The best start-up firms in Wales have been revealed with the overall title going to sustainable pet brand Project Blu.
The Cardiff-based firm took the overall title in the 2020 Wales Start-Up Awards (winners in full below).
Founded by Geryn Evans in 2019, Project Blu is revolutionising the pet accessories market by transforming polluting materials, including fishing nets, ocean bound plastic, leather waste and recycled clothes, into pet products such as dog beds, collars, leashes and toys.
Project Blu has already received support from Mars Petcare and was chosen to attend its Leap Venture Studio in the USA earlier this year. It was also named the Green Start-Up of the Year and the Global Start-up of the Year in the awards.
Cardiff-based Yoello took the categories of Fintech Start-Up of the Year and Mobile and Emerging technologies Start-up of the Year.
It has recently created an app-less mobile ordering solution for the hospitality industry which has become a vital tool during t pandemic to enable businesses to reopen and trade safely with social distancing in place.
The Wales Start-up Awards, held online for the first time, showcases the best new businesses in Wales every year. The awards are open to Welsh firms less than three years old.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, who created the awards in 2015, said that despite the challenges faced by businesses across Wales, new firms had continued to make a significant impact over the last six months:
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He added: “Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards received a record number of entries with 40% of applications from female-owned firms. With a total of 107 finalists selected across 26 categories, the high quality of all these businesses made the judges’ task more difficult than ever and I am certain that many of this year’s shortlist are destined to make a real impact in their sectors over the next few years.”
“New firms will be creating the majority of jobs as we emerge out of recession and the 2020 finalists, along with thousands of other start-up businesses across Wales, will be critical in ensuring that the Welsh economy recovers quickly over the next twelve months. Their innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work during these turbulent times have been an inspiration to us all."
Chris Coughlan of main sponsor Capital Law said: “As a home-grown business ourselves, Capital Law is passionate about developing and maintaining a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wales. The Wales Start-Up Awards are at the heart of this as they give Welsh start-ups the opportunity to be recognised and connected.
“This year has been difficult for all and start-ups are no exception as the pandemic challenged their creation, survival, and growth. Fostering their ability to grasp new business opportunities is therefore essential to help speed up the recovery, making these awards as relevant as ever.
"It was inspiring to read about the progress achieved by so many start-ups during the judging process and a pleasure to see the passion and drive that each finalist has, not only for their business, but also the wider start-up community in Wales.”
The winners in full:
Wales Start-up of the Year: Project Blu.
• Business to Business Services Start-Up: Gorilla ERP.
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• Cardiff Start-Up: Sero Group.
• Construction Start-Up: innDex.
• Consumer Services Start-Up: Skybound Therapies.
• Creative Start-up: Ollywood.
• Cyber Start-Up: Cufflink.
• Digital Start-Up: Bright Branch Media.
• Equity-Backed Start-Up: Yimba.
• Financial and Professional Services Start-Up: ANNA Money.
• Fintech Start-Up: Yoello.
• Food/Drink Start-Up: Drop Bear Company.
• Global Start-Up: Project Blu.
• Graduate Start-Up: Visaura.
• Green Start-Up: Project Blu.
• Innovative Start-Up: iVAPPS.
• Manufacturing Start-Up: Cedar Tree Pods.
• Medtech start-Up: Concentric Health.
• Mobile and Emerging Technologies Start-Up: Yoello.
• North Wales Start-Up: Enbarr Foundation.
• Retail Start-Up: The Good Wash Company.
• Rural Start-Up: In the Welsh Wind Distillery.
• Social Enterprise Start-up: Inspire Alpine.
• Tourism Start-Up: Squirrel’s Nest.
• Valleys Start-Up: Drone Evolution.
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Martyn John (Good Brothers).
• Rising Stars: Suppliety and Vala Energy.
The 2020 Wales Start-up Awards were sponsored by: Capital Law, NatWest Bank, Abel + Imray, Bluegg, Business in Focus, Business News Wales, the Celtic Manor Resort, CEMET, CP Hire, the Development Bank of Wales, Fintech Wales, Freight Logistics Systems, Mazuma, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, South Wales Chamber of Commerce, Town Square Spaces, the University of South Wales, Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, the Welsh Government, and Wolfberry.