Disrupt South West: 2018 Index coming soon

We are delighted to announce the return of the Disrupt South West Index for the second year running.

The Index is a collaboration between Foot Anstey, ADLIB, and Tällt Ventures, and recognises the top 25 ventures with headquarters in the region who hold the greatest potential to influence, change or create new markets.

This year’s ‘DisruptSW Index’ was created by analysing South West businesses against three essential ingredients fundamental to success and enabling them to disrupt; their People, Product and Potential.

The 2018 Index will be revealed at an invitation-only launch celebration, ‘DisruptSW reimagined’, held on Thursday 27 September 2018 in Bristol and set to celebrate the very best in South West imagination and innovation. The launch event will be sponsored by Bristol-based ForrestBrown, an award-winning research and development (R&D) tax credit consultancy firm that helps innovative businesses grow.

Following the success of last year's event, we are delighted to be launching the DisruptSW Index in a reimagined format. Recognising the diversity of businesses, organisations and investors that are at the heart of the flourishing tech and creative scene in the South West has been a key part of the initiative. Our aim is to bring these organisations together to celebrate, collaborate and ultimately make connections that will enhance and add value to these organisations in the future.

Martin Cuell, Head of Technology and Partner at Foot Anstey

Nick Dean, MD at ADLIB: “Since launching the Index in 2017 we've witnessed unprecedented demand to meet the needs of the South West's thriving and recognised tech cluster. Over the course of the next 12 months we are looking to increase our own headcount to close to 50 people primarily across our digital, technology and data teams. The scale-up enabler year book cited that there are currently 700 scale-up businesses identified in the South West alone which is the tip of the iceberg and demonstrates the size of what's happening out there.”

Matt Connolly, founder and CEO at Tällt Ventures, added: “It’s brilliant to see the local talent the South West produces and that ventures here are getting the recognition, investment and support they need and deserve to scale. We’re really proud to have our HQ here in Bristol and to be a part of such a smart, creative and disruptive community; DisruptSW is a great celebration of that.”

The purpose of Disrupt South West is to feature, highlight, showcase and inspire South West business success and growth stories, celebrating those businesses and people that truly disrupt and challenge the given.

For further information on Disrupt South West and to find out about last year’s Index, please visit: www.disruptsouthwest.co.uk.