Winner of 2020 Verizon / Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Problem declared

Reading, U.K. – Rowan Armstrong of BioLiberty has been crowned the winner of the 2020 Verizon/Unloc Younger Entrepreneurs Challenge. His enterprise, which specializes in an assistive robotic glove for people suffering long time period situations these as MS and Arthritis, fought off robust levels of competition from throughout Europe to acquire £10,000 of funding as well as a small business mentor package deal for the duration of the online grand last held on February 25. 

The Verizon/Unloc Enterprise Problem aims to encourage and entice the enterprise leaders of tomorrow. Level of competition this yr was harder than ever, with the 5 finalists shortlisted from entries representing 18 European nations, demonstrating a vast range of innovative and dynamic business enterprise strategies. These ideas ended up pitched to a panel of skilled judges and just about 200 attendees representing customers of both of those the enterprise and education and learning sectors.

“After looking at all the finalists pitch, I was not expecting to be a winner,” said winner Rowan Armstrong, founder of BioLiberty. “Every single a single of the younger business owners who presented were unbelievably amazing. I am so delighted to win the funding – but much more importantly, the support from Unloc and Verizon including mentorship and connectivity is going to be a game changer. I am just so happy we applied and I just cannot wait around for this next chapter!”

In addition, and courtesy of 1 Young Earth, Rowan as effectively as runners up Imogen Maguire (PowerNow) and Jonas Kerber (Pina) also obtain delegate passes to the organization’s up coming Worldwide Summit in Munich to be held in July, 2021. Delegates at the Summit are counselled by influential political, enterprise and humanitarian leaders this kind of as Justin Trudeau, Paul Polman and Meghan Markle, among a lot of other world wide figures.

All 4 Younger Business owners Problem runners up each individual receive £1,000 of funding to devote in their start off up business enterprise. The runners up are as follows: 

• Tash Grossman – Slip – ‘Digital Receipt Solution’ (Uk). An app working with new systems to reduce the require for paper receipts, making it possible for the storage of all retailer receipts in 1 digital place and reducing paper squander.

• Imogen Maguire – PowerNow – ‘EV Charging App’ (United kingdom). A concept that will allow electric powered motor vehicle house owners to record their household charging points to other EV buyers to rent and use.

• Jonas Kerber – Pina – ‘Quantified Sustainable Forestry’ (Germany). The digitalization of the manual course of action of forest certification to make it available to additional forest house owners, making use of distant sensing technology to precisely measure and keep track of forest carbon shares.

• Tyrell Pantophlet – Plaex – Automated Sorting Bins (Spain). A development of squander bins that use chopping edge A.I to classify the waste, improving recycling fees, divert CO2 emissions and lowering the use of plastic.

“Entrepreneurship and creativity are important characteristics that aid inspire the independence, innovation and results of younger people,” mentioned Dyanne Ierardo, Human Methods Director for Verizon in EMEA & APAC. “These entrepreneurs are the long term generation of business leaders. I’d like to congratulate Rowan for his amazing enterprise strategy and quite a few many thanks to all of this year’s finalists. The top quality of entries was amazing and we simply cannot wait around to see our youthful entrepreneurs flourish in their future professions.”

“This 12 months the quality of the finalists exceeded all our anticipations,” reported Hayden Taylor, Controlling Director of Unloc. “The closing was fascinating to observe as our younger entrepreneurs gave perception into their innovation and ingenuity. It’s genuinely exceptional to witness youthful modify-makers in the generating, and their awareness and willingness to tackle the difficulties they see in the entire world all over them. Massive congratulations to Rowan, it was certainly deserved and we can not wait to follow all of your progress!”

The panel of skilled judges consists of Kate Robertson (Founder of Just one Younger Globe), Rod Edwards (Board Member at Unloc), John Williams (Marketing and advertising Director & CMO – EMEA, APAC & LatAm at Verizon Enterprise), Val Agnew (Associate Director Global Accounts EMEA and Benelux Area at Verizon Company) and Chloe Swycher (Director of Internet marketing & Digital Innovation at The Queen’s Commonwealth Have faith in).

A replay of the Grand Last is available to see listed here.