Wireless Internet of Things network crowned 2015 Cisco BIG Awards winner

Cisco has named Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Nwave Technologies the 2015 winner of its British Innovation Gateway (BIG) awards; granted a $220,000 prize package to turn its idea into a reality.

Running for its third year, the BIG Awards looks to support British innovation and focuses specifically on start-ups working on ideas focused around IoT. It has helped previous winners including Snap Fashion; the retail app created by Young Gun Five To Watch Jenny Griffiths MBE, and cyber security start-up Digital Shadows to scale their businesses.

With the 2015 winners announced last night at a ceremony at The National Theatre on London’s Southbank, Nwave beat five other finalists and 150 entrants to take the top award and will now receive $100,000 funding, alongside “invaluable” mentoring and access to Cisco partners.

A wireless long-range network, Nwave has the potential to provide connectivity to certain applications and devices which can’t get internet access or wireless – with a wider goal to help build smart cities.

Speaking to Startups.co.uk at the awards last night, Nwave CEO Yuri Birchenko said he and his team of eight refer to themselves as “the kings of IoT” and explained that his ambition was to connect devices – such as smoke detectors and parking sensors –  which cannot communicate wirelessly.

Yuri said Nwave will use the investment to hire more staff, specifically with regards to sales staff and a CTO.

Birchenko commented: “Winning the BIG Awards will be like rocket fuel for Nwave and combines huge motivation with vital capital infusion.

“The event […] is about getting start-ups into one room, exchanging ideas and finding ways to work together, and it’s probably the best day of my life!”

Cisco CEO, Phil Smith, added:

“Each of our finalists encapsulates the innovation, spirit and ambition needed to drive the UK’s digital economy forward, and I am delighted that Nwave Technologies has been crowned the winner of the 2015 Cisco BIG Awards. The founder’s outstanding pitch and unique idea shone throughout the judging process, and I am excited to see it mature in the coming days, months, and years and develop to solve a real business challenge.”