We are excited to announce that Car Guide has been shortlisted for the StartUp Awards National Series in three categories:
- B2C StartUp
- Digital StartUp
- Mobile & Emerging Technologies StartUp
Mima, the co-founder said: “Being shortlisted for this award in three categories is a great testament to the hard work we, as a team, have done over the last two years. It is exciting to be in the finals and we look forward to June the 21st.”
The StartUp Awards National Series has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.
This marked boost in newfound 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 South East startups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of almost £15m and employing 362 people between them. Of the region’s great passion for entrepreneurship, one finalist said: “The South East is incredible for its network of like-minded businesses. They are extremely forward-thinking; the companies in our region care about technology and their impact on the environment.”
The cohort of finalists announced today will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes South East-based Joel Dalton, co-founder of Clone Media, Jo Tutchener-Sharp, founder of Scamp & Dude, and Kate Hills, founder of Make it British.
Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing 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 organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, 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 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. We’ve been blown away by the standard of entries from the South East in this first year and truly look forward to crowning the winners.”
The South East final will take place at Reading SU on 21st June 2022, wish us luck!
