Leeds Digital Festival 2026: An NHS Data Startup, a School Software Pair and an AI Consultancy Take the Top Prizes
Avenue3 took Start-up of the Year at the Leeds Digital Festival Awards, Enablis won Growth Company of the Year, and Senflow won Tech4Good with software already in 110 schools. Each one sells into a sector that still runs on paperwork.
Leeds Digital Festival ran from 21 September to 2 October with 213 events across the city. The program leaned toward applied AI, with sessions on using it in small firms, law and the boardroom. The fortnight closed with the awards night on 1 October at The Wardrobe in Leeds city centre.
Start-up of the Year
Avenue3 [Healthtech] won Start-up of the Year. Founder Phil Bottomley runs the company from Platform in Leeds, and it works as a technology partner to the NHS and the public sector. Avenue3 builds on the openEHR data standard, which keeps patient records separate from the apps that use them so records can move between systems. It is building a patient portal and e-referral system for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, which includes a digital cancer referral system. It also gives architecture support to Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust.
Growth Company of the Year
Enablis [AI / Enterprise] won Growth Company of the Year. The Leeds consultancy helps firms turn AI plans into working systems. Founder Sarah Pawson grew revenue 33% to £5.6 million and the team now numbers 42. Enablis also opened a London office this year.
Tech4Good Winner, Small Company
Senflow [EdTech] won the small company Tech4Good award. Lucy Stephens, a primary school teacher, and Dom Newmarch, a software engineer, built it in Garforth. The platform puts student profiles, EHCP plans and intervention tracking in one place so SENCOs spend less time on paperwork. Senflow launched in September 2025 and is used by 110 schools from Newcastle to East Sussex.
Why It Matters for the UpNext Network
The three winners sell to the NHS, to schools and to businesses buying AI help. Each one started with a job that people in those sectors already do by hand. Leeds is turning out founders who pick a slow, paper-heavy problem and fix it. Join the UpNext network to meet more founders like them.
