We are delighted to announce that Vala has been named as a finalist in four award categories for this year’s Growth Investor Awards, organised by Intelligent Partnership.
There were a record number of nominations for the awards this year, so we’re very pleased to have made it this far through the judging process.
We’re up for the following awards:
Most Impactful Investment
This nomination recognises our investment in PlayWorks. We’ve supported the business closely as it has cemented its position as the world’s biggest provider of games for smart TVs whilst also pursuing new opportunities in video content streaming. The company has more than tripled its monthly active users since 2018. Revenues, generated from in-content advertising, are also increasing quickly and the business has become profitable.
Most Valuable Player
Our finance director, Asker Fawmy, has secured a well-earned nomination for the Most Valuable Player Award. He has been shortlisted for his tireless work through the pandemic, when he helped our portfolio company founders with cash management, reforecasting, and securing additional sources of finance to strengthen their balance sheets.
In the words of Paul Rostand from The Artful Baker, “Asker made himself available whenever we needed him. His contribution has been outstanding and without his efforts the outcome for our business might have been very different. His knowledge and advice helped us navigate a very difficult period, his dedication was exemplary, and he became a key member of our team.”
Team of the Year
Our Investment Committee has been shortlisted for Team of the Year, in recognition of the work they have done with our portfolio company founders throughout 2020. As well as offering commercial and strategic guidance, the team provided a great deal of personal support to founders as they navigated the practical and emotional challenges of lockdown. The team were also instrumental in raising public, media and government awareness of the specific funding challenges faced by early-stage companies, including through an online petition campaign that attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
Industry Rising Star
It’s still less than two years since we launched the Vala EIS Portfolio, making us eligible to be nominated for this award for new market entrants. This nomination recognises our achievement in establishing ourselves in the EIS market, including our fundraising and investing activity, as well as the growth of our team and the work we have done to promote the industry as a whole.
The awards now move to a second stage of judging, and the winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony in December – we will be keeping our fingers crossed until then.
