We are so excited to reveal the outstanding startups, individuals, innovators, and organisations that have been honoured as the shortlist for the 2026 Hustle Awards. Every year, the Hustle Awards sets out to find the founders pushing boundaries, the leaders reshaping industries, and the individuals and organisations ensuring early-stage businesses succeed. The 2026 shortlist spans startups and scaleups, deeptech and bold ideas, seasoned innovators and first-time founders.
WWW.THEHUSTLEAWARDS.CO.UK
THE SHORTLIST 1
9 JULY 2026 · SHOREDITCH EXCHANGE, LONDON For sponsorship opportunities contact: sales@startupsmagazine.co.uk
THE CONTENTS
WELCOME
Honouring our deserving finalists!
3
JUDGING CATEGORIES 5 Meet the judges
6 Most Innovative Tech 10 Early-Stage Innovation 14 Founder of the Year 17 Inspirational Woman of the Industry 22 Most Successful Scaleup 23 Outstanding Startup Support
27 Social Impact Hero(es) 30 Top Performing Team 31 Workspace of the Year 32 Game-Changing Investor 33 Sustainability Award
2
Congratulations 2026 shortlist!
We are so excited to reveal the outstanding startups, individuals, innovators, and organisations that have been honoured as the shortlist for the 2026 Hustle Awards. Every year, the Hustle Awards sets out to find the founders pushing boundaries, the leaders reshaping industries, and the individuals and organisations ensuring early-stage businesses succeed. The 2026 shortlist spans startups and scaleups, deeptech and bold ideas, seasoned innovators and first-time founders. Our panel of esteemed judges, chosen from a cross-section of industry specialists, meticulously judged each entry to produce the final shortlist. Each award category was reviewed by judges whose expertise closely aligned with the field they were assessing, ensuring informed and considered decisions throughout. It involves a two-phase structure: The first stage consisted of the judges independently assessing each submission against a set of previously defined criteria. Entries earning the highest scores at this stage progressed to the next round.
The second stage, which was held on 14th May at ARC West London, brought all the judges together to deliberate, debate, and decide on the winners.
The judges were divided into smaller groups, with each group assigned a specific set of categories. Working through their allocated categories methodically, the judges gave each entry their full and focused attention, engaging in open discussion and debate as a group to collectively assess the merits of every submission.
After all of this, the winners have been decided, and now, we are delighted to reveal the shortlisted entries.
This guide celebrates the shortlisted entrants and provides a comprehensive overview of each submission.
Prepare to be inspired!
Make sure to book your ticket for the Hustle Awards, taking place on 9th July at Shoreditch Exchange, London.
We look forward to seeing you there, Startups Magazine
3
“The judging process has been a lot of fun, as well as eye-opening and inspirational. We’ve seen some really great entrants come through the competition, and it’s been inspiring to see such a diverse range of people building successful businesses and making a real impact in the startup arena.” Steve Darken - Judge 2026, Strategy Consultant & Board Advisor
Our panel of business experts have been hand picked by us for their knowledge, experience, and total integrity. MEET THE JUDGES
Onyeka Nweze CEO & Founder of Unikorrn
Michelle Leivars Award winning Masterplan Coach at Entrepreneurs Circlw
Saj Huq CEO of Plexal
Steve Darken Strategy Consultant & Board Advisor
James Church Award-winning fundraising consultant and author of Investable Entrepreneur
Samantha Harland Innovation & Entrepreneurship Consultant
Tommie Edwards CEO of Tech1M
Eda Taskin Investment and venture- building expert, currently Manager at Tenity
Ashleigh Ainsley Co-Founder of Colorintech
Vasily Alekseenko Founder of Rare Founders
Shammi Raichura Operations Lead at Uber
Tabitha Coker Award-winning Entrepreneur and Founder of The Forty60 Club
Agata Nowicka
Irina Iozefson- Schneider
Paulette Watson MBE Founder and CEO of Academy Achievers and the global #BeMeDigitalInclusion initiative
Serial Entrepreneur, investor, and the Managing Partner of Visionaries
Partner in private equity, non- executive director and Angel investor
With thanks to all our judges and hosts of the judging day, ARC West London
5
MOST INNOVATIVE TECH
Digi Mabble Digi Mabble is an AI and automation technology company enabling small and mid-sized businesses to adopt intelligent automation quickly and affordably. Its AI-powered assistants integrate seamlessly with existing systems to automate customer engagement, scheduling, lead qualification, and operational workflows across voice, chat, and messaging channels. With live deployments in sectors including healthcare and real estate, Digi Mabble delivers measurable improvements in efficiency, responsiveness, and conversion performance. Operating across Europe and India, the company combines practical innovation with rapid execution to help growing businesses scale sustainably and compete in an increasingly digital economy.
digimabble.com
YEO Messaging YEO Messaging enables safe, private and identity-verified communication for children, vulnerable users and regulated organisations. Unlike consumer messaging platforms, YEO verifies that the right person is accessing information in the right environment through continuous facial authentication and contextual controls. This approach reduces impersonation, insider risk and unauthorised leakage while preserving user privacy. YEO represents a new model of communication that aligns safety and privacy at a design level and provides a practical route to safeguarding and age assurance for platforms under pressure to protect under-16 users. yeomessaging.com/ Charge-M8 Charge-M8 EV Kube is a modular composite ground anchor system transforming EV charging infrastructure deployment. By replacing traditional concrete foundations with a lightweight, courier-deliverable, same-day install solution, EV Kube eliminates curing delays, heavy plant requirements and weather dependency. Engineered using high-strength non-conductive BMC composite, the system enhances electrical safety while reducing embodied carbon. Compatible with AC and DC charging posts and payment terminals, its stackable modular design enables scalable rollouts across diverse site conditions. EV Kube addresses a critical bottleneck in EV infrastructure expansion - turning the foundation stage into a deployment accelerator. charge-m8.com
6
MOST INNOVATIVE TECH
Prsnt Prsnt is a technology platform redefining gifting for the digital age by turning real retail products into instantly deliverable digital gifts sent via text message. Founded by Omid Moallemi, the platform allows users to send thoughtful gifts such as coffee, treats, and retail experiences in seconds, combining digital communication with real-world redemption. With over 500,000 users and around 1,000 gifts sent daily, Prsnt has created a new category of instant peer-to-peer gifting. By removing packaging, shipping, and single-use materials, Prsnt offers a faster, more convenient and sustainable way for people to share moments of generosity. prsnt.io Chalkie.ai Chalkie.ai is an AI platform helping teachers worldwide create curriculum-aligned lesson resources in minutes instead of hours. Built by a team of eight and launched less than two years ago, Chalkie has already reached 500,000+ teacher sign- ups, 40,000+ paying subscribers, 5 million+ resources generated, and $3.5M ARR. Operating across 100+ countries, the platform addresses one of education’s biggest crises – teacher burnout – by saving users an average of 291 minutes per week. 80% of users report a positive impact on their mental health and work-life balance. Teachers describe Chalkie as “life-changing” – and the numbers prove it. chalkie.ai Jentic Jentic is an AI infrastructure platform that enables enterprises to deploy AI agents safely and at scale using their existing systems. It provides a control layer between AI and enterprise software, ensuring actions are executed through governed workflows with policy, permissions, and auditability. By turning validated interactions into reusable, deterministic workflows, Jentic improves reliability and reduces risk. Built on open standards including OpenAPI and Arazzo, it ensures portability and avoids vendor lock-in. Selected for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, Jentic addresses a key barrier to adoption, helping organisations move from AI experimentation to controlled, production-ready deployment. jentic.com
7
MOST INNOVATIVE TECH
Synthflow AI Synthflow AI is a platform enabling businesses to deploy human-like AI voice agents in days, transforming customer service, sales, and operations at scale. By combining advanced speech recognition, real-time reasoning, and seamless integrations, it removes the need for technical expertise while delivering enterprise- grade performance. Powering over one million daily interactions across 30+ countries, Synthflow has driven measurable impact, including faster service, higher conversions, and significant cost reductions. Its compliance-first design and human- centric approach position it as a trusted leader in enterprise AI – democratising access to powerful automation while enhancing, not replacing, human work. synthflow.ai PayDo PayDo has built a unified financial ecosystem designed to solve one of the biggest hidden barriers to business growth: fragmented financial operations. Its regulated, API-first platform enables businesses to manage accounts, payment rails, card acquiring, payouts, FX, treasury visibility, and reconciliation through one system instead of multiple disconnected providers. Now processing more than 100,000 transactions per day and over €5 billion in annual payment volume, PayDo serves more than 1,000 business customers across 170+ countries. With major product upgrades in 2026 including acquiring, C2B open banking and crypto pay-ins and payouts, PayDo represents meaningful innovation at infrastructure level. paydo.com Buymedia Buymedia is an AI-powered advertising intelligence platform democratising data- driven advertising for small and medium enterprises. Founded in 2015, the company expanded to the UK in 2025 with the backing of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who described Buymedia as “a vote of confidence in our region’s innovation ecosystem.” Users report an average 27% increase in advertising ROI, with one client generating €128 million in new business in 12 months. Ranked 4th fastest growing tech company in Ireland by Deloitte Fast 50, and winner of Technology Leader at the North West Leadership Awards 2026, Buymedia is redefining how businesses compete. buymedia.ai
8
MOST INNOVATIVE TECH
Smart-Training AI Smart-Training AI (STAI) defines a new category in learning technology: Training Intelligence. Its four-stage system, Assess, Apply, Adjust, Assist, uses machine learning and natural language processing to map learner cognitive profiles, identify trainer-cohort misalignment, analyse course content, and deliver AI-powered preparation support, all before training begins. Founded in 2024, STAI has completed over 1,800 assessments across the UK, MENA, and Mexico, with a peer-reviewed study demonstrating 87.91% greater improvement in outcomes versus traditional methods. With live commercial deployments, a white-label partnership, and SEIS investment progressing, STAI is building the infrastructure to lead the category it has defined. smart-trainingai.com
9
EARLY-STAGE INNOVATION PressHop
PressHop is transforming journalism with an on-demand, Uber-style model for news. In just 5 months, 46,000+ users across 9+ cities in India, the UK, and USA are capturing and selling real-time news to publishers – anytime, anywhere. With its instant tasking system, live maps, and geo‑verified alerts, PressHop empowers publishers to deploy Hoppers on demand, cutting content sourcing costs by up to 75%. From breaking news to hyperlocal coverage, PressHop is the fastest way to source trusted content – directly from the streets to the newsrooms. www.presshop.com adeus adeus is a UK legaltech startup on a mission to make will writing simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone. Founded in January 2024, adeus’s digital-first platform enables customers to create a legally valid will in under 20 minutes, on any device, without ever visiting a solicitor. With hundreds of customers, a £500,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant, and the launch of adeus True Wills™ – the first blockchain-verified will protection in England and Wales – adeus is pioneering a new era of legacy planning, increasing the number of people with wills, reducing disputes, and supporting families through probate. adeuslife.com OSCE Toolbox OSCE Toolbox is a healthcare education technology startup founded by medical student Leya Luhar to improve how future healthcare professionals practise clinical decision-making. The platform enables students to rehearse realistic patient consultations through structured exam-style scenarios that develop communication, clinical reasoning, and risk assessment skills. In less than two years, OSCE Toolbox has grown to over 5,000 registered users across UK pharmacy schools and hosts more than 250 clinical scenarios. By making experiential clinical practice scalable and accessible, OSCE Toolbox aims to strengthen healthcare training nationally and help prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals for safe, confident patient care. oscetoolbox.com
10
EARLY-STAGE INNOVATION Nada
Nada is a design-led sustainable personal care startup developing a refillable, plastic-free deodorant that eliminates single-use packaging and unnecessary synthetic ingredients. Founded by Laura Meehan after a personal search for a healthier, low-waste alternative, the product uses a refillable cork case and biodegradable components rather than plastic cartridges. A patent-pending refill mechanism means that waste natural material can either biodegrade or be repurposed as a candle melt, replacing packaging waste with natural waste. The concept has won a £10,000 WORTH Partnership Project Award and was exhibited at Milan Design Week for its innovative combination of sustainability, functionality and design. Snapdrum Snapdrum is a cutting-edge AI consultancy transforming how organisations adopt AI by turning experimentation into real-world impact in as little as eight weeks using their unique SNAP + DRUM framework. In its first year, the bootstrapped startup generated revenue over 3× higher than your typical early-stage London-based tech startup, with solutions now supporting over 50,000 users globally with proven results for their customers. Snapdrum has trained more than 25,000 professionals worldwide, to grow and pivot in their careers and helping businesses unlock the practical potential of AI and build future-ready organisations. snapdrum.com Syncity AI Syncity AI is an early-stage SaaS platform helping founders move from working in their business to leading it. Rather than focusing on efficiency, it provides a structured system for strategy, prioritisation, and execution. At its core is a “business brain” supported by AI scouts that continuously surface and assess opportunities across the business. By combining structured thinking with real-time insight, Syncity AI helps founders focus on what matters, align their teams, and build momentum. It is designed to change how small businesses operate, not just how quickly they complete tasks. syncityai.co.uk
11
EARLY-STAGE INNOVATION
LaunchLemonade LaunchLemonade’s entry demonstrates innovation and accessibility in the AI sector. The London-based startup has developed a no-code platform that enables users to create, deploy, and monetise custom AI agents without technical expertise. By combining more than 21 leading AI models into a single workspace, LaunchLemonade allows businesses and creators to automate workflows, analyse data, generate content, and build intelligent digital teammates tailored to their own information. Founded in 2024, the company has grown to over 6,000 global users and early recurring revenue, exemplifying how advanced AI can be made practical, flexible, and widely accessible for entrepreneurs and small team launchlemonade.app Chalkie.ai Chalkie.ai is an AI platform helping teachers worldwide create curriculum-aligned lesson resources in minutes instead of hours. Built by a team of eight and launched less than two years ago, Chalkie has already reached 500,000+ teacher sign- ups, 40,000+ paying subscribers, 5 million+ resources generated, and $3.5M ARR. Operating across 100+ countries, the platform addresses one of education’s biggest crises – teacher burnout – by saving users an average of 291 minutes per week. 80% of users report a positive impact on their mental health and work-life balance. Teachers describe Chalkie as “life-changing” – and the numbers prove it. chalkie.ai SNAAP Transportation SNAAP Transportation is revolutionising urban mobility with a Sustainable, Nonstop, Autonomous, Affordable, and Personal rapid transit ecosystem. Addressing the root cause of global traffic gridlock–single-occupant vehicles – SNAAP deploys battery- powered, solar-charged autonomous pods on a dedicated, elevated Ribbonway. Operating 16 feet above ground, riders enjoy on-demand, nonstop travel from point A to point B. Unlike traditional rail, SNAAP’s lightweight infrastructure can be installed in weeks for a fraction of the cost, requiring no disruptive road construction. Through local micro-manufacturing, SNAAP empowers communities with scalable, gridlock-free transit and robust local job creation. ridesnaap.com
12
EARLY-STAGE INNOVATION
KiwiLeather Innovations KiwiLeather Innovations is a New Zealand–founded early-stage social enterprise transforming kiwifruit waste into a next-generation, plastic-free luxury leather-like material. Founded by entrepreneur Shelley Houston, the company reimagines how high-performance materials are made by combining material science, circular economy design, and scalable manufacturing systems. Unlike conventional vegan leathers that rely on fossil-fuel-based plastics, KiwiLeather Innovations uses agricultural waste to create a premium alternative for fashion, automotive, and interiors brands. With protected intellectual property and a global licensing model, the business is positioning New Zealand bio-innovation on the world stage while delivering credible, climate-positive impact. kiwileatherinnovations.com
13
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Cary, SNAAP Transportation SNAAP Transportation will improve the quality of life for all through mobility, accessibility, job creation, and local ownership. Within this context, SNAAP Transportation presents the complexity of redefining sustainable and resilient urban mobility, at the same time, accomplishing this goal through effective leadership, organisational development, and company culture and ultimately demonstrating company health, market readiness, and investment value. ridesnaap.com Lissele Pratt, Capitalixe Lissele Pratt is the co-founder of Capitalixe, an award-winning fintech advisory firm providing payment and banking solutions to high-risk businesses. She started her career as a junior FX broker in London, where she saw firsthand how traditional banks turned away high-risk companies, leaving their potential untapped. Motivated to change this, she founded Capitalixe to deliver inclusive, compliant solutions. Today, she leads a multi-million-pound global fintech, operating in 140+ countries. A Forbes 30 Under 30 Finance honouree and TEDx speaker, Lissele is celebrated for bold leadership, driving financial inclusion, championing diversity, and empowering the next generation of startup founders. capitalixe.com Amy Louisee, Ciima Amy Louisee is the Founder and Creative Director of Ciima, a creative studio specialising in strategy and visual storytelling for athletes, artists, and brands. After moving from Australia two years ago to pursue a career in film directing, she has since expanded the business across the UK, UAE, and re-established its presence in Australia. She has worked with some of the world’s leading talent and brands, including Khaby Lame, Ne-Yo, Omah Lay, Mavado, LEGO, JD Sports, and Sony. www.ciima.tv David Parr, Prsnt David Parr is the co-founder behind Prsnt, a technology platform transforming how people send gifts in the digital age. By converting real retail products into instantly deliverable digital gifts sent via text message, Prsnt enables users to share thoughtful gestures in seconds. Under David’s leadership on product and technology, the platform has grown to more than 500,000 users and facilitates around 1,000 gifts each day. Prsnt has also developed partnerships with major brands and reward programmes, including O2 Priority. By removing packaging, shipping, and delivery logistics, the platform offers a faster, more convenient, and more sustainable approach to gifting. prsnt.io
14
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR
Lucie Macleod, Hair Syrup Hair Syrup is the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brand, built from a £300 start-up, into an internationally expanding, award-winning haircare company. Founded by Lucie Macleod in 2020, the brand pioneered scalp-first, pre-wash oiling as a mainstream ritual and now serves over 500,000 loyal followers. Stocked nationally and expanding across Europe, Hair Syrup combines clinically backed natural formulations with community-led growth. Its success reflects strong leadership, sustainable scaling, and measurable customer impact. This is not a viral moment, but a modern British business redefining how beauty brands are built and scaled globally. hairsyrup.co.uk Mithlesh Singh, PivotSimply Mithlesh Singh is the founder of PivotSimply, an ecosystem dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock sustainable growth through aligned leadership and technology. Combining her engineering background with expertise in behavioural science and conscious leadership, she has developed innovative platforms including UnboundPivot and PivotSimply Digital. Her work integrates human development with AI-powered tools to help professionals regulate emotions, build resilience, and scale businesses more effectively. Recognised with multiple international business awards, Mithlesh is building a new model of entrepreneurship that connects personal transformation, technology innovation, and conscious leadership. pivotsimply.com
Katie Johnson, KASA
As founder and CEO of KASA, Katie Johnson is building a business designed to transform how keyworker accommodation is sourced, matched, and managed. As an NHS Recruitment professional, Katie identified a gap between housing supply and workforce mobility, particularly across health and social care. She saw hardworking, time-poor, and often stressed clinical professionals relocating for vital roles, with no simple route to suitable accommodation; whilst landlords and operators lacked a trusted, specialist route to reach them. Rather than sit back and point out the problem, Katie decided to pursue her dream building the solution. kasatech.co.uk
15
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR
Dr Tara Lalvani, Beautifect As a Founder, Dr. Tara Lalvani identified a clear gap, acted on it, and redefined an entire category. What started as a personal need revealed a larger gap in the beauty market that had been overlooked. Dr. Tara set out to change this and has created one of the most sought-after beautytech brands globally, redefining the everyday beauty routine through intelligent design and innovation. Known for creating best- in-class tools loved by A-list celebrities and customers worldwide, Beautifect has achieved rapid growth, partnerships with leading global retailers and numerous awards including Beauty Tool Brand of the Year for three years running. beautifect.com Julia Lineham, The Digital Voice™ Julia Linehan, Founder & CEO of The Digital Voice, has reimagined what a modern PR agency looks like. Rejecting traditional models, she built a global, specialist-led team that acts as true partners to leading adtech and tech companies. Known for her boundless energy and people-first leadership, Julia is a driving force across her industry, co-founding Digital Leading Ladies, Women in Cannes and S.P.I.L.L., launching Adtech Juice and Legends of Adtech. With consistent growth, exceptional client retention and a reputation for doing things differently, Julia is that rare leader that creates environments where others can grow and thrive. thedigitalvoice.co.uk Serhii Zakharov, PayDo Serhii Zakharov is the Founder and CEO of PayDo, a regulated financial institution built to solve one of the biggest hidden barriers to business growth: fragmented financial infrastructure. Under his leadership, PayDo has created a unified payment ecosystem that helps companies manage global payments through one platform rather than multiple disconnected providers. The business now processes more than 100,000 transactions per day, handles over €5 billion in annual payment volume and serves more than 1,000 business customers. In 2026, Serhii also received the Excellence in Financial Leadership Award at FinTech Week Dubai, recognising his growing contribution to digital payments innovation. paydo.com
16
INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF THE INDUSTRY
Louise Webster, WeAreBeyond Global Louise Webster is the founder of WeAreBeyond Global and an award-winning entrepreneur unlocking human potential across life stages. She created Beyondtheschoolrun, an internationally recognised platform empowering mothers and shaping inclusive workplace culture, and Beyond School, launched in 2025 to bridge education and work for young people. Louise is the author of A New Way for Mothers, has been invited twice to No.10 Downing Street, and Beyondtheschoolrun was named one of Business Insider UK’s Top 58 British Tech Startups. wearebeyond.global Brooke Day, PensionBee Brooke Day is Head of Brand and Communications at PensionBee, where she has spent four years using brand strategy to drive financial inclusion. She launched PensionBee’s first global ATL campaign, grew unprompted brand awareness from 17% to 28%, and increased female customers from 38% to 42% – with parity targeted for 2026. Through partnerships, speaking at the House of Lords and House of Commons, and a commitment to accessible financial education, Brooke has helped thousands engage with their pension for the first time. Her work is proof that doing good and building a great brand are not mutually exclusive. pensionbee.com Dr Lisa Turner, CETfreedom Dr Lisa Turner is a PhD engineer, a six-times published author, and a pioneer in AI- powered personal and leadership development, based in Cornwall. As founder of CETfreedom, she has built a library of 70+ precision AI tools that make invisible patterns of behaviour visible – in workplaces, relationships, and within ourselves. Her forensic tools, including CultureScan and ValidateAI, are designed specifically to detect coercive control and protect vulnerable people. A TEDx speaker, Paseda360 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and named in TechRound’s Top 50 Women in Tech 2026, Lisa is using AI to liberate rather than survive. cetfreedom.com
17
INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF THE INDUSTRY
Jennifer L. Bryan, ABChange Consultancy Ltd
Jennifer L. Bryan is a globally recognised thought leader, speaker, and author redefining what sustainable success looks like in the startup ecosystem. In high- growth environments driven by speed and disruption, she addresses the often- overlooked human cost: burnout, disengagement, and misalignment. Through her latest book, journal articles, podcast appearances, and keynote speaking, she reaches thousands of leaders globally, equipping them with simple, practical tools to act on real-time emotional insight. By reframing change as a human experience, Jennifer is turning emotion from an overlooked risk into a powerful strategic advantage, helping organisations improve engagement, decision-making, and
results while scaling sustainably. www.JenniferLBryan.com
Naomi Owusu, Tickaroo Naomi Owusu, co-founder and CEO of Tickaroo, is an inspiring leader transforming how audiences engage with journalism in real time. Since founding Tickaroo in 2011 and pivoting it into a live content platform for professional newsrooms, she has scaled the business into a global solution used by over 450 publishers worldwide. Under her leadership, Tickaroo has helped media organisations boost retention, engagement, and revenue, powering major live coverage during pivotal national events, including the U.S. elections. Naomi combines commercial vision with a people-first leadership style and a strong commitment to diversity, mentoring future talent, and supporting inclusive pathways into journalism. tickaroo.com Dhosjan Greenaway-Dalini, Bia Innovate Dhosjan Greenaway-Dalini is the Founder & Fractional CFO at Bia Innovate, a keynote speaker, podcast host, and diversity advocate. With over 20 years of experience across Tech, AI, and other sectors, she has made it her mission to democratise access to expert financial, commercial, and execution strategy for underrepresented founders. She recently launched the AI-powered Bia App, with 95% of beta users from diverse backgrounds. Her podcast, The Dhosjan Show, reaches listeners across 36 countries, with over 80% of its audience being women. An Imperial College MBA graduate, Dhosjan leads with purpose and delivers with impact. biainnovate.com
18
INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF THE INDUSTRY
Jo Living, Aces High Jo Living is the founder of Aces High, a corporate team experience that develops confidence, decision-making, and performance under pressure – using the poker table as a proxy for the boardroom table. Her career spans a decade in investment banking and scaling and exiting a FemTech startup, before launching Aces High. Aces High has hosted team workshops and client events for some the world’s biggest companies. Jo’s work has been featured in the Financial Times, BBC, and CBS News. When not smashing the poker stereotypes of bluff & bravado, she works to support the next generation of entrepreneurs at ARU. aceshighlondon.com Alkim Mete, Microsoft Alkim Mete is an Enterprise Sales Leader at Microsoft, operating at the forefront of global AI transformation. A Harvard alumna, she drives large-scale AI adoption while expanding access to emerging technologies. Alongside her Enterprise tech leadership, she equips founders, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented talent with practical AI skills to build and scale. She is the co-founder of Woofy and has served as UK Social Mobility Co-Chair, Women in Tech Board, and within the GMI Network. Recognised at industry level as a TechWomen100 winner and Women of the Future award recipient, she is transforming who gets to build in the AI economy. microsoft.com Kate Heath, Gaia Learning Kate Heath is the CEO of Gaia Learning, an impact-led education company transforming access for young people with special educational needs. Inspired by her own lived experience, she has scaled the business rapidly, achieving 94% growth, expanding from 1 to 36 local authorities, and growing her team from 6 to 22. Kate has developed Bloom, an innovative EdTech platform, secured £676k investment, and built partnerships to widen access, including with the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation. A TEDx speaker and award-winning entrepreneur, she is redefining alternative education through a scalable, inclusive model that delivers both commercial success and meaningful social impact. gaialearning.co.uk
19
INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN OF THE INDUSTRY Selene Sari, Vox Aeris
Selene Sari is the founder and CEO of Vox Aeris, a clean air technology company developing new approaches to indoor air filtration. Trained as an aerospace engineer at UCLA, she built her career in the niche field of aerodynamics, from founding the aerodynamics division of her university’s Formula SAE team to working in electric vehicle development. She later completed a double Master’s at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, where she initiated Vox Aeris. Her work spans aerodynamics, acoustics, and design engineering and has earned international recognition. voxaeris.com
20
“It’s been great to see so many interesting and exciting ideas come through. It’s inspiring to see the entrepreneurial spirit continuing to thrive in the UK. We’ve looked at a wide range of companies, from those driving new approaches to AI adoption to businesses tackling educational challenges.” Saj Huq - Judge 2026, CEO of Plexal
MOST SUCCESSFUL SCALEUP Fulcrum Solutions
Fulcrum Solutions has emerged as a successful scaleup by combining sustainable growth with strong technical leadership, and a people-first culture. Founded in 2019, the company has grown from a small consultancy into a trusted partner serving 40+ clients, supported by a global team and remote-first model. Recognised in the Inc. Regionals Northeast rankings and as a top workplace, Fulcrum’s growth reflects both commercial success and employee satisfaction. By embedding CTO-level expertise into every engagement, the company enables startups to scale efficiently while maintaining quality, positioning Fulcrum as a leading partner for high-growth businesses. nyfulcrum.com Chipolo Chipolo is a Slovenian tech pioneer redefining the smart tracking industry through sustainable innovation and independent engineering. With the launch of the LOOP and CARD item trackers – the first to offer rechargeable, eco-friendly alternatives within the Apple and Google ecosystems – Chipolo has challenged the “disposable” nature of modern electronics. Proudly manufactured in-house on their own robotic lines, Chipolo combines award-winning design (Red Dot 2025) with a commitment to the circular economy. This entry represents a decade of “hustle,” moving from a 2013 Kickstarter project to a global leader in the “Find My” category. chipolo.net FuturePlus FuturePlus is a sustainability intelligence platform helping businesses turn ambition into meaningful social and environmental action. The scaleup supports hundreds of organisations across 17 countries and more than 30 industries. Powered by data and guided by human expertise, FuturePlus collaborates with businesses of all sizes to make sustainability accessible, practical, and embedded in everyday decision- making. Combining curiosity, innovation, and transparency, FuturePlus enables organisations to understand their impact, prioritise what matters most, and take confident action. FuturePlus believes real change happens when businesses act boldly, work together, and put responsibility and impact at the heart of progress.
future-plus.co.uk Chalkie.ai
Chalkie.ai is an AI platform helping teachers worldwide create curriculum-aligned lesson resources in minutes instead of hours. Built by a team of eight and launched less than two years ago, Chalkie has already reached 500,000+ teacher sign- ups, 40,000+ paying subscribers, 5 million+ resources generated, and $3.5M ARR. Operating across 100+ countries, the platform addresses one of education’s biggest crises – teacher burnout – by saving users an average of 291 minutes per week. 80% of users report a positive impact on their mental health and work-life balance. Teachers describe Chalkie as “life-changing” – and the numbers prove it. chalkie.ai
22
OUTSTANDING STARTUP SUPPORT
Started PR Started PR is a specialist fintech PR agency helping a new generation of startups build profile, credibility, and market authority through strategic communications grounded in evidence, clarity, and commercial impact. Founded in 2024, it supports founder-led and growth-stage businesses with positioning, thought leadership, media relations, research-led campaigns, and investor-facing communications. Its model is built around the needs of emerging businesses and the major growth moments they face. Through client work, ecosystem partnerships and its industry-leading Advisory Board, Started PR has helped over 40 fintech startups build trust, visibility, and stronger foundations for growth. startedpr.com Breakout Beauty UK Breakout Beauty UK, created by Growth Studio, is the UK’s biggest fully funded beauty brand accelerator. Free to join, no equity taken. In 2025, 12 founder-led brands completed the inaugural programme, 80% female, 64% from ethnic minority backgrounds. Results: two winners now stocking in 380+ Boots stores, one brand hitting its first £1M revenue milestone, another recording its best quarter ever. Combined prizes exceeded £350,000. Press coverage reached 3.8M readers with 100% positive sentiment. 50M+ total audience reach. 100% of founders recommended the programme. Growth Studio doesn’t just open doors for founders. It walks them through. growthstudio.com/programme/breakout-beauty NatWest Accelerator NatWest Accelerator is a powerhouse for entrepreneurial growth, helping founders supercharge their ambitions with expert coaching, dynamic networks, and high impact support. With thousands of startups accelerated for free – from early stage innovators to rapidly scaling disruptors – the community consistently delivers funding success, revenue leaps, and job creation across the UK. Its inclusive, founder first approach empowers entrepreneurs to break boundaries and build commercially strong, investment ready businesses. This entry celebrates NatWest Accelerator’s unwavering commitment to unleashing entrepreneurial potential and driving innovation at scale natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur- accelerator.html
23
OUTSTANDING STARTUP SUPPORT Fourteen Group
Fourteen Group is a founder-first investment and support platform dedicated to building and scaling high-potential recruitment startups. Providing 100% startup funding alongside end-to-end operational, strategic, and creative support, Fourteen Group removes traditional barriers to growth and empowers founders to retain meaningful ownership of their businesses. Its hands-on partnership model delivers expertise across finance, legal, marketing, and operations, enabling startups to launch with strong foundations and scale with confidence. Through this approach, Fourteen Group has helped its portfolio companies achieve rapid growth, industry recognition, and long-term sustainability, shaping the next generation of recruitment industry leaders. fourteen.group ThatRound ThatRound is changing how early-stage founders access capital in the UK. By bringing angel networks, syndicates, and early-stage funds into one structured platform, ThatRound replaces fragmented cold outreach with intelligent matching and a process founders can follow and learn from. Over 500 startups have signed up, generating more than 3,000 funding introductions with a 92% response rate. Every declined application includes investor feedback, which is rare when most founders hear nothing back. In a market that has long favoured those with the right connections, ThatRound is making fundraising faster, fairer, and more effective. thatround.com Venturefest South Venturefest South deserves the Outstanding Startup Support Award for its proven track record in empowering early-stage businesses and driving innovation across the region. By connecting founders with investors, mentors, and industry leaders, Venturefest South creates an environment where ambitious ideas can grow into successful enterprises. Its dynamic programme of expert talks, networking opportunities, and practical guidance gives startups the tools, confidence, and connections they need to scale. Through championing collaboration and nurturing entrepreneurial talent, Venturefest South is not only supporting individual startups but strengthening the wider innovation ecosystem and helping transform bold
ideas into real-world impact. venturefestsouth.co.uk
24
OUTSTANDING STARTUP SUPPORT
Allia Impact Allia Impact is a leading UK venture support organisation helping entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale impactful businesses. Over the past two years, it has supported more than 2,200 founders, launched 196 ventures, and helped businesses raise over £56 million in funding. With 47% of participants from underrepresented backgrounds, Allia is expanding access to entrepreneurship and strengthening the diversity of the startup ecosystem. Its structured, end-to-end programmes provide practical support, expert mentoring, and access to networks that accelerate business success. By combining scale, inclusivity, and measurable outcomes, Allia Impact is driving economic growth and delivering lasting social impact across the UK. allia.org.uk #SBS Small Business Sunday This free small business initiative, #SBS Small Business Sunday, started from a Sunday night tweet from TV Dragon Theo Paphitis, in October 2010, and has grown into a community of 4,600+ like-minded small businesses from all sectors, and sizes with helping small businesses to think big at its heart. With 80% female entrepreneurs, free events across the UK, and finding partnerships that add money can’t buy opportunities and advice, #SBS is helping small businesses to flourish and be validated. #SBS shows small businesses that they are not alone and consistently give their time and connections to help them thrive. theopaphitissbs.com EDERA Lab EDERA Lab is a marcomms agency supporting Industrial and AgriFoodTech B2B startups and scaleups pioneering sustainable innovation. Founded in 2023, it has rapidly grown to partner with more than 40 companies across Europe, and specialises in translating complex science and technology into the clear and compelling narratives that startups need to secure investment, partnerships, and customers. Collaborating with founding teams, EDERA Lab drives visibility, credibility and commercial traction, leading over €115m in funding announcements and major partnerships. Its strategic approach enables clients to achieve significant media reach, strengthen market positioning and accelerate their journey from emerging innovators to category-defining leaders. ederalab.com
25
OUTSTANDING STARTUP SUPPORT This Mum
Cherise Lindsey builds the commercial and brand infrastructure that enables early-stage startups to operate with credibility and intent. Her work with Smart- Training AI transformed a strong concept into a market-ready business, defining its positioning, creating investor and sales materials, co-authoring its forthcoming book, and implementing operational systems. Equipped with this infrastructure, the company has secured investment commitments exceeding £200,000, closed its first sale, launched an international pilot, and entered partnership discussions worldwide. Both co-founders cite her work as fundamental to how the business presents itself. She operates as a fractional commercial lead, turning fragmented activity into scalable growth. thismum.co.uk
26
SOCIAL IMPACT HERO(ES)
The Workplace Mental Health Method™ Melissa Doman, MA is an organisational psychologist, former therapist, author, and founder of The Workplace Mental Health Method who creates measurable social impact by improving how workplaces talk about, and support mental health. Her work turns mental health “awareness” into action by equipping managers, employees, and teams with practical skills through keynotes, training, and scalable learning programmes to reduce stigma, strengthen psychological safety, and respond effectively to mental health challenges at work. She also won the Silver Medal for Female Business Thought Leader of the Year in 2025 from The Stevie Awards. melissadoman.com ImaginAble Me CIC ImaginAble Me CIC is a community-led creative organisation based in Consett, supporting young people who feel overlooked, excluded, or at risk of disengagement. Through inclusive programmes and its vibrant GloHouse hub, it uses creativity to build confidence, improve wellbeing, and foster a strong sense of belonging. Since launching, it has reached over 50 families and 80 young people through taster sessions, with ongoing programmes running at full capacity. Its impact is evidenced through powerful individual transformations and strong community engagement, creating meaningful, lasting change for young people and their families across the North East. imaginableme.org Divergent Thinking Nathaniel Hawley is the Founder of Divergent Thinking, a neurodivergent-led consultancy helping organisations create fairer, more accessible environments for neurodivergent people. Diagnosed with autism, dyspraxia, and dyslexia, he turned lived experience of exclusion into a mission to change systems, not people. Through 350+ sessions, training, strategy, audits, coaching, and public speaking, he has helped organisations improve communication, recruitment, manager capability, ,[and workplace culture. His work creates lasting social impact by reducing barriers, increasing understanding, and helping neurodivergent people feel seen, supported, and able to thrive. He is reshaping inclusion through both practice and advocacy. divergentthinking.uk
27
SOCIAL IMPACT HERO(ES)
NEMI Teas NEMI Teas is a London-based specialist tea company and certified social enterprise dedicated to dismantling the systemic barriers facing refugees. Through its innovative TRAMPOLINE ecosystem and Changing Journeys programme, the business provides a structured pathway from immediate work experience to professional hospitality certification and entrepreneurship. In 2025 alone, NEMI delivered over 3,500 hours of paid work, and by pairing this human impact with plastic-free, solar-powered production, NEMI proves that a double-bottom-line approach can further scale the business while driving profound, lasting change for both society and the planet. nemiteas.com Entrepreneurs Unlocked CIC Entrepreneurs Unlocked CIC is a Bolton-based social enterprise transforming lives by creating pathways into enterprise, employment, and education for those often excluded from opportunity. Founded in 2019, it supports individuals with convictions, NEET young people, care leavers, and other underrepresented groups to rebuild confidence and secure sustainable futures. In 2025, it engaged over 600 people, with strong progression into work and training, and impactful prison programmes supporting rehabilitation. Through lived-experience ambassadors and collaborative initiatives, it connects individuals to real opportunities, driving long- term social change and more inclusive economies where potential is recognised, unlocked and sustained. entrepreneursunlocked.org Chalkie.ai Chalkie.ai is an AI platform helping teachers worldwide create curriculum-aligned lesson resources in minutes instead of hours. Launched less than two years ago by a team of eight, Chalkie is tackling one of education’s most urgent crises: teacher burnout. Operating across 100+ countries in 40 languages, the platform saves teachers an average of 291 minutes per week, with 80% reporting a positive impact on their mental health and work-life balance. By making high-quality, inclusive teaching materials accessible to every school regardless of budget, Chalkie is keeping great teachers in the classroom – and giving every pupil a better education. chalkie.ai
28
SOCIAL IMPACT HERO(ES) HMPasties
HMPasties is redefining what business can be; commercially successful, socially driven, and unapologetically disruptive. Founded by Lee Wakeham, the award-winning social enterprise bakery creates employment opportunities for people from marginalised backgrounds, particularly prison leavers, across the North of England. Combining a successful commercial operation with wrap-around support through HMPasties Foundation, it delivers jobs, training, and trauma-informed support to reduce reoffending and rebuild lives. Supplying major clients including Liverpool FC, the Co-Op, and Stockport County, and winning Gold at the British Pie Awards, HMPasties proves that business can drive lasting social change. hmpasties.co.uk Electric Cat Cat Kevern should win this award because her social impact isn’t performative, it’s sustained and measurable. From saying yes to NOWIE just a year out of university, to leading a mentoring programme that really is meaningful, Cat has consistently built things that create long-term change rather than short-term visibility. She also uses Electric Cat’s platform to champion inclusion. electriccat.co Plan Your Baby Plan Your Baby is a CQC-regulated telehealth fertility clinic founded by Marija Skujina, a Certified Fertility Nurse Specialist with 13 years of IVF experience – and an IVF patient herself. The clinic delivers specialist fertility care via telehealth, supported by a nationwide network of over 450 diagnostic locations, eliminating waiting lists, and removing geographical barriers to treatment. From free initial consultations to fully monitored IVF cycles, Plan Your Baby ensures that where a patient lives or what they earn never determines the quality of their care. Selected
for the Morgan Stanley. planyourbaby.co.uk Allia Impact
Allia Impact is a UK-based venture support organisation delivering measurable social impact by expanding access to entrepreneurship. Over the past year, it has supported 439 founders, launched 146 new ventures, and ensured that 47% of participants come from underrepresented backgrounds. These businesses create jobs, generate income, and address social and environmental challenges within their communities. Through structured programmes, mentoring, and partnerships, Allia enables individuals to move into sustainable economic activity while strengthening local economies. By widening access to opportunity and supporting diverse founders, Allia Impact is helping to build a more inclusive, resilient, and opportunity-driven society. allia.org.uk
29
TOP PERFORMING TEAM
FuturePlus FuturePlus is a sustainability team powered by brilliant people who care deeply about doing things the right way. United by a shared purpose and a strong, supportive culture, the team combines expert consultancy, smart technology, and verified certification to help over 300 organisations across 17 countries and 300 sectors turn ambition into action. In 2025 alone, the FuturePlus community completed 4,286 sustainability ambitions. What truly sets this team apart is how they work together, with trust, curiosity, and generosity, supporting one another to simplify complex ESG challenges and deliver meaningful, lasting impact for businesses and society. future-plus.co.uk Electric Cat Electric Cat is a female-founded, fully remote B2B marketing and PR agency specialising in the events industry. Built by Cat Kevern and Eloise Newing, the collective has grown from two people to a team of 20 specialists delivering everything from exhibition marketing strategies and PR campaigns to social media, LinkedIn content, web design, email marketing, and personal branding. Electric Cat brings bold ideas to life with no-nonsense, no retainer or budget wasted. Recent highlights include spearheading the Ask for Angela rebrand and pledge event at Wembley Stadium – work that reflects both their ambition and their values. Snapdrum is a London-based AI startup powered by a high-performing team of four, combining world-class AI research with proven commercial execution. In under 12 months, the team scaled revenue to 3× above early-stage benchmarks, while remaining fully bootstrapped. Snapdrum have deployed AI systems used by 50,000+ end users globally and trained over 25,000 learners across 30+ countries. With a 98% client retention rate and 4.9/5 programme ratings, Snapdrum demonstrates exceptional product-market fit. Operating with the speed and output of a much larger team, they are redefining how organisations adopt and scale AI. snapdrum.com Happy Yolk Happy Yolk is a social-first creative agency proving that a small, high-calibre team can deliver outsized impact across sectors. In just three years, the independent, female-owned agency has grown from two to nine specialists (+350%) and doubled revenue year-on-year. Their work transforms social into a measurable growth engine across interiors, beauty, retail, FMCG, and culture – driving awareness, engagement, and commercial results. From scaling with brands from £1M to £80M to building audiences from scratch, Happy Yolk combines strategy, creativity, and execution into one powerful model, earning multiple industry awards and recognition as a true extension of their clients’ teams. happyyolk.com www.electriccat.co Snapdrum
30
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35Powered by FlippingBook