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!
Bristol-based Emm Raises $9M For Their Smart Menstrual Cup and App
UK biowearable startup Emm has raised $9 million (£6.8M) to launch the world’s first smart menstrual cup paired with a connected app. The device lets users track key metrics, understand their menstrual baseline and receive personalised health insights, creating a new category of “smart menstrual care.”
The seed round was led by Lunar Ventures, with support from Labcorp Venture Fund, Tiny VC, BlueLion Global, Alumni Ventures and angels including Amar Shah, Vivek Garipalli and Harpreet Rai.
The funding will help Emm bring its product to market, accelerate clinical development, advance research, diagnosis and treatment of menstrual and reproductive health conditions.
UK Government Invests Billions In AI to Boost Jobs and Innovation
The UK government has unveiled a major AI investment and reform package to drive growth, create jobs and spread prosperity. Central to the plan are AI Growth Zones, including a new hub in South Wales, expected to generate 5,000+ jobs, including at the former Ford Bridgend Engine Plant.
The initiative supports British AI firms, expands free compute access for researchers, and provides up to £137 million for scientific breakthroughs in healthcare. Companies like Vantage Data Centers and Microsoft are partnering to deliver these zones, with £5 million per zone to boost business adoption and local workforce skills.
Screen Summit 2025: Powering the South West’s Creative Future
Screen Summit 2025, the South West’s leading industry event for the film, TV and digital content sector, brought together over 100 creatives, founders and policymakers to shape the region’s screen future.
Key announcements included a £25 million Creative Places Growth Fund from Metro Mayor Helen Godwin to boost production, music, workforce development and regional talent. New insights from the Go West 2.5 report highlighted shifting trends, with growth in factual content but ongoing challenges for freelancers and branded content producers.
The event also explored AI in creative workflows and featured an insightful closing reflection from John McVay OBE, calling for stronger regional support and long-term investment in independent production.
Read the full write up
Savvy Navvy Sails Past £500K in Public Crowdfunding Campaign
Savvy Navvy, the Dorset-based marine tech company dubbed ‘Google Maps for Boats’, has launched a public crowdfunding round, already 135% oversubscribed and surpassing £500,000 from over 200 investors.
With more than three million app downloads globally, the platform helps recreational boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders navigate safely using smart routing technology. Now expanding beyond mobile, Savvy Navvy is partnering with boat and engine manufacturers to embed its system onboard.
The campaign, hosted on Republic Europe, is still live and may be the final opportunity for everyday boaters to own a stake in this fast-growing marine navigation platform.
SW*AID 2025 Wrapped Brings Together Women In AI and Data Across the South West and Wales
A relaxed morning of reflection, insight and connection is on the cards as SW*AID 2025 Wrapped invites women working in AI and Data across the South West and Wales to come together and celebrate the year.
The event will kick off with a short talk on the latest in AI followed by roundtable discussions on key learnings, industry changes and what’s ahead in 2026.
It’s a unique opportunity to share experiences, build connections and celebrate the brilliant women shaping the region’s AI and Data landscape.