Image of MOLO's aim of the app which is to manage modern family life effectively

UK Startup Award winner helped by University of Essex researchers

A startup supported by Essex researchers to develop a groundbreaking app to help parents cope with the mental load of bringing up children in the modern world has won a UK Startup Award.

MOLO, the AI-powered ‘family operating system’, has won the Consumer Services StartUp of the Year Award for London with judges highlighting the partnership with the University of Essex.

The UK Startup Awards recognise the achievements of amazing individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.

Find out more https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2026/06/17/uk-startup-award-winner-helped-by-essex-researchers

Image credit: MOLO

 

1080x1080 Boroughs & Districts 1

Six Colchester tech companies feature in Essex Tech 50 2026

The Essex tech sector continues to grow from strength to strength, from billion pound investment in supercomputers in Thurrock, to local entrepreneurs taking that risk and starting their newest venture on a shoestring.

Today, Essex is home to an estimated 5,320 tech businesses employing over 20,500 people, a testament to its dynamic and growing ecosystem.

This third iteration of the Tech 50 shows the depth of growing and highly competitive businesses who are based in Essex. This year, we’ve also introduced individual awards to recognise truly outstanding contributors, a challenging task given the wealth of talent within our borders.

The Tech 50 has gone from a simple to list to a catalyst of competition within our county and acted as a springboard for those aspiring to be on the next cohort of Grow Essex Global. We hope the following businesses and individuals inspire you to innovate and grow, and to make you certain that Essex really is the home of innovation.

Colchester has a burgeoning tech sector and features strongly in  the Essex Tech 50 list this year:

Image credit: Ambitious Essex

Read more about Colchester’s Essex Tech 50 2026 companies:

Concurrent – Extraordinary Essex

iSite TV – Extraordinary Essex

Mammoth Creative – Extraordinary Essex

Marmoset – Extraordinary Essex

Merlin Cloud – Extraordinary Essex

Softvize – Extraordinary Essex

 

B&B award this one

Colchester Gift Retailer Wins National Award for Innovation

Popular Colchester gift retailer, Bill & Burts, has won a national award for Best Retailer Initiative at the recent National Gift Retailer Awards.

Bill Nettelfield runs gift shop Bill and Bert’s in Sir Isaac’s Walk alongside business partner Sarah Charlton.

The business beat five other nominees from across the country to win Best Retailer Initiative at The Greats Gift Retailer Awards on May 14 in London.

The Award recognised the shop’s innovative approach for its ‘What’s In The Box?’ videos which it started posting weekly on social media over the last few years.

Image credit: Bill & Burts

Read more:Bill and Bert’s Colchester win award for viral videos | Gazette