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UK tech start-up barometer points to strong future - 2014 Discovering Start-Ups Competition Shortlisted Finalists Announced(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Cambridge, UK: The finalists of the 2014 Discovering Start-Ups Competition have been announced and will get the chance to pitch their innovative technologies and business plans to 23 leading industry expert investors from the likes of Google, BT, Broadcom, IBM, Orange Labs, Samsung, London Business Angles and Cambridge Angels. Judges from Cambridge Wireless (CW) and SETsquared - organisers of the DS14 Competition - chose 18 finalists spanning areas from health, education and wellbeing apps, mobile games, e-commerce and wearable tech to network analytics, cyber security, voice and face recognition and tools for developing Internet of Things applications. "It's been a record breaking year with nearly 80 entries coming from across the country which is a great reflection of the creativity and strength of the UK's technology scene", says Dr Soraya Jones, CEO of Cambridge Wireless. "The UK start-up barometer has never been healthier and we are absolutely thrilled with the outcome. I would like to take this opportunity and thank all companies who entered the competition showcasing compelling ideas and entrepreneurial flair along with all our supporters and sponsors for promoting this competition." The final pitching event will take place on the 22nd of October at the London offices of DS14 sponsor Deloitte. The finalists are: WaveOptics Ltd: A company providing a patent pending, see-through, wearable augmented reality smart glasses technology capable of delivering a light-weight, direct overlay, full colour, high field-of-view display. Giftgaming: A patent pending in-game advertising service where brands give in-game benefits as gifts to players to create loyalty and long-term relationships, as well as increase player engagement and retention. RK Trans2cloud: A provider of technology solutions and IT services in the field of cloud computing. CrowdEmotion: A software company providing the world's first cloud based facial coding technology that can measure emotions anytime, anywhere simply using your own camera. GeoSpock Ltd: A scalable platform enabling mobile developers to enhance and monetize their applications. Collide(TM) handles low-power location tracking, client synchronisation and geospatial ad triggers. Enigmedia: A technology start-up providing real-time and tailor-made data encryption solutions. Icon UK: A provider of Customer Communications Management solutions that integrate with existing applications for advanced online and offline mobile signing solutions. Aseptika (Activ8rlives): A healthcare company developing and marketing an integrated suite of self-monitoring devices and services under the Activ8rlives brand. PLAYIR: A provider of real-time 3D multiplayer game and app design tools allowing for the real-time streaming and optimization of source code without the need of updating apps on devices or app stores. The Outside View: A predictive analytics company that uses data to solve business problems using complex algorithms and machine learning. Braci: A supplier of solutions capable of detecting a wide range of sounds which are then pushed as easily understood notifications through a smart device. Speechmatics: A provider of state-of-the-art, cloud-based speech recognition, which converts audio to text integrated in an easy to use interface and with a simple pay-as-you-go system. Cambridge Intelligence: A data visualisation company providing KeyLines, a unique commercially licensed JavaScript toolkit used by organisations around the world to build custom network visualisation apps. AppNearMe: A development platform providing MicroNFCBoard, a solution for developing proximity-based Internet of Things applications using Near Field Communication. Beacondo: A development house providing free tools that let anyone make iBeacon-enabled apps for retail, schools, museums, coffee shops and more - without writing code. AlphaFox Systems: A developer of Crystal Key(TM), a patented non-clonable (non-forgeable) and unique physical optical 'personal identification tag' for mobile commerce personal ID authentication. KO-SU: A mobile learning platform enabling schools and teachers to easily create and distribute interactive mobile learning activities to students, or even to parents and the wider community. Our Mobile Health: A provider of technically and clinically reviewed apps for healthcare organisations. The shortlisted start-ups come from across the UK, from West Midlands, Cambridge, London, Berkshire, and the South of England. "Many congratulations to the final 18. It's reassuring to see such strong, diverse and sophisticated technologies from UK start-ups and entrepreneurs", comments Simon Bond, Innovation Director at SETsquared. "This gives them a competitive edge in the global market for technology related products and services - now the judges face the difficult task of selecting the best of the best at the London final." The DS14 Competition final is sponsored and hosted by Deloitte at its London offices on 22nd October 2014 and jointly sponsored by Qualcomm Ventures, Google, Microlease and Keysight Technologies, IC Resources, Dorsey & Whitney and supported by Tech City UK, techUK, New Entrepreneurs Foundation and UK Trade & Investment. The 5000 prize package for five winners includes: the ticket to the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, a unique opportunity to pitch to the UKTI stand during the MWC15, SETsquared 6 month Virtual membership with mentoring and investor support, Cambridge Wireless Founder Membership for one year, the ticket to Cambridge Wireless 'Future of Wireless International Conference 2015' and a 500 cash prize. To find out more about the DS14 visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/dsu About Cambridge Wireless (CW) CW is the leading international community for companies involved in the research, development and application of wireless & mobile, internet, semiconductor and software technologies. With 400 members from major network operators and device manufacturers to innovative start-ups and universities, CW stimulates debate and collaboration, harnesses and shares knowledge, and helps to build connections between academia and industry. CW's 19 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide its members with a dynamic forum where they can network with their peers, track the latest technology trends and business developments and position their organisations in key market sectors. CW also organises the annual Future of Wireless International Conference and Discovering Start-ups competition along with other high-quality industry networking events and dinners. With headquarters at the heart of Cambridge, UK, CW partners with other international industry clusters and organisations to extend its reach and remain at the forefront of global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk About SETsquared The SETsquared Partnership is the enterprise collaboration of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. Together, the universities employ 7,400 academic staff; earn nearly 10% of the UK's higher education research budget; and produce 11% of all UK university patents. The partnership has a 10-year track record of supporting companies through its innovation centres, which provide access to industry specialists, investors and experienced entrepreneurs. SETsquared currently supports over 250 early stage high-tech, high growth potential businesses, and 88% of its incubated companies are still in business three years on. In the past five years, nearly 0.75bn in investment funding has been raised by spin outs and incubated companies. SETsquared supports its student population of over 90,000 graduate and undergraduates to gain hands on business skills and entrepreneurial training through experiential inter-university activities. The Partnership also provides opportunities for industry to access academic ideas with commercial potential and develop collaborative R&D relationships. The Partnership seeks to promote the impact, economically and socially, of its institutions' research and enterprise activities. For Cambridge Wireless please contact: Lily Cheng Cambridge Wireless 01223 96710101223 967101, [email protected] For SETsquared please contact: Simon Bond SETsquared Partnership 023 8023 8001023 8023 8001, [email protected] SMSAdd to SkypeYou'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype . (c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |