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.
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Bath Digital Agency Digital Wonderlab Unveils New Brand For The AI Era
Bath-based digital agency Digital Wonderlab has launched a refreshed brand and positioning designed to help organisations navigate the rapidly changing landscape shaped by AI and emerging technologies.
Founded in 2009, the agency works across sectors including health, finance, sustainability and education, combining strategy, design and technology to help organisations build modern digital platforms and services.
Co-CEO Nathan Baranowski said: “Digital has entered a new era. AI and emerging technologies are accelerating what’s possible and fundamentally changing how organisations operate.”
Read more here
Lessons From Last Week’s PitchMe
Last week’s PitchMe featured two strong founders with real traction, from £15m already under management to a live pilot delivering a 50% uplift in conversions.
The feedback, however, was strikingly similar: the fundamentals were all there, but the story needed tightening. In a ten-minute pitch, flow matters. Investors want to understand the problem before the solution, believe in the team before the ambition, and see how the numbers connect before thinking about scale.
Sometimes the difference between “interesting” and “investable” is simply the order in which the story is told.
Swindon Set To Be UK’s Capital of Drone Technology
Swindon is rapidly establishing itself as a key centre for drone technology and manufacturing in the UK, with a growing cluster of companies choosing the town as their base.
At least five firms are already operating or have announced plans to locate in Swindon, including Stark, Tekever, DSEI Flyby, Munin Dynamics and Neros Technologies, with several more in the pipeline. The sector’s growth is centred around major sites such as Panattoni Park, built on the former Honda factory site.
Local leaders say the momentum signals Swindon’s rise as a strategic hub for next-generation UAV manufacturing and defence innovation.
Read the full news here
South West Sports Tech Firm’s Key Role in TeamGB Gold Rush at Winter Olympics
A University of Bath spin-out is helping transform elite sports performance after its AI-powered technology supported TeamGB’s record-breaking medal haul in bobsleigh and skeleton at the Winter Olympics.
ForceTeck uses computer vision and AI to analyse athlete performance from video footage in minutes, giving coaches and athletes rapid insights to refine technique and improve results.
Read the full news here
GEL Studios Named Employer Of The Year At South West Awards
Swindon-based creative agency GEL Studios has been named Employer of the Year at the South West Business & Community Awards, recognising its commitment to building a supportive, inclusive and purpose-led workplace.
Judges highlighted the agency’s strong focus on collaboration, professional development and wellbeing, alongside initiatives including flexible working, training investment and an employee ownership scheme allocating 30% of the business to its team.
Founder Graeme Leighfield said: “From the very beginning, we’ve believed that if you create the right environment for talented people to thrive, great work will naturally follow. Our team is the heart of everything we do.”
The award comes as GEL Studios continues a period of growth, with new hires, the recent acquisition of Infinity Nation and an expanding leadership team.