Award Category Criteria

  • Construction Start-up of the Year

    This award is open to any start up operating in the construction and building services industry in Wales.
    The judges are looking for a new business that has made an immediate and significant impact in the construction sector and has a clear vision for its future success.

  • Creative Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Bad Wolf

    This award recognises those start-ups that are operating in the highly important creative sector.
    The judges are looking for new creative businesses that use creativity skills and talent to create original content

  • Digital Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Circle IT

    This award recognises those start-ups that are operating in the highly important digital sector.
    The judges are looking for new digital businesses that are achieving growth through the right mix of innovation and exceptional customer experience.

  • Financial and Professional Services Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Hugh James IFA

    This award is open to any start-up operating in the financial and professional services sector.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that are changing the financial and professional services industry through new and innovative products or solutions.

  • Food and Drink Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Brighter Foods

    This award is for those start-ups who are developing new food products and drinks in Wales.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that have great potential to make a real impact in the food and drink industry in Wales over the next few years.

  • Global Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Hydro Industries

    This award is for those ‘born global‘ start-ups who have been trading internationally since the business was established.
    The judges are looking for those start-ups that are internationally focused and are growing their businesses through increased overseas trading.

  • Green Start-Up of the Year

    This award recognises those start-ups developing those products, processes or services that are resulting in significant environmental improvements.
    The judges are looking for new ventures that are fully committed to green business and are harnessing their innovations to make a real difference to future sustainable development.

  • Innovative Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Welsh Government

    This award is open to any innovation-driven start-up in Wales.
    The judges are looking for a new business that focuses on global and regional markets, is based on a clear business model, is scalable in the long term and has a an ownership base that includes external capital.

  • Life Sciences Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Arthurian Life Sciences

    This award is open to any start-up based in the life sciences industry in Wales and operating in sectors such as medical technology, medical biotech, pharmaceutical and diagnostics.
    The judges will be looking for innovative businesses that are harnessing the latest science and technology to make a real and sustainable impact within the life sciences sector.

  • Manufacturing Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Darwin Gray

    This award is open to any start-up based in the manufacturing and engineering sector in Wales.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that are using cutting edge manufacturing techniques to create new high quality products.

  • Retail Start-Up of the Year

    This award is open to any start-up based in the retail sector in Wales, including both those with a shop front and trading online.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that demonstrate retail excellence and have achieved growth through exceptional customer experience.

  • Services Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by ES/Disrupt

    This award is open to any start up operating in the business-to-business, or business-to-customer services industry in Wales.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that are able to show growth through the provision of excellent services to customers or other businesses.

  • Social Enterprise Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Wales Council for Voluntary Action

    The award is open to any social enterprise in Wales that has been operating for less than three years.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that have taken on social investment to break new ground either in delivering a new service, creating new models of delivery or breaking into new markets.

  • Technology Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by IQE

    This award recognises the success of those new businesses that have created and developed innovative products or processes that have significant potential for growth in the future.
    The judges are looking for new businesses that are disrupting their sector through a clear commitment to continued innovation.

  • Tourism and Leisure Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by .cymru and .wales

    This award is open to any start-up based in the tourism and leisure sector in Wales
    Judges are looking for those new businesses that focus on excellence in delivering customer service and demonstrate innovation in tourism and leisure products and services

  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year

    Sponsored by Kukd

    This award is made to individuals under the age of 30 on December 31st 2016 who have established their own start-up in the previous three years.
    The judges are looking for individuals who demonstrate ambition, energy, skill and vision, as well as tangible business success, in creating and developing an exceptional start-up during the last three years.

  • Cardiff Capital Region Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by University of South Wales

  • North Wales Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Stockomendation

  • Rural Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Welsh ICE

  • Swansea Bay Region Start-Up of the Year

    Sponsored by Cleartech Live

  • Highly Commended

  • Wales Start-Up of the Year 2017

    Sponsored by Welsh ICE

Each company will also automatically be entered into one of the following awards based on their region:

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