24th September 2012, Cambridge, UK – The finals of the free-to-enter Discovering Start-Ups 2012 take place on 21st November when entrants will have the unique opportunity to pitch their ideas, technologies and business plans to an impressive line-up of some 25 leading investors and industry figures from companies including Orange Labs, RIM, Qualcomm, Vodafone Ventures and Google. The pitch event will be hosted at the flagship London headquarters of the legal firm Taylor Wessing and is also sponsored by Google, Rohde & Schwarz and SETsquared Partnership.
The competition has already attracted a wide range of entrants that include Lutebox, an online and mobile social mall; Carbon Hero that has developed a mobile app that detects a user’s mode of transport and calculates its carbon footprint; a smart phone application called Collide, which automatically tells you when your friends are nearby and suggests local cafes, bars and restaurants along with money-off vouchers; Synelyxis, the developers of a new collaborative communication system for disaster situations; and Smart Antenna Technologies, the company behind a new patented range of smart antenna technologies.
Cambridge-based Blendology enables brand managers and event organisers to connect, engage and interact with customers in real-life and online using ‘tap-to-connect’ badges and devices, while Bardowl is a smartphone and tablet app that allows users to access and stream audiobooks and AquamatiX provides a new real-time collaboration platform for water/wastewater industry based on Internet of Things technology. Also entered is SmartStudy from Swindon, a publisher of social mobile learning applications that allow students to test each other in real time; TopicLogic – a web service to help busy professionals instantly find and share their files wherever they are; while Tank Top TV aggregates on-demand programme and movie listings from providers like iPlayer, 4oD and ITV Player. One of the more unusual entrants is the BIG FAT SOFT-KEY™ from Input Dynamics – a virtual button that works by simply tapping the case of a mobile device.
“The diverse range of entries already, from apps to antennas, shows that UK wireless innovation and creativity is alive and kicking,” said Soraya Jones, CEO at Cambridge Wireless. “The chance to pitch to 25 major investors and industry influencers at the same time presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-ups in the UK who have until 19th October to enter athttp://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/dsu/.”
“Now in its third year, we are delighted to link up with Cambridge Wireless to help make Discovering Start-Ups a national competition,” said Simon Bond, Founder of Silicon South West. “We want to showcase the best in wireless innovation across the UK and provide a real opportunity for new companies and technologies to get noticed.”
As well as prestigious Discovering Start-Ups trophies, the top five start-up companies will receive a free delegate ticket to Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona provided by UKTI along with the opportunity to present at the Future of Wireless International Conference next June and a year’s free membership to SETsquared, to the total value of around £5,000.
For a full list of judges and entry forms, please visit: http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/dsu.
About Cambridge Wireless:
Cambridge Wireless is a leading industry forum and vibrant community with a rapidly expanding network of companies actively involved in the development and application of wireless technologies. In addition to high level networking dinners and events, a strong educational programme and business development activities, Cambridge Wireless runs the annual Future of Wireless International Conference along with the prestigious Discovering Start-Ups programme and competition to support emerging, innovative wireless companies. Over 15 Special Interest Groups focused on specific technologies and market sectors, also provide opportunities for members to meet, form partnerships to exploit new commercial opportunities, and share knowledge and information about the latest industry trends and hot topics. Cambridge Wireless has partnerships with other leading industry clusters and organisations around the world to extend its international reach and to keep members up to date with the latest global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk.
About Silicon South West:
The Silicon South West network provides regular networking events, news and national and international promotion for the South West of England’s world class microelectronics design cluster. Over 100 companies connected to the microelectronics sector are concentrated in a region which includes the key towns & cities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Plymouth, and Southampton & Swindon. For further information please visit www.siliconsouthwest.co.uk.
