Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Lincoln business have been recognised.

The finalists of the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards have been selected by judges and announced in the run up to the ceremony on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Headline sponsored The Zinthiya Trust, this exciting event marks the fourth occasion of its kind and promises to showcase the incredible entrepreneurial talent emerging from the region.
With 27 finalists chosen across nine categories, the anticipation is building for an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship in the East Midlands.
The ceremony will feature the much-anticipated Pitching Platform, sponsored by Nelsons, which has become a highlight of the awards. This Dragon's Den-style format allows the audience to actively participate by voting for the winner of a coveted business board, along with £10,000 worth of marketing and legal support.
Finalists will benefit from tailored interview timings with independent judges specific to their category, alongside guidance from Cross Productions. This support aims to help the finalists maximise their opportunities and navigate the next steps in their entrepreneurial ventures. The resources provided seek to empower these innovators with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in a competitive landscape.

The East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Club has a notable track record of success stories, with past finalists making significant strides in their respective fields. For instance, Katie Michaels, the founder of Moti Me, was celebrated as the 2024 Pitching Platform winner, receiving invaluable support that has catalysed the development of her product aimed at motivating children with disabilities to engage in physiotherapy exercises.
Pitching Platform winner Katie Michaels said: "The Pitching Platform was the biggest pitch I'd ever done. To have the majority of people voting for Moti Me was was a big surprise and confidence boost for me. If you'd have gone back 10 years and told younger Katie that she was going to pitch in front of more than 200 people, I probably would have run away!
"Having that many people choosing me as the as the Pitching Platform winner was really special to me. And I felt proud of that. It was probably one of the biggest days of running Moti Me because it was a big personal achievement."

The East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Club aims to encourage and support entrepreneurship within the region, fostering innovation and collaboration among local businesses.
People can still apply for the Pitching Platform. Applications close on January 31.
Anyone can attend the ceremony on Thursday April 10, 2025. Buy tickets to the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards.
Finalists of the East Midlands Real Entrepreneurs' Awards 2025:
Entrepreneur For Good
Tania Gerard - Tania Gerard Digital
Learie Gonsalves - One Building Solution Ltd
Simon Sansome/Clive Cooper - Snowball
The Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur - Sponsored by AGR Law
Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan - Zinthiya Trust/She Inspires
Nick Megson - Abacus Flooring Solutions Limited
Elaine Penhaul - Lemon and Lime Interiors
Scale-up Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by End2End
James Bowers - Enicor
Sam Cooper - The TSD Group
Thomas Cropper - Tuk In Foods
Entrepreneurial Collaborator
Inzar Haq - Insight Consultancy and Landmark Property Solutions
Jane Hearst - The National Centre for Creative Health
Claire Zwozny-Bestwick - CRZyBest
International Entrepreneur of the Year
Mark Copley - Copley Scientific
Jonathan Jones - SDE Group
Karen Mosley - Kran Lee Logistics
Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Reason8
Rebecca Holders - Holders Estate Agents
Asit Jansari - AJ Legal Consultancy Limited
Sallyanne Kirk - Leicester Fashion District CIC
Innovation in Entrepreneurship
Mathew Halford - Kaoba
Nisha Ravat - Green Tomato (Midlands) Ltd
Rahul Sabbarwal - The Luxe 360 Booths
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Anuj Ashar - Launchpad AI
Henry Brogan - BidScript
Rhys Everquill - The Leicester Gazette
Entrepreneurial Educator
Tania Gerard - Tania Gerard Digital
Anam Hassan - Handprints Day Nursery & Preschool
Amanda Riddle - Outlook Partnerships