Phil Worms

He was declared the winner following a live digital pitch battle in front of 1,000 delegates at this year’s Startup Summit on October 29.

Mr Worms and Frog Systems, a digital mental health and wellbeing startup which utilises video to communicate messages of hope and signpost support to those in need, held off strong competition from fellow finalists Dr Tayyaba Nafees of CyberShell and Caroline McKenna of Social Good Connect, who had been selected from over 100 ‘tech for good’ applicants from across the UK.

The top prize was a business support package worth over £65,000 from Johnston Carmichael, Fiverr, Rekall Consulting, STV, AAI EmployAbility and PurposeHR, and a fully-funded place on FutureX’s Silicon Valley Scale programme.

Mr Worms said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised by the judges of the Startup Summit. Winning the competition offers us an exciting platform on which to build our profile as we look to market and scale the business, and to promote Scotland’s thriving tech for good community of which we are proud to be a part.”

Competition judge Hugh Lightbody, chief officer Business Gateway National Unit, commented: “It was inspirational to hear from the finalists in the competition and the incredible ideas they have and, once again, it was difficult to choose between them. However, it is evident that tackling the health and economic crisis that Covid-19 has wrought is taking its toll on mental health and wellbeing. Phil highlighted the massive economic cost of absenteeism and lost productivity and the judges felt that Frog Systems approach to supporting this huge issue made the greatest contribution to wellbeing and the economy.”

Zoi Kantounatou, FutureX’s co-founder and CFO, added: “This year’s competition was perhaps the most tightly contested we’ve ever seen and each of our finalists would have been worthy winners. The quality of this year’s entries show the huge growth in tech for good startups in recent years, and we’re delighted for our overall winner Phil and everyone at Frog Systems.”