BEST IDEA – ONE TO WATCH
The European Finals event takes place in less than two weeks, and so the countdown is officially on! Today, we are going to be focusing on new ideas in the ‘Best Idea – one to watch’ category. Here we’ll take a sneak peek at each of the companies that have been successfully shortlisted for the finals event taking place on Thursday 7th December at the Museum of London.
Next month we will be welcoming three very different, yet innovative, game-changing start-ups who will be competing for the award, as well as the prize of a once in a lifetime, all expenses paid trip to Silicon Valley to tour some of the most influential tech companies in the world and meet Apple Co-founder, Steve Wozniak, for a private lunch.
So, let’s take a closer look at each of our finalists for the ‘Best Idea – One to Watch’ category…
Minespider
Minespider uses blockchain tokens to track conflict free minerals. Metals that come from conflict zones are difficult to uniquely identify because shipments can be mixed, so their approach is to create blockchain tokens according to production volumes of responsibly sourced material. These tokens are passed up the supply chain to purchasers of metal, so that manufacturers can trace their money to responsible sources.
Founder, Nathan Williams, explained his motivation for entering the awards: “One of the strongest pulls for me to apply to Talent Unleashed was the participation of Steve Wozniak, honestly. I had the chance to see Woz speak in Berlin back in May, and he is such a legend in the tech world. What was interesting is that Woz spoke about the issue of conflict minerals and using blockchain to address this issue, which is exactly what I’m working on, and I thought that I absolutely need to apply to this award, and have this chance to meet him.”
“This would provide a huge boost to the profile of my start-up. My project is a supply chain solution that requires the participation of many big companies, and winning the award would provide a huge leap forward in recognition and trust building, as well as the chance to meet Woz, of course.”
Prospela
Prospela is an e-mentoring platform giving schools / universities (regardless of location / prestige) access to an employer network. Students (aged 16-21 years) enjoy on-demand career discovery and planning through a “board” of employee mentors.
Commenting on the awards, Co-founder, Dexter Boyce, said: “The prospect of being part of the Talent Unleashed start-up network and having two of the most iconic names in business & tech give their nod of approval was a huge motivation to apply… as it would be for any start-up. Moreover, Talent Unleashed’s approach closely aligns to our belief that there’s a diverse range of untapped talent out there who simply need access to the right platform to get noticed.
We’re already incredibly proud to be named among the EMEA start-ups to watch, but to win the Global award in December would help immensely in raising awareness of the work we’re doing to reduce inequality in education. Alongside the opportunity to soak up the Silicon Valley mindset & enjoy lunch with Woz, it would boost our influence in changing the culture required to foster greater conversation between schools & employers globally. We truly believe this is key to empowering the next generation.”
Immersive Rehab
Immersive Rehab uses Virtual Reality to achieve important gains in mobility and function beyond what can be achieved with current physical & neuro-rehabilitation practices, thereby focusing in particular on improving fine motor function.
Immersive Rehab’s Virtual Reality Platform provides an engaging and motivating solution to the current limitations of physical rehab, in particular for people with significant neurological upper limb mobility limitations. By combining neuro- & physical rehab, it is possible to obtain important gains in mobility and function.
When asked what made them come forward and apply to the awards, Founder, Isabel Van De Keere, said: “I applied for the Talent Unleashed Awards because the Awards and organisation behind them are all about recognising and supporting people and organisations who are making the world a better place. As a Tech for Good entrepreneur myself, I apply technology to make an impact on society and people’s lives.”
“Winning the One to Watch category would be an important recognition of Immersive Rehab’s work so far. It would also give me the amazing opportunity to travel to Silicon Valley to visit leading tech companies, meet their employees and expand my network.”
For more information about the awards and for a full list of the EMEA finalists, visit www.talentunleashedawards.com