Innovation Award announces diverse finalists

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Diverse Finalists

The prestigious Innovation Award has announced its 18 finalists for the eighth round, featuring startups from diverse industries such as artificial intelligence, health tech, and sustainable solutions. These finalists were chosen from thousands of applicants across the globe.

The selection will be made by a jury comprising tech experts, investors, and industry insiders assessing novelty, feasibility, and potential societal impact. These selected startups will present their solutions at Viva Technology, potentially leading to valuable business and investment opportunities.

Being a finalist in this competition already signifies success, reflecting the thriving spirit of startup innovation. The Innovation Award emphasises the importance of technological breakthroughs and their role in shaping our future. The industry looks forward to the winner’s announcement and glimpsing the startups’ cutting-edge solutions at Viva Technology.

Established in 2016, The Innovation Award has proven instrumental in promoting innovation and growth through collaborations between startups and major corporations.

Announcing diverse finalists for Innovation Award

The competition received a remarkable 1,545 submissions from 89 countries, with 44% of the shortlisted startups owned or co-founded by women, showing a positive shift towards gender equality in the startup landscape.

Six field’s finalists were chosen: Omnichannel & Retail, Image & Media for Brand Desirability, Immersive Digital Experiences, Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Operations Excellence, and Sustainability & Greentech. This diverse selection emphasises the unique contributions and innovations of the entrants. These finalists will now be further evaluated, determining the winner in each category.

These startups will participate in a business acceleration initiative, gaining access to guidance, support, and connections with industry veterans. This paves the way for potential partnerships with different companies. This level of support empowers the startups to face challenges and fosters their development, encouraging their entrepreneurial journey.

The awards ceremony, set for May 23 at VivaTech, will announce a winner in each category, and a distinctive accolade for the highest innovation in data, AI, and generative AI. The grand finale will be the unveiling of the Innovation Award 2024’s overall winner – a fitting recognition of tech-advancement excellence and innovation.

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Becca Williams is a writer, editor, and small business owner. She writes a column for Smallbiztechnology.com and many more major media outlets.