Annual shortlist of #21toWatch people, companies and ‘things’ is announced

The 2021 shortlist for next month’s coveted #21toWatch Awards includes some of the most inspirational entrepreneurs, startups and innovations from the East of England.

Out of the hundreds of entries received, 250 qualified candidates made it onto a longlist, which has now been whittled down to a shortlist of 48, featuring a dynamic mix of ‘People’, ‘Companies’ and ‘Things’.

The shortlist of ‘People’ includes Dr Andrea De Luca , researcher-turned-entrepreneur and Co-Founder/ CEO of Flusso , a fabless semiconductor company re-writing the rules on flow sensors in multiple consumer and industrial products. Andrea, an innovator in engineering, has become CEO of the now well-funded company, which is now addressing a big market potential.

Other shortlisted ‘People’ include Aleksandra Pedraszewska , VividQ ; Ayaka Shinozaki , techspert.io ; Carol Cheung , Cambridge Innovation Capital ; Catherine Elton , Qkine ; Dr Justin O’Grady , Quadram Institute ; Dr Thuria Wenbar , e-Surgery ; Dr Tom Stubbs , Chronomics ; Francesca O’Hanlon , Blue Tap ; George Bailey , Coral Eyewear ; Giorgia Longobardi , Cambridge GaN Devices ; Gita Khalili Moghaddam , GlycoVue; Jason Mellad , Start Codon ; Jenny Tillotson , eScent and Rosanna Kierney , Recruitment Junky.

The shortlisted ‘Companies’ include Leaf Expression Systems , a contract development and manufacturing business based in Norwich. The company specialises in plant-based expression and the production of proteins, vaccines and complex natural products for research and commercial applications including the ongoing global efforts to combat COVID-19.

Also on the ‘Companies’ shortlist are: Agile Analog , Blue Tap , Cambridge Cancer Genomics , Cydar Medical , Echion Technologies , Flusso , Iceni Diagnostics , Inawisdom , Intellisense.io , Kalium Health , Lightcast Discovery , Mursla , Plastometrex , Rainbird , Reflection Therapeutics , SATAVIA and Zedify.

The ‘Things’ shortlist, meanwhile, includes FLIT bike, a revolutionary folding ebike for the urban commuter. Inspired by the cycling culture in Cambridge, the FLIT team of engineers, designers and cyclists have produced a quality product that is already gaining market traction. The team’s tireless pursuit of engineering innovation in a tough and fast-growing market makes them worthy candidates for the ‘Things’ award.

Also shortlisted are Ablatus Therapeutics’ Bimodal Electric Tissue Ablation (BETA) ; Atelerix’s BeadReady ; Better Origin’s X1 ; Cambond’s plant-based resin technology ; Cambridge GaN Devices’ Gallium Nitride power modules ; Developing Experts’ online science lessons ; Glyconics’ FTIR spectroscopy for point-of-care testing ; Map of Ag’s platform ; RoboK’s 3D perception software ; Safepoint’s lone worker safety app ; Sook spaces ; Spotta Smart Pest Systems’ Spotta Bed Pod , and Thyngs’ platform.

techspert.io was one of the Top 21.2020 in last year’s ‘Things’ category. Graham Mills , Co-Founder & Managing Director, says: “Being named a cofinitive #21toWatch was a brilliant achievement for techspert.io in 2020. Being recognised for our growth alongside the brightest and best Cambridge has to offer was a real honour and has served as a valuable piece for advocating our brand globally to potential clients.”

But it’s not all just about making it to the Top21, just being named on the #21toWatch Longlist can elevate a profile significantly. Cornelius Palm , CEO & Co-Founder of Happyr Health – which is helping children suffering from migraines – told us: “We are very grateful for the awareness #21toWatch provided around Happyr Health. It was the best running post I had on LinkedIn this year – possibly even ever – with so many fantastic people from within the Cambridge ecosystem engaging with it and us.”

Entrepreneur and cofinitive Founder, Faye Holland , who created the hugely successful #21toWatch programme and Awards, said: “This year’s cohort have truly blown us away. The longlist was absolutely phenomenal – and, as a result, reducing this to a shortlist was incredibly challenging.

We have been delighted to see so many People, Companies and Things from previous shortlists, even Top21s, back again as their work progresses, and, in some cases, pivots. This continued recognition for innovation and entrepreneurship demonstrates how brilliantly these people and businesses are adapting, evolving and thriving despite what has been a challenging year for most.

“Our region is maintaining its global reputation for excellence in biotechnology and life sciences which is once again reflected in this year’s shortlist as expected. However, the shortlist also includes other incredibly innovative People, Companies and ‘Things’ in industries as diverse as artificial intelligence-enabled solutions, manufacturing, and water and energy sustainability. I really don’t envy the judges their task of assessing the 48 on the shortlist, to secure the Top21.2021!”

The #21toWatch shortlist is being judged by four leading experts across a range of disciplines. This year, the judges are Simon Thorpe , Angel Investor, Managing Partner of Delta 2020 and Chair of Cambridge Angels ; Yupar Myint , Head of Programme for Cambridge University’s Impulse Programme at The Maxwell Centre, a tried-and-tested catalyst for entrepreneurship; Thea Goodluck , Entrepreneur Engagement Manager for East of England at Tech Nation ; and Jason Mellad , CEO and Co-Founder of Cambridge Healthcare accelerator, Start Codon.  All four will independently assess the candidates based on five criteria: innovation, challenge, influence, viability and memorability.

We are delighted to announce that RSM, Tech Nation and Invested Investor have additionally joined our regular sponsors and partners of the #21toWatch campaign.

Now in its third year, the Awards will be held as a bespoke virtual event on Thursday 4 ^th March 2021 at 11am. Anyone in the entrepreneurial ecosystem – entrepreneurs through to supporters of those shortlisted – can register for the event at https://cofinitive21towatch.eventbrite.co.uk.

The post Annual shortlist of #21toWatch people, companies and ‘things’ is announced appeared first on 21toWatch.