Posted: 10/10/2024
Blackbird plc (AIM: BIRD), the developer and seller of the market leading cloud video platform, Blackbird, and developer and distributor of the online collaborative video editing and content creation platform, elevate.io, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to join Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme (“GBIP”) which includes a fully-funded trip attending the South by Southwest (“SXSW”) Conference in Austin, Texas in March 2025.
Innovate UK is the United Kingdom’s national innovation agency, part of UK Research and Innovation, aimed at driving economic growth by supporting businesses and organisations in developing and commercialising innovative ideas, products and services. Its primary goal is to help UK companies bring their cutting-edge technologies and innovations to market whilst fostering competitiveness on a global scale.
Innovate UK’s GBIP is a 9 to 12 month programme that aims to support innovative UK businesses to grow and scale on the global stage through building R&D, innovation collaborations and partnerships.
SXSW is an annual event running from 7 to 14 March 2025. It combines conferences, festivals, and exhibitions across the fields of music, film, interactive media, technology and innovation. The festival has become a major cultural phenomenon and attracts a wide audience, from startups and creatives to investors, brand marketers and media professionals. As part of the selected cohort, Blackbird will benefit from Innovate UK’s support including pitching opportunities, panel discussions and extensive networking to companies and potential partners.
Blackbird CEO Ian McDonough said: “We are thrilled to have been selected to join Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme, which will provide us with multiple opportunities to showcase elevate.io globally to interested companies and potential partners and help us with our growth ambitions. We look forward to leveraging SXSW and the wider GBIP.”

Blackbird is best-of-breed
Jon Hanford - Group CTO, Deltatre