Coventry fintech startup wins £1m at Birmingham Tech Week

Inicio AI, a female-led fintech start-up based in Coventry, has won £1m in the One To Win pitch competition at Birmingham Tech Week’s Tech Awards.

Led by TechWM and supported by sponsors like Rigby Group and the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, the competition offers the largest single prize for a pitch competition in the UK.

Just four months after its launch at London Tech Week, Inicio AI, which created Budgie AI—a virtual agent that provides financial support—was chosen as the region’s most promising startup from 140 applicants.

The competition highlights the West Midlands’ potential to become a national and global tech hub.

Other West Midlands startups in the running included ChangeMaker3D, a company focused on 3D concrete printing to cut carbon emissions and costs, and Skyfarer, which is innovating drone use for medical purposes.

The three finalists pitched their ideas on October 23 to a panel of judges, including Steve Rigby, CEO of Rigby Group, Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM and others.

Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM said: “The One to Win competition is a testament to our ongoing efforts to nurture, support, and promote the thriving tech ecosystem in the West Midlands. We firmly believe that our region is a hidden gem in the global tech landscape, and we’ve been working tirelessly to showcase its immense potential.

“Innovative initiatives like One to Win provide invaluable platforms for local startups to shine. Thanks to the generous support of our stakeholders, partners, and sponsors, we’re able to offer the winner a life-changing opportunity to receive the UK’s largest pitch competition prize. This win is not only a significant milestone for the winner but also a testament to the region’s growing reputation as a hub for tech innovation.”