TEES TECH AWARDS 2025

SPONSORED BY VISTECH SERVICES

FINALISTS

PLATVIX

BearTech founders Rob and Ali Boville receive the Digital Newcomer award from Paul Heeran, right, director of operations at category sponsor Vistech Services.

WINNER

It began with a chat at the family coffee table – and in little over a year, technology consultancy BearTech is an award-winner.

Launched in early 2024, BearTech specialises in AI-driven automation, digital transformation and system architecture.

In one year, it’ s grown rapidly from two people – married couple Rob and Ali Boville of Ingleby Barwick – to a 22-strong team, generating £ 1.27m in revenue.

Its flagship innovation, AI-powered legal automation platform Jurana, secured £ 600,000 in revenue within 10 weeks of alpha release.

The firm has also led major enterprise projects, including rebuilding Techniche’ s data architecture and enhancing bp’ s operations in 60 countries. But it all began at the family coffee table!

Rob said:“ When Ali and I started the business, we sat down on day one at our coffee table, built our website, looked at each other and said,‘ Where are we going to take this?’ – and we still don’ t know in all honesty!

“ But Teesside is one of the most amazing ecosystems in the country – we go to places like Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, but this is the most collaborative area of the UK we go into.

“ People want to help and support you – they want to do the best they possibly can for each other. So, thank you to Teesside for the year we’ ve had – the support has been amazing.”

With Rob’ s background in tech and Ali’ s in business strategy, the couple, who’ ve been married for eight years, had already been finalists in the Small Business of the Year category at the Tees Business Awards.

But to win a Tees Tech Award, said Ali, was“ astounding, fantastic – we didn’ t expect it all.” And their success proves that married and business life can mix. Rob said:“ We’ d never really worked together side by side, but we’ ve come out the other end incredibly strong and with a high-performing business.

“ Developing BearTech has been a very organic process – through networks, contacts and people who worked with us before, trust us, understand the quality of what we produce and want to work with us again.” And the Boville coffee table may well have spawned another winner. Rob explained:“ We’ ve just spun out a second business, Automate Legal, that we believe will be a real game-changer in the legal industry. We can’ t say too much about it at the moment, but I’ d just say,‘ Watch this space’.”

Platvix is an emerging AI and fintech startup that is redefining financial support for earlystage businesses.

Incubated at Teesside Launchpad, Teesside University’ s start- up incubator, and having come through the Launchpad Fuel programme, the company has rapidly gained traction, demonstrating its potential to transform how startups access intelligent financial solutions. It’ s now set to launch its first AI agent, designed to empower startups with smarter, data-driven decision-making.

By making AI-driven financial tools accessible, Platvix enables startups to scale efficiently and focus on building their vision. And as it prepares for its official launch, the company – driven by founders Zeeshan and Aqib – is ready to make a lasting impact.

SALVIFY

Born from co-founder Craig Rabbett’ s experience as an offshore medic and informed by public tragedies such as the Manchester bombing and Brixton crush, healthcare inventory software Salvify is a response to real healthcare vulnerabilities – demonstrating how frontline experience, technical innovation and an understanding of healthcare needs can transform an industry in need of specialist solutions.

Since launching in January 2024, it’ s already won several awards, clocked up a 700 % revenue growth and secured contracts with ambulance services, event medical teams and air repatriation providers.

And as the growth continues, it’ s now in talks with NHS procurement teams and attracting interest from maritime and offshore sectors.

SPONSOR’ S MESSAGE

Paul Heeran, director of operations, Vistech Services: It’ s vitally important to have exemplary new strength coming into the industry that provides more competition and improves things overall. This is why we’ ve sponsored the newcomer category for six years and it never ceases to amaze us – year on year, the tech industry seems to improve. More and more excellent newcomers are coming through, which strengthens the industry overall.

150 | Tees Business