Startup of the Year (UK) shortlist announced — Retail Technology Innovation Hub

be Retail Social, HyperFinity, Personify XP, and Ocula Technologies are among the nominees in the Startup of the Year (UK) category at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards.

This award will recognise the UK-based startup with the most innovative technology offering and the company which is best placed to succeed in the long-term (management, funding, the retailers it is working with etc).

2022 shortlist as follows:

be Retail Social

The virtual try on/virtual fitting room space is becoming crowded with businesses launching into the sector and companies like Zeekit being snapped up by Walmart. It’s no surprise as the fitting room has been identified as a key battleground in aligning the clicks and bricks offer from retailers.

Where be Retail Social sits apart, and why it has entered the Startup of the Year category, is because it believes the business is ahead of its competition when it comes to the range of problems it solves for retailers, the robustness of the technology and the ease of implementation.

HyperFinity

HyperFinity uses decision intelligence to help retailers sell the right products, to the right people, for the right price.

Retailers tap Its software platform to make great commercial decisions across product range, pricing and promotion, marketing and media, e-commerce and supply chain.

Ocula Technologies

Ocula Technologies is a SaaS startup with the goal of allowing all retailers the opportunity to harness the power of AI to enable data driven decisions and quickly optimise its platform.

It wants to give retailers without in-house data science teams, the ability to access the benefits of AI and not get left behind by the likes of Amazon and Alibaba.

Personify XP

Personify XP uses single session data to understand and segment every person who visits a company website, and dynamically updates these segments throughout the customer shopping journey.

SeeChange

The SeeChange Spill Detection Solution allows real-time detection and notification of in-store spill events. The AI model detects spills of any type of liquid on different floor types, including water on a shiny floor. 

This solution is designed to increase the safety of retail environments with minimal disruption, as the system integrates with existing in-store infrastructure such as cameras, sensors and VMS, and communication channels to deliver notifications via the store’s preferred channels.

SEIKK

SEIKK is an active man’s lifestyle magazine and online marketplace that lets people shop conveniently and sustainably.

And the winner is…

It’s now over to our judging panel to decide the winner, who will be revealed at an exclusive event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

If you’re interested in attending this networking/roundtable discussion/three course Christmas themed meal event, please fill out the form at the end of this article and we’ll get back to you asap.

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, says: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”

“Thanks to all those who have entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”

“I’m now looking forward to deciding the winners with our judging panel and announcing them at our central London event in December.”

2022 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel as follows:

Warren Richmond, CEO and Founder, Situ Live and Revium Group

Mike Cadden, Technology and Business Transformation Director, Start-Rite Shoes

Peter Waugh, Digital & Data Director, Compass Group

Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer, Boots

Dan Saunders, Retail E-commerce Manager, Stanley Black & Decker

Martin Newman, Founder, The Customer First Group 

Toby Pickard, Global Insight Leader, IGD

Matt Taylor, Technology Transformation Leader at EY, Retail and Consumer Products

Amodini Chhabra, Investor, Compass Digital Ventures

Gary Newbury, Supply Chain Advisor and Delivery Executive

Sharon Peters, Head of Technology – Corporate Functions, Marks & Spencer

Nadine Neatrour, Marketing Director, Selfridges 

Wizz Selvey, CEO, WIZZ&CO

Simon Curtis, Chief Commercial Officer, PMC Retail 

David Polinchock, Co-Founder/President, Unified Brand Experience Lab

FOURTH TIME AROUND

Now into their fourth year, the RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by PMC, 3D Cloud by Marxent, CADS, FreedomPay, and Critzr, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Stay tuned for more shortlists over the next few days.