The Welsh finalists for a new Ƶ-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 Ƶ which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 start-ups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.
They build on the established Welsh StartUp Awards.
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 Wales start-ups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of over £18m and employing 587 people between them.
One finalist said: “It is our belief that any business should be proud to class themselves as a Welsh business. The Welsh economy is being built on the grounds of up-and-coming local entrepreneurs and it is a fantastic feeling to know we are a part of this.”
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes Wales-based Richard Theo, CEO and co-founder of Wealthify, Rachael Flanagan, founder of Mrs Buckét, and Geryn Evans of Project Blue, a previous Wales StartUp Awards winner.
Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the Ƶ who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
Co-founded by the team behind the , the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “New firms are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation. Since 2016, the Wales StartUp Awards have celebrated this amazing annual contribution to our economy by entrepreneurs and the impact they have on communities across the nation.
“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal Welsh startups we’ve heard from since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desires to take their career in a new direction and set up a business against the odds, we felt it was the right time to take the programme nationwide. As in previous years, we’ve been blown away by the standard of entries from Wales and truly look forward to crowning the winners.”
The Wales final will take place at Depot in Cardiff on 30th June 2022.
This year’s StartUp Awards National Series finalists from Wales are:
B2B Services StartUp
Founded by Daisy Purkis
, Founded by Ben Davies & Stuart Mason
Founded by Joshua Davies
Founded by Charlott & Jamie McAnsh
Founded by Dayne & Liby Stone
Founded by Aled Nelmes
B2C Services StartUp
Founded by Eifion Watkins
Founded by Kelly & Jamie Farr
Founded by Georgina James
Founded by Katie Clement McCreesh
Founded by Danielle Johnson
, Founded by Rebecca Davies
Construction & Building Services StartUp
Founded by Sankha Deep Das
, Founded by Carl Morgan & Ashley Daniels
, Founded by Oliver Thomas
Founded by Ellis Grayson
Creative StartUp
Founded by Mikey Rowe
Founded by Thomas James
Founded by Scott Warne & Lyanne Warne
Founded by Hannah Roose
Founded by Chelsea O'Driscoll
Digital StartUp
Founded by Dean Ward
Founded by Manoj Khetia, Scott Jones, Rosalind Burns & John Brassey
Founded by Michael O'Neill
Founded by Adam Smith & Mark Mars
Founded by Gary Piazzon
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Founded by Daisy Purkis
, Founded by Peter Bishop
Founded by Aled Nelmes
, Founded by Oliver Thomas
Fintech StartUp
Founded by Gwion Thomas and Elen Hughes
Founded by Christopher Hamilton
, Founded by Mayo Twala
Founded by Daniel Sawko
Food and Drink StartUp
Founded by James Graham
Founded by Amy Aed & Emily Knipe
Founded by Zoey Henderson
Founded by Mark Maguire
Founded by Gregor Shaw
Global StartUp
Founded by Connor Wall
Founded by Leona Burton
, Founded by Laura Hickman Sell
Graduate StartUp
Founded by Alex-Ioan Coldea
Founded by Elisa Hsiao
, Founded by Ken Pearce & Yousef Ahmed
Founded by Josef Roberts & Simon Parry-Williams
Founded by Victor Ojabo
Green StartUp
Founded by Theresa Bodner & Katherine Lewis
, Founded by Joelle Drummond & Sarah McNena
Founded by Liz Carnevale & Laura Parry
High Street StartUp
Founded by Craig Parker
Founded by Kristian Cuffin
Founded by Becky Oldfield
Founded by Jordan & Nicholas Williams
Founded by Karry Meyrick
Innovative StartUp
Founded by Billy Williams & Boris Grekov
Founded by Sean Coutts, Rachel Kirby & Katie Jones
Founded by George Bellwood & Robin Davies
Founded by Mohamed Binesmael, Daniel Harborne & Matteo De Rosa
Founded by Kevin Baker
Medtech & Healthtech StartUp
, Founded by Peter Bishop
Founded by Azize Naji
Founded by Jordan Copner
Mobile & Emerging Technologies StartUp
Founded by Gabrielle Pring
Founded by Geraint Hughes
Founded by Jon Maddison & Chris Flynn
Founded by Manoj Khetia, Scott Jones, Rosalind Burns, & John Brassey
Online Retail StartUp
Founded by Ronnie Bourne & Laura Mallows
Founded by Megan, Kate & Jackie Lewis
Founded by Becky Oldfield
Professional Services StartUp
, Founded by Sarah Learney
Founded by Rich Thomas & Sam Cooper-Woolley
Founded by Daniel Davison
Founded by Geraint Lethbridge
Founded by Deborah Loding & Laura Collings
Rural StartUp
Founded by Dafydd Jones
Founded by Ffion Boyesen & Bella Mossman
Founded by Helen Worrall & Tania Dutnell
Founded by Phillip Stasiw & Polly Clark
Founded by Bethan Jenkins
, Founded by Sion Davies
Social Enterprise StartUp
Founded by Chloe Carter
Founded by Samantha Harris & Joss Prince
Founded by Alan Owen
Founded by Ally Elouise
Tourism & Leisure Start-Up
Founded by Edith, Dawn and Dan Farnworth and Steve Salter
Founded by Laura & John Lewis
, Founded by Fed Pereira, Alice Aubrey & Georgia Aubrey
Founded by Ian Thomas
Founded by Kate & Stu Richards
Young Entrepreneur
Founded by Daisy Purkis
Founded by Alex-Ioan Coldea
Founded by Joelle Drummond & Sarah McNena
Founded by Georgina James
Founded by Oliver Thomas
Rising Star Award
Founded by Jayne Brewer & Sue Poole
Founded by Manon Williams & Louise White
Founded by Sam Beavan
Founded by Natalie Thomas
, Founded by Kathryn Greatorex
Founded by Donna Graves & Christopher Graves
Founded by Becky Oldfield
Founded by Tomos Owen
Founded by Hannah Roose
Founded by Sarah Dodd
Cardiff StartUp
Founded by Daniel Davison
Founded by Connor Wall
Founded by Rich Thomas
Founded by Daisy Purkis
, Founded by Fed Pereira, Alice Aubrey & Georgia Aubrey
North Wales StartUp
Founded by Eifion Watkins
Founded by Mark Maguire
Founded by Billy Williams & Boris Grekov
Founded by Geraint Hughes
Swansea Bay StartUp
Founded by Joelle Drummon & Sarah McNena
Founded by Dayne Stone & Liby Stone
, Founded by Carl Morgan & Ashley Daniels
Founded by Dean Ward
Valleys StartUp
Founded by Adam Smith & Mark Mars
Founded by Ronnie Bourne & Laura Mallows
Founded by Geraint Lethbridge
Founded by Oliver Williams
For the full list of national finalist click
