Two female founders from Loughborough University spinouts unveiled as finalists for Midlands Women in Tech Awards

Annie Godara, co-founder and chief technology officer of DineticQ, an interactive coaching feedback system, and Kate Allan, founder of ExpHand Prosthetics, which develops prosthetics, have both been nominated as finalists in the upcoming MIdlands Women in Tech Awards, which shine a light on and celebrate the accomplishments of pioneering women shaping the tech industry.

Annie – 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 Loughborough’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, DineticQ launched from LUinc. – the University’s business incubator based on LUSEP, 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.”

Loughborough graduate Kate (Product Design Engineering MEng, 2019) 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.

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.