media package worth up to £20K in value each, courtesy of Nurture by JCDecaux. Winner with also have the opportunity to become a VenturePath member and gain access to a host of business support and growth services.

Sharing their thoughts on this year’s awards, Chantelle Young, Programme Lead at Tech Nation, comments:

"Tech Nation's Rising Stars Awards offer an unparalleled platform for emerging tech talent across the UK, and we are honoured to partner with TechWM to lead the Finals for the Midlands region. At Tech Nation, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and empowering emerging tech talent nationwide. Collaborating with TechWM allows us to leverage their deep regional knowledge and impressive track record of supporting start-ups."

“This partnership provides Midlands-based start-ups with a unique platform to showcase their innovations to a broader audience and catapult their growth. Together, we aim to elevate the Midlands tech ecosystem and support the growth of promising start-ups with world-changing potential."

Online applications should be submitted via Instagram, with a corresponding questionnaire submitted via the Tech Nation application page, found with more information here.

What's new

TechWM Announces Change In CEO, Appointing Tech Expert As Successor

Since being founded by Yiannis in 2019 , the organisation has helped businesses raise over £100 million and inspired thousands of people to get into the tech sector. It has also become known for its most popular showcase event, Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional tech festival .

Sharing why now is the right time for a change in leadership, Yiannis Maos MBE shared:

“Having hosted our sixth Birmingham Tech Week in October – the largest to date – it feels right to scale TechWM. It's been an amazing journey, starting with a simple desire to make the tech ecosystem more accessible and evolving into a strategic force for growth.
I’m proud of our journey, from 5,000 attendees at our first Tech Week to recent recognition from giants like IBM and a visit from the Secretary of State. This fuels our ambition to reach a £100 billion tech sector by 2030 and solidify our narrative: 'Making Tech Succeed In The Most Human of Places.
As we transition to CEO leadership, our focus will be strategy, innovation, and preserving our agile spirit. We'll continue creating opportunities for local talent, ensuring they don't need to move to London. This is about building a thriving, collaborative community, recognising our collective strength is key to unlocking the West Midlands' tech potential.”

Photo (l-r): Jason Sahota, Andy Hague, & Yiannis Maos MBE

Stepping into the role is Andy Hague, a tech entrepreneur and board member with over 20 years of experience in leading teams to success. As an expert in cybersecurity, with in-depth knowledge and understanding of investment funding, Hague will see the start of a new era of growth for the West Midlands tech ecosystem, as AI and cybersecurity continue to thrive.

With the new year bringing new beginnings for TechWM, Andy expresses his excitement for joining the organisation:

“Leading TechWM, an organisation aligned with my values and my work throughout the last two decades, became an irresistible opportunity after my recent work in industry and government. My priority is maintaining TechWM's momentum and strategically focusing the team's immense dedication to maximise impact. Strengthening their "can-do" reputation is vital for solidifying TechWM as the key player in public-private tech partnerships.
Yiannis's remarkable legacy, especially Birmingham Tech Week's national prominence, and his continued involvement were crucial to my decision in taking this role. I know from the past 8 years just how much of yourself you need to put into anything to take it from an idea to a reality. I am absolutely delighted that he will be staying involved , and I don’t think I would have considered the role without that knowledge. I look forward to being able to continue the growth of the community that Yiannis, and TechWM, have developed for the region!”

This next chapter of the region’s journey to becoming a global tech superpower holds promise as the nation continues to expand support for tech businesses and startups – reaching out beyond London and into the regions. TechWM itself has experienced growth, more than doubling its revenue last year, with recent changes to the board bringing new outlooks to the organisation.

Jason Sahota, Chair of the TechWM board, comments:

“The board is delighted to welcome Andy as CEO as TechWM is just getting started with the ecosystem showing promising alignment and the opportunity for significant growth.We’ll see a shift from collaboration to partnership, inspiration to opportunity, and celebration to impact. We cannot wait to see the big things that will happen in the upcoming years - keep your eyes peeled!”

For further details on TECHWM’s CEO appointment and growth, visit

www.techwm.com

By Molly Matthews

20 Feb