iLivestock, a Rosyth-based agritech firm, has emerged victorious in the Scotland regional final of KPMG’s Tech Innovator competition, beating out dozens of local tech startups. The company, which offers an all-in-one management platform for sheep and cattle farmers, was selected from hundreds of applications to pitch in the regional heat. The competition, now in its second decade, aims to spotlight and celebrate innovative technology, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses.
The win is a significant validation for iLivestock, which seeks to revolutionize the way farmers manage their livestock. The platform enables farmers to track key data across cattle and sheep, streamlining farm management and improving efficiency. Ewen Wardman, CEO and Co-Founder of iLivestock, expressed his enthusiasm about the win, stating that it is a great opportunity to demonstrate the real difference their technology can make for livestock farms of all sizes. He also highlighted the chance to connect with investors and scale their innovation as they represent Scotland in the UK final in London.
The implications of this win are substantial. For iLivestock, it means increased visibility and credibility, which can attract potential investors and customers. For the Scottish tech scene, it underscores the region’s growing reputation as a hub for agricultural innovation and sustainability. Amy Burnett, Emerging Giants Lead at KPMG UK, praised iLivestock’s pitch, noting that it clearly showed how their platform helps farmers tackle everyday challenges. She also highlighted the company’s potential for growth and the strength of their product.
iLivestock will now progress to the national final in London in July, where they will compete against other regional winners for the title of UK Tech Innovator. The overall UK champion will then advance to the global final, where an international panel of judges will select the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator. Previous winners of the competition include notable tech companies such as What3Words, VividQ, and HiiROC, the latter of which went on to win the global final at Web Summit in 2022.
The competition has been running since 2013 and has celebrated some of the UK’s best pure technology and tech-enabled businesses. Nicole Lowe, Head of Emerging Giants at KPMG UK, commented on the high standard of entries this year and the variety of businesses the competition has unearthed across the country. She expressed her excitement about seeing who comes out on top in the final.
For iLivestock, the journey is just beginning. The win in the Scotland regional final is a testament to their innovative approach to solving real-world problems in the agricultural sector. As they prepare to compete in the national final, they carry with them the hopes of Scotland’s burgeoning tech scene and the promise of a brighter, more efficient future for livestock farmers.