Venture Funded Business of the Year: Could it be you?

Category sponsored by haysmacintyre

Why have we got a Venture Funded Business of the Year category?

Start-up appetite among venture capital firms (VCs) is soaring. 2017 was a record year for VC funding with UK businesses bagging £2.99bn worth of investment.

Some of the biggest deals into UK start-ups and fast growth companies in 2017 included: Improbable (£391m); Deliveroo (£364m); TransferWise (£211m) and Funding Circle (£81m)

Given that levels of VC investment are stronger than ever, with an increasing number of “record-breaking” start-up funding rounds, the Venture Funded Business of the Year category enables us to celebrate and recognise those early-stage start-ups getting big money from investors to realise their business ambitions.

What are we looking for in a great venture funded business?

VCs will only invest in early-stage companies that they believe have enormous potential to scale. With our venture funded award, we’re looking for new businesses who have already raised money from investors and are able to demonstrate signs that they are onto something big that has a tangible market opportunity.

Previous venture funded award winners Trouva and ClearScore – 2017 and 2016 winners respectively – showed that they were on the cusp of achieving real greatness, having attracted some of the biggest names from the VC industry.

To compete for the venture funded award, your business’ revenue growth, profitability, and major client wins will, of course, also be taken into account. Your business must also be independently owned, have started trading no earlier than 1 August 2014 and no later than 31 July 2017, and be UK-founded and UK-based.

Why you should enter Venture Funded Business of the Year

Having raised VC investment, you’ve already received some business validation. Entering the Startups Awards enables you to validate your business further with major endorsement from awards judges such as Alex Chesterman of Zoopla – the property site which raised £16.3m VC investment before listing on the stock exchange – and Balderton Capital partner, Rob Moffat.

What’s more, several Startups Awards winners –  across various categories – have told us that their win got them noticed by investors; therefore the Startups Awards could also help you to source additional start-up funding by putting your business on the radar of other high-profile investors in the space.

Alongside industry recognition, investor attention and national and local press coverage, winners and finalists will also receive a template press release to maximise media coverage, and a logo to use on marketing content. Winner video interviews will also be displayed on the Startups Awards website.

Natasha Frangos, partner at haysmacintyre (Startups Awards sponsor and presenter of Venture Funded Business of the Year), commented:

“Businesses are attracting venture funding much earlier in their development, which illustrates both the number of impressive start-ups making themselves known and the willingness of VCs to invest in such businesses. This creates new challenges with start-ups needing to develop the infrastructure to support this investment and provide the growth expected.

haysmacintyre are delighted to continue to support the Startups Awards, which showcases the very best new businesses.  Each year we never fail to be impressed by the early achievements and future potential shown by entrants.”

Think your start-up could take home the award for Venture Funded Business of the Year? Submit your entry for the Startups Awards 2018 now.