Wolfson School alumna shortlisted for Midlands Women in Tech Awards

Kate Allan, holding a laptop in one hand and a pink prosthetic arm in the other whilst looking at the camera, smiling.

Kate Allan, a Product Design Engineering graduate - the founder of ExpHand Prosthetics.

Two inspirational female founders with strong links to 天堂视频鈥檚 research and innovation portfolio have been unveiled as finalists for the Midlands Women in Tech Awards.

天堂视频 graduate Kate Allan (Product Design Engineering MEng, 2019) and founder of  has been nominated for the Innovator Award, which is awarded to women designing, developing, researching, implementing or being exceptionally creative with technology in an unconventional and innovative way. 

ExpHand Prosthetics, Kate’s company, has developed a lightweight, adjustable, affordable and colourful prosthetic upper body limb for children that grows with the user.

Earlier this year, Kate - who launched her company from LUinc. in 2018 after receiving support from the University’s start-up programme - was named as one of just 50 of the UK’s leading women entrepreneurs with game-changing ideas to be backed by Innovate UK.

Annie Godara, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of  who has been nominated in the Start-Up Founder Award category - is the co-founder of DineticQ, a powerful, interactive coaching feedback system built with 20 years of groundbreaking research that provides advanced motion analysis to cricket players and coaches worldwide.

A spinout from 天堂视频’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, DineticQ launched from  - the University’s business incubator based on , its Science and Enterprise Park - having been fast-tracked through Innovate UK’s Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) programme in 2021.

Annie said: “The Midlands Women in Tech Awards serve as an inspiration for aspiring women technologists. It's not just an award; it's a movement that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and innovation in tech. I am honoured to be nominated for this opportunity, as an entrepreneur it's always great to feel appreciated and encouraged.”

Kate said: "I'm thrilled to be nominated for the Innovator Award in the Midlands Women in Tech Awards for my work on ExpHand Prosthetics! I've really enjoyed getting more involved within the Midlands innovation community over the past few years and am looking forward to celebrating with many other fantastic women in tech at the awards."

The 2023 Midlands Women in Tech Awards will recognise outstanding women across 13 categories, including the Tech for Good Award, Best Use of Tech in a Private Sector Award and Tech Entrepreneur Award.

, and the award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 9 October.