StartUp Awards

Wales, you certainly know how to finish a regional finals tour! 🏆

Last night in Cardiff, we celebrated an incredible group of founders whose businesses are changing industries, supporting communities and proving that big ideas can come from anywhere.

From AI transforming classrooms and technology reinventing property surveys to sustainable farming, creative enterprises and businesses creating real social impact, this year's Wales winners are a brilliant reflection of the ambition, resilience and innovation thriving across the country.

A huge congratulations to all of our 2026 Wales winners, and a special congratulations to DigiProp | Interactive Digital Reports, crowned our Overall Wales StartUp of the Year. 👏

Every business recognised on stage has taken a different path to get here, but they all share the same determination to build something that matters.

With our regional finals now complete, we can't wait to bring all of this year's winners together once again at the UK StartUp Awards National Final during Ideas Fest this September.

See the full list of winners in the comments. 👇

Our judges had a business they simply couldn't let pass without recognition. Say hello to our 2026 Wales Judges' Choice winner: Ail A***n. 🏆

Printed electronics are everywhere, from biomedical sensors to solar panels, but the industry is squeezed between the soaring cost of silver and tightening environmental rules, with no real recycling stream to recover the valuable materials.

Ail A***n, meaning recycled silver in Welsh, spun out of Swansea University with a patented answer: core-shell silver and ferrite particles that conduct electricity while staying magnetic, so the silver can be pulled back out of waste with magnets and reused. A circular fix for a wasteful problem, built by a female-led technical team in Port Talbot.

An idea the judges couldn't overlook. Ail A***n heads to the national final at Ideas Fest this September. ⛺

Littlechild & Haley is our 2026 Wales Professional Services StartUp of the Year, a fantastic achievement for founders Paul Haley and Donna Littlechild. 🏆

Internal audit is too often a sideline at big multi-service firms, staffed by juniors and shadowed by conflicts of interest, when what clients really want is senior expertise free of competing agendas.

Made redundant alongside their whole team, Paul and Donna turned the shock into a fresh start, building an independent, conflict-free internal audit boutique where every engagement is senior-led. In a remarkable first year they've built a strong client base across the public and private sectors.

A difficult moment turned into a better one. We'll see them at the national final at Ideas Fest this September. ⛺