10 of UK’s ‘best’ socially-minded digital start-ups selected for Wayra UnLtd incubator programme

Digital social incubator Wayra UnLtd has today announced the 10 digital businesses that will be joining its academy this year.

The 10 start-ups were selected from a group of 20 socially-minded businesses following two days of ‘intensive’ pitching to a panel of business experts in order to gain a place on the scheme.

The winners, which include interactive toy site Karisma Kidz, featured in the 2012 Startups Top 20, will start at the academy in September and will receive approximately £40,000 funding each, mentoring and work space in its new London offices, situated above sister   scheme Wayra.

Sponsored by Telefonica and UnLtd, the accelerator seeks to reward businesses that have innovative solutions to social problems with help and funding to grow their ventures.

Earlier this year Wayra UnLtd raised £2.7m to fund the initiative, with £1.2m backing from the government’s £10m Social Incubator Fund and a further £1.5m from Telefonica.

Focused on a range of areas, the 10 winning start-ups are:

• Discoverables
• DNAdigest
• Karisma Kidz
• Know Maths (pictured)
• Lingoing
• MySupportAssistant
• Provenance
• Skin Analytics
• StudentFunder
• The DoNation

Minister for civil society, Nick Hurd commented: “There is no shortage of social entrepreneurs in the UK with the ideas to create successful businesses that improve lives and help people get ahead.

“We also have a talented and growing technology community in the UK. Wayra UnLtd is helping these two come together, harnessing the power of technology to create real change for people and communities.”

The announcement also marks the new addition of renowned angel investor Sherry Coutu to the academy’s board.

Coutu discussed her new position: “I am passionate about working with great entrepreneurs to solve problems that matter, and believe serving on the board of Wayra UnLtd will give me plenty of opportunity to indulge this.”

To find out more about the winners and Wayra UnLtd click here.