App of the Year 2017: Meet the finalists At the heart of the growing gig economy, and disrupting countless others, take a look at the start-ups competing to win App of the Year Written by Shane Donnelly Published on October 10, 2017 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Written and reviewed by: Shane Donnelly Bloom & WildA ‘flowers through the letterbox’ subscription service, Bloom & Wild has given the florist industry a 21st Century makeover with its innovative packaging and disruptive tech. Allowing consumers to have fresh cut bouquets delivered straight through their letterbox undamaged, 2018 will see the start-up launch in France and Germany. Currently, 70% of its traffic coming from mobile is via its app. View the full profile here.DebutA recruitment app for students and graduates, Debut helps students and graduates to connect with, and apply to, roles from major brands such as EY, Microsoft, Barclays, Capgemini, Rolls-Royce and L’Oréal – all in a streamlined application process. Adding gamification to the job seeking process, users can play bespoke games and challenges to win a range of prizes such as mentoring, internships and interviews.View the full profile here. LaundryheapLaunched in 2014 by Deyan Dimitrov, Sebastian van Os and Mayur Bommai, laundry and dry-cleaning service Laundryheap offers same-day collection (pick up in 30 minutes) and free delivery within 24 hours via its app. Currently offering its services in London, Manchester and Birmingham, the start-up has received no external funding to date.View the full profile here. MedshrDeveloped by doctors for doctors, Medshr offers a secure private network for medical professionals to share their knowledge. Launched in October 2015 by Dr Asif Qasim and Jude Venn, the app and desktop site now has more than 300,0000 members in 180 countries – with 1,000 new members joining each day. View the full profile here.miDriveHelping 300,000 young people to learn how to drive since launch, miDrive matches learner drivers with the highest-rated instructors in their area and allows them to monitor their progress with digital lesson reports. Unlike traditional driving schools, miDrive takes no franchise fees or upfront deposit from its network of 1,500 instructors. Instead it takes a small commission on each lesson.View the full profile here.Spoon GuruFounded by Markus Stripf, Tim Allen and Simon Oregan, Spoon Guru allows shoppers to filter their food searches when shopping online, including food intolerances, such as lactose or nuts, and specific dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, low fat, and low salt. Bagging Tesco as its first ever client, the start-up claims its tech is improving shopping cart conversions by 220% in the $15bn UK eGrocery market. View the full profile here.Urban MassageOffering expert massages at your convenience, online booking platform Urban Massage was founded by Jack Tang and Giles Williams back in February 2014. Operating across a desktop and a five-star reviewed app, users can arrange for a qualified and fully vetted massage therapist to come within an hour and provide a “first-class experience” with treatments ranging from ‘classic’, to deep tissue and Thai.View the full profile here.Yoyo WalletEurope’s fastest growing mobile payment and customer engagement company, Yoyo Wallet provides retailers with the opportunity to identify every customer at the point of sale, turning anonymous shoppers into individuals with purchasing preferences and habits. Retailers can then use this insight to engage each individual – personalising the customer experience by sending offers and rewards that are most relevant for them. Simultaneously, customers benefit from a secure and fast mobile payment experience, automated loyalty collection and digital receipts. View the full profile here. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Shane Donnelly