Touring theatre production company Three Sixty Entertainment has scooped the top prize at the 2009 Startups Awards.
The company, which has enjoyed phenomenal success this summer with its first production, Peter Pan, was named overall Startups Business of the Year.
The company will soon move Peter Pan to the O2 to continue its run there, while preparations are also well underway to take the concept across the pond to San Francisco.
Speaking after receiving his award, co-founder Mat Churchill, said: “It’s been awesome. It’s a credit to all the people that believed in us and backed us. It’s also good news for the arts in general proving you can have a successful business life.”
Colin Wilkinson, another co-founder of the business, said: “It’s really affirming. It’s all very well standing here on a stage celebrating our success, but a year ago we were facing down two barrels of a shotgun with only a belief about what we could do. To come through a twelve month period having achieved what we achieved and to have it recognised with an award is great.”
The full list of winners are as follows:
Green Business of the Year
Shiply.com
Online Business of the Year
Wonga.com
Product of the Year
trueCall
Business Plan of the Year
Get Set Schools
Service Business of the Year
The Pathology Group
Adversity Award
Shane Bratby of Mobility Buy
Innovative Business of the Year
Three Sixty Entertainment
Social Enterprise of the Year
Goodwill Solutions
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Andrew Atalla of Atom42
Women in Business Award
Natasha Courtenay-Smith of Talk to the Press
Silver Fox Award
Franz Hutcheson of Go Sustainable
Best Use of Technology
JAOtech
Startups Business of the Year
Three Sixty Entertainment