Startups Awards 2012: The Winners

2012 will be remembered for the greatest summer of sport the UK has ever seen. Some may also recall the lurching economy, coming out and suggesting it might go straight back into recession. And for shock value nothing is likely to match the BBC in crisis. But one thing remains constant – the country’s start-up landscape continues to excite.

In years to come, some of the Startups Awards finalists who didn’t receive trophies will nevertheless be well-known by the wider public. The judges, which included Duncan Bannatyne OBE, Luke Johnson, and BBC Click’s Kate Russell, could happily point to any number of businesses that already have or soon will boast multi-million pound turnovers – and all this within their first three years of trading.

Video production platform Aframe, strategic consultancy Britain Thinks, augmented reality tech company Poikos, recommendation technology LoveThis, data compression business Snappli, app design agency Apptivation, online advertising platform Affectv, flash sales sites Casabu and Sport Pursuit, global recruitment company Gravitas, and mobile accessories designer MediaDevil were all worthy and in many other years may have taken titles.

There were also small but beautifully formed companies that look set to thrive. Unique tent design business Field Candy, public toilet hygiene product WristPull, aqua training for babies and toddlers concept Turtle Tots, and babysitting agency Like Minders are start-ups many judges loved.

Pole dancing fitness company Pole Motion and unique gift subscription service Not Another Bill, plus the micro brewery Circle Cider and producer of toys that build children’s emotional intelligence Karisma Kidz were strong contenders too.

And that’s before mentioning the Revive and Action Coach franchisees and trades businesses – garden office installer Southwick’s and property maintenance company JND – that came so close. Stellar comes close to covering it.

So which companies did join former winners The Cambridge Satchel Company, Ella’s Kitchen, Glasses Direct, and BeatThatQuote.com?

• View the winners
• View the finalists