Meet the 12 ethnic minority-led founders shortlisted for this years’ MSDUK Innovation Challenge – championing corporate supply chain diversity & inclusion.

The MSDUK Innovation Challenge, organised by MSDUK – a charity promoting the inclusion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) businesses into corporate supply chains – aims to support minority-led businesses to bring their innovative ideas or products to market.

This years’ competition, run in partnership with Cummins, alongside Accenture, EY and Bristol Myers Squibb, will see the shortlisted 12 businesses pitch their ideas to a panel of investors at a LIVE finale taking place on 26th September.

The competition prizes include a $10k worth Ivy League scholarship to Tuck School of Business in America, a mentorship program with Accenture senior executives, a tailored introduction to corporate buyers, funding opportunities plus many more.

Meet the 12 shortlisted ethnic minority-led founders:

Audiowings – Smart headphones using sensors to track our environment and the body;

Envirup – a wall insulation system aimed at reducing the impact of fuel poverty;

Hello Daisy – an internet enabling private social media platform used for improving the health and well-being of the elderly;

Medixus – a peer-to-peer app for healthcare workers across Africa and beyond to connect and collaborate on challenging patient case, in real time;

Mother Nature’s – makes healthy uncarbonated soft drinks with ingredients that are ethically sourced;

Polipop (formerly Withlula) – is the first flushable and biodegradable sanitary product;

RAB-Microfluidics – diagnoses early signs of failure in lubricated heavy machinery by continuously analysing the lubricating oil in real-time;

The Cheeky Panda – manufacturers a range of sustainable tissue products using Bamboo;

ThingTrax – an industrial IoT company focused on transforming the way manufacturing machinery is monitored, controlled and serviced;

Twipes – a Clean Tech company manufacturing flushable toilet wet wipes;

VR: CALM – uses a virtual reality app and headset to give dementia sufferers an uplifting and interactive social experience;

Zingr –  a FinTech platform enabling digital payments on smart and feature phones in developing countries.

Image Courtesy – MSDUK