The Small Cap Awards is an annual opportunity to recognise outstanding achievement focused on smaller quoted companies.
The Awards ceremony will take place on the 15th June 2023 at The Montcalm Hotel in Central London. The Awards celebrate companies and participants in the sub-£350m market cap quoted company sector on January 1st 2022 or on first day of listing across various categories.
Since it started in mid-2012, the Small Cap Club has successfully enabled leaders and participants in the small-cap sector to meet regularly, based on the premise that meeting people builds trust and creates new areas of thinking and opportunity, and the regular networking events have gone from strength to strength.
This year the Small Cap Awards, in association with Master Investor, are delighted to announce support from Network sponsors Hill Dickinson LLP, a leading international commercial law firm and headline sponsors, haysmacintyre, an award winning firm of chartered accountants and tax advisors who were supporting the awards for the first time this year. Further, valuable support was provided by Aquis, one of only two regulated equity exchanges in the UK, Guild Financial Advisors, an independent corporate finance advisory business, Share Registrars, a CREST enabled registrar, InfinitX, helping transform the growth potential of private companies and The Investor Relations Society, the UK’s professional body for investor relations practitioners. The awards are organised by Master Investor, which specialises in connecting companies and investors.
The shortlist has been selected by a judging panel comprised of leaders in the Small Cap sector and is Chaired by Gervais Williams, Head of Equities at Premier Miton Investors. The full judging panel, award categories and shortlisted companies can be viewed here: 2023 Awards.
The Nominees for IPO Of The Year are as follows:
Smarttech247
Smarttech247 is an award-winning provider of AI-enhanced cybersecurity services that offers automated managed detection and response to a diverse range of international clients. As the ‘247’ in the name suggests, the Company responds at any time to clients across multiple geographies, with its largest client having over 150 sites worldwide.
Smarttech247 is considered the leading managed detection and response company due to its advanced and innovative approach to cybersecurity. The Company’s flagship platform, VisionX, is a cutting-edge managed detection and response platform that simplifies security operations. VisionX utilises sophisticated threat intelligence capabilities, providing 24/7 monitoring and incident response services to ensure that any potential threats are detected and remediated promptly. Additionally, the platform’s user-friendly interface and customizable dashboards make it easy for any organisation to manage their cybersecurity.
As well as providing industry-leading technology, Smarttech247’s team of experts provide tailored services to clients, ensuring they receive the best possible protection against cyber threats. With a 75% increase in headcount this year alone, Smarttech247 is looking to continue expanding, with the Company currently launching a recruitment drive in Latin America.
Smarttech247 also recently announced its partnership with Forcepoint, a global security leader, through its newly released Managed Security Service Provider Program (MSSP). As a partner of Forcepoint, Smarttech247 will be able to incorporate Secure Access Service Edge and Data Loss Prevention managed services into its offerings.
Since listing on AIM in December 2022, the Company has reported rapid growth, a rising share price, renewed interest from potential investors and in its latest interim results reported a 19.4% increase in revenue and a 59.7% increase in EBITDA growth. The Company’s listing now means it is well-funded to support its expansion strategy and take advantage of the opportunities present in the fragmented cybersecurity market. Smarttech247’s successful contract wins and renewals over the last year also add to its strong balance sheet and provide the Company with good visibility of revenues. The wins include multi-year contracts with clients in the pharmaceuticals, climate solutions, and automotive industries.
While continuing to grow, Smarttech247 stays dedicated to its belief that diversity is key to driving innovation. This year the Company launched the ‘Women in Cybersecurity Academy’. Raluca Saceanu, Smarttech247’s CEO, says the course was partly inspired by her own experiences, commenting that “men outnumber women three-to-one in the cybersecurity sector, which means that the industry has a wide pool of untapped talent”. The six-week course allows women to develop cyber tech skills, with the top performing candidates offered year-long placements at the Company. Looking forward, Smarttech247 is planning to launch more initiatives in Q3 2023 involving education in local communities, volunteering and sustainability initiatives.
Smarttech247’s nomination for IPO of the Year by Small Cap Awards and Managed Security Service Provider of the Year byTech Excellence Awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team. The successful IPO provides the Company with the necessary resources to continue its mission of protecting businesses from sophisticated cyber threats. With the support of investors, the Company looks forward to continuing its strong growth trajectory and securing its position as a leading cybersecurity provider.
EnSilica
EnSilica is a leading fabless design house focused on custom ASIC design and supply for OEMs and system houses, as well as IC design services for companies with their own design teams. The company has world-class expertise in supplying custom RF, mmWave, mixed signal and digital ASICs to its international customers in the automotive, industrial, healthcare and communications markets.
ASICS help differentiate products through optimised hardware making products smaller, faster, using lower power, with improved security, adding novel functionality, improving supply chain security and protecting products from being copied.
EnSilica’s vision is to be the premier application specific chipmaker in Europe.
The company also offers a broad portfolio of core IP covering cryptography, radar and communications systems. EnSilica has a track record in delivering high quality solutions to demanding industry standards. Our impressive record of success has been achieved working with customers ranging from start-ups to blue-chip companies and our project portfolio ranges from module design to multi-million gate System-on-Chip.
EnSilica’s customers currently range from global corporations and OEMs to technology start-ups, including automotive Tier 1s, industrial enterprises, as well as large software companies and service providers developing proprietary hardware. EnSilica is an approved supplier to some of the world’s largest automotive and industrial OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Through our flexibility, engineering excellence and quality focus, EnSilica strives to increase our customers’ competitiveness through the use of custom silicon.
The Company’s historic profitability has enabled it to re-invest a significant proportion of profits to support R&D and the development of intellectual property and its transition to an ASIC design and supply business model.
The company is headquartered near Oxford UK with design centres across the UK, Bangalore India and Port Alegre Brazil.
- 2022/23 was clearly a strong year for the company, to what do you attribute your success?
Access to public markets and equity enabled the business to accelerate its development by taking a wider and deeper attitude to the acceptance of new business at a time when the economics of being a fabless ASIC specialist began to move significantly in our favour.
This has continued post IPO and whilst the equity market has been very difficult for all technology companies we have been able to continue our growth backed by investors in the public market space.
Aurrigo International
Aurrigo is a leading international provider of transport technology solutions. Headquartered in Coventry, UK, it designs, engineers, manufactures and supplies autonomous vehicles and OEM products to the automotive and transport industries, particularly focusing on aviation.
Aurrigo has three divisions, Automotive Technology, Autonomous Technology and Aviation Technology, and is highly regarded as a specialist in autonomous and semi-autonomous technology solutions for the aviation, ground handling and cargo industries. Aurrigo focuses on improving customer, operational and environmental performance, and is a trusted partner to industry leaders and local and national government organisations.
Aurrigo’s lead products are already developed, tested and being deployed – these include the Auto-Dolly and Auto-DollyTug which can help reduce operational delays, lost baggage and minimise safety risks. Aurrigo’s Autonomous technology division develops autonomous vehicle capabilities, supported by its extensive automotive engineering experience. It develops and manufactures autonomous vehicles and systems from the “ground up” and has developed six types of autonomous vehicle to date, which can be utilised to reduce costs, resolve operational issues and tackle labour shortages, whilst also improving sustainability.
Aurrigo’s Automotive technology division develops and supplies a range of innovative design engineering support, product solutions, manufactured products and services – from wiring harnesses to electronics and vehicle software. For 30 years, Aurrigo has been a supplier of advanced design and product solutions to premium vehicle OEM’s and international automotive Tier 1 suppliers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin Lagonda, Morgan Motors, Bentley, McLaren and others. All their products are designed, developed and manufactured in-house.
Since successfully listing on AIM in September 2022, Aurrigo’s growth and strong momentum has continued into 2023, with industry partnerships and grant-funded projects signed in Automation and Aviation and good customer traction across Automotive, whilst also maintaining strong cost controls.
Aurrigo’s attributes for success:
- Aurrigo already has 30 years of experience operating within the Automotive industry
- It identifed an opportunity within the global transport sector – aviation in particular is seeking to improve processes, tackle workforce shortages and under pressure to reduce its environmental impact.
- High demand for smart and sustainable technology solutions in both the aviation and autonomous sectors are resulting in significant growth opportunities
- Developed award winning, industry leading autonomous vehicles by investing heavily in its proprietary products and software.
- Aurrigo’s products are built from the ground up and in-house, using its strong heritage of automotive expertise – allowing for more efficient production, cost controls and supply chain management.
- Built strong relationships with leading customers and innovators, including a formal partnership with Changi Airport Group in Singapore.
- Continued investment in research and development of products and software to maintain market leading position
- Aurrigo’s established Board and senior leadership team have extensive experience across automotive engineering and manufacturing, as well as the robotic and autonomous industries.