Gloucestershire Tech Week has announced SpaceAM, the county's future tech unicorn, as headline sponsor of its 2026 programme.
Founded in 2019 by CEO Chris Isaac, SpaceAM designs and builds ultra-lightweight, AI-enabled sensor systems that can be dropped from the air or into extreme environments to collect critical data where conventional systems are too heavy, too costly or too difficult to use. The technology was originally developed for space exploration and is now being applied to defence, medical and national security contexts. The technology is all developed in-house, in Gloucestershire.
The past year has been a breakout one for the company. In May, SpaceAM was named one of just 13 "future British defence unicorns" selected under a new UK scheme to grow the next generation of British technology businesses. Since then, it has closed a seed funding round backed by Foresight Group, grown its team to 13 people and opened new research and development facilities in the county.
The sponsorship comes as Gloucestershire Tech Week announces the theme Mission Driven for 2026, building its programme around seven national challenges facing the UK, from keeping critical technology in British hands and building world-class technology, to growing skills and innovating faster.
"For us, taking headline sponsorship is about building a home grown ecosystem of partners, suppliers and skilled engineering jobs that strengthens the UK deep tech sector and keeps world class capability rooted here in Gloucestershire."
Chris Isaac, CEO and founder of SpaceAM
"SpaceAM is a strong example of the kind of technology being built in Gloucestershire right now: ambitious, world-class, and tackling problems that matter, from space exploration to national security. That is exactly what Gloucestershire Tech Week is about, so having them as headline sponsor could not be a better fit."
Hollie Wakefield, General Manager of CyNam and founder of Gloucestershire Tech Week
Gloucestershire Tech Week runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026, with each day taking a different theme and venue across the county: Heritage at the Jet Age Museum; Resilience & Sovereignty at Hub8 MX, Cheltenham; Curiosity at the University of Gloucestershire's Park Campus; [Artificial] Intelligence at Patch, The Forum, Gloucester; and Opportunity at the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls Campus. Powered by CyNam, the week brings together founders, innovators, investors, universities and government around the technologies shaping the UK's future.
An all-access pass for the week is £30. Tickets and the full programme are available at glostechweek.co.uk/programme/all.
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Notes to editors
For more information contact: CyNam marketing@cynam.org
About SpaceAM
SpaceAM is a Gloucestershire-based technology company developing autonomous sensor systems for the most hostile environments, from the atmosphere of Venus to the urban environment on Earth. Its ultra-lightweight, low-power designs deliver critical data where conventional methods fall short, with hardware, software and AI all developed in-house in the UK.
About Gloucestershire Tech Week
Gloucestershire Tech Week is a five-day festival of technology and innovation, held 12–16 October 2026 at venues across Cheltenham, Gloucester and the wider county. Founded and powered by CyNam, the week brings together founders, innovators, disruptors, leaders and learners to turn the county's technology strengths into solutions for society's biggest challenges.
About CyNam
CyNam is the recognised cyber cluster for Gloucestershire and the county's hub for cyber security and technology. Founded as a meetup in 2015 and now a community of more than 7,000 members, CyNam is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that connects start-ups, investors, government, businesses and academia to enable secure innovation and economic growth.
