The recent SPARKies Awards night, hosted at Central Warehouse in the heart of Bristol, brought together the region’s tech and digital leaders to celebrate excellence in the West.

SETsquared member companies from across the South West were recognised for their achievements in various sectors, including biotech, createch, sustainability, and cyber. Out of 14 award categories, SETsquared Bristol supported companies won 6, highlighting their significant impact and innovation.

Congratulations to all our companies and staff, as well as innovators from across the SETsquared Partnership, that were nominated and awarded on the night!

Best Use of VR – Condense

SETsquared Bristol alumni, Condense, took home the award for the Best Use of VR. The company uses cutting-edge computer vision, machine learning and proprietary streaming infrastructure to capture and embed live 3D video (Video 3.0) into any metaverse game, mobile app or platform created with Unity or Unreal Engine. The win comes shortly after partnering with the BBC to host events for Radio 1’s New Music Show. This series of pioneering events meant that fans were able to attend immersive live gigs from the comfort of their own homes.

Totally Killing It – Siloton

SETsquared Bristol member, Siloton is developing an at-home monitoring service for the 25% of people over 60 affected by age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the developed world. Siloton’s innovative Akepa chip combines a personal optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with cloud-based digital health tools, which allows patients to receive timely treatment without relying on hospital-based OCT tests. The judges praised Siloton’s outstanding use of technology, noting that it will help more people worldwide receive essential treatment for eye degeneration.

Hardware Award – KETS

Scooping the Hardware Award was our alumnus KETS Quantum Security who has developed unique chip-based solutions, based on technology developed over a decade at the University of Bristol, providing ultra-low size, weight and power without compromising on performance. Judges on the evening said that “KETS Quantum Security showed immense ambition and drive in tackling this global, generation-defining issue.”

Scale-Up of the Year – LOQBOX

The success of our alumni, Loqbox, means it has now won a SPARKie for three years in a row, having also been named Best Scaleup last year and landing The People’s Choice Award in 2022. The fintech company develops online financial tools for consumers, helping to end financial exclusion and give users access to a richer life. The judges highlighted Loqbox’s significant impact on financial inclusion and empowerment through innovative credit-building solutions in their impressive scores.

Best Digital Design – Rocketmakers

Our alumus, Rocketmakers, snatched the award for their new, cutting edge AI application, YourRoom. It provides users with groups of expertly-crafted AI-powered personas reflecting different knowledge sets, perspectives and personalities, which quickly and inexpensively simulate expert panels on a variety of topics.

Awesome Human – Tamsin Denbigh

Our very own Tamsin Denbigh, who takes the lead on all things marketing-related at SETsquared Bristol, took home the coveted Awesome Human award. A knowledgeable presence within the South West innovation ecosystem, Tamsin has been championing and promoting tech talent in the region for many years and deserves to be recognised in her own right – congratulations Tamsin.

Founder of The Year – John Terry (Neuronostics)

A special congratulations to John Terry, Managing Director of our company Neuronostics, who was awarded Founder of the Year. Neuronostics’ mathematical modelling techniques are pioneering the development of digital biomarkers, facilitating swifter diagnosis and more effective treatment outcomes for patients around the world. The judges recognised John’s exceptional leadership and his pivotal role in driving Neuronostics forward over the past 12 months. Despite a challenging funding environment, the company secured an oversubscribed seed round exceeding £2m, positioning the company for future success.

View The SPARKies full winners list.

Find out more about SETsquared Bristol’s incubation programme.