TechWM
Tech West Midlands CIC (TechWM) is a Birmingham-based nonprofit Community Interest Company that convenes West Midlands founders, investors, corporates, universities, and policymakers to accelerate tech-led growth, run Birmingham Tech Week, and drive AI and emerging technology adoption across the regional ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TechWM does
Tech West Midlands CIC, trading as TechWM, is a UK Community Interest Company founded in 2019 and headquartered at iCentrum, Birmingham. It operates as the independent convenor at the centre of the West Midlands tech ecosystem, connecting founders, investors, corporates, universities, and policymakers to accelerate tech-led growth and drive adoption of emerging technologies across the region. The organisation's core "product" is a portfolio of convening programmes rather than proprietary technology: the flagship Birmingham Tech Week festival, the monthly Tech Connect HUB & LIVE meetups, a portfolio of Special Interest Groups (AI and Future Tech, Cyber, EngDev Forum), the West Midlands Digitalisation Programme (free feasibility reports and limited-cost implementation projects), the Future Tech Talent Project (youth pathway programme), and the international Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week initiative. It also publishes strategic documents including the annual West Midlands Tech Review, the West Midlands AI Missions Document, and the West Midlands Digital Economy Playbook (2024-2030).
TechWM does not sell technology products or licences. Its revenue model is non-commercial: operating as a non-profit CIC, it is funded by a diversified base of corporate patrons (including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, IBM), university patrons (Birmingham, Warwick, Aston, Wolverhampton, BMet), and public sector delivery contracts routed through the West Midlands Combined Authority and related funding mechanisms (Innovation Accelerator, Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, West Midlands Co-Investment Fund). The organisation's customer base spans four distinct segments: tech start-ups and scale-ups (primary), large corporates seeking innovation engagement, universities and education providers seeking talent pathways, and local government/policymakers seeking evidence-based regional strategy. Specific pricing for any paid services is not publicly disclosed, and most flagship programmes (Birmingham Tech Week, Tech Connect HUB & LIVE) are offered free or via invite only.
Underlying reach is regionally anchored in the West Midlands but carries an international dimension through the Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week partnership. Credible scale anchors include 12,500+ regional digital businesses, delegates convened from 16+ countries at Birmingham Tech Week, and prior Innovation Accelerator funding that supported 1,500+ businesses and attracted £78m of private investment. The organisation is led by CEO Andy Hague, with a lean 1-10 employee team, indicating that the bulk of TechWM's footprint is delivered through convening power rather than in-house headcount.
TechWM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TechWM
- Legal name
- Tech West Midlands CIC
- Website
- https://techwm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tech West Midlands CIC (TechWM) is a Birmingham-based nonprofit Community Interest Company that convenes West Midlands founders, investors, corporates, universities, and policymakers to accelerate tech-led growth, run Birmingham Tech Week, and drive AI and emerging technology adoption across the regional ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TechWM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tech Ecosystem Development
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC) (EDABAFAO)
Keywords
Where TechWM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
TechWM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Patron/Sponsor Funding: TechWM operates as a not-for-profit CIC (Community Interest Company) with funding from patrons and sponsors including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and other corporate partners. The organization is registered as Birmingham Tech CIC (Company 12142813).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
TechWM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TechWM (Tech West Midlands CIC) is an independent, not-for-profit ecosystem convenor for the West Midlands tech sector. It connects founders, investors, corporates, universities, and policymakers through programs including Birmingham Tech Week (flagship annual tech festival), Tech Connect HUB & LIVE (monthly networking platform), the West Midlands Digitalisation Programme (feasibility and implementation support), the Future Tech Talent Project (youth pathways), Special Interest Groups in AI, cyber and engineering, and strategic publications such as the West Midlands Tech Review, AI Missions Document, and Digital Economy Playbook.
Product overview
TechWM is an ecosystem convening organization, not a traditional product company. It operates a portfolio of programs and initiatives including Birmingham Tech Week (flagship annual tech festival), Tech Connect HUB & LIVE (monthly networking platform), the West Midlands Digitalisation Programme (feasibility and implementation support), the Future Tech Talent Project (youth pathway program), and Special Interest Groups (AI/Future Tech, Cyber, EngDev). TechWM also produces strategic publications including the annual West Midlands Tech Review, West Midlands AI Missions Document, Digital Economy Playbook, and Brand Narrative. These offerings work together to connect the regional tech ecosystem, accelerate technology adoption, support scale-ups, and drive innovation across the West Midlands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Birmingham Tech Week: Birmingham Tech Week is TechWM's flagship event and the UK's largest regional tech festival.
- Tech Connect HUB & LIVE
- West Midlands Tech Review
Products and services
- Birmingham Tech Week Annual flagship tech festival convening founders, corporates, investors, policymakers and international delegations for the West Midlands tech sector.
- Tech Connect HUB & LIVE Open monthly networking platform offering in-person meetups at iCentrum and LIVE drop-in sessions for founders seeking advice, peers, and growth opportunities.
- West Midlands Digitalisation Programme Provides free feasibility reports and limited-cost digitalisation projects to help regional businesses move from ideas to implementation.
- Future Tech Talent Project Workforce development program building pathways for young people into the West Midlands tech economy through exposure, skills training, and hands-on experience.
- Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Subject matter expert communities covering AI and Future Tech, Cyber, and EngDev, shaping strategy and unlocking opportunities in priority technology areas.
- West Midlands Tech Review Annual State of West Midlands Tech report tracking regional progress, informing strategy and positioning the region nationally and globally.
- West Midlands AI Missions Document Strategic mission-driven commitment positioning AI at the heart of the West Midlands Growth Plan priorities.
- West Midlands Digital Economy Playbook Strategic vision co-created with regional leaders setting the path to a £100B West Midlands digital economy by 2030.
- Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week International initiative creating connections between the West Midlands and Beijing's technology hub across AI, smart manufacturing, robotics, and digital innovation.
Quantifiable outcome
- West Midlands has over 12,500 digital businesses with highest growth in tech jobs outside London
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TechWM
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TechWM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TechWM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- IBMcoreIBM is listed as a patron and serves as headline sponsor for Birmingham Tech Week. IBM's involvement includes potential technology partnerships and significant marketing/sponsorship support for the flagship event.
- University of BirminghamcoreListed as a patron and key university partner, University of Birmingham collaborates on research, talent development, and innovation initiatives including the Blockchain Money Laundering Detection project.
- University of WarwickcoreUniversity of Warwick is a patron supporting the ecosystem through research partnerships, talent pipelines, and innovation collaboration in AI and technology adoption.
- Aston UniversitycoreAston University collaborates on cyber security research and education initiatives, with projects like the Aston Cyber Project tackling online abuse of women.
- University of WolverhamptoncoreUniversity of Wolverhampton partners on AI and cybersecurity research including the AgenticDeviceShield mobile cybersecurity project and coding/AI education programs.
- Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet)coreTechWM supported BMet's successful Digital Technical Excellence College (DTEC) bid, connecting education providers and employers to meet real business needs for digital skills.
- West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)coreWMCA is a key government partner for regional tech initiatives, including the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund and alignment with Mayor Richard Parker's Growth Plan.
- Department for Business and Trade, UKcoreGovernment department co-hosting Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week international initiative, supporting international trade and investment connections.
- Beijing International Cooperation Center of Science and TechnologymajorInternational partner co-hosting Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week, creating new connections between West Midlands and Beijing's technology hub.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TechWM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Coadec: Independent tech and startup policy community founded by UK tech entrepreneurs, focused on government engagement and ecosystem advocacy. Comparable to TechWM's policy influencing function but operating at a national level with limited regional program delivery.
- SETsquared Partnership: University-linked deep tech startup accelerator network across the UK including University of Warwick (a TechWM patron). Comparable as a tech ecosystem enabler connecting universities to founders, though narrower in scope (incubation/acceleration) than TechWM.
- Silicon Valley Comes to the UK: Cross-Atlantic tech ecosystem initiative connecting UK founders, investors, and corporates with Silicon Valley. Comparable international-bridge and convening role to TechWM's Beijing x Birmingham Tech Week initiative, albeit more established and US-focused.
Direct peers
- Manchester Digital: Regional tech ecosystem body for Greater Manchester, running events, member programs, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to TechWM in scope (regional convenor) and target audience (founders, corporates, policymakers), serving a different UK city-region.
- Tech Nation: National UK tech ecosystem convenor with a directly comparable mandate: connecting founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers to accelerate tech-led growth. TechWM operates a regional version of the role Tech Nation played nationally before its wind-down, making it the closest functional peer.
- Leeds Digital: Regional tech community organization for Leeds/Yorkshire running events, awards, and ecosystem programs. Directly comparable as another UK regional tech convenor serving a different city-region with a similar founder/corporate audience.
- Cambridge Network: Long-running Cambridge tech and innovation community network linking startups, corporates, investors, and the University of Cambridge. Closely comparable to TechWM as a regional tech convenor, albeit in a more mature, deep-tech-leaning ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Digital Catapult: UK-wide deep tech innovation accelerator with government backing, running programs in AI, quantum, cyber, and IoT that overlap with TechWM's emerging-tech adoption focus. Wider mandate and national scope make it a broader incumbent rather than a direct regional peer.
- TechUK: National UK technology industry trade association representing hundreds of tech companies to government and policymakers. Overlaps with TechWM's policy influence and corporate engagement role but at national scale and with a formal membership-driven model.
Regional players
- London & Partners: Mayoral-backed promotional agency for London's economy including tech inward investment. Comparable in mission (regional tech promotion and inward investment attraction) but operates in London with materially larger budgets and global reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TechWM social profiles
Digital presenceTechWM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TechWM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
TechWM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TechWM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TechWM
What does TechWM do?
TechWM (Tech West Midlands CIC) is an independent, not-for-profit ecosystem convenor for the West Midlands tech sector. It connects founders, investors, corporates, universities, and policymakers through programs including Birmingham Tech Week (flagship annual tech festival), Tech Connect HUB & LIVE (monthly networking platform), the West Midlands Digitalisation Programme (feasibility and implementation support), the Future Tech Talent Project (youth pathways), Special Interest Groups in AI, cyber and engineering, and strategic publications such as the West Midlands Tech Review, AI Missions Document, and Digital Economy Playbook.
Is TechWM a public or private company?
TechWM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TechWM founded?
TechWM was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TechWM based?
TechWM is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does TechWM make money?
One revenue line is on record: patron/Sponsor Funding.
Who are TechWM's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Coadec, SETsquared Partnership and Silicon Valley Comes to the UK. Direct peers are Manchester Digital, Tech Nation, Leeds Digital and Cambridge Network. Broad incumbents are Digital Catapult and TechUK. London & Partners is listed as a regional player.
Does TechWM have an API?
No public API is recorded for TechWM.
What industry is TechWM in?
TechWM's product category is Tech Ecosystem Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAFAO, Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC). Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 7373.