The best of the Northern Ireland tech community听has听产别别苍听谤别肠辞驳苍颈蝉别诲听迟丑谤辞耻驳丑听迟丑别听first online听edition听of the听Digital DNA Awards.听
More than听1,000 people from听around the world tuned in听for the ceremony, which was听originally scheduled to take place back in March.听听
With ongoing restrictions around large gatherings, the Digital DNA听team听made the decision in early August to take听them online, in what has been described as a听鈥�uniquely different鈥�听awards ceremony for the post-COVID-19听world.听
The annual awards are regarded as the premier tech awards in Northern Ireland, recognising the success of individuals, projects and companies across 14 categories.听Previous awards ceremonies have听taken place from the iconic St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.听听
For 2020, the organisers created a听purpose–built TV studio from where they announced the winners to an audience that included viewers from across Ireland and the UK, as well as France, Germany, Portugal, Mexico and the USA.听
鈥淭he Digital DNA Awards are incredibly important for the NI Tech听sector听so we were determined that they went ahead in some shape or form,鈥澨齭aid Simon Bailie, CEO of Digital DNA.听听
鈥�Winning a Digital DNA Award is an important statement for many of our indigenous and international tech businesses as it provides听further validation that they are best in class in their industry.听听
鈥�This year may have looked different to other听years;听however听the strength and depth of the nominees and winners has been as strong as ever and it once again proves why Northern Ireland is a leading听global tech destination.鈥澨�听
The top accolade of the evening was the Digital DNA Company of the Year award. The听highly-coveted听award is decided on a combination of the judges’ votes, as well as a public vote and features the top companies from across Northern Ireland.听听
This year听it was won by听Signifyd. The San Jose–based company specialises in eCommerce fraud protection and opened its Global R&D centre in Belfast in late 2018. It听now employs听almost 100 people at the city centre site.听听
“We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, especially as the Digital DNA Awards are so highly regarded by the tech community in Northern Ireland,鈥�听said Trevor McCullough, site听lead for the Belfast operation.听
鈥�To be featured in the shortlist was worthy of celebration as the tech sector in NI features some of the best听tech talent in the world, but to walk away with the top prize is just incredible.听听
鈥�It’s testament to all the hard work from the team in Belfast听and also听recognises the significant contribution they make on a global scale to our operations.鈥�听听
Sean Devlin from MCS Group, the event鈥�s headline sponsor,听said:听鈥淲e have been delighted to work with Digital DNA for the past number of years to bring these important awards to life and every year they keep getting bigger听and better.听听
鈥�2020 has been challenging for all of us so for Digital DNA to present these awards in the format they have has been incredible to watch and to be part of.听听
鈥�It鈥檚 also been fantastic to see so many great companies and individuals from right across听Northern听Ireland recognised, each of them听are听helping to advance the local economy, so it is only right that we celebrate the diverse range of talent Northern Ireland has.鈥�听
Other big winners on the night included US insurance giant, Allstate, who walked away with two awards for听workplace of the听year and a听business听personality of the听year听award for Keith Lippert, who leads the global cyber security function from Belfast.听听
It was also听a good day for non–Belfast based tech companies:听Derry–based Elemental Software听was听crowned small tech company of the year听while the听social prescribing platform鈥檚 Leeann Monk-脰zg眉l and Jennifer Neff听also picked up听the听founders of the year听award. Leading sports tech company and Newry based听STATSports听picked up a win for听app of the听year.听
AIM-listed First Derivatives made it a double for the border city as they picked up听large听tech听company of the听year.听CEO听Seamus Keating said: 鈥�This award听is a recognition of the dedication and expertise of our employees, and the value that our market-leading streaming analytics technology brings to our customers who operate in a range of industries across the听world.听听
鈥�It is also a fitting tribute to our founder,听the late Brian Conlon, who would have been very proud of this moment.鈥澨�听
In addition to the 14 awards, the annual event also recognises the achievements of an individual who has made a significant contribution to the growth of the tech sector in Northern Ireland and who has achieved significant success on a global scale.听听
The 2020听global听recognition听award was presented to Danny Moore, President and CEO of leading financial technology firm, Options Technology.听听
Danny is highly regarded and well known within the NI tech community as a Wall Street technology entrepreneur, with accomplishments ranging from leading the sale of Wombat Financial Software to NYSE Euronext for $200m aged 35 in 2008 to winning an Oscar in 2012 as听a producer of听The Shore.听听
Danny also founded the Robin Hood Project within Options in March 2020, providing direct action to support teams in COVID frontline hospitals and has helped raise over 拢250,000 for frontline medical staff in Belfast, London and New听York.听
The Digital DNA Awards 2020 were streamed on 27th August and can be viewed on-demand by visiting www.digitaldna.tech.听