Crowdfunded Business of the Year: Could it be you?

Why have we got a Crowdfunded Business of the Year category?

The last few years have seen start-ups increasingly turn away from traditional bank finance towards alternative sources of funding, with crowdfunding emerging as the biggest force in the market.

A number of online platforms have sprung up to capitalise on the growing demand for crowdfunding including the market’s biggest players Seedrs and Crowdcube.

Crowdfunding records are consistently being smashed as platforms facilitate larger and larger rounds and begin to challenge venture capital firms for the growth-stage market.

Some of the UK’s most innovative and disruptive companies have used the power of the crowd to fuel their growth. The Crowdfunded Business of the Year category celebrates those companies.

What are we looking for in a great crowdfunded business?

As well as having raised a significant amount of investment through any crowdfunding platform, entrants to the Crowdfunded Business of the Year category will demonstrate strong potential for growth and an intriguing or disruptive proposition.

2017’s winner was Mous – title holder of the world’s largest crowdfunding raise for a mobile accessories company. Mous, founded by James Griffith and Joshua Shires in 2015, designs and manufactures savvy phone cases which both look good and effectively protect smartphones from damage.

At the time of its win, Mous was already shipping to over 100 countries across the world, had opened a second office in Shenzen, China, and had grown from a team of five to 25 in just six months.

Businesses will be also be assessed on the strength of their revenue growth, profitability and client base. Your business must be independently owned, have started trading no earlier than 1 August 2017 and no later than 31 July 2018, and be UK-founded and UK-based.

Why you should enter Crowdfunded Business of the Year

The Startups Awards offers your business a chance to raise its profile on a national level, exposing your business to new clients, customers, employees and even potential investors.

Your business will also receive recognition and validation from a high profile judging panel including Zoopla founder Alex Chesterman, Nick Wheeler of Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts, Griselda Togobo of Forward Ladies, and founder of StartUp Britain and regular Startups’ columnist; Oli Barret MBE.

Winners and finalists will also have access to a template press release and a logo for marketing content. Winner’s video interviews will also be displayed on the Startups Awards website.

If you think you could be Crowdfunded Business of the Year enter the Startups Awards 2018 here.