One week to discover the UK’s most exciting tech start-ups

Aimed at tech evangelists, senior executives and venture capitalists, the DS14 final is a unique opportunity for start-ups to gain valuable PR exposure and network with leading representatives and business insiders from cutting-edge companies within the wireless industry.

Built around concepts of mentoring and nurturing innovation, the DS14 final is a perfect platform for the Millennials and tech bloggers to hear creative pitches and learn about future tech trends.

Keynote speakers will be sharing advice on kick-starting digital businesses, with talks from Sarah Drinkwater, Head of Campus London, Google's first physical hub for start-ups, who will present “What makes start-up hubs successful?’' and David Cobb, Partner at Deloitte, who will discuss collaboration and partnership between established firms and start-ups in his talk, “Engaging with and supporting start-ups”. DS14 is an ideal occasion to come and learn from these visionary companies that continue to transform digital markets and industries across the globe.

On the 22nd of October, the 18 finalists will try to convince 20 judges from the technology and investment sectors that their apps, gadgets, tools, platforms and services are the next break-through technologies that will shape the future of the UK digital and high-tech industry.

“With recent billion-dollar start-up stories coming from the likes of WhatsApp and Alibaba, it’s exciting to see such a strong line-up of interesting innovations and viable business models coming from across the UK to the DS14 final,” comments David Cleevely, CBE FREng FIET, Co-Founder and former Chair of Cambridge Angels, Chairman of CW, Chair of the Judges and Co-Founder of more than 12 companies. “I expect lots of live product demos and compelling stories from the finalists in order to impress the judges and win over the tech-savvy audience.”

Among the shortlisted companies to pitch are: WaveOptics, RK Trans2cloud, CrowdEmotion, GeoSpock, Enigmedia, Icon UK, Aseptika/Activ8rlives, PLAYIR, The Outside View, Braci, Speechmatics, Cambridge Intelligence, AppNearMe, Beacondo, AlphaFox Systems, KO-SU and Our Mobile Health.

Five lucky winners will take home the following prizes: a ticket to the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona and a unique opportunity to pitch to the UKTI stand during show; SETsquared six month Virtual Membership with mentoring and investor support; Cambridge Wireless Founder Membership for one year; a ticket to Cambridge Wireless ‘Future of Wireless International Conference 2015’; and a £500 cash prize.

The DS14 Competition final is hosted and sponsored by Deloitte at its London offices on 22nd October 2014. The DS14 competition is jointly sponsored by Qualcomm Ventures, Google, Microlease and Keysight Technologies, IC Resources, Dorsey & Whitney and supported by Tech City UK, techUK, New Entrepreneurs Foundation and UK Trade & Investment.