Scotland’s National StartUp Awards finalists revealed

10/03/2023
Some of Scotland's 2022 finalists

SCOTLAND’S most exciting new businesses have been shortlisted as part of a national awards programme designed to showcase the region’s up-and-coming enterprises.

The StartUp Awards National Series recognises the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated following the economic recovery after the Covid pandemic. Since 2021, over 800,000 new businesses have been founded in the UK, a 4.3% increase from the year before, creating jobs and prosperity across many sectors of the economy. 

The National StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. The StartUp Awards are running for the second year after launching in 2022.

A record number of businesses applied to this year’s StartUp Awards, with 1,100 firms shortlisted across ten UK nations and regions. The contribution of these firms – all of which were started in the last three years – is significant, having created over 5,000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £584 million.

Supported nationally by a range of organisations including Starling Bank, British Business Bank, BT, Creative Ideaz, GS1 UK, Jeeves, Join Talent, ScoreApp and The Purposeful Project, the awards will celebrate the achievements of those amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said:

“​​Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and in supporting communities in every nation and region across the UK. From social enterprises making a difference in their local communities to innovative firms developing leading-edge technologies, all of the finalists this year represent the best of those group of entrepreneurs who have spotted an opportunity and through their sheer hard work, talent and perseverance, have created an amazing new business that is creating real impact in its sector.”

The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional awards by a panel of experienced  judges from the entrepreneurial community. The winners of each category, including the Scotland Startup of the Year, will be announced at the awards that will take place on Thursday 27th April at SWG3 Glasgow.

Scotland StartUp Awards 2023 Shortlist:

Business-to-Business StartUp of the Year

  • Argyle IT & Education
  • BK-AVirtual
  • Integro Design Engineering Associates

Consumer Services StartUp of the Year

  • Integro Design Engineering Associates
  • Bohome Estate Agents
  • Centre for Positive Change
  • Sammantha Maclachlan FGA
  • Selki Store

Creative StartUp of the Year

  • Flying Scotsman Productions
  • Studio Lutalica
  • The VR Hive
  • Yaldi Games

Digital StartUp of the Year

  • Behaviour Digital
  • Bull Project
  • Ethical Intelligence
  • Rivum
  • Student Rents
  • Team Terrible

Drink StartUp of the Year

  • Great Glen Distillery
  • Nuisance Drinks
  • Rutland Square Gin
  • The Prebiotic Company

Edinburgh StartUp of the Year

  • Predictiva
  • Studio Lutalica
  • Yaldi Games
  • Rutland Square Gin

Fintech StartUp of the Year

  • Biscuit Tin
  • Know-it
  • Predictiva

Food StartUp of the Year

  • Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms
  • Hemp it Up
  • Nanny Mary’s
  • The Frangipane Bakery
  • Ujamaa Spice

Glasgow StartUp of the Year

  • Bohome Estate Agents
  • Connect Eyecare
  • GCM Recruitment
  • Know-it

Global StartUp of the Year

  • BK-AVirtual
  • Integro Design Engineering Associates
  • Predictiva
  • Rutland Square Gin
  • Songbox Technologies

Green StartUp of the Year

  • Carbon Capture Utilisation Ltd (Trading as CCU International)
  • Grand Bequest
  • loveelectric
  • UnderSky

Innovative StartUp of the Year

  • Connect Eyecare
  • Enjoy the Air
  • The VR Hive
  • TRACKGENESIS

Medtech & Healthtech StartUp of the Year

  • Enjoy the Air
  • OK Positive
  • Selki Store

Online Retail StartUp of the Year

  • Falling Leaf
  • MacKinnon Watches
  • Raven Botanicals
  • Ujamaa Spice

Professional Services StartUp of the Year

  • Dewar Cyber Consulting
  • GCM Recruitment
  • Locum Scottish Health
  • McNally Recruitment
  • Minerva Innovation Group
  • Stretch Social

Rebel StartUp of the Year

  • Centre for Positive Change
  • Falling Leaf
  • Minerva Innovation Group
  • Ok Positive

Rising Star Award

  • Generalist World
  • GLORIAH
  • Gutsy Health
  • Hinterland Studio
  • LU Innovations
  • Queensferry Moto Routes
  • Revivre
  • The Frangipane Bakery
  • Wellbeans Coffee

Rural StartUp of the Year

  • Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms
  • Great Glen Distillery
  • Newton Appliance Services
  • Raven Botanicals
  • WildStrong

Social Enterprise of the Year

  • EcoCascade CIC
  • Man On! Inverclyde
  • Wellbeans Coffee

Technology Services StartUp of the Year

  • g1gabyte Ltd
  • SnapFeedback
  • Unbaggaged

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Luke McGregor, Behaviour Digital
  • Adam Pearce, Minerva Innovation Group
  • Megan Keith, Stretch Social
  • Cecilia Righini, Studio Lutalica

The full shortlist for the National StartUp Awards 2023 can be found online at nationalstartupawards.com

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