Some of the South East's most visionary digital companies are today unveiled in the inaugural 'Digital Innovators Power List', created by international law firm Bird & Bird and London-based news brand City A.M.
Announced last night at the launch event hosted at Bird & Bird's dynamic new space at 12 New Fetter Lane, and launched today on CityAM.com, the list profiles 20 of the most innovative young companies based in London and the surrounding areas in the media, healthtech, fintech, edtech and cybersecurity and identity sectors.
The Power List was compiled by Bird & Bird, City A.M. and supporting partners - digital association Digital Catapult, tech PR agency Hotwire PR and information platform Springwise. The companies on the list demonstrate captivating stories of innovation in their sectors, set rather than follow trends, demonstrate the most revenue potential, are home grown businesses and are creating a buzz on social media.
Bird & Bird is well-established as a leading technology law firm, working with clients whose industries are being changed by technology and the digital world. The firm's lawyers will feed into the Digital Innovators section of the City A.M. website, which will be regularly updated with the latest news and comment on digital trends in business throughout the next year.
Through the Digital Innovators Power List initiative, Bird & Bird and City A.M. will also establish a Digital Innovators Network - a place for like-minded individuals who have a passion for doing things differently in the digital space to connect and engage. The network will gather at Bird & Bird's new building in the heart of London for quarterly meetups, featuring panel discussions and Q&As with some of the companies on the Power List, as well as regular tech showcases where guests can try out the latest digital creations transforming our everyday lives.
Nicholas Perry, Partner and Head of London, Bird & Bird, says: "London and the surrounding area are today the breeding ground for some of the world's most pioneering companies, so we wanted to celebrate that talent and explore how digital is transforming the world around us through this initiative. Technology and innovation lie at the heart of what we do at Bird & Bird so – alongside City A.M. and our partners – we are thrilled to be able to recognise these companies and develop a network of like-minded individuals who can inspire one another."
ComplyAdvantage
What is its innovation?
ComplyAdvantage makes compliance decisions easier with its real-time anti-money laundering data and analysis technology.
Why is it exciting?
ComplyAdvantage has evolved from data provider to technology firm, enabling users to efficiently search for, analyse and make use of information for risk management and compliance decisions. Its technology analyses five million media articles daily and covers 190 countries. It recently raised $8.2m in Series A funding.
Darktrace
What is its innovation?
Darktrace has developed the Enterprise Immune System, which mimics the human immune system to help users tackle the ever-evolving cyber threat.
Why is it exciting?
Valued at $500m, Darktrace is positioned to tackle not only cyber threats designed by humans but those designed by AI. The Enterprise Immune System uses machine intelligence to learn a pattern of life for every network, device and user, correlating this information to spot deviations.
Digital Shadows
What is its innovation?
The digital shadows the firm’s software identifies are exposed information that might be exploited by cybercriminals.
Why is it exciting?
Digital Shadows says it’s the only firm to offer “cyber situational awareness”, monitoring over 100 million data sources across the visible, deep and dark web to give clients complete awareness of potential threats, attacker profiles, or evidence of data loss. It recently closed a Series B funding round worth $14m.
Yoti
What is its innovation?
Yoti allows individuals to create a digital ID, backed by their official documents, that can be stored on their phone and used to access services online.
Why is it exciting?
Alongside putting people in control of their data online, Yoti’s service has a host of exciting applications. Instead of usernames, passwords and personal questions, people could simply take a selfie, for example. For businesses, Yoti promises much faster ID verification at scale.
Babylon Health
What is its innovation?
Babylon Health allows patients to have consultations with GPs, check symptoms, order tests, and monitor their health, all via their smartphone.
Why is it exciting?
Babylon Health makes high quality healthcare affordable 24/7, by bringing patient and doctor together via the internet and applying machine learning techniques to diagnose symptoms before an appointment is booked. Fees are low enough for its service to be accessible to most NHS patients.
Cambridge Bio-Augmentation Systems
What is its innovation?
The firm is developing a medical implant which uses advanced bioengineering and monitoring technologies to act as the “USB connector” between an amputee’s neural and soft-tissue systems and their prosthetic devices.
Why is it exciting?
CBAS is releasing its connector as an open standard, encouraging competition and enabling prosthetic manufacturers to sell their products directly to the consumer. It could also reduce the cost of amputee care.
Goshawk Communications
What is its innovation?
After completing a hearing test, Goshawk’s software enhances specific frequencies over a user’s telecom or IP network to enable those with hearing problems to better use their devices.
Why is it exciting?
Rather than buying a separate accessory for each one, Goshawk’s software means a better experience can be applied seamlessly to any new device a user acquires. The platform might also improve the experience of those who don't suffer from hearing loss.
uMotif
What is its innovation?
uMotif puts the health data gathered by wearables and smartphones to good use, passing it onto users' clinicians who can look out for worrying signs.
Why is it exciting?
Beyond acting as an early-warning system, anonymised data can be used for health studies and trials. uMotif has launched several collaborations with healthcare providers, one of which reduced hospital readmission rates by getting patients to track their progress after being discharged.
Blippar
What is its innovation?
Using augmented reality and AI, Blippar enables anyone to scan (“blipp”) anything in the real world, and explore related content online.
Why is it exciting?
Blippar moves search beyond words, transforming the way people connect with the world and fulfilling their curiosity for the things going on around them. It has a platform which enables licensed users to build “blipps” into products, pages and advertising content. Blippar is valued at over $1bn.
EdAid
What is its innovation?
EdAid enables students to raise interest-free, crowdfunded loans, while using technology to connect students looking for work with opportunities.
Why is it exciting?
Instead of getting expensive student loans from the government, social enterprise EdAid uses the power of community to enable students to raise up to £30,000 in the form of interest-free loans from friends, families and other investors – who are often potential employers and alumni.
Memrise
What is its innovation?
Memrise combines advances in brain science with the fun of games to make language learning on smartphones addictive.
Why is it exciting?
Designed to enhance natural learning tendencies by tapping into your rewards system, Memrise has 10 million users worldwide, taking over 30,000 courses in 200 languages, and its success points to big changes in how we gain knowledge. It has just created the first ever video dictionary to further improve the experience.
Zzish
What is its innovation?
The Zzish platform enables anyone to build education apps, which can then be directly applied in the classroom by teachers using its service.
Why is it exciting?
Already helping 650,000 learn, and with 30,000 teachers using it, Zzish gives developers direct access to the online learning market. Its dashboard also lets teachers more easily monitor how individual students are doing, personalising learning. Zzish has so far raised £1.5m.
Glitchers
What is its innovation?
Glitchers is an award-winning video games company, creating everything from a fish and chip simulator to the world’s first chew-controlled mobile game.
Why is it exciting?
The firm develops fun, interactive games that can be integrated into marketing campaigns. Glitchers’ most recent game, Sea Hero Quest, an adventure designed to advance the understanding of spatial navigation, won nine Cannes Lions awards for its contribution to fighting dementia.
Seenit
What is its innovation?
The Seenit platform transforms an organisation’s employees and fans into a film crew, utilising collaborative story-telling to create powerful videos.
Why is it exciting?
Now working with big brands like Unilever and Adidas, Seenit enables firms to collect video filmed by others on smartphones, and to weave it into authentic marketing campaigns that increase engagement, especially on social media. It recently raised £600,000 to grow its team.
Smartzer
What is its innovation?
Smartzer enables advertisers to add clickable hotspots to videos, making them more interactive and “shoppable”.
Why is it exciting?
With the promise of massively increasing click-through rates and engagement compared to pre-roll videos, Smartzer is tackling the problem of consumer irritation at online video ads while driving more traffic to retailers’ websites. With clients including M&S, it recently received a further $250,000 investment.
Visualise
What is its innovation?
Visualise creates 360 degree virtual reality experiences and computer generated films for advertisers.
Why is it exciting?
With clients including Thomas Cook, Samsung and O2, Visualise’s immersive experiences have given potential holidaymakers the chance to explore destinations, car lovers to take a Lambourghini for a spin and Kasabian fans to go on stage at a gig. The firm is making advances in adding “nuance” to a traditionally flat VR experience.
SalaryFinance
What is its innovation?
SalaryFinance offers loans via payroll, with repayments deducted in the same way as a student loan or tax payment.
Why is it exciting?
Taking on payday lenders, the firm offers a standard rate of 7.9 per cent regardless of credit score, and on average it claims to save each customer £900. The regular payment habit is also being translated into a savings product. While serving the unbanked, its founders believe it could soon be valued at over $1bn.
Monzo
What is its innovation?
The digital bank is capitalising on our smartphone obsession, bringing banking to the palm of our hands.
Why is it exciting?
Offering smart features like budgeting notifications so people can better manage their money, Monzo’s first current account will launch imminently and it already has thousands of users of its prepaid card. It recently smashed crowdfunding records, hitting a £1m target in 96 seconds. VC investors have also ploughed in nearly £10m.
Osper
What is its innovation?
Osper’s pre-paid debit card and app teaches kids how to manage money online, while parents can keep an eye on their spending.
Why is it exciting?
Kids and parents can track their spending, check their balance and squirrel money away for a rainy day. A mission of empowering a generation to better handle their financial affairs in an increasingly cashless world has attracted nearly £10m in funding and the seal of approval of TV star Davina McCall.
Currencycloud
What is its innovation?
While other startups cater for consumers, CurrencyCloud has cornered the money transfer market for businesses, offering much lower costs than the banks.
Why is it exciting?
Attracting worldwide attention from top investors, the four year old startup has quickly expanded, notably into the US. Enabling any company to sell globally, Currency Cloud is committed to a fairer flow of wealth worldwide, allowing entrepreneurship to flourish everywhere.
