Collctiv has fended off competition from dozens of local tech startups to be crowned North West Tech Innovator as part of KPMG’s search for the UK’s most exciting tech businesses.

The Manchester-based firm has created an app that helps group organisers collect money for activities and large gifts simply by enabling them to send just one link and receive payments in less than five seconds.

Collctiv was one of hundreds of applications to the UK competition and was shortlisted among the most exciting tech offerings in the region who were invited to pitch in the regional heat.

The competition, which KPMG runs to spotlight and celebrate the world’s most innovative technology, provides a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and collectively champion the future of tech.

CEO and co-founder Amy Whitell said: “Winning the regional heat of the KPMG UK Tech Innovator competition was a complete surprise!

“The competition was fierce as we have so many innovative tech businesses in the North West. I'm honoured to have won, but the kudos really goes to my team and the wider Manchester tech ecosystem as we wouldn't be where we are without it.”

Commenting on the regional heat, Chris Stott, Manchester Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK said: “It was inspiring to see so many impressive businesses from across the region, we are certainly blessed with a wealth of innovative entrepreneurs making it happen in the Manchester tech eco-system.

“Amy and the team at Collctiv illustrated this innovation, keeping it simple, relevant with demonstrable scalability, we wish them every success at the national final.”

The competition, which has been running since 2013, has celebrated some of the UK’s best pure technology and tech-enabled including What3Words, VividQ and HiiROC who have all been crowned previous winners. 2022 winner HiiROC took it a step further by winning the global final at Web Summit.

Collctiv will now progress to the national final to be held in London in July.

The overall UK champion will then advance to the global final later in the year, where an international panel of judges will select the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator.

Nicole Lowe, Head of Emerging Giants at KPMG UK, said: “The standard has been extremely high this year and it has been brilliant to see the variety of businesses the competition has unearthed across the country.

“Each year we are delighted to showcase the best the country has to offer and cannot wait to see who comes out top in the final.”

Previous KPMG UK Tech Innovator winners

2024 - Halocycle

2023 - Inovus Medical

2022 - HiiROC

2021 - FIDO Tech

2020 - VividQ

2019 - Humming Bird Technologies (acquired by Agreena)

2018 - Echo (acquired by McKesson UK) 

2017 - Safe To Net

2016 - What 3 Words

2015 - RefMe (acquired by education company Chegg, Inc)

2014 - Babylon Health (acquired eMed Healthcare UK)