Nine Welsh firms feature on list of promising UK start-ups
NINE firms based in Wales have made a list of 100 UK start-ups to watch.
The businesses have made NatWest’s inaugural #PowerUp Index, which is topped by London-based firm Oval Money, which has developed an app to monitor finances.
The assessment was made from start-ups in NatWest’s 12 entrepreneur accelerator hubs across the UK.
It is ranked upon financial performance, growth and investment potential, as well as their founders’ growth mindset.
It has been developed in partnership with Beauhurst and Equifax and independently verified by the two organisations.
The highest-ranked business from Wales, at 11th, is Alpacr, a social networking platform for travellers.
The company, based at NatWest’s hub in Cardiff, was launched in 2017 by Dan Swygart from Llandegla in Denbighshire.
Mr Swygart said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised on the #PowerUp Index in this way.
“The last 12 months have been really successful for us as a company, with user and investment growth, and this is thanks to the support and guidance we have received from the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator in Cardiff.”
The other Welsh firms in the index are: iVAT (14), Brushbox (26), Paperclip (38), Brite Angle (54), F&W Insights (55), Cycle Training Wales (56), Sports Injury Fix (61) and QR Info Pod (72).
Siwan Rees, entrepreneur acceleration manager in Cardiff, said: “We’re really proud that so many businesses from across all parts of Wales have made it on to the inaugural #PowerUp Index. This is such a fantastic achievement and testament to their innovation and hard work.
“We’re blessed in Wales to have so much entrepreneurial talent and we’re really excited about the prospect of supporting more start-up and scale-up businesses when our next intake begins on the accelerator programme in Cardiff in October.”
The bank’s accelerator hubs are capable of supporting up to 1,000 entrepreneurs across its UK network.
Since the Cardiff accelerator launched in 2016, nearly 700 businesses – from fintech firms to fashion brands – have been through the programme, creating a significant number of jobs and raising millions of pounds in investment and funding through the scheme.