West Midlands Tech Firm Secures £1.5M to Expand Sales-Boosting Platform

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute

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Quick Read: Tamworth-based OneUp Sales has secured £1.5M funding to expand its gamified sales management platform into the US, further cementing its position as a leader in sales performance technology.

Tamworth-based tech company OneUp Sales has secured a £1.5 million investment to accelerate its expansion into the US market and enhance its gamified sales management platform.

The funding, provided by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Mercia Ventures, brings OneUp Sales’ total investment to over £5 million. The company, which has grown its annual recurring revenue (ARR) to £2.7 million, serves over 350 clients, including major names like Hitachi Vantara, Xcede, and Premier Group.

Founded in 2016 by former game developers Derry Holt and James Heath, OneUp Sales leverages gaming mechanics to boost sales performance, track data, and automate competitions—transforming the traditional sales process into an engaging and motivational experience.

Photo: Derry Holt, Credit: OneUp Sales

CEO Derry Holt commented:

"We founded OneUp Sales to bring the power of gaming to sales teams—turning what can be a high-pressure environment into something empowering and rewarding. The business has grown significantly, and with early success in the US, this funding will help us scale even further in this high-potential market."

David Baker, Investment Manager at Mercia, added:

"OneUp Sales has been a true innovator in sales management software. Having supported the company from the early stages, we’re excited to continue working with Derry, James, and their team as they scale up globally."

With its latest investment, OneUp Sales aims to strengthen its position as a leader in sales gamification, driving further innovation and international expansion.

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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