Inicio AI, a female-led fintech start-up based in Coventry, has won £1 million in the One To Win pitch competition at Birmingham Tech Week’s Tech Awards.
Led by TechWM and supported by sponsors including Rigby Group and the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, the competition offers the largest single prize pool 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 potential of the West Midlands to become a national and global technology hub.
Other West Midlands startups competing included ChangeMaker3D, a company focused on 3D printing concrete to reduce carbon emissions and costs, and Skyfarer, which is innovating the use of drones for medical purposes.
The three finalists presented their ideas on October 23 to a jury comprising 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 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 technology landscape and we work 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 are able to offer the winner a life-changing opportunity to receive the UK’s biggest pitch competition prize. This victory is not only a significant milestone for the winner, but also demonstrates the region’s growing reputation as a hub of technological innovation.