Winners revealed in tech entrepreneur competition
Seven early-stage entrepreneurs have been given the chance to develop their business ideas thanks to SuperTech, the West Midlands based professional services technology (ProfTech) supercluster.
The SuperTech Seeds competition launched earlier this year in a bid to fast-track new technologies.
Winners include Birmingham-based Nick Winder who aims to help solve the logistics recruitment crisis, FinTech product manager Julia Druck from Warwick who is creating a new way to better manage and repay the UK’s £54bn credit card debt and Ali Kazmi who is set to develop the world’s first Islamic finance equity investment platform, which will link to UK venture capital schemes.
Other winners include sisters Sharon Byatt and Mandy Colledge from Halesowen who, having lost their jobs and closed a business during the Covid-19 pandemic, are looking to change the way businesses recruit IT professionals and Niall Brady and Gill Stewart who are helping leaseholders take over the management of their apartment blocks and control service charges.
The five business ideas will now be taken through to development and launch, with funding provided by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and technology partner Million Labs.
Hilary-Smyth-Allen, SuperTech executive lead, said: “We’ve had an incredible response to our search for the best and brightest new technology ideas. The five finalists are aiming to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. Through fully funded no-code technology development, we are helping these founders turn those innovative ideas into actual businesses.
“With the UK’s largest concentration of technology, business, professional and financial services organisations outside London the West Midlands is the perfect proving ground for new concepts. SuperTech aims to increase the adoption and development of new technologies in business and professional services and support for those with strong entrepreneurial ideas is a key part of that.”
