Tech Innovator in the UK

Congratulations to the Tech Innovator in the UK 2024 - Halocycle

Banks need to drive digital innovation and real-time solutions at pace in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This means moving beyond legacy systems by migrating to cloud-based platforms that bring scalability, fully automated processes and improved data security.

Our alliance with Thought Machine helps you get there. With Thought Machine Vault as the core banking platform and foundation layer bringing flexibility, choice and power, we bring our deep banking experience and expertise to help you transform.

Hear what Dr Henrietta Boyd, CEO & Co-Founder at Halocycle had to say about winning the title.

Dr Henrietta Boyd will go on to represent the UK against 23 other countries at the global Tech Innovator final at Web Summit in Lisbon in November. We can't wait to see what will come next for this inspiring business!

Could this be you in 2025?

Calling all technology change makers! Showcase your leadership, innovation and trailblazing ideas by pre-registering for the 2025opens in a new tab Tech Innovator in the UK competition.

Our 2024 UK Finalists

Representing the East of England

Representing London

Representing the North East

Representing the North West

Representing Scotland

Representing South Central

Representing South West and Wales

Representing the Midlands

Our judging panel who crowned the winner

Bina Mehta MBE

Chair

KPMG in the UK

Elliot Street

CEO & Co-Founder

Inovus Medical

Vishal Marria

CEO

Quantexa

Julia Hoggett DBE

London Stock Exchange

Stephen Nundy

CTO

Lakestar

Ezechi Britton MBE

CEO

Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology

Russ Shaw CBE

Founder

London Tech Advocates and Global Tech Advocates

Katherine Prescott

Technology Business Editor

The Times

The Decision

What’s in it for you?

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National and global exposure

Raise awareness of your innovation and your business by showcasing it on a prestigious platform to a national and global audience of industry experts, investors, potential partners and customers.

Increase your company’s local profile through social media coverage and media profiles, that reach tech and business influencers in your country. The UK winner goes on to compete on the global stage in Lisbon in November.

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Networking opportunities

The competition is a hub for networking, fostering collaborations, and gaining insights from seasoned professionals.

Connect with fellow tech innovators and join both local and global peer-to-peer networks to share ideas and build important connections in a growing community of high-achieving tech entrepreneurs.

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Mentorship and growth

Access the experience of KPMG mentors and advisors who provide valuable guidance, expertise, and mentorship to refine your innovation and navigate the challenges of scaling up your tech and more.

Ongoing feedback throughout the competition from external judges and interactions with other participants regionally, nationally and globally, can also help refine your innovation and presentation skills.

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The Application

What makes a Tech Innovator in the UK?

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The Detail

What are the FAQs you need to know to apply?

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The Application
The Details

What makes a Tech Innovator in the UK?

What makes a Tech Innovator in the UK?

Applicants are typically technology entrepreneurs who are successfully making the transition from the start-up phase to the next stage in the growth of their businesses. They have developed innovative, proven technologies, established robust business models, demonstrated traction and have the potential to scale up globally.

To be eligible for the competition, you must:

Be a registered company in the UK.
Have been actively operating for five years or less (in the current form).
Generate revenue between US $1 million and $15 million; or have raised at least US $500,000 in equity.
Be either a pure technology or a tech-enabled, tech-driven or tech-led business.
Not be majority owned by a large corporate.
Conduct all pitches in English.
Be available to pitch at the UK heat events in between 11 and 17 June, 2024.
Available to pitch in person at the UK final event in July, 2024.
If selected as a finalist, be available to pitch at the global in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2024.

What are we looking for?

Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry experts. All applications will be scored based on seven, equally-weighted criteria:

Disruption and innovation
Market potential
Customer adoption
Market traction and marketing
Long-term potential
ESG credentials
Pitch quality

The decisions of the panel will be final.

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What are the FAQs you need to know to apply?

Applications

A: Any technology entrepreneur that has operated for less than five years and is registered and based in in the UK can apply. Applicants must have innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential to scale up. All entrants entering the competition on behalf of the company must be residents in the UK and aged 18 years or over. KPMG employees and contractors are prohibited from entering the competition.

If you’d like to apply, here’s what we’ll need:

Company details (name, address, company registration number, contact details)
CEO, founder and management team details – including short biographies
A brief description of the company, business model, any media coverage and proprietary technology (maximum of 200 words)
Details on funding raised to date, 2023 revenue figures and projections for 2024
A high-resolution image of your company logo

Selection Criteria

Pitching

A: Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry and KPMG experts. All applications will be scored based on seven, equally-weighted criteria. The criteria are disruption and innovation, market potential, customer adoption, market traction and marketing, ESG credentials, long-term potential, social impact and governance and pitch quality.

The decisions of the panel will be final.

Winners

A: The UK winner will receive exposure and recognition through local media coverage and KPMG corporate channels. The 2024 UK winner will also receive a discretionary prize of KPMG Private Enterprise services. The UK winner will also be put forward as a finalist in the Global Tech Innovator competition, which will take place in Lisbon, in November.

The finalists will be provided with standard class flights/travel, hotel accommodation and one conference pass to attend Web Summit. Finalists will also be provided an opportunity to exhibit their products or services at the conference.

The prizes cannot be substituted for cash or any other alternatives.

Further information

A: There is no charge for entering into the competition, although all costs related to attendance at the heats and country final must be covered by the participants themselves, where they are being held in person. KPMG will cover the cost of standard class flights/travel, accommodation and conference passes for the finalists who are invited to present in Portugal, Lisbon in November.

A: KPMG Private Enterprise will be promoting the pitch heats alongside various partners throughout the course of the competition. By entering the competition, you agree that any personal information provided by you with your entry may be held and used by KPMG to administer the competition and it’s promotion.

If you are a finalist of the competition, you agree that KPMG may use your name, image and company branding to announce the winner and finalists of the competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional and marketing purposes.

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Testimonials

“The most value adding business competition there is! If you are growing a tech company, putting yourself forward for the competition is a must. At every stage of the process, the KPMG Private Enterprise Team find ways to add value to your business while supporting you to turn up with your very best to a competition that is packed with the best tech innovators across the country (and world). The competition is just the start, KPMG have been a major supporter of what has been a major growth journey since entering the competition.”

Dr Elliot Street,
Inovus Medical

2023 Tech Innovator in the UK

winner

“The competition provides a great platform for startup and scaleup businesses from across the UK to be recognised and celebrated. It was fantastic being part of the judging panel and to be inspired by the entrepreneurs pitching their amazing technology to us.”

Priya Guha MBE,
Meridian Ventures

2023 Tech Innovator in the UK judge

“The competition was really impressive; it was an amazing group of entrepreneurs with brilliant innovations. We had great support from the KPMG UK team at every step in the process and our business has continued to go from strength to strength. We have seen a marked increase in enquiries from a variety of sectors since entering the competition and our credibility as we enter into discussions has been strengthened.”

Tim Davies,
HiiROC

2022 Tech Innovator in the UK and

Global Tech Innovator winner

“It’s been a rollercoaster for FIDO Tech since being named the 2021 Tech Innovator in the UK and placing second in the Global Tech Innovator competition. The platform the competition gave us transformed our business from supersonic to stratospheric.”

Victoria Edwards,
FIDO Tech

2021 Tech Innovator in the UK

winner

Meet our previous winners and finalists

Watch the 2023 UK final highlights videosopens in a new tab

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Global Winner Report 2023

The impact of the uncertainty didn’t stop at the doors of corporate entities.

Learn more

Watch the 2021 UK final highlights videosopens in a new tab

Building on the success of the Best British Tech Pioneer competition, which has been running for 7 years in the UK, we've evolved and gone global.

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Compete on the global stage

Find out more about our Global Tech Innovator competition

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About KPMG Private Enterprise

You know KPMG, you might not know KPMG Private Enterprise.

KPMG Private Enterprise advisers, in KPMG firms around the world, are dedicated to working with you and your business, no matter where you are in your growth journey — whether you’re looking to reach new heights, embrace technology, plan for an exit, or manage the transition of wealth or your business to the next generation. You gain access to KPMG’s global resources through a single point of contact — a trusted adviser to your company. It is local expertise with global reach.

The KPMG Private Enterprise Global Network for Emerging Giants has extensive knowledge and experience working with the startup ecosystem. Whether you are looking to establish your operations, raise capital, expand abroad, or simply comply with regulatory requirements — we can help. From seed to speed, we’re here throughout your journey.

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From early stage funding advice to planning an exit, KPMG Private Enterprise (KPE) teams support privately owned businesses with their growth agendas.

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