Top six North West digital firms to watch in 2017

The North West’s digital sphere has had a busy two weeks, to put it mildly.

With businesses bringing jobs to Warrington’s Base innovation hub, Manchester Tech Trust welcoming high-calibre names to its advisory board and Sci-Tech Daresbury hitting a new milestone in its 46,000 sq ft Techspace One development, a lot has happened in the region since mid-Feb.

There are a swathe of digital-led innovators in the region setting their sights on growth this year, so it was a tough task settling on those I consider the top six to watch.

Here they are, in no particular order:

SurveyMe

SurveyMe is the Stockport company behind an app that enables businesses to quickly collect bespoke, real-time feedback from their consumers and employees.

Just recently, the firm closed a funding round (launched in partnership with Chester’s Deepbridge Capital) that attracted £2m from investors.

SurveyMe has also expanded with a new office in California as part of a wider strategy to increase its US footprint.

Howz

Manchester has no shortage of health-tech businesses, but Howz has created a unique system that could make a real difference to those with vulnerable friends or relatives.

The startup’s connected home platform, which is predominantly made for elderly people who live alone, impressed the judges at energy giant EDF’s Innovators’ Day in London and landed Howz a £30k grant.

The system measures a home’s electricity usage in combination with data gathered by a series of sensors, allowing Howz to detect when daily patterns are broken and alert the user’s family.

Cadscan

Technology business Cadscan has set its sights on global growth.

The Chester-based company is seeking CE Marking accreditation over the next 12 months, which it said will tell prospective buyers in Europe its products meet the trading bloc’s stringent health and safety standards.

If such accreditation is granted, the firm believes it will be in a position to create jobs, unlock turnover growth and secure new continental markets for its scanning technology. The Cheshire & Warrington Growth Hub is currently helping Cadscan as it works towards that goal.

Avecto

Perhaps the most established name on this list, Avecto is nevertheless growing – and growing fast.

The global software company, which has its roots firmly planted in the North West, recently unveiled plans to create dozens of new jobs after achieving 83% turnover growth during the six months to December – a record half-year for the company.

To further its continued growth plans, Avecto has landed deals with various large businesses including an unnamed Fortune 500 tech brand.

Reconfigure.io

If successful, Reconfigure.io’s creation could provide a major long-term solution to what its founder, serial software entrepreneur Rob Taylor, has called “an extremely hot global issue”.

With its new technology platform, the Manchester-based startup is hoping to enable computing performance to keep apace with the ever-increasing data demands driven by growth in online media, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other digital fields.

Outside its North West heartland, Reconfigure.io has a team of key high-end engineers based in US. Over the last few weeks, the company has more than doubled its workforce and now employs 11 staff.

MCR Live

MCR Live is an all-new radio and podcast network looking to move away from what it believes is an “ad-heavy” format adopted by other local stations.

The company’s focus on the vibrant cultural scene in Manchester will include offering restaurant and bar guides and championing local musicians.

With a team working from a former Victorian mill in the Ancoats area, led by Radio.co brains James Mulvany and student radio wizard Rhys Hancock, it’s no surprise MCR Live harbours bold ambitions to become a voice for creatives in the city.

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