Technology showcase brings inaugural TechFest to a close

By Elizabeth Laidler

1 minute 49 seconds

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Quick Read: BetaDen's Cohort 8.0 showcase, spotlighting groundbreaking technologies from seven pioneering businesses.

Worcestershire’s inaugural Innovation Worcestershire TechFest came to an inspirational close on 06th February 2025 with a showcase of technology developed by Cohort 8.0 of the county’s award-winning technology accelerator BetaDen.

Photo Credit: BetaDen

Seven early-stage, Worcestershire-based businesses presented their innovations to a sold-out audience of investors, customers and partners at Stanbrook Abbey, showcasing technologies including:

1. a novel, longer-lasting hip replacement that improves outcomes for younger, active patients (Garland Surgical);

2. valves preventing damaging water pollution incidents and protecting business owners from business-crippling fines and criminal prosecution (Sandfield Engineering);

3. an integrated software platform, helping organisations bridge ‘the truth gap’ in market research (Split Second Research);

4. business development software for SMEs and professional advisors (Smart90);

5. an all-in-one remote control that manages multiple smart-home applications in one place (uControl);

6. software to help facilities management teams streamline projects and deliveries (Zone Manager); and

7. a virtual exhibition platform bringing improved security to online and virtual events (Marketing + Technologies Group)

Donston Powell, external affairs director at BetaDen, said:

“Once again we have been blown away by the calibre and diversity of the technologies developed by our founders on the Accelerate programme. Supported by our hand-picked team of commercial mentors, they have each grabbed the opportunity to hone their ideas and identify their most promising routes to market over the last nine-months, strengthening their businesses and ensuring they are well placed for their next stage of growth.”

Gary Woodman, CEO of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, added:

“The BetaDen Showcase was a fantastic way to round off our first county-wide technology festival. Those businesses that have been supported have gone from strength to strength over the last few years: Creating jobs and developing a network of thriving technology businesses in the county. The Showcase demonstrated the breadth and depth of talent that exists in Worcestershire - not only when it comes to security and software development but also in MedTech, manufacturing and other sectors.

Events like BetaDen’s Showcase and our new TechFest shine a light on how technology is key to every business sector, encourages investment, creates opportunities and supports technology entrepreneurs in the region to the benefit of our wider community.”

Chris Pinder, founder of Malvern-based uControl, showcased their new universal remote control technology at the event. He added:

"The showcase was a fantastic opportunity to share our progress and connect with key partners for our next chapter.”

The BetaDen Accelerate showcase was supported by programme partners Apogee Associates, Higgs LLP, Jerroms and Wynne-Jones IP, and sponsors IceBlue, Encore Communications, TAD Electronics, We Are Alp and F8 Creates.

What's new

DigiSpinWM Pilot Celebrates Milestone as 11 Investor-Ready Innovations Emerge in the West Midlands

The DigiSpinWM pilot programme, a bold initiative designed to accelerate the spin-out of digital and advanced manufacturing innovations in the West Midlands, has marked a key milestone with a showcase event in Birmingham, unveiling 11 investor-ready ventures developed over the past six months.

Transforming Ideas into Investment Opportunities

Backed by Research England and delivered through a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University, and Birmingham City University via the West Midlands Combined Universities, the programme set out to test a collaborative model for commercialising innovation more efficiently and effectively.

In just six months, DigiSpinWM has:

- Assessed over 40 high-potential technologies for commercial viability
- Delivered tailored support to participants on spin-out strategy and intellectual property development
- Nurtured 11 ventures to investment readiness
- Developed a shared framework for technology transfer across participating universities

The recent showcase celebrated these achievements, spotlighting innovations spanning early-stage development to near-market solutions with the potential for significant societal and economic impact.

A Regional Model for Innovation

Ceri Jones, Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton, reflected on the programme’s success:

The DigiSpinWM pilot has been a transformative journey. Seeing 11 investor-ready ventures emerge from such a collaborative, regional approach shows what’s possible when we unify efforts across institutions. These spinouts will drive real-world change and position the West Midlands at the forefront of digital and advanced manufacturing.

The pilot’s success is also credited to a strong ecosystem of academic mentors, business advisors, and industry reviewers who provided essential support and guidance to participants.

The showcase event featured live pitches from select ventures to an audience of investors, stakeholders, and innovation leaders, marking a key step towards unlocking the funding required to bring these innovations to market.

With the DigiSpinWM model proving its value, the programme signals a new chapter for spin-out activity in the West Midlands—one built on collaboration, shared infrastructure, and investment-ready innovation.

By Anushka Malhotra

8 Jun