SuperTech WM says West Midlands tech services ecosystem has grown nearly sixfold since 2020

SuperTech WM says its five-year push to accelerate technology-led innovation in professional services has helped grow the West Midlands ecosystem from 32 to 180 firms since 2020. The group also says it has leveraged more than £1 million in private co-investment, with commercial deals, pilots and partnerships now feeding into the region’s growth agenda.

Why it matters: - SuperTech WM says the West Midlands is building a larger technology-led professional services cluster, with potential to attract investment, customers and jobs. - The region’s Next Generation Services cluster is now a top-five priority in the West Midlands Local Growth Plan. - SuperTech WM is a lead delivery partner for growth through 2030. - National government investment has also been secured for the region through the Professional Business Service Hub as part of Industrial Strategy implementation.

What happened: - SuperTech WM launched its Impact Report 2026 in Birmingham on October 22, 2026. - The report says the West Midlands professional services technology ecosystem has grown from 32 firms in 2020 to 180 start-ups and scale-ups today. - The ecosystem now includes 100 FinTech businesses, 59 PropTech businesses and 21 LawTech businesses. - SuperTech WM says it has helped bring together established businesses, innovators, universities, investors, regulators and policymakers.

The details: - SuperTech WM says its activities have leveraged more than £1 million of private sector co-investment. - The organization reports five commercial deals, with eight more in the pipeline. - SuperTech WM says it has brokered more than 400 referrals across the ecosystem. - The first LawTech Open Innovation Lab generated £1.60 of private co-investment for every £1 of public funding and led to a commercial deal. - A second LawTech Open Innovation Lab on Legal AI generated £8.58 for every £1 of public funding. - That second programme saw 71% of innovators validate their propositions. - At least five commercial conversations from that programme are still continuing. - SuperTech WM’s collaboration with BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK helped Innovation Lab participant Inicio AI raise £2.8 million. - That total included £1 million of West Midlands investment as a direct result of its involvement. - Inicio AI and another participant later became commercial partners of the bank.

Between the lines: - The report suggests SuperTech WM is trying to convert ecosystem-building into measurable commercial outcomes, not just networking. - The funding leverage figures are a core proof point for public-sector-backed innovation programs. - The mix of FinTech, PropTech and LawTech shows the region is targeting applied professional services rather than broad tech growth alone. - Hilary Smyth-Allen, SuperTech WM chief executive, said the organization now has evidence of real impact and wants to build on those foundations.

What's next: - SuperTech WM is calling on more businesses, universities, investors and partners to help scale the impact. - The organization wants more collaborative innovation, more chances for emerging businesses to test and scale solutions, and a stronger West Midlands position in technology-led professional services. - The Impact Report 2026 says the next phase is to increase the commercial and economic impact across the region.

The bottom line: - SuperTech WM says five years of collaboration have turned a small regional ecosystem into a growing commercial platform for professional services innovation.