Dorset Business Angels is scheduled to host its next pitch event later this month in Bournemouth, with five high-growth businesses seeking investments of between £225,000 and £550,000. The companies selected to pitch operate across sectors including regulatory water testing, production efficiency, AI-driven services, legal technology, and enterprise data management.
Peter Eales, managing director of Dorset Business Angels, said: “This event is a great way to kick off 2026. The quality of businesses pitching reflects both the pace of innovation we are seeing and the real-world problems founders are solving. From regulatory-grade water testing to enterprise AI data integrity, these companies are addressing urgent market needs. Our ‘meet the founder’ session ahead of the pitches remains an integral part of the experience, giving investors that essential chance to connect with entrepreneurs on a personal level and begin building relationships that often underpin successful long-term investments.”
Among the participants is a water testing company aiming to change how bacteria in water is detected and managed, offering laboratory-grade results on-site in under 15 minutes. With 13 patents granted and four pending, as well as validation from universities, regulators, and water utilities in the UK and North America, the business is seeking £500,000 to increase manufacturing and support its regulatory progress and international expansion.
Another business is presenting a rapid-deployment factory intelligence platform that is compatible with various hardware and provides a measurable return on investment within weeks. The system combines real-time machine data with operational context such as shifts, schedules, and energy usage. The company currently has more than a dozen paying customers and is looking to raise £225,000 to accelerate sales and expand its customer base.
Also pitching is a voice-first AI assistant designed to reduce the administrative tasks faced by tradespeople and small service businesses by allowing users to manage quotes, invoices, and tax records by voice. Founded by entrepreneurs with previous business exits, the platform has attracted early interest across multiple trades, and the team is seeking £550,000 to grow the business.
A legal technology platform is also set to present its system for handling data for lawyers, which automates rankings submissions, capability statements, and fee proposals. The business has already onboarded dozens of law firms across multiple jurisdictions and established a partnership with Chambers & Partners.
Finally, a platform that allows organisations to audit, correct, and maintain a single knowledge source for both AI and human use will pitch to investors. The founders are targeting regulated sectors such as aviation, utilities, and infrastructure, and are currently conducting paid pilots. They are seeking £500,000 to further develop the platform and extend its customer base.
The pitch event will take place on 26 January at the Bournemouth Carlton Hotel. Each company will deliver a ten-minute pitch followed by a ten-minute question-and-answer session. Tom Rich of event sponsor Rathbones will also provide a review of 2025 and a perspective on 2026.
Image source: Dorset Business Angels
