Tech businesses urged to sign up

West Midlands tech start-ups are being urged to apply for one of 10 places on a business accelerator programme, designed to take their company to the next level.

Not-for-profit tech hub and think tank, Birmingham Tech, has partnered with West Midlands Combined Authority to create ScaleUp Accelerator to help local businesses with high-growth potential, and to boost WMCA’s WM2041 net zero ambitions for the region.

The six-month accelerator, starting in April, will support the 10 selected organisations on their journey from start-up to scale-up offering expert advice and mentoring. The free programme will be delivered by experts who have themselves successfully ‘scaled-up’ tech and digital companies.

Organisations interested in the Accelerator can apply at https://birmingham.tech/scaleup-programme/ and applications close on March 12.

Yiannis Maos, CEO of Birmingham Tech, said: “We do an amazing job of creating innovative start-ups across our region and we should be proud that for the seventh year running data from the Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE) shows the West Midlands is the UK’s start-up capital outside of London. However, with investment in tech companies in the City declining, we need to do a better job of supporting those start-ups to ensure they meet their potential - and that’s why we’ve invested in this new initiative.

“Our region has some exciting tech and digital businesses emerging, and we hope that with a bit of help these companies can go on to benefit the regional economy, create more jobs and become internationally recognised brands we are all proud of.”

All 10 organisations will receive a coach, mentor and have access to exclusive content including workshops and events. Two of the companies will be chosen to work with the WMCA and appointed experts to focus on tech solutions to tackle the climate emergency.

The ScaleUp Accelerator, run in collaboration with Purpose Led Performance, will train start-up entrepreneurs across a number of core business areas such as marketing, sales, operations, finance and customer experience. The goal is to give them a wealth of knowledge and insight to help grow their businesses by enabling them to unlock new opportunities and investment.

The first cohort will be selected on March 23 with the programme officially starting on April 5, running for six months. The successful businesses will then be showcased at Birmingham Tech Week 21, the UK’s biggest regional tech festival.

Pictured: West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Yiannis Maos