Technology firm Haia, which is gaining global traction for its online and hybrid events platform, has been named the best start-up firm in Wales.
Based at the M-Sparc science park in Anglesey it took the overall title at the Wales StartUp Awards 2023, having also taken the digital start-up of the year category.
Launched during the pandemic it has ambitions to be a global player with its innovative use of AI allow users to host events in multiple languages.
Haia co-founder, Tom Burke, said: “We’re incredibly proud. It was totally unexpected but is brilliant recognition for all the hard work our team put into developing Haia. We want to say thank you to all our supporters, it isn’t possible to do things like this alone. For anyone starting a business in north Wales I say go for it, the support is here and it’s unparalleled. If you have the passion and determination, you’ll get it done.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, creator of the awards, said:“In the eighth year of the Wales StartUp Awards, we have seen yet again the incredible contribution of new businesses to job creation, innovation, and prosperity across the whole of this entrepreneurial nation. It’s been an honour and a pleasure to read the stories of those individuals from across Wales who have spotted the opportunity and taken the risk to launch their own venture, especially at a time when the economy is still fragile after the Covid pandemic."
On the overall winner he added: “I am delighted that Haia Communications has won the Wales Startup of the Year award for 2023. A new business that was born during Covid to address a market need at the time, it has evolved its offering over the last couple of years to offer considerable benefits to users. As a result, it has ambitions to be a global player in the field of online and hybrid events and, according to the judges, its innovative use of AI to host events in multiple languages makes it stand out from the crowd.”
Full list of winners:
Haia Communications - Overall Winner of the Wales StartUp Awards 2023
Comet Security Group - Business to Business Services StartUp of the Year
Focus MEP - Cardiff StartUp of the Year
Wool Insulation Wales - Construction and Building Services StartUp of the Year
EverKnock - Consumer Services StartUp of the Year
Familiarisation Videos - Creative StartUp
Haia Communications - Digital StartUp of the Year
The Grown-Up School - Education and Training StartUp of the Year
ORTIR Apothecari - Fashion and Beauty StartUp of the Year
Driverly - Fintech StartUp of the Year
Monarchs Crisps - Food and Drink StartUp of the Year
See No Bounds - Global StartUp of the Year
Lunia 3D - Graduate StartUp of the Year
Alga (Seaweed) - Green StartUp of the Year
Helping Kids Shine - Health and Wellbeing StartUp of the Year
Xscape Rooms - High Street StartUp of the Year
Venyu - Hospitality & Events StartUp of the Year
iTrackPPE - Innovative StartUp of the Year
Rebel Lion Advertising - Marketing, Advertising & PR StartUp of the Year
Ceridwen Oncology - Medtech & Healthtech StartUp of the Year
Carnedd - Mobile & Emerging Technologies StartUp of the Year
Sero Zero Waste - Newport StartUp of the Year
PlantSea - North Wales StartUp of the Year
ArcticFox Adaptive - Online Retail StartUp of the Year
Tree Law - Professional Services StartUp of the Year
AMPED PCR - Rebel StartUp of the Year
Suppleo Recruitment - Recruitment StartUp of the Year
BEMAN Candles - Rising Star Award
Musicality - Rising Star Award
Explorage - Rising Star Award
Cardigan Bay Properties - Rural StartUp of the Year
Qualia Law CIC - Social Enterprise StartUp of the Year
Dill - Swansea Bay StartUp of the Year
Streetwave - Technology Services StartUp of the Year
Brook Cottage Shepherd Huts - Tourism and Leisure StartUp of the Year
Rock Quantity Surveyors - Valleys StartUp of the Year
Alex-loan Coldea, Dill - Young Entrepreneur of the Year
