Start Up of the Year 2025

This award recognises a business in the early stages of its inception that is successfully transitioning from an idea to an operational entity. The successful applicant will have a commercial product or service, a strong and sustainable business plan, and dedicated, enthusiastic management.

Nominations open 10:00 on Monday 10 March 2025

Entry Criteria

Military Affiliation: Nominees must be veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces, reservists, military spouses, partners, or young people from a military family.
Successful Business: Nominees must have created and/or are running a successful business. They may or may not be supporting other veterans through that business.
Start-up: The business must have been established in the past 12 months, on or before March 2024.
Size and Location: The business can be any size and must be based in the UK.
Mission Alignment: The business should demonstrate a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and contributing positively to society, aligning with Heropreneurs’ mission.

Nomination Form Tips

Read the questions carefully. Make sure you answer them all with the information required.
Provide a narrative – not bullet points. We are not looking for perfect written English, but our judges will assess your passion, innovation, and drive.
Reference any skills gained in military life that have aided the business and been successfully transferred.
Each question has a maximum word count. Consider and stick to what information is relevant to each answer, as the system will not allow you to go over the word count.
Nomination forms cannot be saved online, please be aware that your work will not be saved if you quit the browser.
Consider drafting your answers offline before completing the form, keeping word count in mind. That way, you can revisit your details before making your final submission.