The winners, ranging from mobile education and healthcare solutions to speech recognition, data analytics and wireless encryption, were chosen from 18 finalists who pitched their technologies and business plans to a panel of 21 judges that included senior executives from the likes of Deloitte, Google, BT, Innovacom, IBM, Orange Labs, Samsung, London Business Angels and Cambridge Angels.
Now in its fifth year, the Discovering Start-ups competition is organised by Cambridge Wireless (CW) and the SETsquared Partnership with the support of Tech City UK, techUK, The New Entrepreneurs Foundation and UK Trade & Investment. The initiative is kindly sponsored and hosted by Deloitte along with Qualcomm Ventures, Google, Microlease and Keysight Technologies, IC Resources and Dorsey & Whitney.
- Aseptika: An integrated suite of self-monitoring and self-management healthcare devices and services focused on respiratory diseases. www.activ8rlives.com
- Enigmedia: Real-time, tailor-made data encryption solutions that claim to be 90% more efficient than existing technologies. www.enigmediacorp.com
- KO-SU: A mobile learning platform for schools and teachers to create and deliver interactive mobile learning activities for students, parents and wider community. www.ko-su.com
- Speechmatics: Cloud-based speech recognition technology for audio-to-text with a high degree of accuracy, easy-to-use interface and simple pay-as-you-go system. www.speechmatics.com
- The Outside View: Predictive analytics that harnesses data to solve business problems using complex algorithms and machine learning. www.theoutsideview.co.uk
Full list of winners, finalists and judges can be seen at: http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/dsu/
The winners were presented with prestigious Discovering Start-ups trophies along with a ticket to Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona and an invitation to pitch to the UKTI stand during the show; a SETsquared six month Virtual membership with mentoring and investor support, Cambridge Wireless Founder Membership for one year with a ticket to the Cambridge Wireless ‘Future of Wireless International Conference 2015. In addition, each winner received a £500 cash prize sponsored by Qualcomm Ventures and handed over by Managing Director Miles Kirby.
“The quality and passion of the 18 pitches at yesterday’s finals certainly shows that UK innovation and ambition in the wireless technology industry is as strong as ever,” said David Cleevely CBE, Chair of CW. “The diversity and vision of the entrants made it difficult for the judges to make their decisions and I am sure we will hear a lot more from the winners and other finalists over the next few years.”
“With a record number of entrants this year and the high standard of the final pitches, it is clear that there is no shortage of UK technology inventors and entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the fast moving wireless and mobile markets,” said SETsquared’s Innovation Director, Simon Bond. “The chance to get in front of over 20 investors and industry influencers at one time is something most new companies can only dream of. As well listening to the pitches, the judges had the opportunity to ask probing questions and provide valuable advice.”
“Deloitte is committed to supporting start-ups and helping them grow. It has been great to see so much talent and creativity from technology start-ups across the UK,” said David Cobb, Deloitte partner. “The Discovering Start-ups competition goes from strength to strength and showcases the next generation of companies that will help keep the UK at the forefront of the global wireless and mobile industry.”
The event was concluded by Nicholas Zylberglajt, Co-Founder & Vice-President of the European Young Innovators Forum, (http://eyif.eu), who announced that Discovering Start-ups 2015 will be open to entries from European partner countries.
“It is vital to harness new technologies and support early-stage businesses to drive economic growth and the winners and finalists of this year’s Discovering Start-ups provide an exciting vision of the future,” said Nicholas Zylberglajt.” We are delighted to have the opportunity to be part of next year’s search and open the competition to other European partner countries.”
For more information visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/dsu
About Cambridge Wireless (CW)
CW is the leading international community for companies involved in the research, development and application of wireless & mobile, internet, semiconductor and software technologies. With 400 members from major network operators and device manufacturers to innovative start-ups and universities, CW stimulates debate and collaboration, harnesses and shares knowledge, and helps to build connections between academia and industry. CW's 19 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide its members with a dynamic forum where they can network with their peers, track the latest technology trends and business developments and position their organisations in key market sectors. CW also organises the annual Future of Wireless International Conference and Discovering Start-ups competition along with other high-quality industry networking events and dinners.
With headquarters at the heart of Cambridge, UK, CW partners with other international industry clusters and organisations to extend its reach and remain at the forefront of global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk
About SETsquared
The SETsquared Partnership is the enterprise collaboration of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. Together, the universities employ 7,400 academic staff; earn nearly 10% of the UK’s higher education research budget; and produce 11% of all UK university patents. The partnership has a 10-year track record of supporting companies through its innovation centres, which provide access to industry specialists, investors and experienced entrepreneurs. SETsquared currently supports over 250 early stage high-tech, high growth potential businesses, and 88% of its incubated companies are still in business three years on. In the past five years, nearly £0.75bn in investment funding has been raised by spin outs and incubated companies.
SETsquared supports its student population of over 90,000 graduate and undergraduates to gain hands on business skills and entrepreneurial training through experiential inter-university activities. The Partnership also provides opportunities for industry to access academic ideas with commercial potential and develop collaborative R&D relationships. The Partnership seeks to promote the impact, economically and socially, of its institutions’ research and enterprise activities.
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For Cambridge Wireless please contact:
Lily Cheng
Cambridge Wireless
01223 967101, lily.cheng@cambridgewireless.co.uk
For SETsquared please contact:
Simon Bond
SETsquared Partnership
023 8023 8001, simon.bond@setsquared.co.uk
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