CrowdCube recognised at London & South EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards

Darren Westlake and Luke Lang, co-founders of Exeter-based CrowdCube received an award at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year London & South awards held last night (28 June).

Darren and Luke were recognised for their contribution to the entrepreneurial community.

CrowdCube is the world’s first investment crowdfunding platform, pioneering new ways for entrepreneurs to access alternative routes to finance and source investors for their business propositions.

According to the judges, they are “enabling the next generation of entrepreneurs” and contribute to the UK economy by helping to fund businesses that have generated new jobs and new opportunities for growth.

Richard Jones, senior partner at EY in the South West said: “EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the outstanding contribution of visionary business leaders. It brings together some of the most innovative and dynamic business brains to share best practice and spark ideas that can help fuel the UK economy and create jobs.

“Following the UK’s vote to leave the EU, nimble entrepreneurs will be scouting for new openings and making plans to capitalise on them. The winners will be those that can find their way through the uncertainty and deliver the best solution with speed to market.”

Overall winner – Dr Ismail Ahmed CEO and founder of WorldRemit

Dr Ismail Ahmed CEO and founder of WorldRemit, an online money transfer business, claimed the title of overall winner at EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 London & South awards.

Joanna Santinon, EY’s London & South Entrepreneur Of The Year Leader, commented: “The judges were highly impressed by Ismail’s story. Starting from scratch he has overcome adversity, shaken up the market and achieved global impact and success. He manages a highly engaged workforce; 65% of which are female.

“The London & South awards recognised a whole spectrum of entrepreneurship from early stage businesses that are disrupting established sectors to market dominators; from pet food to augmented reality and from hair care to drug development.”

Ismail was one of sixteen business leaders from thirteen companies (detailed below), who were selected as winners by an independent judging panel, chaired by Rosaleen Blair, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Alexander Mann Solutions.

The winners, along with those from Scotland, North of England, and Midlands will now go on to vie for the title EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK 2016 overall winner, at a ceremony in London in October. They will also compete for the chance to represent the UK at EY’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo in 2017.

Now in its 18th year in the UK, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK is the world’s most prestigious business awards programme. It recognises the spirit and contribution of exceptional entrepreneurs, and runs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries worldwide.