Barclays Eagle Labs & De Montfort University announce inaugural Asian Founders Awards
Nominations have officially opened today for the inaugural Asian Founders Awards, marking a significant milestone in a national initiative designed to support, connect and celebrate Asian entrepreneurs across the UK.
The awards represent the latest development in a programme launched two years ago to bring together communities of Asian founders, strengthen professional networks and expand access to opportunities that have historically been more difficult to reach.
Established in 2023 by Barclays Eagle Labs and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), the Asian Founders network has rapidly grown into a nationally recognised platform. It has supported more than 1,000 founders across ten UK cities through events, showcases and targeted engagement with investors, corporates and policymakers.
The new awards aim to recognise excellence, raise the profile of high‑growth Asian‑led businesses and create meaningful connections between founders, investors and strategic partners. A flagship national ceremony will take place in Leicester on 11 September, bringing together more than 300 founders, investors, policymakers and business leaders.
Nominations are now open across nine categories, including:
– Rising Star Award
– Disruptor Award
– Asian Entrepreneur of the Year
– Scale‑Up Business of the Year
– Community Impact of the Year
– University Collaboration Award
– Tech Excellence Award
A major report led by DMU in 2025 found that, despite contributing an estimated £25 billion to the UK economy, many Asian business owners continue to face barriers such as limited access to finance, underrepresentation in investment networks and a lack of visibility at national level.
The awards have therefore been designed not only to celebrate success but also to address these challenges by elevating Asian‑led businesses and creating a platform that reflects the scale and ambition of this entrepreneurial community.
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Poonam Sharma, Manager of Barclays Eagle Labs Leicester, said, “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering on the launch of the Asian Founders Awards to celebrate the ambition, innovation and impact of Asian entrepreneurs across the UK. Through Barclays Eagle Labs, we work with high-growth founders every day, and we know the scale of talent and potential within this community. These awards will recognise success, raise visibility and open doors to new opportunities. By bringing together founders, investors and industry leaders, the Asian Founders Awards will play an important role in accelerating growth and championing the next generation of UK business leaders.”
Helen Donnellan, Director of Research Business and Innovation at DMU, said, “Over the past two years, we’ve worked closely with founders across the UK and heard directly about the barriers they continue to face, particularly around access to networks, investment and visibility. The Asian Founders Awards are a direct response to that. They are about recognising excellence, but also about creating a platform that connects founders to real opportunities for growth. At DMU we see our role as bringing together business, finance and innovation ecosystems to drive inclusive economic growth. These awards are a clear demonstration of that commitment in action.”
Winners will be selected by an independent panel of business leaders, investors and ecosystem experts to ensure credibility and rigour in the judging process.
Nominations close on 1st June, with finalists to be announced later in the summer.
