A project that identifies the 25 most disruptive firms in the South West is to return for a second year.
Disrupt South West recognises innovative ventures with headquarters in the region which hold the greatest potential to influence, change or create new markets. Bristol firms dominated the inaugural list last year – with seven of the top 10 based in the city. 
Disrupt South West is again being produced by Tällt Ventures, recruitment firm ADLIB and regional law firm Foot Anstey. It aims to highlight the disruptive business success stories from the South West, furthering the region’s growing profile as a global technology hub.
Last year’s index contained start-ups and scale-ups from a wide range of sectors – spanning artificial intelligence and machine learning to 3D printing technology. Across the 25, some 20% were using artificial intelligence and machine learning, 20% were developing cloud and 16% were using 3D technology.
The top three disrupters were all based in Bristol: Ultrahaptics, which creates cutting-edge technology that allows people to ‘feel’ virtual objects, FiveAI, a start-up building software for autonomous vehicles that will be safe to use in complex urban environments, and Graphcore, a tech start-up changing the way machines operate by altering the way they learn.
ADLIB managing director Nick Dean said: “Since launching the Index in 2017 we’ve witnessed unprecedented demand to meet the needs of the South West’s thriving and recognised tech cluster. Over the course of the next 12 months we are looking to increase our own headcount to close to 50 people primarily across our digital, technology and data teams.”
He said the Scale Up Yearbook launched this month by Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation centre in partnership with the West of England Growth Hub, showed there are 700 scale-up businesses in the South West alone.
“This is the tip of the iceberg and demonstrates the size of what’s happening out there,” he added.
Foot Anstey partner and head of technology Martin Cuell said following the success of last year’s event, the firm was delighted to be launching the DisruptSW Index in a reimagined format.
“Recognising the diversity of businesses, organisations and investors that are at the heart of the flourishing tech and creative scene in the South West has been a key part of the initiative,” he said.
“Our aim is to bring these organisations together to celebrate, collaborate and ultimately make connections that will enhance and add value to these organisations in the future.”
Tällt Ventures founder and CEO Matt Connolly said: “It’s brilliant to see the local talent the South West produces and that ventures here are getting the recognition, investment and support they need and deserve to scale.
“We’re really proud to have our HQ here in Bristol and to be a part of such a smart, creative and disruptive community; DisruptSW is a great celebration of that.”
The 2018 Index will be revealed at an invitation-only launch celebration called DisruptSW reimagined on September 27 in Bristol.
The launch event will be sponsored by fast-growing Bristol-based (R&D) tax credit consultancy ForrestBrown.
