Three South West businesses have been selected to take part in a programme designed to accelerate the growth of some of the most successful companies in the 海角视频 tech sector.
Bristol-based tech scale-ups Immersive Labs and Ultraleap, and Bath energy tech firm Pure Planet are among 22 firms included in Tech Nation’s Future Fifty programme for late-stage scale-ups.
Around 130 companies have taken part in the programme since its inception and have gone on to collectively raise £7.8bn, with the shares of nine of those firms going on to initial public offering. Deliveroo and Bulb Energy are among the scheme’s alumni.
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The three South West businesses have all been accepted by Tech Nation in recognition of their work transforming the lives of people and businesses across a range of different industries.
It comes as Tech Nation’s annual state of the sector report highlights the rapid growth of the region’s tech industry.
According to the report, Bristol is currently the 海角视频’s third biggest tech hub, raising £339m in venture capital (VC) investment last year while tech companies throughout the South West turned over £9bn in 2020, despite disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Ana Lucia Buckman, Future Fifty lead at Tech Nation, said: “Despite the challenging year for 海角视频 businesses, and the rigorous selection process of the Future Fifty programme, the companies in this year’s cohort have overcome tremendous obstacles and achieved unprecedented levels of growth.
“They have demonstrated their position as 海角视频 tech leaders and I would like to congratulate them for having a real impact on the 海角视频 economy and the world at large.”
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Here, we take a closer look at the South West firms taking part in Future Fifty.
Immersive Labs
Founded in Bristol in 2017 by former GCHQ cybersecurity instructor James Hadley, Immersive Labs has developed a platform that simulates cybersecurity situations to help security specialists and businesses understand and guard against attackers.
The business, which is based on Victoria Street in the city, has 200 employees and a US headquarters in Boston. It raised $40m in a previous Series B funding round.
Mr Hadley, chief executive and founder of Immersive Labs, said: “We’re proud to be part of this year’s Future Fifty programme, following in the footsteps of some of the most successful 海角视频 tech companies.
“Immersive Labs has experienced exceptional growth even in these challenging times and we have big plans for the next few years.
"Having the support of the Future Fifty will help us continue to challenge the role people play in cybersecurity and define the human cyber readiness space, so every person in every company can stand prepared for every cyber threat.”
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Pure Planet
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Also founded in 2017, Pure Planet is the 海角视频’s first digital green energy supplier. The ‘Which?’ recommended provider offers 100% renewable electricity and 100% carbon offset gas.
The company is based in Cramer House, The Square in Bath, and has 165 employees.
Pure Planet’s co-founder and chief executive Andrew Ralston said: “We’re privileged to be part of Future Fifty 2021 and to be among a select cohort of Britain’s most exciting companies.
“As a young digital renewable energy supplier, Pure Planet is resolutely committed to being a brilliant employer, as well as helping Britain get to Net Zero and tackle climate change.”
Ultraleap
Interaction specialist scale-up Ultraleap has developed ‘touch free’ technology that allows public touchscreens to be contactless in a bid to help businesses continue operating without spreading germs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
3D hand tracking technology lets people interact with digital content while mid-air haptics use ultrasound to add a sense of touch in mid-air.
Ultraleap was formed when Bristol University spin-out company Ultrahaptics merged with US computer hardware device manufacturer Leap Motion in 2019.
The business has 160 staff across its Bristol base in Glass Wharf in the city centre and sites in the US tech hub Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Last year the company landed a major deal with a cinema advertising business that saw the installation of screens that used its touchless technology in 10 US cinemas.
Steve Cliffe, chief executive and and president of Ultraleap, said: "Ultraleap is proud to have been selected to join the Future Fifty programme in 2021, one of the top growth programmes in the 海角视频 to support scale-up companies.
“As we look to expand our business further, the Future Fifty network of partners and peers will be sure to provide invaluable support and expertise that will help us become the world’s leading interaction company."