Worcestershire Technology Festival Concludes with Innovation Showcase and Award Winner Crowning

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Worcestershire’s two-week celebration of technology and innovation has drawn to a close with the BetaDen Technology Showcase, a high-profile event highlighting cutting-edge local businesses and announcing the winner of the county’s inaugural Worcestershire Innovation Champion Award.

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Held as the grand finale of Worcestershire TechFest 2026 at the Stanbrook Abbey in Worcester, the Showcase brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and public-sector partners to celebrate the region’s growing innovation ecosystem. 

Over the course of the evening, founders from BetaDen’s ninth accelerator cohort presented their emerging technology innovations, demonstrating solutions to real-world challenges across sectors such as health, agriculture, logistics, AI, and wellbeing.

The cohort companies showcased were:

• Barbourne Brook — a technology-driven customs advisory service helping businesses streamline import processes

• ErgoFigure — a smart wellness device monitoring fluid changes for people with serious health conditions

• Book Drive — an online platform simplifying the booking of driving lessons for students and instructors

• CareBoodle — an application supporting carers in identifying symptoms of delirium and escalating cases appropriately

• CORZ — a gamified core-training device designed to improve strength efficiently

• Ocius Consulting —a change-management platform, placing people at the centre of organisational transformation

• First Base Solutions — a robotics software addressing agricultural workforce shortages

• Scalably — an AI-powered marketplace integration platform simplifying connections between sellers and retailers

The presentations highlighted the breadth of innovation emerging from Worcestershire, demonstrating how locally developed technologies are targeting national and global markets while contributing to regional economic growth.

Donston Powell, External Affairs Director at BetaDen, said: “Seeing Cohort 9.0 present their solutions tonight is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when ambitious founders are supported with the right expertise, networks, and environment.

“We’re proud of what has been achieved during TechFest 2026 and excited to build on this momentum as we continue to support the next generation of innovative businesses in Worcestershire.”

Furthermore, a major highlight of the evening was the crowning of the winner of the Worcestershire Innovation Champion Award, a new recognition celebrating organisations making an outstanding contribution to innovation in the county.

Following an open nomination process, judging panel review, and public vote, the 2026 winner was revealed as Glowing Mamma, a Worcester-based specialist maternal fitness company providing clinically informed, midwife-led exercise programmes for pregnancy and postnatal recovery.

Rosie Bligh, Founder of Glowing Mamma, said: “Winning this award motivates us to keep pushing boundaries and contributing to Worcestershire’s innovation future.”

As TechFest 2026 concludes, attention now turns to sustaining the connections, ideas, and opportunities generated during the festival.

Organisers BetaDen, Midlands Cyber, Worcestershire Growth Hub, and Worcestershire County Council have confirmed that planning for future TechFest events is already underway, with the aim of continuing to champion innovation and showcase the talent that exists across Worcestershire.