Scotland’s best new businesses have been shortlisted as part of a national awards programme.
The StartUp Awards National Series recognises the booming start-up 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.
The National StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. The awards are running for the second year.
A record number of businesses applied to this year’s StartUp Awards, with 1,100 firms shortlisted across 10 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 £584m.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the creator of the 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 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 27 April at SWG3 in Glasgow.
The 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 (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
- SnapFeedback
- Unbaggaged
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Luke McGregor, Behaviour Digital
- Adam Pearce, Minerva Innovation Group
- Megan Keith, Stretch Social
- Cecilia Righini, Studio Lutalica
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