“We aim to go global and build a civic management platform that extends to any council in the world,” explains Tenants Hub Founder, Ben Roberts who recently returned from the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona with a host of new business leads.

Ben was a guest of Connected Places Catapult – host of a UK Pavilion at the Congress – having taken part in the first cohort of the DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator, which helps SMEs and scale-up firms from the West Midlands to develop digital solutions for city applications, and identify commercial opportunities. 

Tenants Hub conducted a trial of its AI digital assistant with Birmingham City Council through the DIATOMIC programme in 2024, to allow social housing residents to find answers to queries quickly (such as when refuse bins are being collected) and easily report faults (including damp or mould). It is now looking to begin a second trial with Birmingham; and in the meantime, Ben is targeting other national and international clients.

“We have a partner ready in Mexico City to expand into South America, and exploring options in Asia and Dubai,” says Ben. “Keeping on top of the maintenance and repair of properties is a big market, and we are developing language translation for the AI to ensure the conversation continues back and forth within seconds.”

Moving forward, he sees an opportunity for the platform to allow local people to report issues on the highway to do with potholes, roadworks or traffic congestion. “In this increasingly complex world, it is important to build a greater sense of community around the local environment.”

Participating in the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona not only helped Tenants Hub to identify international potential, but also demonstrate its system to other UK cities including Glasgow and Leeds.

“We had a very positive response from the Barcelona show, speaking to people from councils and housing associations who liked what we offered and who put us in touch with colleagues. Being part of the UK Pavilion and with Connected Places Catapult beside us gave us a lot of credibility.”

Tenants Hub Founder, Ben Roberts

“The work we did with Birmingham has also allowed us to reach out to investors for funding, and early next year we will be launching our service fully to councils.  By the end of 2028, we predict revenues of £6m.”

A shortcut to making connections 

A second company exhibiting at the Smart City Expo World Congress was Purple Transform, a software firm which uses cameras and sensor data to populate a platform called SIYTE which oversees safety, security and operational efficiency on sites. The product can be used to detect flooding, monitor energy use in buildings, and spot trespassing, criminal activity, anti-social behaviour or non-compliance with health and safety protocols, such as workers not wearing the correct high visibility jacket.

The company is part of this year’s DIATOMIC Digital Accelerator, and is working alongside a building management firm on digital twin technology that can provide a virtual overview of how its real estate is being managed. 

The company previously took part in the Maritime Accelerator programme delivered by Connected Places Catapult to see how its technology could be used in ports. 

Purple Transform’s Business Development Lead, Peter Shearman says participating in the Barcelona show allowed the company to pitch its solution to around 16 potential clients within three days, “providing a massive shortcut for companies like ours. It would otherwise take months to organise as many meetings”.

His colleague, Marketing Lead, Caroline Cole adds that the show provided a fertile ground for identifying potential technology partners in other markets. She added its stand was visited by a European technology firm developing flood monitoring software in other markets, and the two businesses have since entered talks around how they could work together.

“We have discussions ongoing to see how we could swap data to help each other,” she says. “The collective power of the two of us working in different countries may lead to development of a product or a trial.”

Peter adds that he identified a bus infrastructure company from Eastern Europe at the Congress, who may want to enter a partnership to use their technology on its bus shelters. He also says the UK Pavilion provided a great opportunity to see what other cities and regions from this country are doing around technology.

“We have a plan to double our turnover in each of the next two years, and part of that is around international markets.”

“We're a small company with ambition, so attending an event like the one in Barcelona shows that there's a market there for us. Connected Places Catapult has been extremely helpful in our growth story; they provide exposure to a large audience through their networks, funding and validation of our work. The relationship is very valuable.”

Purple Transform’s Business Development Lead, Peter Shearman

Supporting a strong delegation

Connected Places Catapult’s Head of Regional Engagement, Iain Mansell said: “We took a strong West Midlands delegation of four companies from the DIATOMIC programme, supported by Business Growth West Midlands Export Support Programme, to Barcelona for the Smart City Expo World Congress, alongside representatives from West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Growth Company, regional universities, and Tech WM.

“Birmingham based businesses, Tenants Hub and Purple Transform, are inspiring examples of businesses who are focused on exporting their solutions to new markets, generating co-investment and promoting what they have achieved. They are both starting to chart real impact."

“It would normally take small businesses a considerable effort to expand their supply chains and see so many potential leads, so being able to participate in the UK Pavilion at the Congress gives firms confidence to meet people looking to do business. We were on a united mission as Team West Midlands.”

Connected Places Catapult’s Head of Regional Engagement, Iain Mansell

This is not the first time the West Midlands has been showcasing the work of its innovative small businesses abroad through the DIATOMIC programme. Earlier this year, a trade mission to India saw a UK delegation including seven firms from the DIATOMIC India Accelerator, run by Connected Places Catapult, attend India Energy Week. 

“That was another really successful example of where small businesses from the West Midlands identified opportunities and were introduced to local supply chains,” says Iain.

Read about Business Growth West Midlands’ export support programme, opportunities offered by the Catalonia Trade and Investment office in London, the trip to India Energy Week and Connected Places Catapult’s participation at the Smart City Expo World Congress.