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Hosted by TechWM, the awards ceremony formed a key part of Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional tech festival, and brought together over 550 leaders, entrepreneurs and influential individuals striving for change and development across the digital and technology sectors. Proudly sponsored by IBM, the awards were presented to those who reflected the power, creativity and ambition that defines the West Midlands as the home of tech innovation. Andy Hague, CEO of TechWM and Birmingham Tech Week, said: “The Birmingham Tech Awards are more than just a chance to congratulate our wonderful individuals and businesses, but they are also a testament to the incredible drive, dedication and innovation that defines our thriving tech ecosystem in the West Midlands. "The region is recognised across the globe for our achievements and evolutionary work in frontier technologies, as well as our belief in championing tech start-ups and entrepreneurs, so getting some time to appreciate their outstanding accomplishments and continued growth is well needed.” Winners included: Diversity Award: Kellie Kwarteng Kellie Kwarteng, Founder and CEO of Halzak and the Elevate Women in Tech initiative, was recognised for her outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion in the tech space. With over 20 years of experience in tech recruitment, Kellie has championed gender equality through mentorship, community building and strategic talent development. Her ElevateHER Leadership Mentor Programme supported over 100 women in 2024 alone. Scaleup of the Year: Grid Edge Grid Edge, a Birmingham based AI energy management company, was celebrated for its rapid growth and impact. Founded in 2016, the company uses predictive machine learning to optimise energy use in commercial buildings, helping clients reduce costs and carbon emissions. With clients including the Bullring and Royal Opera House, and recent funding of £2.8 million, Grid Edge is scaling sustainably while contributing to the UK’s Net Zero goals. Startup of the Year: EvoPhase EvoPhase, an AI design startup, was honoured for its groundbreaking work in sustainable technology. The company made headlines with the Birmingham Blade, the world’s first AI-designed urban wind turbine tailored to local wind conditions. Founded in 2023, EvoPhase is already expanding its evolutionary design technology into sectors such as food, pharma and manufacturing. Tech for Good: Flash Academy / Learning Labs Ltd Flash Academy, developed by Learning Labs Ltd, received the Tech for Good award for its transformative impact on language learning. The Birmingham based platform supports over 1,000 schools and 250,000 learners, helping individuals overcome language barriers through gamified, curriculum aligned content. Tech Leader of the Year: Melissa Snover Melissa Snover, Founder and CEO of Rem3dy Group, was recognised for her leadership in health-tech. Through her brands Nourished and Scripted, she has pioneered 3D printed personalised nutrition and medicine, while also serving in advisory roles with Tech Nation and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Young Tech Person of the Year: Clodagh Delahunty-Forrest Clodagh Delahunty-Forrest, 21, is a performance artist, poet and screenwriter whose work explores identity, transformation and technology. A recent graduate of Lancaster University, her award-winning projects have been showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe and across the UK. For more information, visit birminghamtechweek.com
