Tech Nation and OnetoWin have launched a 2025 Rising Stars competition in an attempt to uncover and accelerate the most innovative early-stage companies in the UK.聽
The competition is open to early-stage B2B and B2B2C tech founders from all regions of the UK in any sector and applications are open from 21st January to 2nd March 2025.
Technology companies in the UK are worth a combined value of $1.1tn and the nation is home to 171 unicorn companies, according to Tech Nation鈥檚 most recent report.聽
Tech Nation says the Rising Stars competition aims to support up-and-coming entrepreneurs and innovators from across the UK, including those in underserved regions and communities, with new investment and exposure.
Rising Stars features two competition tracks: pre-seed or seed-stage companies, and pre-Series A to Series A and later.
Over a nine-week period, selected participants will gain access to networking opportunities, as well as regional support and resources.聽
Winners of the early-stage track regional finals will have the opportunity to win the Haatch regional investment prize of 拢335K. Across the regional finals there will be over 拢2m up for grabs.聽
For the later-stage track, grand finalists from each region will have the chance to exhibit at London Tech Week in June at London鈥檚 Olympia.聽
In the lead-up to the event, finalists will receive individual mentoring to improve their business propositions and prepare to pitch their startups to a live audience of ecosystem leaders, investors and media, competing for a potential 拢1m investment prize at the event.
Throughout the process, participants will also gain access to the Founders Forum Group community, with top-tier networking opportunities with other UK and global founders, CEOs and influential investors.
This year鈥檚 competition is now merged with the West Midlands pitch competition OneToWin, which brings existing partners Rigby Group (including SCC) and Haatch.
鈥淔ostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the UK is crucial to the growth of our economy. In turn, it provides life-changing opportunities and skills to people from all communities and all regions,鈥� said Carolyn Dawson, CEO of Founders Forum Group, which owns the Tech Nation brand.
鈥淣ow, with the help of our partners new and old and via our merger with OneToWin, Tech Nation鈥檚 Rising Stars can support the most exciting scaleups from across the nation and foster the UK鈥檚 tech ecosystem at scale with better resources and investment.鈥�
Steve Rigby, co-CEO of Rigby Group added: 鈥淭alent can only thrive when it meets opportunity.聽
鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what this competition offers 鈥� with an incredible prize on offer for the UK鈥檚 best up-and-coming tech entrepreneurs.鈥�
Last year鈥檚 Rising Stars鈥� winner was Reading-based MedTech Novai, a business combating blindness and disability by pioneering early detection and intervention for eye and brain diseases using DARC technology.
The competition is being delivered by Founders Forum Group and supported by and in partnership with Rigby Group and its cornerstone IT services businesses SCC, Haatch and Wealth Club.
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