The 2021 MEN Tech Awards are approaching, and after a period of judging the finalists for each category have been chosen. The awards will be held on May 20th as a virtual ceremony - tickets are free and can be booked via .
The last year has shown how important technology can be to businesses - as the coronavirus forced many of them to significantly change the way they work in order to adapt to new circumstances. Technology was a major facilitator of this change, with many businesses finding that it gave them the opportunity to innovate, and become more efficient and capable than ever before.
In the run up to the awards, we’re publishing articles detailing our category finalists, so that people can find out about their impressive work ahead of the event. Below are the finalists for Best Tech Start-up and Best Digital Innovation. For the full list of category finalists, .
Best Tech Start-up - sponsored by
The flexibility of technology makes it a promising prospect in terms of a start-up business, as people are able to achieve a lot in a short time, despite working on a small scale. A tech start-up will try to target an as yet untapped angle in the market, or make use of an emerging technology to get in on the ground floor of the future.
Running a tech start-up takes ingenuity, and the dedication to ensure that it bears fruit. These are our finalists for Best Tech Start-Up - each of whom has used the potential of technology to found a unique and innovative business.
Inevitable
AI is becoming an increasingly common presence in business, as the ability to have a self-sufficient system handling a variety of tasks proves extremely beneficial. Based in Media City, Inevitable is a company that helps other to help other start ups flourish as well - offering AI services designed to help them grow and make them more appealing to investors. With a wealth of expertise, Inevitable has become a trusted name - working with organisations such as Manchester University, GCHQ, and the British Cardiovascular society.
REXscan
In the last few years apps have become ubiquitous in everyday life - with a huge range of apps that people use to organise their lives and activity. Some of these apps will utilise or store sensitive information, making security extremely important. REXscan is a software that scans Android apps, seeking out security risks and vulnerabilities. The company is dedicated to security in its own work as well as the work of others - adhering to strict security measures so that clients can rest easy knowing their information is safe.
Stream Sensing
Technology is always looking for a way to innovate and improve - and the team at Stream Sensing have done just that. Stream Sensing produces rheology sensors - sensors that measure the flow of material - that provide real-time information on liquid flow during industrial processes. Where before such analysis had to be carried out in laboratories - often producing inaccurate results - the provision of in-situ data offers far greater accuracy and efficiency in fluid quality control. With more than two decades of experience, the team at Stream Sensing have worked to stand at the front of their industry - and their work has culminated in a product that will push other businesses to the forefront as well as their own.
Best Digital Innovation
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Innovation is a constant priority when it comes to businesses that are based around or make heavy use of tech. Technology is constantly developing, and businesses want to be on the cutting edge to ensure that they’re able to compete.
The following finalists have all shown the ability to bring fresh ideas to life, to further improve their own capabilities and those of their industry.
Cevitr
More and more businesses are turning to automation, in an effort to take time away from routine but necessary tasks, and focus energy on more complex and important projects. Cevitr works to help companies do this, creating a digital workmate called Jo that can be implemented in a business to take care of more mundane work. Cevitr's AI program is extremely versatile - having been used by a diverse range of businesses including stem cell research companies, music distributors, and construction firms.
Hardy and Ellis Inventions Ltd
Quality control can be a very time-consuming process, especially if the methods used are inefficient and wasteful. Hardy and Ellis Ltd has developed a mixed-reality Digital Inspection Table for use in the packaging industry - in an effort to make the quality control process far more efficient and accurate. In addition, the company produces opensource documentation software, interactive floor displays, and smart radiator valves among other things. Hardy and Ellis' impressive work has seen them partnered with companies like Bobst, Asda, and DS Smith.
Xpllore Limited
Virtual reality (VR) is becoming an increasingly common technology - but an obstacle it faces is the frequent need for an expensive and potentially unwieldy setup. Xpllore Limited has worked to overcome this limitation, creating a streaming platform that uses 5G to provide VR to people on VR headsets and smartphones. This opens up VR to a wide range of people - and has great appeal, lading companies like Vodafone and Nvidia to work with the company on developing this tech.
Each of our finalists has achieved something extraordinary with technology, and we look forward to celebrating them all on the night of May 20. For more information, or to book a ticket,