The competition - KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in the UK - is now in its ninth year and has seen previous winners such as Echo Healthcare, What3Words and FIDO Tech go on to achieve global success and investment.

The competition is open to scale-up businesses from early stage to accelerated growth.

Those crowned ‘Scotland’s top tech innovators’ at an in-person heat in Glasgow on 21 June 2022 will be given exclusive networking opportunities with industry experts and other tech innovators. Regional winners will be invited to pitch at a UK-wide final at Nexus at the University of Leeds.

The UK winner will be flown out to the Global Tech Innovator final at the Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon, where they will pitch their growth plans to an international judging panel and receive global recognition in the KPMG Private Enterprise ‘2022 Winners Report’.

Amy Burnett, KPMG private enterprise senior manager in Scotland, said: “Our search for Scotland’s top tech innovators aims to shine a light on some of the country’s most exciting businesses and ideas. Scotland’s tech sector is in great health with venture capital investment in scale ups doubling last year, thanks to the talent and innovation you can find in every corner of the country. Whether they’re tech-enabled, tech-led or tech-driven, we’re encouraging businesses to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to take their operation to the next level.

“Taking part is a simple way to make important connections and gain recognition among some of the most trusted advisors, industry leaders and influencers in Scotland as well as other major world markets through the global exposure in the finalist competition.”

The competition’s Scottish winners in 2020 were Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), a firm which specialises in vertical farming technology.

IGS CEO David Farquhar, added: “We were delighted to be named one of the six finalists in 2020 from amongst a hugely talented and forward-thinking pool of businesses. It was wonderful to see our team receive the praise it deserves for all the hard work and commitment that has been put in over the last few years. Having been recognised by such a globally renowned business as KPMG has opened doors to some amazing opportunities for IGS – it really was a huge privilege to be selected for this competition.”

Warren Middleton, lead partner of the Emerging Giants Centre of Excellence for KPMG in the UK, said: “Over the last decade we have seen global VC investment levels in the UK soar tenfold as our regional ecosystems continue to mature, grow and attract greater numbers of home-grown innovators. Innovation is an essential contributor to the health and wealth of our economy so I am delighted that this competition continues to discover, support and showcase the exciting disruptive technology that is being developed and nurtured in the UK.

“We are very excited that the competition has expanded globally as we look to support the continued growth of the top tech innovators who are either hidden gems in our huge tech ecosystem or leading the way in disruption and innovative thinking. Whether they are tech-enabled, tech-led or tech-driven, we’re inviting our unicorns of tomorrow to consider this opportunity to take their businesses to the next level and get access to vital networks that no fast-growing tech company will want to miss.”

Applications are now open for the UK competition at KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator - KPMG United Kingdom.