Your FLOCK — #HR #Tech #startup has only gone and been chosen as one of Tech Nation’s 5 TOP…
By: Dan
Tags: Technology, Tech, HR, Rising Star, Startup

Today, Tech Nation announces the five regional winners based in the North West of its Rising Stars 3.0 competition. And we are more than slightly thrilled to say that… Your FLOCK that helps people #remoteworking and #workingfromhome keep up morale and their company culture — has been chosen as one of them.

The five regional winners for each region and nation across the UK have been selected by a panel of industry experts. Regarded as tech leaders within their respective regions.

These companies will now compete nationally for the chance to be named as one of Tech Nation’s 10 Rising Stars 3.0. The Rising Stars UK Winners will be revealed in February 2021.

In its third year, Rising Stars 3.0 is the UK’s only national competition for innovative, early-stage tech companies. Designed to showcase the best in the country. And to help companies on their growth journey.

Last year’s winners included one company from the North West. Mental health app tootoot. Which has been officially recommended to schools and colleges during lockdown.

Tootoot, now called Stribe, whom we shared an investor and NED in — with Sandy Linsday MBE. Is one of our concept partners and a great company. They not only use FLOCK to help their remote team — but they also partner with us.

Doing events around company culture. Like this one last month with Jackson Lees.

PAST WINNER TOOTOOT.

Tootoot is a mental health app that gives young people the ability to talk about anything from mental health concerns to bullying. Was officially recommended to schools, colleges and universities by the UK Government’s Department for Education during lockdown.

Having raised £600,000 from GC Angels and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority before Christmas, tootoot launched a business version of its app called Stribe, which makes it easier for business leaders to support the wellbeing of employees.

We hope we can copy their success. As we are also getting funding investment from GC Angels and a variety of Angels for our next round. One of whom specialises in the world of AI. Which is great timing with our “Innovate UK” funding that also just happened.

We seem to be getting luckily and luckier with our timing. As our founder Michal Wisniewski, CEO of Your FLOCK, comments:

“It’s a great honour for Your FLOCK to be in the Top 5 startups in the North West. It shows how Covid is changing the future of work and remote working. Our technology to help remote working teams develop has just been backed by Innovate UK. And we are raising our Seed round with a series of investors, so the timing couldn’t be better.”

But of course, the programme is not just about Your FLOCK. Many other tech startups applied for it and got in. As Mo Aldalou, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager — North West, Tech Nation, comments:

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome these five incredible North West companies as regional winners for Rising Stars 3.0. The quality and quantity of applications we received from the region was truly unprecedented and the judges had to make some difficult decisions. Our Rising Stars competition is an excellent opportunity to celebrate and showcase the best early-stage tech scaleups from across the UK. I’m confident that these founders will excel at the semi-finals and beyond.”

YOUR FLOCK.

We hope that Your FLOCK can make Manchester proud. As Your FLOCK is a remoteworking support SaaS platform. That uses the data and science behind motivations at work to enable teams to be more productive and engaged.

Your FLOCK then uses machine learning to help managers to remotely coach their teams. By providing users with activities tailored to their motivations. And designed to help them be more ‘in sync’ and work more effectively as a team.

It is this remote working team help that caught the judge’s eye. As they saw the potential of this for people working from home and remoteworking especially during covid and beyond.

As Esme Caulfield, Competitions Lead, Tech Nation comments:

“Everyone knows that 2020 is a challenging year…. The 55 Rising Stars Regional Winners are companies that are proving their resilience and adaptability, building products that will support businesses and customers both now, and into the future. They are all deserving of recognition — and here at Tech Nation, we’re thrilled to celebrate and showcase them.”

And we are very happy to be part of it. As we are looking for investment and anything that helps us raise the brand of Your FLOCK is worthy of our praise. As Dan Sodergren from Your FLOCK comments:

“I have had several companies in the tech space and always want to be a Rising Star, so it is testimony to the team here. And perhaps a reflection of the times that finally we have managed it.”

The competition to become a RISING STAR:

It was not due to a lack of competition for the top spots this year. As the Tech Nation programme received 330 applications in total. With 62% of applications from outside London. Proving that tech Nation is no longer London centric?

The competition also received 39% of applications from female founders and co-founders. Showcasing a more diverse and inclusive application process than before. Perhaps in this new world of hybrid working, working from home and diversity and inclusion a software that helps managers and business owners support remote workers might well be in the running. To win the whole thing.

Either way, to even be picked for this round is amazing. And we thank everyone that has been part of our journey so far. With our little #tech startup with our own diverse and inclusive board.

And our #remoteworking team.

Are working from home and growing. As the opportunity to help people doing the same does.

Want to know more — have a go yourself — and find Your 3 Core Values.

And find out about the science behind Your FLOCK at www.YourFLOCK.co.uk