Last night The SPARKies awards brought together the best of the South West region’s tech and digital community to The Showroom in Bristol to celebrate the best startups, designs, hardware, people and more and to finally discover who had been crowned the winner of our 17 awards.
Once again thank you to our wonderful sponsors who made the evening possible. And thank you to Stephen Bailey for keeping our guests charmed and entertained.
The SPARKies is also made by its fabulous judges, attendees – and of course those who took the time to nominate who they thought represented the best of tech in the West.
This year’s awards saw a record number of nominations of the highest quality we’ve ever seen with our judges commenting on just how tough it was to decide on the final shortlist. It was a true testament to how the tech sector continues to build back better.
And now, saving the best until last – here are The SPARKies 2021 winners…
Best Scale up
Companies with over 10 people or a turnover of £1million that are also showing great growth.
Winner: Huboo Fulfilment
Also shortlisted:
- Neighbourly
- Virti
- Unity5 Ltd
- Signable
Sponsored by:
Best Digital Design
This award recognises the best web and software designs and experiences created by individuals or companies in the South West since January 2020. This could include anything from a brilliant e-commerce website, or a clever piece of software design.
Winner: Unfold
Also shortlisted:
- Fiasco Design
- Gravitywell
- Roseta.io
Sponsored by:
Data Data Data
An award for the projects that are pushing the limits of what we can do with data. This can include both commercial or public good projects.
Winner: Cognisess
Also shortlisted:
- Moneyhub
- Heleastel
- Dashboard
- Brijj
Sponsored by:
Best Mentor/ Advisor
This award recognises the individual or organisation, that has truly gone over and above to advise and support a tech company or individual to achieve success in the South West digital and tech sector.
Winner: Greville Commins
Also shortlisted:
- Kimberley Brooke
- Ashley Coles
- John Courtney
Sponsored by:
Best use of Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality
This award recognises the best way virtual or augmented reality, 360 video or merged media has been utilised within a product or application. It could have the highest impact, or be the most spellbinding product.
Winner: Virti
Also shortlisted:
- Rocketmakers
- Condense Reality
- Augmented Reality Creations Ltd
Sponsored by:
FutureSPARK
One for the under 25s. This award will go to the individual, whether an employee of a tech company, post grad or entrepreneur, that has already demonstrated true commitment and initiative within the tech and digital community and whom the judges believe will go far in this industry.
Winner: Hannah Dockings
Also shortlisted:
- Charles Acres
- Izzie Hensby
- Alice Evans
Sponsored by:
The Hardware Award
This award looks for a piece of new hardware or new application of existing hardware that solves problems in new ways. This can include standalone hardware, components or devices.
Winner: Helastel
Also shortlisted:
- Smartbox Assistive Technology
- Marble
- Helastel
- GroundWaves
Sponsored by:
Leader of the Year
This is an award for those in our community who have consistently demonstrated a significant entrepreneurial spirit and has shown commitment, enthusiasm, success and achievement.
Winner: Sam Seaton (MoneyHub) and Alexander Young (Virti)
Also shortlisted:
- Professor John Terry (Neronstics)
- Harry Cobbold (MadebyUnfold)
Sponsored by:
Best Cyber Company
For the company doing the most exciting things in cyber security in the west.
Winner: KETS Quantum Security
Also shortlisted:
- Immersive Labs
- Chorus
- Gridlock
Sponsored by:
Most Innovative use of Tech
For the company, person, or project using tech in the most innovative way!
Winner: Neuronostics Ltd
Also shortlisted:
- SwiftDetect by Microgeentics
- KETS Quantum Security
- Service Robotics Ltd
- Moneyhub
- Kubla
Sponsored by:
The Good Award
For the best use of technology for doing good – this covers green tech, sustainable tech and hardware for assisted living.
Winner: Neighbourly
Also shortlisted:
- Neighbourly
- Neuronostics Ltd
- Aico l HomeLINK
- Smartbox Assistive Technology
- Service Robotics
Sponsored by:
The Totally Killing It Award
This award recognises the company that the judges believe really made the most of the last 12 months, increasing turnover, expanding, making an impact and capitalising on their successes, both in the region and where relevant, further afield.
Winner: iO Academy
Also shortlisted:
- Rocketmakers
- Accelerate Agenda
- Paranimo
- Virti
Best Startup
This award recognises the achievements of any tech or digital business started up within the last 3 years that has achieved significant success and that the judges believe will be ‘one to watch’ in the future.
Winner: Lumenate
Also shortlisted:
- Spherics
- Greener
- roseta.io
- Condense Reality
Sponsored by:
SPARKies Best Place to Work in Tech
This award goes to the company that the judges believe has gone the extra mile, above and beyond, for someone who works for them, or for all those that work for them. This should be nominated by employees, ex-employees and non-share holders only.
Winner: Rocketmakers & Seccl
Also shortlisted:
- Seccl
- Lumio
- Helastel
- Atomic Smash
Sponsored by:
The Community Award
For the individual or company doing the most to support the whole tech community in the West
Winner: Future Space
Also shortlisted:
- Digilocal
- Digital Wonderlab (Jo Wren)
- Wonderlab
- Cognisess
Sponsored by:
SPARKies Lifetime Achievement Award
This award celebrates the person who has had a clear impact and demonstrable long-term contribution to strengthening the tech cluster in the South West.
Winner: Steve Cliffe
Sponsored by:
The People’s Choice Award
You told us who you think the best tech company in the South West is and the ultimate winner was chosen by the SPARKies audience last night!
Winner: Neighbourly
Also shortlisted:
- Huboo
- Service Robotics
Sponsored by: 
Thanks again for all your awesome nominations. We’ll see you next year for more amazing people and innovations!
