The Verizon/Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, an annual online tech-entrepreneurship competition for young people across Europe has announced the five finalists who will compete for the competition’s £10,000 Grand Prize, which also includes funding, mentorship and a technology package. The finalists will pitch their ideas live to a panel of expert judges in the Grand Final to be held virtually on 25 February 2021.
The finalists named are:
- Tash Grossman (UK): Slip
A smartphone application which aims to remove the barriers to e-receipt adoption by leveraging new technologies and eliminate the need for paper receipts. - Imogen Maguire (UK): PowerNow
Helping to enable Electric Vehicle (EV) owners to list fees/locations for other drivers to use their home charging point. - Jonas Kerber (Germany): Pina
Aiming to digitalise the manual process of forest certification to make it accessible to more forest owners. Through the use of remote sensing technology, they aim to accurately measure and track forest carbon stocks for more sustainable forestry. - Rowan Armstrong (Ireland): BioLiberty
An assistive robotic glove which strengthens grip for those suffering hand weakness as a result of Arthritis, MS, MND, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Strokes. This uses technologies such as Machine Learning, Biomedical Digital Signal Processing and Advanced Robotics. - Tyrell Pantophlet (Spain): Plaex
Aims to revolutionize the waste chain by creating smart recycling bins that automatically sorts waste for processing.
The Verizon/Unloc Enterprise Challenge aims to encourage and attract the business leaders of tomorrow.
The Grand Final will see the finalists compete head-to-head, pitching their business concept live online to a panel of expert judges and over 100 invited guests representing both business and education.
The judges at the 2021 Grand Final are Kate Robertson (Founder of One Young World), Rod Edwards (Board Member at Unloc), John Williams (Marketing Director & CMO – EMEA, APAC & LatAm at Verizon Business), Val Agnew (Associate Director Global Accounts EMEA and Benelux Region at Verizon Business) and Chloe Swycher (Director of Marketing & Digital Innovation at The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust).
The winner will receive a £10,000 Grand Prize, funding, mentorship and a technology package in order to launch their business. Finalist runners up will each receive £1,000 of funding for their start up business.
Dyanne Ierardo, Head of International HR for Verizon said:
“We have seen a great response to our challenge this year and are inspired by the level of entrepreneurship we are seeing from young people from across Europe. We really believe that activities such as these can help promote independence, innovation and success in future generations. We’re looking forward to the grand final and can’t wait to witness the ideas in action. We’d like to thank all the entrants for their passion and business ideas.”
It’s truly a fantastic opportunity for young people to get their business ideas off the ground and their start-up plans into action.
Hayden Taylor, Managing Director of Unloc said:
“This year we’ve seen an overwhelming response to the challenge, with our highest number of entries yet from across Europe. This demonstrates a real shift in the way young people are considering and planning for their futures. At a time when they may be cut off from their friends or social activities they’re taking their career prospects into their own hands. We’ve been blown away by the sheer passion and determination we’ve seen in this year’s entries. It’s going to be our most interesting competition yet.”
For more information on the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge visit: youngentrepreneurschallenge.com
ABOUT – Unloc
Unloc was founded in 2013 by award-winning young leaders Hayden Taylor and Ben Dowling. The organisation’s mission is to empower young people to be innovative changemakers who seek to build stronger communities and sustainable businesses. The organisation is focused on developing young people’s skills, enhancing their potential and boosting their determination to succeed. Unloc works towards achieving its mission by delivering inspiring educational programmes, including on entrepreneurship and self-employment, in our network of 100+ schools and colleges in the UK and beyond. To find out more about Unloc and all our latest news visit: unloc.org.uk/news
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ABOUT – Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control. News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at www.verizon.com/about/news/
