Three British firms were among the fifty start-ups from around the world selected as finalists for CODE_n, the international enterprise startup awards competition.
The annual event will be held at the CeBIT trade show 2015 this March, and participating early-stage companies are expected to have business plans around the Internet of Things for this year’s theme.
Around 400 companies applied for spaces at CODE_n, which is run by financial services IT solutions firm GFT. Germany, the UK, the US, Ireland and Spain are some of the 16 countries which will be represented by the successful 50 startups.
The UK finalists include Nwave Technologies, which provides a low-power, wide-area wireless communication platform for the IoT, automation firm Odin Technology and healthcare firm Insulin Angel.
GFT Group’s CEO Ulrich Dietz said: The Internet of Things, the ever-increasing digitization process is having a huge impact on our private and working lives. Change is becoming constant. We are facing huge challenges. Our finalists are demonstrating how to cope with these challenges and exploit the opportunities. This both reassures and excites us."
Mark Smith, Managing Partner at Ernst & Young, said: "Cities around the world are growing at breathtaking speed. Many city administrations face huge challenges with regard to mobility, energy supplies, scarce resources, environmental protection and health provision
Other finalists include startups from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the US
Oliver Frese, Head of CeBIT at Deutsche Messe, said: "CODE_n15 is the perfect fit for CeBIT’s lead topic d!conomy. It gives young startups with disruptive ideas the chance to show what digitization will mean for industry and society in future. As in the years before, CODE_n15 will once again be a nucleus for digital pioneers at the CeBIT. And with this year’s motto, "Into the Internet of Things", I’m certain hall 16 will once again thrill our visitors."
