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, fill out the following form here.
This week, techSPARK was in the room at the British Business Bank‘s Investor Roadshow in Bristol.
The event brought together 200 investors and 40 ambitious South West businesses for a day focused on connection, capital and growth. With founders, funders and ecosystem champions all in one place, the energy in the room said it all.
From inspiring founder stories to conversations with companies scaling locally, the depth of innovation across the region was clear. The South West is building exceptional businesses with national and global potential.
It also reinforced an important message. We must continue to amplify our regional story and create stronger connections between external investors and the talent growing here.
Huge thanks to the British Business Bank team for delivering such a high impact event.
The Smarter Web Company PLC has acquired Bristol-based digital agency Squarebird in a £1.7m deal, marking another step in its long-term growth strategy.
Listed on Aquis in April 2025, the Guildford-based company made headlines after briefly surpassing a £1bn market capitalisation. The acquisition of Squarebird, founded in 2015, brings a team of more than 20 staff, £1.4m in annual turnover, and a client base built on strong recurring revenue.
The deal strengthens The Smarter Web Company’s core digital services offering and supports its strategy of combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions, alongside its well-publicised Bitcoin treasury policy.
Read the full news here.
Our first techSPARK Easy Social at Flashpoint Bristol delivered exactly what it promised, relaxed, genuine networking without the formalities.
From first-time climbers to seasoned boulderers, the community showed up ready to step outside their usual routine and connect in a more natural way. The result was authentic conversations, new relationships and a reminder that some of the best connections happen when you least expect them.
Easy Socials are designed to bring the tech community together in a way that feels human, informal and genuinely fun, and this was just the start.
A fascinating research project lands in Bristol this Saturday, as Interactive Studio Megaverse and indie-rock band Townhouses take over Strange Brew for an immersive live show.
Blending performance with real-time technology, the audience and band will shape the experience together through audio and movement-reactive large-scale visuals, while the venue connects simultaneously to an interactive online audience.
Part of CoSTAR National Lab’s Grass Roots Music Venue Innovation competition, in partnership with MusicFutures and supported by Music Venue Trust, the project explores new ways to strengthen and reimagine the UK’s live music sector.
Find out more about the Grass Roots Music Venue Innovation initiative here.
Book your ticket here.