The team over at the UK Startups Awards contacted a few of the judges for this year’s awards and asked them what they see as the ‘exciting opportunity to find the heroes of tomorrow’. For any company getting ready to fill out their entry form, the following should provide some guidelines or insight into what the judges will be keeping an eye out for.
“Businesses with a strategic vision and a founding team with the guts and determination to turn that vision into reality.” Nick Wheeler, founder Charles Tyrwhitt
“I’m looking for a simple compelling proposition and a strong team that collectively has the skills to deliver. I’m looking forward to helping some great new businesses get the recognition they deserve and meeting founders who will make the future even better.” Jon Wright, co-founder Innocent Drinks
“The most important thing I’m looking for is a business and not just an idea. The kind of start-ups I look for have a great team, have financial discipline and either an innovative new product or service or are innovative in their execution of an existing product or service.” Simon Franks, co-founder LOVEFiLM and chairman, Redbus
“Businesses with outstanding teams who have the ambition and capability to scale their businesses rapidly and become leading European businesses in a matter of years.” Will Gibbs, associate VC Octopus Investments
“A well-reasoned business plan with a proper knowledge of the sector, and how consumers behave in that sector – but I’d especially like to see business ideas that aim to put at least as much back into society as they take out.” Sophi Tranchell, MD Divine Chocolate
“Strong innovation and a solid revenue – and some really unique ideas being turned into reality.” Elizabeth Varley, co-founder TechHub
“People are THE most important part of building a new business. I look for founders with a clear vision of what they’re building, combined with the flexibility to adapt and the grit to deliver.” Rory Stirling, VC investor
Get your UK Startups Awards 2015 entry form here.
