Ten fly East of England flag in KPMG’s search for top UK tech innovator

KPMG’s annual competition, which showcases tech innovators from eight regions across the UK, has been running since 2013 and uncovered outstanding tech from businesses including What3Words, VividQ, Mimicrete Ltd and HiiROC.

The businesses from across the East of England region will pitch against each other to find one innovator who will represent the region at the UK finals. The local representation is:

• bit.bio – a synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery and cell therapy – spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016.

• Virilitas Labs - addresses male infertility with innovative at-home fertility tests and interventional tools, Norwich-based.

• Developing Experts – a Norwich-based leading provider of learning-careers technologies. The platform is used by 7000+ schools and one million pupils to stimulate excitement in STEM, inform positive career choices, and to strategically build a diverse, inclusive, long-term STEM talent pipeline, which responds to government and industry challenges, e.g., the transition to a green hydrogen economy.

• VOLTQUANT Limited - a leading provider of grid intelligence solutions that empower developers to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

• Paragraf Limited – Cambridge-based enterprise that mass produces graphene-based electronic devices using standard semiconductor processes.

•Graphene Trace Ltd – Chelmsford-based business that is using smart pressure sensing fabric to eradicate the prevalence of pressure ulcers. Powered by graphene flexible electronics & machine learning, the smart fabric sensor is uniquely positioned to transform pressure mapping from a powerful specialist clinical tool to widespread community adoption, available direct to consumer, at home and in hospitals.

• ED Hub Ltd - is based on a unique set of offerings that integrates first-hand knowledge of the recruitment industry, leading-edge technology, coaching expertise and community. At the forefront of the Hertfordshire-based business is The Hub platform, an online, educational, members portal that connects jobseekers with career experts, curated resources, and exclusive tools, all available at an affordable cost.

• DeepMirror Ltd – DeepMirror is a modern drug design software powered by generative AI. It is built with medicinal chemists in mind and has an intuitive user interface that enables one-click drug design. It accelerates pre-clinical phases of drug discovery by up to 6x, helping medicinal chemists and their teams generate new and useful ideas based on experiments carried out in the lab.

• Cellexcel Ltd – this spin out from the University of East Anglia provides a platform technology to significantly enhance the performance of highly sustainable biomaterials through chemical modification using ‘green’ chemistry and no ‘forever’ chemicals.

• EDIFORM LIMITED - has identified a specific need in providing nutritionally bespoke food for dementia sufferers by developing a bespoke 3D food printer which offers the opportunity to create food for those in need, being fundamentally finger food.

The winners of each regional stage go on to the national final to be held in London in July. The overall winner will represent the UK at the global final, which takes place alongside Web Summit later in the year where a panel of global judges will crown the 2024 KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator.

Salvatore di Maggio, who leads KPMG’s Emerging Giants practice locally said: “We had a high level of entries this year and our final 10 shortlisted businesses represent the best of the tech talent from our region.

“Our tech ecosystem continues to grow, and this competition is a great way to shine a spotlight on some of the amazing teams and exciting innovation that are being developed and nurtured here.

“The judges are looking forward to hearing the pitches and meeting the founders who have taken this opportunity to move their businesses to the next level and I really hope the East of England is home to this years’ UK winner!”

Joe Faulkner, Senior Partner for KPMG’s East Anglian practice and one of the judges, added: “Our winner needs to be able to tell the story of their business in a passionate way, but most importantly, they need to demonstrate how their technology is solving a problem and has the potential to grow into a successful business.”