A new investment and consultancy company has been launched in the West Midlands aimed at helping the region’s tech sector grow.
Called The Ark, it will bring upcoming tech and digital companies together with angel investors, expertise and a wider community of innovative companies looking to grow and scale.
The new venture says it wishes to address what it called "the major constraint" to growing tech clusters outside of London and capitalise on Birmingham’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Former Barclays director Rupert Lyle is one of its founders.
He said: "No organisation in the Midlands or even the UK has ever truly harnessed the potential economic value-add of a network of individuals in this way.
"The Ark seeks to harness expert advice, access to networks and investment potential and use it in a way that helps Midlands’ entrepreneurial talent convert drive, vision and energy into successful high growth businesses or even life changing social enterprises.
"Central to The Ark is a holistic support service to help businesses reach their potential from partners that will include universities, incubators, venture capital firms and angel organisations.
"The West Midlands represents the largest tech cluster outside of London - it is a region built on innovation and community spirit so what better location to launch this unique and ambitious platform and put regional talent on the map."
The announcement was made as part of the launch of Birmingham Tech Week which is taking place at venues across the city this week in partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company.
During the event, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street announced that ten organisations from across the region would be offered a combined 2,000 training places as part of the £5 million Beat the Bots funding programme.
Launched earlier this year, the fund will facilitate digital upskilling, safeguarding thousands of jobs from robots.
Mr Street said: "From my days at John Lewis, I know just how fast technology moves in business. Artificial Intelligence, self-driving vehicles and robotics are getting better, and, in reality, it is only a matter of time before real people will lose out to bots in the fight for jobs.
"That is why the West Midlands Combined Authority has launched the Beat the Bots fund which is a chance for workers in the West Midlands to gain invaluable digital skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future.
"Our digital industry is booming, employing an estimated more than 100,000 people by 2030, and I want local people to have the skills they need to lead this thriving sector."
