A BELFAST-based technology start-up which uses ground-breaking social media analytics to enable investors to access real-time information about market conditions and what their customers are thinking has been named Company of the Year at Invest NI’s Propel Programme Awards.
Yedup, which was founded by mathematicians Paul McWilliams and Dr. Martin Spollen from Belfast, analyses more than 100,000 social media posts every second, extracting investor and consumer views about financial services, companies and industry that can then be used to identify advantageous trading opportunities.
It is one of 18 start-up companies on the 2015/2016 Propel programme, which supports and develops export focused business ideas with high growth potential.
A judging panel of business leaders, mentors and funders applauded Yedup for its ground-breaking use of technology and presented the company with the top award at a ceremony in Riddell Hall.
“I'm thrilled Yedup has picked up this accolade," McWilliams said.
"Our customers work in time-sensitive industries, so they place a high value on being the first to know about emerging news and events that affect future market movements.
"The Propel programme has been instrumental in helping us to refine our offering and prepare the business for competitive export markets. Following this award and completion of the programme, we are more confident than ever about our ability to deliver this service on a global scale and are looking towards the future with real confidence.”
Tracy Meharg, Invest NI’s executive director of business solutions, who presented Yedup with the award, said: “I would like to congratulate each of the Propel participants on the tremendous strides they have made during their time on the programme and on their many individual achievements to date.
"In particular, I’d like to extend special congratulations to Martin and Paul for developing this truly innovative technology, which is already recognised as a premier product for hedge funds and traders across the world.”
Other winners included hipflask brand SWIG, which was presented with the award for ‘Best go to Market Strategy’ and Maguire Linens, a company producing innovative skirting solutions for the hospitality industry, which was named ‘Breakthrough Company of the Year.’
