Image credit – Vasyl
Eleven amazing new businesses from Cardiff will be representing Wales at the first-ever UK StartUp Awards final to be held in September.
Having already been recognised as the best in their sector in Wales, all the winners will now progress to the inaugural national UK StartUp Awards final, where they will be competing against category winners from the rest of the UK. This will not only give them the opportunity to be crowned the best in their sector nationally but also to become the UK StartUp of the Year.
Cardiff has been recognised as one of the best cities in the UK. According to Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the awards, this demonstrates the growing importance of entrepreneurship to the economic future of the capital city of Wales. He said: ‘Start-ups are the life of any economy, and that is especially true here in Cardiff, where new businesses are contributing to job creation, innovation, and prosperity. It’s been an honour and a pleasure to read the stories of those founders who have spotted the opportunity and taken the risk to launch their own venture. All eleven winners have demonstrated that they deserve to win in their categories, and I’m looking forward to having these ‘best of the best’ businesses representing Cardiff, Wales and the Welsh entrepreneurial community at the UK final later this year.’
The Cardiff finalists at the UK StartUp Awards are:
Above.Beyond Finance (Rising Star of the Year) specialises in financing prestige acquisitions and business loans through asset finance and commercial mortgages.
Black Swan Productions (Media & Entertainment Startup of the Year) is a video production company that uses brand storytelling to connect clients with their audience through various video formats.
Darogan (Equity-Backed Startup of the Year) is a graduate recruitment platform in Wales, connecting degree-educated talent with employers and promoting Wales as an economic hub.
FleetEV (Green Startup of the Year) provides services which help customers switch to sustainable transport by offering various vehicle brands and competitive finance options.
Goggleminds (Education and Training Startup of the Year) uses virtual reality to train healthcare students and professionals, focusing on early identification of Sepsis and expanding into all areas of medicine globally.
Lovetovisit.com (Tourism and Leisure Startup of the Year) is a digital platform that streamlines the discovery and booking of tickets for live events, theme parks, theatre, and more, boosting resilience in the events industry.
Nuvolt (Innovative Startup of the Year) drives the UK towards Net Zero Carbon goals with low-carbon technology solutions, specialising in renewable installations like solar, battery storage, and EV charging.
StudioLoop (Marketing, Advertising & PR Startup of the Year) is a creative marketing studio that helps independent businesses in Wales and South West England with marketing, social media, photography, websites, emails, and consultations.
Toca Vida Gin (Global Startup of the Year), distilled in an iconic Welsh castle, offers a modern-American take on gin, blending American and Welsh cultural elements to inspire conversation and connection.
Wellspring Homes (Construction Startup of the Year) constructs green energy-powered residential developments, aiming to reduce CO2 levels and promote a thriving natural environment.
Young Professionals Group (Young Entrepreneur of the Year) fosters the growth of future industry leaders through networking events that encourage idea exchange and pushing boundaries.
The UK final will take place on 12 September at Ideas Fest – the festival for entrepreneurs, business leaders, disruptors, change-makers and decision-makers.
Cardiff Life will be putting a panel together to choose the Cardiff Startup of the Year from these eleven incredible businesses, and will feature an interview with the winner in the next Cardiff Business Life.
