Wales’ National StartUp Awards first finalists revealed

Wales’ most exciting new businesses have been shortlisted under a brand new awards scheme.

the National StartUp Awards Series was launched to recognize the burgeoning startup scene across the UK, which has accelerated since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, as most of the world shut down, over 400,000 startups were created in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.

This marked increase in found entrepreneurship is reflected in the 2,500 entries received in response to the first-ever call for entries for the Startup Awards National Series.

The Wales startups 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. Commenting on the region’s great passion for entrepreneurship, one finalist said: “We believe any business should be proud to classify itself as a Welsh business. The Welsh economy is built on the foundation of promising local entrepreneurs and it is a fantastic feeling to know that we are part of it.

The cohort of finalists announced today will be considered for regional awards by a panel of seasoned judges with experience building or supporting businesses. This includes Richard Theo, CEO and co-founder of Wealthify, based in Wales, Rachael Flanagan, founder of Ms Buckét, and Geryn Evans of Project Blue, a former winner of the Wales StartUp Awards.

Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell and Intel, the program will celebrate the achievements of incredible individuals across the UK 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 Great British Entrepreneur Awards, the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organizers recognized the exceptional potential of the start-up scene in other parts of the UK.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the national StartUp Awards series, said:

“New businesses are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation. Since 2016, the Wales StartUp Awards have celebrated this incredible annual contribution of entrepreneurs to our economy and the impact they have on communities across the country.

“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal Welsh startups we have heard about since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desire to take their careers in a new direction and build a business through thick and thin , we thought it was the right time to roll out the program nationwide. As in previous years, we have been blown away by the level of entries from Wales and are really looking forward to crowning the winners.

The Wales final will take place at the DEPOT in Cardiff on June 30, 2022.

The finalists for this year’s National StartUp Awards series from Wales are:

Starting B2B services

Marketing Purks, founded by Daisy Purkis
Hexa Finance, founded by Ben Davies and Stuart Mason
Reclaim Tax Wales, founded by Joshua Davies
See No Bounds, founded by Charlotte and Jamie McAnsh
Whitestone Media Group, founded by Dayne and Liby Stone
Lumen SEO, founded by Aled Nelmes

Starting B2C services

Revive! Auto Innovations Gogledd Cymru, founded by Eifion Watkins
YourNorth, founded by Kelly and Jamie Farr
GEEJ Coaching, Founded by Georgina James
KCM Fitness, founded by Katie Clement McCreesh
Play Party Create, founded by Danielle Johnson
Willow Daycare, founded by Rebecca Davies

Start of construction and construction services

Lattice.Site, founded by Sankha Deep Das
Temporary Worx, founded by Carl Morgan and Ashley Daniels
YIVER Properties, founded by Oliver Thomas
Eclipse Recruitment, founded by Ellis Grayson

Creative start

Catflap Cats Podcast, Founded by Mikey Rowe
LUNA TIDES Productions, founded by Thomas James
SHYDOG CREATIVE, founded by Scott Warne and Lyanne Warne
The Virtual Assistant Experience, Founded by Hannah Roose
WCS Agency, founded by Chelsea O’Driscoll

Digital start

DCW Insights, founded by Dean Ward
Identitech, founded by Manoj Khetia, Scott Jones, Rosalind Burns and John Brassey
Mighty Duck, founded by Michael O’Neill
Niche website builders, founded by Adam Smith and Mark Mars
Porter, founded by Gary Piazzon

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Marketing Purks, founded by Daisy Purkis
Agile Kinetic Ltd, founded by Peter Bishop
Lumen SEO, founded by Aled Nelmes
YIVER Properties, founded by Oliver Thomas

fintech startup

BOXD, founded by Gwion Thomas, Elen Hughes
Blukite Group, founded by Christopher Hamilton
Stock-Up, founded by Mayo Twala
Ship Shape, founded by Daniel Sawko

Food and Beverage Startup

Communiti, founded by James Graham
EISA Tea Co., founded by Amy Aed and Emily Knipe
Fungtn, founded by Zoey Henderson
The Old Bakery, founded by Mark Maguire
Devil’s Bridge Rum, founded by Gregor Shaw

Global startup

Conexus, founded by Connor Wall
MIB International, founded by Leona Burton
Cynefn, founded by Laura Hickman Sell

Graduate start

Dill, founded by Alex-Ioan Coldea
ELYN store, founded by Elisa Hsiao
Lunia 3D, founded by Ken Pearce and Yousef Ahmed
Pai Language Learning, founded by Josef Roberts and Simon Parry-Williams
NDT South Wales, founded by Victor Ojabo

Green boot

Carbon AcCount, founded by Theresa Bodner and Katherine Lewis
Drop Bear Beer Co., founded by Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena
Sero Zero Waste, founded by Liz Carnevale and Laura Parry

High street boot

APOTHECARY64, founded by Craig Parker
Cuffed-in Cafe, founded by Kristian Cuffin
U Melt Me & Gifts, founded by Becky Oldfield
Xscape Rooms, founded by Jordan and Nicholas Williams
Karry’s Deli, founded by Karry Meyrick

Innovative start

Cufflink, founded by Billy Williams and Boris Grekov
Graphium, founded by Sean Coutts, Rachel Kirby and Katie Jones
Virtus Tech, founded by George Bellwood and Robin Davies
Route Konnect, founded by Mohamed Binesmael, Daniel Harborne and Matteo De Rosa
Tire Glider, founded by Kevin Baker

Startup Medtech & Healthtech

Agile Kinetic, founded by Peter Bishop
Goggleminds, founded by Azize Naji
Copner Biotech, founded by Jordan Copner

Starting Mobile and Emerging Technologies

Academy, founded by Gabrielle Pring
dewin tech, founded by Geraint Hughes
Ortharize, founded by Jon Maddison and Chris Flynn
Identitech, founded by Manoj Khetia, Scott Jones, Rosalind Burns and John Brassey

Start of online retail

Mallows Beauty, founded by Ronnie Bourne and Laura Mallows
Out of Sync, founded by Megan, Kate and Jackie Lewis
Peony & Bee, founded by Becky Oldfield

Starting Professional Services

Aspire Recruitment Services, founded by Sarah Learney
Moxie People, founded by Rich Thomas and Sam Cooper-Woolley
Family First Professionals, founded by Daniel Davison
Support Ethics, founded by Geraint Lethbridge
Verified Recruitment, Founded by Deborah Loding and Laura Collings

Rural start

Anglesey Bees, founded by Dafydd Jones
HUNA, founded by Ffion Boyesen and Bella Mossman
Cardigan Bay properties, founded by Helen Worrall and Tania Dutnell
The Lodge, Staylittle, founded by Phillip Stasiw and Polly Clark
Virtually Bee, founded by Bethan Jenkins
Arfordir, founded by Sion Davies

Social enterprise startup

Because animals are worth it, founded by Chloe Carter
Wrexham Party, founded by Samantha Harris and Joss Prince
LABRATS, founded by Alan Owen
Prom Ally CIC, Founded by Ally Elouise

Start-up Tourism & Leisure

By the Wye, founded by Edith, Dawn and Dan Farnworth and Steve Salter
The Wanderlist, founded by Laura and John Lewis
Lovetovisit, founded by Fed Pereira, Alice Aubrey and Georgia Aubrey
Sparkle Pro Caravan Cleaning, founded by Ian Thomas
Nomadic Washrooms, founded by Kate and Stu Richards

young entrepreneur

Marketing Purks, founded by Daisy Purkis
Dill, founded by Alex-Ioan Coldea
Drop Bear Beer Co., founded by Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena
GEEJ Coaching, Founded by Georgina James
YIVER Properties, founded by Oliver Thomas

Rising Star Award

2B Enterprising, founded by Jayne Brewer and Sue Poole
Angladdau Enfys Funerals, founded by Manon Williams and Louise White
Bevovisuals, founded by Sam Beavan
Clever Cubs Club, founded by Natalie Thomas
Wales Gifts, founded by Kathryn Greatorex
Micro Acres Wales, founded by Donna Graves and Christopher Graves
Peony & Bee, founded by Becky Oldfield
Swig Smoothies, founded by Tomos Owen
The Virtual Assistant Experience, Founded by Hannah Roose
Tree Law, founded by Sarah Dodd

Cardiff start

Family First Professionals, founded by Daniel Davison
Conexus, founded by Connor Wall
Moxie People, founded by Rich Thomas
Marketing Purks, founded by Daisy Purkis
Lovetovisit, founded by Fed Pereira, Alice Aubrey and Georgia Aubrey

Starting North Wales

Revive! Auto Innovations Gogledd Cymru, founded by Eifion Watkins
The Old Bakery, founded by Mark Maguire
Cufflink, founded by Billy Williams and Boris Grekov
dewin tech, founded by Geraint Hughes

Starting Swansea Bay

Drop Bear Beer Co., founded by Joelle Drummon and Sarah McNena
Whitestone Media Group, founded by Dayne Stone and Liby Stone
Temporary Worx, founded by Carl Morgan and Ashley Daniels
DCW Insights, founded by Dean Ward

StartUp Valleys

Niche website builders, founded by Adam Smith and Mark Mars
Mallows Beauty, founded by Ronnie Bourne and Laura Mallows
Support Ethics, founded by Geraint Lethbridge
OLLYWOOD, founded by Oliver Williams

For the full list of national finalists, go to nationalstartupawards.com

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