The Cisco British Innovation Gateway (BIG) Awards has announced its 20 semi-finalists as it looks for the next wave of startup talent.
Shortlisted from over 200 entries, this year’s semi-finalists are a diverse group, ranging from energy storage, connected car platforms to food production processing and logistics tracking technologies.
All 20 will now go head-to-head to compete for a total prize package worth almost a quarter of a million dollars, including 12 months of mentoring, advice and services from Cisco and its partners, including PR, marketing, HR and legal assistance.
This year’s awards, the third iteration of the technology focused talent competition, has a specific focus on start-ups working towards solutions aimed at the fourth wave of the Internet, the Internet of Everything (IoE). Each of the 20 semi-finalists has a technology that utilises the combination of people, process, data and things, to create relevant, valuable networked connections that deliver new capabilities, richer experiences and increased economic opportunities.
Each semi-finalist has now been paired with an executive from Cisco’s UK and Ireland organisation who will help them progress their entry over an intensive schedule of planning over the next eleven days, where they will complete a detailed business planning document to further ascertain the feasibility of their ideas and solutions, and produce a short and punchy video outlining why their idea should be considered for one of the six places in the grand finale.
Andy Chew, head of innovation at Cisco UK and Ireland, said: “The UK is a hotbed of innovation, talent and drive. Our 20 semi-finalists represent businesses that are truly pushing boundaries.
“Each of the companies shortlisted is using IoT and IoE technology to develop unique capabilities and spearhead the digitisation of the UK economy.
“We are delighted to be able to support the start of their journey and look forward to seeing our executives work with the finalists to nurture their idea, creativity and ambition. ”
This year’s BIG Awards semi-finalists are:
· Nwave
· Asset Mapping
· PalleTech
· i2i Pipelines Ltd
· Aseptika Ltd
· Spicatech
· EMD
· Nebula
· Upside Energy
· Spot Sensors
· I-BRIGHT by dslogix.io
· WeCastr Limited
· Doctor Care Anywhere
· Bronze Labs
· KYMIRA
· Changify Smarter Streets
· Brytlyt
· Ingress One
· Sixty-5
· Topolytics
Finalists will be announced on Monday 28 September, before pitching their business to a select panel of yet to be announced recognised industry leaders in a live final held on Thursday 22 October in Central London.