A Bristol duo who developed a high-tech wristband to help people socially distance during the pandemic have been named the South West’s Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.
School friends Harry Kimberley-Bowen and Ronan Finnegan used personal savings to set up their company – known as Spacebands – from a bedroom in 2020.
They have since sold 16,000 devices to more than 1,000 organisations in 30 countries including Amazon, Sony, Panasonic and the NHS.
The wristbands light up, vibrate, and beep when users get too close to another person wearing the device.
The pair were handed the accolade at the National Startup Awards, which recognise the achievements of individuals in different regions of the UK who have had a great idea and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.
“Harry and I were absolutely thrilled to wake up to the news that we have won Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022,” said Mr Finnegan. “It really is wonderful to get this type of recognition, especially within such a competitive category.”
The business is now pivoting into the wider health and workplace safety market. In April, the start-up raised £450,000 on funding platform Seedrs to develop a new product. Investors Henley Business Angels and Southern Angel Investors Club both contributed to the fundraise.
SpaceBands is using the investment to hire staff and further its product development, it said.
“[We are now creating] a new multi-feature hazard alert system that will aim to change the future of workplace safety, wellbeing and insurance,” Mr Finnegan added.
The pair said the new wearable tech would alert for a “multitude of hazards” that aims to protect businesses by preventing workplace injuries, reduce staff sickness and boost workplace wellness.
“Employers will be able to make informed decisions about their workplace safety and will be able to monitor workplace stressors whilst prompting employees to action wellness at work,” they added.
