SETsquared Bristol’s Tech-Xpo returns on 20th June 2017

News
26/05/2017

SETsquared Bristol has announced the date of this year’s Tech-Xpo (previously called the Innovation Showcase) which will be held on 20th June 2017 at PwC offices in Glass Wharf, Bristol. The invite-only showcase will see 10 selected tech start-ups pitching to a selected audience of investors, academics and public sector representatives with 15 companies exhibiting.

Previous successful pitchersincluding 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. On top of that, Interactive Scientific has also been accepted into xEdu, the prestigious education tech accelerator in Finland.

Commenting about here Innovation Showcase experience, Becky 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.”

For a number of successive years, local lawyers, VWV are supporting the Tech-Xpo event, in recognition of the importance of the tech sector particularly in the South West. Oracle and Barclays complete the sponsor line-up. The American tech giant 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. The familiar high street bank, Barclays is providing ‘Banker in Residence’ service to SETsquared members and has undertaken a ‘Connect to Work’ scheme with a UK-based employability programme connecting individuals seeking employment with recruiting businesses.

Nathan Guest, Partner & 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. Since October 2009, we have provided the free, weekly, Lawyer-in-Residence service to SETSquared Bristol and, since October 2014, to SETsquared Bath. The Tech-Xpo is a great opportunity for us to reinforce our commitment to both SETsquared and the exciting high-tech, high-growth potential companies and entrepreneurs that it supports.”

Monika Radclyffe, Centre Director at SETsquared Bristol, 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. You can track activities as the event unfolds and see who is crowned winner, by following @SETsquared_Br.