Last week we wrapped up Silicon Gorge: Catalyst, with 12 standout early-stage startups taking the stage at our Showcase: Animotion, BeatBlocks, Encortec, Forward EV, Hidden Signals, Last, LAYBL, Maxres, Shelf Conscious, SLANT, Taught by Humans and Yuup.
Now it’s round two. Silicon Gorge is back, with applications for Velocity now open.
Velocity is the second half of Silicon Gorge. Where Catalyst was built for founders raising their first £100k–£1m, Velocity is for businesses a stage further on: already trading, already growing, and now looking to raise £1m+. And this time, the showcase itself is getting a bigger stage — it’ll take place as part of Brazen Festival this November.
Catalyst and Velocity aren’t just split by funding stage — they’re run differently too.
Catalyst kept the format Silicon Gorge has always used: a pitching competition, with workshops along the way to help founders sharpen their pitch. Velocity drops the competition format entirely. There’s no semi-final, no workshops, and no pitching against each other to get through. Instead, it’s an application-based process.
To apply, you’ll submit:
- A business summary — where you are now, and what you’re looking for
- Your pitch deck
Our panel reviews every application and selects 12 businesses to showcase.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 6th July
- Applications close: 4th September
- Showcase: 12th November
If you’re running a tech business in the South West with real traction behind you and you’re looking to raise £1m or more, we want to hear from you.
Investment Partner
TLT is a full-service commercial law firm built on ambition, innovation and dedication to its clients. The firm’s dynamic fast growth team, led out of its award-winning corporate practice, supports a variety of funders and investors, from business angels to institutional funds working on investments, and seed rounds through series A to Exit.
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British Business Bank is the UK’s economic development bank. Their mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK and to enable the transition to a net-zero economy, by supporting access to finance for smaller businesses.
Investment Partner
Link Stone Advisory delivers integrated business advice and corporate finance. Their teams draw on professional expertise in finance, commercial law, HR and tax support integrated with management experience in profit growth and business transformation in digital, media and FMCG.
