Welcome to our weekly South West Tech News roundup, where you can get all the headlines from the past week in one place.
What has our busy tech and digital community been up to this week? From award wins and innovative breakthroughs to unmissable events and capital raised, take a moment to reflect on the hive of daily activity taking place in our region.
If you have a story to share, wizz it over to will@techspark.co – I look forward to hearing from you!
SETsquared Bristol Appoints Key New Staff
SETsquared Bristol, the award-winning tech incubator at the University of Bristol, has strengthened its leadership with a trio of appointments: Caroline Thompson as Centre Manager, alongside Dr Becky Sage and Dr Kam Pooni as Entrepreneurs in Residence.
The refreshed team joins Innovation Manager Lauren Ellse and Co-ordinator Sophie Connolly to continue driving SETsquared’s mission of supporting startups through expert guidance, network access and strategic programming.
First published on 09th June 2025 | SETsquared Bristol
RANsemi Joins Pioneering Bristol Innovations Zone
RANsemi Limited, a cutting-edge British wireless semiconductor company, is among the first to join the Bristol Innovations Zone – a new collaborative space opening at the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus in 2026.
Specialising in 5G/6G mobile network technologies, RANsemi will use the space to drive R&D and partnership-building in the heart of Bristol’s innovation ecosystem.
First published 10th June 2025 | University of Bristol
Bristol Teenager Named Rising Tech Star
Oliver Hodgson, an 18-year-old student and tech founder based in Bristol, has been named a finalist for Technology Entrepreneur of the Year (South West) in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Defying the idea that you need a strong background in coding to build a tech company, Oliver launched his AI-powered SEO tool, Dashboard Daddy, at just 16. The product has gone from strength to strength, with Oliver showcasing it at major tech events and festivals across the UK — proving that passion and vision can trump conventional prerequisites.
Read more about Oliver’s journey
First published 11th June 2025 | Bristol 24/7
Spending Review 2025: What's Next For South West Tech?
techSPARK CEO Ben Shorrock shared insight on the implications of the Chancellor’s Spending Review 2025. With announcements on Industrial Strategy and AI Growth Zones due later this month, the region’s tech community has a crucial opportunity to shape national strategy.
Ben outlines four priorities: regional equity in funding, integrating Isambard-AI into national infrastructure, establishing AI Growth Zones locally, and scaling CyberFirst success via TechFirst rollouts.
Read Ben’s full reaction and insight
First published 12th June | techSPARK
The Shortlist Is Revealed For The SPARKies People's Choice
After five days of open voting, the region’s tech community has spoken — and the final four contenders for the SPARKies People’s Choice Award 2025 are now confirmed.
The shortlist features:
• Pawpass
• IngeniumAI
• Neuronostics
• Illumo Digital
These companies were selected from a list of six organisations after hundreds of votes were cast by peers, fans and community supporters.
Unlike the other categories, the People’s Choice is decided live during the SPARKies ceremony. Everyone in the room gets to vote on the night — with the winner announced on stage in real time.
So if you want to have your say, make sure you’re in the room.
