º£½ÇÊÓƵ

The Northern Ireland finalists for a new º£½ÇÊÓƵ-wide awards initiative championing the best in start-ups and entrepreneurial activity can been revealed.

The has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.

This marked boost in nascent entrepreneurship is mirrored by a huge 2,500 applications which have been received in response to the Startup Awards National Series’ first ever call for entries.

The Northern Ireland startups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of over £3m and employing 146 people between them.

One finalist said: “Northern Ireland has proved to be a key start-up hub over the last ten years.

“It's where lots of start-up enterprises have begun and grown over the years. It's a place that is cost-effective to establish and run a business, and over time it’s proved to be entrepreneurial and innovative in its approach.”

The cohort of finalists announced today will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes Northern Ireland-based Roisin Molloy, CEO & founder of Trimedika, Dave Linton, CEO of Madlug, and Audrey Osbourse, investor in TechStart Ventures.

Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.