At the 2025 South East StartUp Awards, founders from across the region showed up with ideas that are shaking up their industries, growing fast, and solving real problems. Some were launching their very first idea. Others were growing their tenth. All of them took a chance and made it count.
This year’s winners came with ideas, put in the hours, rode the highs and lows and came out on top. Every win was earned.
Congratulations to Silence Speaks, who won the award for South East StartUp of the Year. It was a standout win in a room full of remarkable stories.
Also, congratulations to all our winners. You’ve put the South East on the map in a big way.
Let’s take a look at who took home the trophies.
The South East StartUp Winners Last Night in Reading.
Agritech & Foodtech StartUp of the Year – icesupp
icesupp is the world’s first frozen food supplement, created to support people struggling to eat during illness. Inspired by the founder’s father, it’s plant-based, allergen-free, and melts in the mouth, delivering vital nutrients when they’re needed most.
AI StartUp of the Year – EasiChat
EasiChat is a SaaS platform delivering hybrid AI-human customer engagement for automotive retailers, designed to boost conversions and simplify sales and service journeys.
Business to Business StartUp of the Year – Blip
Blip Insurance is a fully digital insurtech built for small businesses with five or fewer employees, offering jargon-free, customisable cover and a seamless self-service platform. With features like video-based tool registration, 24-hour claim payouts, and a pioneering profit-sharing model, Blip is redefining insurance for entrepreneurs left behind by traditional providers.
Business, Consulting & Management StartUp of the Year – CultureSight Global
CultureSight Global is a Positive Psychology SaaS company helping organisations, coaches, and consultants uncover the hidden drivers of team performance through data-driven tools.
Consumer Products StartUp of the Year – ISOMUM
IsoMum is the world’s first pregnancy-safe hydration drink, developed by a midwife to meet the unique needs of expectant mothers. Packed with electrolytes and essential nutrients, it offers the kind of targeted hydration support usually reserved for elite athletes, now made for pregnancy.
Consumer Services StartUp of the Year – The Net Vet
The Net Vet is a registered UK veterinary practice offering unlimited free consultations and prescriptions through an easy-to-use app — giving pet owners instant access to licensed vets from home. With live video, photo, and text consultations, it’s expert care without the stress, wait times, or clinic costs.
Creative StartUp of the Year – Styled Home Studios
Styled Home Studios is a curated platform that connects brands and creatives with design-led homes for shoots, filming, content creation, and events.
Digital StartUp of the Year – Silence Speaks
Silence Speaks is an innovative real-time, multi-lingual sign language translation app designed to break down communication barriers for millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing users worldwide.
Education & Training StartUp of the Year – SwitchedON!
SwitchedON! provides personalised coaching and mentorship to help teens overcome academic hurdles, build confidence, and develop essential life skills.
Equity-Backed StartUp of the Year – Gardin
Gardin offers advanced plant photosynthesis sensors that help commercial growers optimise crop yield, reduce resource use, and improve resilience to climate change.
Fashion & Beauty StartUp of the Year – My Skin Feels
My Skin Feels is an award-winning natural skincare brand using over 99% vegan, upcycled ingredients sourced from food industry by-products. Designed for sensitive skin and pro-healthy ageing, it offers simple, effective self-care with a focus on sustainability and ethical packaging.
Food & Drink StartUp of the Year – Zaman Condiments and Sauces
Zaman Condiments and Sauces is an award-winning, eco-friendly food start-up crafting authentic Indian restaurant-quality sauces in small batches using ethically sourced local ingredients.
Global StartUp of the Year – Crossborder Logistics
Crossborder Logistics is a UK-based freight forwarding and compliance specialist that helps international e-commerce and Amazon FBA sellers expand seamlessly into UK and EU markets.
Green StartUp of the Year – Dubs
Dubs is a parent-founded kids’ footwear brand combining innovative design, AI technology, and eco-friendly materials to create the most comfortable, sustainable trainers.
Health & Wellbeing StartUp of the Year – Vitola
Vitola is a wellness brand transforming hair care with science-backed, nutrient-rich powdered supplements that nourish hair from within, promoting strength, growth, and hydration. Born from a personal journey with hair loss, Vitola offers a refreshing, sustainable alternative to traditional pills, empowering confidence through holistic self-care.
Hospitality, Tourism & Events StartUp of the Year – Kairos Global
Kairos Global is a brand experience agency that crafts immersive events, exhibitions, and activations designed to drive engagement and build lasting connections. Their expert team handles everything from audience insight to global project management, delivering memorable experiences tailored to your brand’s goals.
Innovative StartUp of the Year – Football 2 Music
Football 2 Music offers a unique children’s football training experience in Milton Keynes that combines skill development with high-energy music.
Marketing, Advertising & PR StartUp of the Year – Ace Places
Ace Places creates beautifully designed, locally curated playing card packs that guide visitors and locals to hidden gems, independent businesses, and unique experiences in towns across the UK.
Media & Entertainment StartUp of the Year – BAMN Global Entertainment
BAMN Global Entertainment is a creative hub and media studio based in Reading, offering professional facilities and integrated services for recording, podcasting, photography, content creation, branding, and social media management.
Medtech & Healthtech StartUp of the Year – Clens Cosmetics
Clens Cosmetics offers patented UVC-sterilised makeup brushes designed to eliminate harmful microbes quickly and effectively, reducing cross-contamination risks between clients and makeup artists.
Professional Services StartUp of the Year – Infinity Property & Lifestyle Management
Infinity Property & Lifestyle Management delivers personalised property and lifestyle services for high-net-worth individuals, blending expert estate management with bespoke support like event planning and travel coordination.
Retail & E-Commerce StartUp of the Year – B-MEE
B-MEE empowers children aged 3-11 to develop life skills, financial literacy, and self-mastery through an engaging reward box and app that combine gamification with education.
Rising Star Award – Root Mylk
Root Mylk blends traditional African culinary heritage with modern health trends to create plant-based beverages like their flagship Tigernut Mylkshake, a nutritious, fiber-rich dairy alternative.
Rural StartUp of the Year – MTL Events
MTL Events is a specialist event management company with 25 years of experience delivering seamless, compliant, and impactful events especially in pharmaceutical and life sciences.
Social Enterprise StartUp of the Year – Wriggly Reader’s World
Wriggly Reader’s World is a social enterprise creating interactive, roleplay-based books that turn reading into an active, immersive experience for young children.
StartUp For Good Award – Silence Speaks
Silence Speaks is developing a groundbreaking real-time, multi-lingual sign language translation app that bridges communication gaps for millions of users worldwide.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Chime Care
Chime Care is a marketplace for in-home care services, designed to make high-quality care more accessible while improving health outcomes. By connecting families with trusted carers, it brings reliability, dignity, and ease to the care experience.
Construction & Building Services StartUp of the Year & Judges Choice – DIY Her Way
DIY Her Way empowers women to unlock their creative potential with innovative, female-focused DIY products designed to simplify the beginner’s journey. Their mission is to boost female participation in construction and home improvement, helping women gain confidence and reshape the industry.
Graduate StartUp of the Year Judges Choice – Jack Fertility
Jack Fertility offers the world’s first mail-in sperm test kit delivering lab-grade analysis and personalised, AI-driven recommendations, all from the comfort of home. Their mission is to break down barriers in men’s reproductive health, empowering individuals to take control of their fertility and help address the global fertility crisis.
Manufacturing & Engineering StartUp of the Year – Talloes
Talloes crafts hand-cooked potato crisps using just three natural ingredients: potatoes, chicken fat, and sea salt, offering a healthier, seed oil-free alternative.
And with that, we’ve celebrated all the standout winners from the South East region. They have all stepped up and stolen the spotlight.
A big thank you to everyone who made this event possible. Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, your dedication to supporting UK start-ups is the driving force behind this tour. To our host, Calvin Eden, we appreciate the warmth, humour, and energy you brought to the evening. And to our fantastic sponsors and partners, Airwallex, Join Talent, and V-Rum, your ongoing support is invaluable in empowering the next wave of entrepreneurs.
As the tour continues to spotlight incredible founders across the UK, here’s where we’re heading next:
24 June – East of England (Cambridge)
25 June – London
To the South East’s founders who poured in their energy and ambition, thank you for turning the evening into a celebration of real achievement. We’re looking forward to what’s next.