Leading female entrepreneurs win national award for new projects in the tech world
By Lizzie May
Leading female entrepreneurs have won a national award for their new projects in the tech world.
Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation awards recognised 12 women from London who have exciting ideas and business plans, recognising the challenges and subconscious bias that exists in the start-up tech sphere.
Among the London winners, Dr Lucy Grundlingh, 34, from Clapham was awarded for her work as co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at SFR Medical, a social impact ‘MedTech’ company.
Dr Grundlingh connects UK police forces with medical institutions to quicken the process of collecting medical evidence with victims of violent crime.
The technology used at SFR Medical creates 3D graphical reconstructions of wounds which helps NHS administrative staff when collecting medical records, and police officers and jurors when making decisions about suspects.
Sarah Henley, 37, from Old Kent Road in Southwark also won the grant for developing NextUp Comedy which brought a digital, live-streamed comedy festival into people’s homes during the pandemic.
Ms Henley’s tech helps create vital additional revenue streams for venues and performers during Covid-19 whilst making comedy shows more accessible for the public.
Bella Trang Ngo, 25, from East Croydon was celebrated for revolutionising bra fitting services with her AI technology company, Brarista.
Ms Ngo says she is hoping to disrupt the £14 billion bra market by combining her own professional experience as a trained bra fitter with AI-enabled visual software.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway MP said: “As we build back better, it’s a priority of mine that we continue equipping our brightest female innovators with the tools they need to succeed.
“I am delighted we are supporting 40 of our most trailblazing female entrepreneurs, helping them to turn their ideas and aspirations into a reality.
“Creating the products and services will help improve all our lives, while powering up the UK’s economic recovery.”
Women in Innovation Awards is funded by the government and is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) which seeks to boost the number of female entrepreneurs, and could subsequently deliver £180 billion to the economy.
Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK said: “With 2020 proving to be an incredibly difficult year for everyone, and particularly women, continuing to support female entrepreneurs has been a real priority.
“We have had an enormous response and we can see some positives from the pandemic, with some of our shortlist inspired to start up a business in response to some of the challenges it has brought.
“We can’t wait to see what else these inspiring women achieve and how they can be an example to inspire the next generation and to encourage more women-led businesses in this country as we rebuild and recover.”
Winners are given a £50,000 grant and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.
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