A start-up accelerator programme to nurture Wales’ most promising entrepreneurial talent has announced the winners of its latest awards.
The Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator Programme brought together 21 aspiring entrepreneurs for an intensive 12-week journey. It provided expert guidance, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help them transform their innovative ideas into thriving businesses.
The programme concluded with a celebration recognising six participants for their exceptional progress and contributions. The winners demonstrated outstanding commitment and creativity across a range of categories:
- Sales Accelerator Award: Trystan Lloyd, founder of LYFT Club
LYFT Club is a marketing platform that connects health and fitness practitioners with potential customers. By integrating personal storytelling, it showcases practitioners’ services while offering customers access to verified supporting information. - Proposition Flex Award: Paul Tomotas, founder of AVA Steel Ltd
AVA Steel Ltd. transforms steel industry waste into sustainable raw materials like iron briquettes and zinc concentrate. The company uses innovative technology to reduce environmental impact while offering cost-effective solutions for green steel production. - Accelerator Champion Award: Andrea Jones, founder of VisVera Ltd
VisVira Ltd develops autonomous agents to automate repetitive tasks, enhancing business productivity. The AI agents help organisations streamline processes, enabling them to focus on growth and innovation. - Fastest Sales Award: Dan Newman, founder of BALDILOCKS
BALDILOCKS helps people suffering from hair loss trauma regain their glow. It achieves this by creating well-being experiences funded by customers who enjoy shopping in the ‘Baldiverse’. - Most Collaborative Participant Award: Osian Evans, founder of GoIawn
GoIawn developed Antur Amser, a Welsh-language story-based educational platform that integrates immersive technology to make learning interactive and engaging. The platform supports Welsh literacy in modern classrooms. - Accelerator Award: Gareth Thomas, founder of Solitaire
Solitaire.io is an indie game platform that offers a collection of solitaire games and collectable playing cards. By combining gaming with innovative branding, it has rapidly grown its user base and expanded its offerings through crowdfunding initiatives.
Richard Morris, Programme Director for the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme, said:
“We are immensely proud of this year’s cohort and their exceptional progress over the last 12 weeks. Their innovation, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit have been truly inspiring. These awards reflect their hard work and potential to impact their respective sectors significantly, and we are excited to see their businesses grow and thrive.”
Andrea Jones, winner of the Accelerator Champion Award, said:
“I’m honoured to receive this award. The Start-Up Accelerator Programme has allowed me to take my idea from proof of concept to full market delivery. VisVira is now ready to develop AI agent assistants and AI employees, a completely new concept in a rapidly evolving market. The mentorship and collaborative environment have given me the clarity and confidence to take the next steps in making this vision a reality.”
This Start-Up Accelerator is part of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme, funded by Welsh Government.
