Thyngs is one of just 20 early-stage tech companies selected to pitch at Tech Nation’s Rising Stars Grand Final.
The proximity payments company made the cut after a successful Semi Final at the Barclays Eagle Labs in Manchester on 16-17 January. Here 33 start-ups had the opportunity to attend pitch training workshops and get mentoring from Sunderland Software City.
Thyngs and the other Rising Stars semi-finalists then pitched to an expert judging panel that included Mark Sykes, from BDO Drive; Ed Prior, of GP Bullhound; Sarah Revelliard, of Microsoft Bing; Naomi Timperley, of Tech North Advocates; and Kelly Clarke, from TLT LLP.
Thyngs is a Norwich-based fintech company that uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to do everything from turning promotional items into interactive experiences to creating contactless donation points. It was one of just two East of England companies to make the Rising Stars Grand Final, alongside science edtech platform Developing Experts.
Thyngs CEO Neil Garner will now get the chance to pitch at London’s Rich Mix on 5 March 2019. Speaking about making the final 20, Neil said: "Making it through to the Rising Stars Grand Final is fantastic news and testament to Thyngs’ hard work in the field of NFC.
"Rising Stars is a great opportunity to discuss our ideas, learn from others and meet some of the most esteemed experts in the field. It’s also great to be sharing the experience with another Norwich-based company, highlighting the success of the East of England’s tech industry.”
Finalists in the Grand Final will pitch in front of high-profile audience, including investors and corporates, to a panel of judges including Warwick Hill, Senior MD, Europe at Microsoft for Start-ups, and Francesca Warner, CEO of Diversity VC. The winner will take home a prize-package designed to boost their business including: one-to-one mentoring and introductions to corporates and investors, as well as funding and support for international trade shows.
Thyngs is also taking part in Tech Nation’s first fintech growth programme, which is a key part of the UK Government’s Fintech Strategy, backed by HM Treasury. Over five months, the team are getting the opportunity to attend insight sessions across the country, culminating in a networking event in the US.
Thyngs uses NFC tags to turn anything physical, including marketing materials and packaging, into a contactless payment or customer engagement point. To find out more about how you can make the technology work for you, visit the Thyngs website.