2025 Finalists

Klade Hair Salon Services is an online booking platform tailored to the Afro-Caribbean community, offering culturally appropriate hairstyles, hair education, and textured hair products. This web service connects clients with trusted professionals who provide personalised hair care in the comfort of their homes or chosen location. Klade brings expert haircare to your doorstep, celebrating natural beauty, heritage, and convenience.

At Nedvita, we inspire young adults in attaining their greatest potential through personal coaching, wise advice and powerful discoveries. We deliver innovative, aims-based solutions through coaching that turns challenges into opportunities. We develop our services to help people evolve, pursue wellness, and acquire competencies that can allow them to succeed in personal and professional life. Based on quality, integrity and positive impact, we make measurable and with that trust we are a safe partner in your effort towards long-term success. And together we will develop a clear pathway to achieving your dreams and fulfilling your potential.

Bashful is a movement and brand that turns taboo topics into confident conversations. Bashful exists to empower girls and women, from puberty to womanhood, through unfiltered education, storytelling, and shared experiences. Bashful is bigger than products - it's a platform centred around support.

We are not here to shame. We are here to speak - loudly and lovingly. We are Bashful. We are making the world less bashful, one brave conversation at a time.

Leadership development is broken. It’s largely built on opinions, not evidence - leaving leaders stuck with vague advice and outdated models that don’t actually build real capability. I’m on a mission to fix that. I offer online, on-demand leadership education grounded in the latest science from work psychology. It’s practical, proven and designed to accelerate leaders’ growth with both the how and the why. Backed by a decade of research at a World Top 2% University, and insights from studying 80,000+ leaders, my content’s built for those who want more than guesswork - they want real insights to unlock their leadership impact.

⭐ Growth Award Winner ⭐

Fired Guy Pizza is a mobile start-up serving handcrafted Neapolitan-style pizzas with long-fermented dough and fresh, local ingredients - including our own house-made mozzarella. We trade at festivals, events, and markets with a minimal, modern menu focused on bold flavours and quality. Born from a personal journey of recovery, Fired Guy Pizza donates 50p from every pizza to a local addiction charity. We’re passionate about great pizza with purpose - bringing people together through food while giving back to the community that helped shape our story.

BidetSafe is a first-of-its-kind UK solution, a simple and innovative add-on that makes using bidets in homes and private toilets safe and legal. Designed to meet strict UK water safety rules, it supports a cleaner, more hygienic lifestyle without the need for electricity. BidetSafe helps reduce toilet paper use, save money, and support sustainable living. Whether at home, in a rental, or in a hotel, it makes modern hygiene easier and more responsible, while building long-term resilience for the future. Its unique, patent-filed design is paving the way for a new era of toilet hygiene in the UK.

Every pre-loved piece has a story, yet too often, it ends in landfill. In the UK, over 22 million items of furniture are discarded annually, most still reusable. Sellers face endless messages, unreliable buyers, and no delivery support. Buyers search for hidden gems but encounter poor visibility, no secure payment, and no way to transport finds. Bowerbird changes this. We unite charity shops, upcyclers, and private sellers on one trusted platform, with secure transactions, integrated delivery, and quality assurance. Buyers find their next favourite piece; sellers rehome items effortlessly. Each match saves resources, keeps stories alive, and champions sustainable living.

We Build Too is a platform that helps more women start, grow, and stay in construction and the trades. Despite increasing skills shortages, women still face barriers from unclear entry routes to a lack of support once they’re in. We Build Too offers tailored information, community, and essential skills training to close these gaps. Alongside this, we collaborate with employers and educators to enhance their strategies for attracting and retaining diverse talent. A more inclusive workforce doesn’t just strengthen the industry; it improves trust, quality, and customer experience in a sector that urgently needs improvement.

CHUTE is a UK-based sports innovation company tackling the environmental impact of fashion and sportswear waste. Our mission is to design sports products that are better for people and the planet, with circularity and sustainability embedded at the core of everything we do. Each year alone, an estimated 12.5 million pairs of football boots are sent to landfill, contributing to a broader environmental issue linked to fast fashion and single-use products in sport. CHUTE’s aim is with our core product range is to cut boot waste by up to 50%, reducing carbon emissions and the volume of synthetic materials entering landfill.

ShriArena is a cloud gaming platform that allows users to stream and play high-end console and PC games on any device, without the need for expensive hardware like a PS5. By using powerful servers and smart streaming technology, ShriArena makes top-tier gaming accessible to players anywhere in the world. With flexible game passes and subscription options, we are creating an affordable, inclusive gaming experience. Our aim is to break down barriers in gaming and open up next-generation gameplay to everyone, regardless of their device or location all you need is a good internet connection.

Nomwise is a family-focused app that addresses food waste by engaging kids in household food management. The app helps families plan grocery shopping, track expiry dates, and provides creative recipes to use ingredients before they spoil. With UK households wasting over £500 annually on discarded food, Nomwise transforms this costly problem into an educational opportunity. Leveraging game design, storytelling and delightful mechanics, the app reduces parents' workload while teaching children valuable life skills. Beyond waste reduction, Nomwise offers guidance on smart purchasing decisions, proper food storage, and sustainable packaging disposal, making food management both fun and environmentally responsible.

Shelfex is a digital platform bridging the gap between online brands and physical retail stores by enabling online sellers to rent underutilised shelf space. It helps online businesses gain high street exposure while allowing physical retailers to earn extra revenue effortlessly, creating a flexible marketplace that benefits both parties. By simplifying the connection between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail, Shelfex drives innovation and growth in the evolving retail landscape.  

I was born in Ukraine, and I want to share what hospitality, warmth, and the true taste of home mean to us. My restaurant represents modern Ukrainian cuisine with soul — blending traditional recipes with contemporary presentation, so that everyone can experience Ukraine through its flavours, aromas, and atmosphere. Warm light, wooden details, gentle bandura music, and the scent of freshly baked bread create a feeling of being welcomed into a friend’s home. Our mission is not just to serve food, but to share culture — supporting Ukrainian producers and young chefs. For us, food is love. And every dish is an invitation to feel Ukraine with your heart.

⭐ Impact Award Winner ⭐

This startup app idea ‘Prioritise You’ uses real-time safety tech to automatically notify loved ones when users get home safely. Removing the stress of late night check ins. Future features will re-map safer walking routes and send live alerts if others in the area report danger, rerouting users instantly. Alongside the app, we’ll run education sessions in schools and workplaces on early signs of emotional abuse and harassment. Built by and for women, the platform will evolve through community input creating a hive mind of lived experience, support, and safety. Our mission: Create meaningful fulfilling community, real-world change, powered by tech and sisterhood.

My business idea is a tutoring service for GCSE students. Despite not being the first of this kind, our platform will be unique through its adaptability to students’ needs and by using AI consensual face profiling, attempt to associate moods based on the students’ interest in the subject so the tutors will be able to support the learning process by pinpointing where the students strugglers with in class understanding and confusing material.

Napchi is an AI‑powered sleep support platform helping people cut through the overwhelm of fragmented advice and finally get the personalised help they need to sleep better. Built from lived experience and backed by research, Napchi guides users through friendly, conversational assessments and connects them to the right support, from NHS pathways and sleep specialists to practical lifestyle changes, transforming sleepless nights into healthier, more productive days.

Amelia Fern Productions is a creative business who works within the entertainment industry. We work within visual storytelling through set, props and scenic art. As a business we have worked on a range of productions, from children’s pantomimes as lead scenic artist to independent original shows as set, props and costume head. From, designing sets, hunting for props, creating backdrops and altering objects, we aim to work within film TV, theatre and other creative industry who may need our service!

Jem’s Vegan Bakes is a small vegan bakery, focused on creating indulgent occasion cakes, cake slice boxes, cookies and brownies, all completely free of animal products. My aim is to make veganism more accessible and appealing by offering delicious, beautifully-crafted bakes that everyone can enjoy. From weddings to markets, every treat is made with care, compassion, and a commitment to sustainability. I want to show that choosing vegan doesn’t mean compromising on taste - it means enjoying delicious treats that are better for the planet and everyone on it.

Wiktoria Anna helps people fall in love with watercolours through beginner-friendly classes, events and creative kits designed to make painting joyful and unintimidating. What began as a single workshop has grown into a creative business that helps people slow down and reconnect with themselves. Wiktoria is now developing online classes to expand her reach and working towards a dedicated creative space where anyone can explore watercolours at their own pace and feel part of a warm, supportive community.

Jodie is passionate about promoting health, happiness and mindfulness through yoga and meditation. Her vision is to create a welcoming space where people can enjoy yoga sessions, breathing exercises and meditation to support their wellbeing. Having lived with a lifelong health condition, yoga and meditation have been life-changing for Jodie, inspiring her to help others experience the same benefits. Based in a venue around Ouseburn, she now teaches face-to-face, online and mobile sessions, offering a range of styles including Hatha, Chair and Yin. Jodie is also preparing to launch a new yoga and aerial hoop class for her growing community.

⭐ Impact Award Winner ⭐

John Mills is the founder of STTAA - Specialist Training Transportation & Autism Awareness - and the visionary behind STTAAGATE.

Inspired by his work as a minibus driver transporting autistic children ‘Home to School’, John experienced firsthand the many barriers neurodivergent and disabled families face when travelling. STTAAGATE reimagines accessible travel, offering end-to-end support including sensory-friendly transport, adapted accommodation, enhanced airport assistance, and fully trained staff, every step of the way. Each journey is designed with empathy, understanding and ease at its heart, with profits being reinvested into inclusive accessibility initiatives. STTAAGATE isn’t just about travel - it’s about opening the world to everyone.

Studio GOOOS is a playful brand that creates fun, mood-boosting products featuring our quirky mascots, Gwok the Duck and Grumpy Greg the Freg. We specialize in plush toys, apparel, and accessories designed to spread positivity and offer comfort during stressful moments. With a focus on emotional well-being, our products are crafted to help customers embrace their uniqueness, providing a little bit of joy and a lot of personality. Studio GOOOS aims to create a supportive, inclusive community with every sale.

Rain or Shine Counselling is a solo-run private practice based in Sunderland, offering person-centred therapy. Focusing on neurodivergent individuals and those facing emotional, social, or mental health challenges. My service provides a safe, inclusive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Through working on myself using therapy and a holistic approach influenced me start Rain or Shine, proving working on yourself can help.

I use a down to earth approach to support clients through life’s challenges, helping them build resilience, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing. I am passionate about making counselling accessible, relatable, and supportive for everyone.

I have designed and developed a card deck of 44 positive impact cards, called Uplift. The cards are are designed to promote emotional resilience, reduce anxiety, and support mental well-being. The target audience is teenagers aged 13 - 19, and have been popular among adults as well. The cards can be used by mental health professionals and youth workers in their work with clients, both 1:1 and groupwork, in the classroom or as part of a daily check-in routine, to break the ice, facilitate conversations around difficult emotions, and teach coping skills in an interactive way. Equally, parents have loved my cards and find them helpful. The aim is to bring a bit of positivity, mindfulness and time to reflect to anyone who uses the cards. I hope you like them!

MnMCutesy/ArtyAnt Creations help parents and little ones build healthy habits through fun and play, without pressure. Inspired by my own struggles, I know how hard it can be to get children to brush their teeth, eat vegetables, or drink water and stay active. That’s why I created plush friends Myllo and Meluna, alongside trackers and activities that make daily routines enjoyable. We aim to give families simple, playful solutions that children love and parents find supportive. Our mission is clear: to make healthy choices feel natural, helping raise a stronger, healthier generation.

SOVA® is an innovative jewellery brand born from sport. We create silver pieces, and in the future exclusive gold designs with precious stones, inspired by the energy of different sports - from tennis to running, golf, and more.

Each piece blends elegant design with the power of a symbol, becoming not just an accessory but a talisman of success and victory.

SOVA® combines beauty and energy, creating a new niche: sports-inspired jewellery fashion, where style meets the spirit of winning.

⭐ Growth Award Winner ⭐

Not A Statistic NE is a veteran-founded CIC rewriting the mental health rulebook - peer-led, stigma-free, and rooted in real-life experience. We build stronger communities through connection, conversation, and compassion. the Not A Design Agency project is our creative engine - crafting bold branding, digital storytelling, and purpose-driven campaigns that make a difference. Every pixel powers our mission. Together, we’re where mental health meets creative hustle. Two ventures. One vision. Real impact.

FRELO (Freshly Local) is a Community Interest Company reconnecting people with locally grown, seasonal food by supporting farmers to sell directly to consumers. Through a digital marketplace, doorstep deliveries, and sustainable logistics using bicycles and e-vehicles, FRELO ensures fair prices for producers and fresh, affordable produce for communities. By shortening supply chains, reducing food waste, and promoting low-carbon delivery, we’re building a climate-conscious, farmer-led food movement that strengthens rural economies and improves access to good food for all.

Annie's Craft Emporium (ACE) is a vibrant new fabric, textiles, and haberdashery shop in Sunderland, named after nana a seamstress born 1920’s and passing on her skills. Offering products and workshops in sewing, knitting, crochet and eco-upcycling. A creative community hub, ACE promotes wellbeing through inclusive activities, “knit and natter” sessions and vocational courses in textiles and fashion. ACE collaborates with local community centres, churches, art venues, and educational institutions including Sunderland University and College offering vocational courses / fashion shows. Research from Anglia Ruskin University (BBC News, 18.08.2024) shows crafting significantly enhances life satisfaction, happiness, and a sense of purpose, supporting ACE’s community-focused mission.

⭐ Impact Award Winner ⭐

Robert Little is the founder of The Smash Life Challenge, a bold movement inspiring people to push past limits and unlock their true potential. Living with ADHD, Robert has turned what many see as a challenge into his ultimate superpower – fuelling creativity, energy, and unstoppable drive. His mission is to help others embrace their uniqueness, smash through barriers, and achieve lasting transformation in life and business. As a North East StartUP Awards finalist, Robert is proving that passion and purpose, powered by resilience, can change the game.

Miller’s Time To Shine is a growing external cleaning and property services company based in the North East. From humble beginnings in window cleaning, we’ve expanded into waste removal, jet-washing, and now proudly support the retail sector through professional merchandising and shopfitting. We’re not just building a business — we’re creating opportunities, offering jobs to those who need them most, and helping people get back on their feet. Our goal is to deliver quality work while making a real difference in our community. This is our time to shine.

WOW! Women Only Wellness Ltd is unique. Born from the Vision of two women who work to support female welfare. Combining their need to raise funds for their work in the third sector; supporting women in recovery from substance misuse, and teaching parents and teenagers about the early sings of domestic abuse; they created an event that not only raises the confidence of women, but also supports female entrepreneurs exhibit their businesses through workshops. The annual WOW! Gathering is a festival like no other. Giving women a safe space to be heard, and to explore the many ways to wellbeing.

NE14Addiction is a recovery justice movement created by Colin from Alnwick, a survivor who turned adversity into action. Led entirely by people in recovery, we challenge stigma, confront councils, and transform lived experience into leadership. Our dream: to build the first-ever rehabilitation facility in Northumberland, run by those who’ve walked the path. We don’t just support recovery we fight for justice, protect dignity, and prove that hope isn’t just possible. It’s unstoppable.

Beth Hutton - Social Media Management provides creative social media management, content shoots for businesses & events, content creation and coaching. Supporting businesses with their online presence, leaving them to focus on what they do best, running their business. With a background in performing arts and experience as a brand ambassador I am passionate about creativity & believe that it far surpasses the stage or rehearsal studio and can have a huge impact when marketing a business online. I aim to be an extension of your business & help you shine a light on it.

Cush is a pioneering fintech app designed to empower expatriates and migrants. It offers a borderless, alternative credit score solution, the "Cush Passport," enabling individuals to port their financial identity across borders. Beyond credit, Cush facilitates seamless settlement in new territories by integrating essential remittance services and robust personal financial management, featuring real-time accounting and tracking. This ensures users can manage finances, build credit, and transfer money effortlessly as they establish their lives abroad.

SPUR is a self-service platform connecting language learners with accredited language schools worldwide. We simplify the process of finding, comparing, and booking language courses abroad whether it is learning Japanese in Japan, Spanish in Spain or English in the UK or US. Our mission is to make studying languages internationally accessible, transparent, and stress-free.

⭐ Growth Award Winner ⭐

I run a CIC and limited company. I’ve spent the last 4 years building my brand to become one of the biggest names in event promotion and film production in the North East. I done this all while working in preventing knife crime and suicide prevention. I’ve made so much progress in the last year that I was invited down to London as one of the key speakers to the king, the prime minister and some of the most influential individuals in the UK.

100gifts is where unforgettable gifting meets sustainability. We design and curate beautiful gift boxes filled with small luxuries that delight the recipient and respect the planet. Most of our products and all our packaging are eco-friendly, proving that style and sustainability can go hand in hand. From corporate thank-yous to birthday surprises, we make gifting effortless, memorable, and kind to the environment. Every box tells a story, celebrates a moment, and leaves a lasting impression for the person receiving it and for the planet we all share.