LettUs Grow shortlisted for 3 categories in BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards

Our three founders: Ben Crowther, Jack Farmer and Charlie Guy, have been shortlisted for the Agri-tech, Food-tech and Clean-tech awards at the inaugural BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards.

---

It is brilliant to see our team being recognised for the fruits of their labour. It’s been full steam ahead the past few months. We’ve been to Amsterdam to pitch at the Green Challenge, entertained the BBC and delivered on our first sales.  We’re looking forward to expanding our reach and working with more farmers in 2019.

The BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards celebrates and champions the entrepreneurial journeys of those who create, disrupt and innovate within the UK’s rapidly changing tech landscape.

Charlie Guy, co-founder, said “We’re proud to be included in such a diverse group tech founders from all over the UK. LettUs Grow is entering an exciting time of development, working with forward-thinking farmers and a talented team to find food focussed solutions.”

Founder of the BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards, Francesa James, said: “We’ve been blown away by the quality of applicants received this year and believe our finalists are a great demonstration of the entrepreneurial talent in the UK’s tech space.

“Behind every great tech business is a great entrepreneur, and behind them is an inspiring story. These are the people who create, disrupt and innovate. That’s what we’re looking to celebrate and champion with the BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards.”

BMW i’s Sophie Chiappe said: “The finalists showcase the innovation challenges that businesses face and the technological advancements that will lead the way. Technology has to be at the forefront of business development. It is so important to celebrate this innovation and the individuals driving this forward.

“We are delighted to be partnered with the UK Tech Founder Awards and celebrate the entrepreneurial stories behind the individuals changing the future of the technological landscape.”

The winners of the first BMW i UK Tech Founder Awards will be announced at the Awards Final on Tuesday 27th November in London.

LettUs Grow feature on the Disrupt South West index

On Thursday 27 September, Disrupt South West hosted its invitation-only launch event, ‘DisruptSW reimagined’, to announce the results of its 2018 Index. LettUs Grow were included as one of the top 25 disrupter businesses. The inspiring event, held in Loco Klub, Bristol, celebrated the top 25 disruptive ventures with headquarters in the region which hold the greatest potential to influence, change or create new markets.

---

The Index is a one-of-a-kind collaboration from ADLIB, Foot Anstey, and Tällt Ventures, and was compiled after ranking South West businesses against three ingredients essential to success: People, Product and Potential.

The purpose of Disrupt South West is to feature, highlight, showcase and inspire South West business success and growth stories, celebrating those businesses and people that truly disrupt and challenge the given.

Recognising the very best in South West imagination and innovation, the launch event was sponsored by ForrestBrown, an award-winning research and development (R&D) tax credit consultancy firm that helps innovative businesses grow.

The 25 finalists in the Disrupt South West 2018 Index have equally been recognised for their remarkable success in disrupting across the categories of People, Product and Potential, and Foot Anstey, ADLIB and Tällt Ventures are looking forward to seeing what these businesses achieve in the year ahead.

For further information on Disrupt South West and to find out about last year’s Index, please visit: www.disruptsouthwest.co.uk.

We’ve won 100,000 euros in the Green Challenge for our revolutionary indoor agriculture method

Our Managing Director and Co-founder, Charlie Guy, has just returned from Amsterdam after competing in the Green Challenge, a sustainable entrepreneurship competition. We were awarded 100,000 euros to accelerate the development of our aeroponic equipment and farm management system, Ostara®️.

---

The recognition of the Green Challenge shows that we are developing a viable solution to the many problems that our global agricultural systems will face in the future, from water shortages to the effects of extreme weather. We allow farmers to protect their crops, diversify what they are growing and massively reduce their ecological footprint.

With this sum of money, we can further develop our business. The support we've had from the Green Challenge will allow us to bring about a real step change in agricultural productivity and reduce the resource cost of fresh produce for farmers all over the world.

Charlie said: “It was a brilliant experience to stand up on stage in front of so many people who share the same passion for sustainable enterprises.

“Although the stakes were high, there was a fantastic atmosphere because everybody taking part was already a winner, and anything else we could of won would have just been a huge bonus.”

We were proud to be representing the creative spirit of Bristol. There is a fantastic community in the city which has been so supportive from the very start, so it’s great to get some recognition for the really exciting work happening here. It’s not just technology firms, there are so many projects and organisations who have gotten involved and are working together to come up with sustainable solutions for the future.

The winning startups

In addition to LettUs Grow, the Dutch startup AquaBattery and American startup AlgiKnitwill take the same amount home. The first prize of half a million euro goes to the air bubble curtain that combats plastic pollution in our seas by startup The Great Bubble Barrier from The Netherlands. The runner-up prize of EUR 200,000 is for the textile recycling marketplace by startup Reverse Resources from Estonia. This brings the total prize pool of one of the biggest sustainability competitions in the world to EUR 1 million. In addition to the prize money, all five finalists will receive six months of expert coaching to improve the likelihood of their businesses succeeding.

Record number of entries

This year, a record number of 845 entrepreneurs from 100 countries submitted their sustainable business plans aimed at combating climate change. Last year, the Rwandan startup EarthEnable won the EUR 500,000 first prize with their sustainable alternative to cement.

Our three founders are finalists in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards

We’ve been shortlisted for the 2018 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Startup of the Year category.

---

We fended off some tough competition in order to make the south-west regional shortlist, with a record number of businesses entering the awards nationally across the wide range of categories.

We are proud to be included in such a varied group of startups from all over the south-west. LettUs Grow is entering an exciting time of development, with a talented team all working to help feed the next generation as sustainably as possible.

Now in its sixth year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated some amazing entrepreneurs over the years, many of whom are now household names. Past winners include David Buttress of Just Eat, Julie Deane OBE of The Cambridge Satchel Company, James Watt of BrewDog and most recently, Hannah and Sophie Pycroft of Spectrum Collections.

Creator of the Awards, Francesca James, said: “We have been inundated with some incredible entries this year, and all shortlisted applicants should be extremely proud of themselves! This year has yet again seen a record number of entrants and we’ve been absolutely blown away by the strength and diversity of applications.”

“We cannot wait to celebrate entrepreneurship across Great Britain with them, and put a spotlight on the incredible talent within the British entrepreneur ecosystem.”

Gordon Merrylees, Head of Entrepreneurship at NatWest said: "Following another record-breaking year, I want to thank all of the entrepreneurs who entered and congratulate those who have been shortlisted, I look forward to seeing them at the regional finals.”

“Entrepreneurial spirit is still clearly alive and well, and NatWest is thrilled to be able to continue to support these awards to celebrate success with the businesses that are the lifeblood of the UK Economy as they start, scale and succeed.”

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards will celebrate entrepreneurship across a number of categories at 5 gala finals across the UK, including; Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester & London. You can find more information about the awards and the ceremonies here: www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com.

LettUs Grow to win a share of €1m in global sustainability competition

LettUs Grow is pleased to announce that we are one of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge’s five finalists for 2018. The Green Challenge has a fund of €1m to award to the five organisations, to help them build their world-changing businesses.

---

In September, our Managing Director, Charlie Guy, will be travelling to Amsterdam with four other entrepreneurs from around the world to pitch to an international panel of expert judges. He will be in the running to win the top prize of €500,000 to accelerate development of LettUs Grow’s innovative aeroponic technology and expand faster into international markets. The runner-up will receive €200,000 and the other three finalists will each get €100,000. Alongside the cash injection for their venture, the finalists will also be able to take advantage of over six months of expert coaching to optimise their business opportunities.

We're very proud to be sharing the stage with some of the world's most exciting green startups and look forward to pitching our vision for a healthier, more resilient food system. The other four finalists include AquaBattery who have developed an energy storage system that uses only water and table salt, AlgiKnit which make textile fibres from seaweed to transform the highly polluting textile industry, The Great Bubble Barrier who have developed an air bubble screen to catch plastic before it arrives at sea, and finally, Reverse Recourses who’ve built a software platform where clothing manufacturers can directly align their supply of waste textiles with textile recyclers.

Standing alongside this group of global game-changers is a testament to the hard work everyone at LettUs Grow has been putting in to help transform our food system and build a more sustainable future.

We’re so proud of the whole team here and are looking forward to showcasing the work we’ve been doing on a global stage this September.

We’re in the running to win €500k in international sustainable entrepreneurship competition

It has been all celebrations at LettUs Grow HQ the past week. We’re thrilled to announce we’re one of 25 organisations to have made it to the first stage of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. The top prize is €500,000 to further develop the winner’s product or service and bring it to market. The runner-up receives €200,000 and three other finalists will win €100,000 each.

---

It is amazing to see our team recognised for the fruits of their labour after months of hard work in the LettUs Grow lab. Winning the green challenge would unlock so many doors and enable us to bring our innovative agricultural technology to a global audience much faster than is currently possible.

The international competition, organised by the Dutch Postcode Lottery to provide a helping hand to entrepreneurs starting sustainable businesses, saw applications from 100 countries from all over the world. 

The diverse group of startups that have made it into the top 25 include plans to stop plastic reaching the sea, to make the storage of renewable energy more efficient, and to combat water scarcity around the world. They show the broad range of ways businesses can make a positive impact on the planet, while also being successful.

We are honoured to be included in such an inspiring group of companies from all over the world, every one striving for a better future for our planet. LettUs Grow is entering an exciting time of development, with a talented team all working to help feed the next generation as sustainably as possible.

Now, all we can do is wait. The five finalists will be announced in mid-August, and will then present their pitches to a jury on 13 September in Amsterdam, where the winner will be announced.

Keep your fingers crossed. We will!