Aston University has announced the winners of the inaugural Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards, recognising innovative start-ups with the potential to deliver economic, social and global impact.
Three prizes worth a total of £75,000 have been awarded to the founders of the most innovative artificial intelligence (AI), social enterprise and international business start-ups.
The winners were MirZyme Therapeutics (innovative international business), Clarixos AI (innovative AI business) and Fledglings (innovative social enterprise).
The Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards were launched to recognise innovative businesses whose ambitions align with Aston University’s 2030 strategy, while also honouring the legacy of Adrian Cadbury, the former chairman of Cadbury, known for his commitment to enterprise and long-term impact.
This year’s winners were selected from a competitive pool of businesses, each demonstrating bold ideas, a clear purpose and potential for economic, social or global impact. Finalists were required to present their ventures through a five-minute video.
Each winning business will receive £10,000 in cash and £15,000 in industry support, delivered through Aston University’s new enterprise hub, where they will further develop and scale their ventures.
The three winning businesses are addressing challenges in healthcare, artificial intelligence and skills development.
MirZyme Therapeutics is developing a digital clinical decision-support platform designed to help identify women at risk of preeclampsia earlier and more accurately. The company is also developing new therapeutics aimed at improving outcomes for mothers and babies affected by pregnancy complications.
Clarixos AI uses artificial intelligence to transform complex medical letters and reports into clear, patient-friendly explanations, while preserving the original clinical meaning and helping patients better understand and engage with their care.
Fledglings is an interactive platform that helps young people build the practical life and career skills they need to thrive, such as financial literacy, employability, confidence, resilience and staying safe online.
Dr May Rezai, chief operating officer at biotech company MirZyme Therapeutics, said:
“We are delighted to receive this award from Aston University. This support will accelerate the commercialisation of our diagnostic technology and strengthen our mission to bring precision medicine to maternal healthcare. We are actively seeking partnerships with healthcare providers, NHS trusts, research institutions and industry collaborators who share our commitment to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes and helping to bring this innovation into routine clinical practice, where it can make a meaningful difference to patients’ lives.”
Yusuf Soliman, who founded Clarixos AI, said:
“We are thrilled to have won this award, which recognises the importance of making healthcare communication more accessible. This support will help us take the next step towards pilot studies and real-world validation. We would be very keen to work with NHS organisations, research institutions and healthcare providers to evaluate the platform and demonstrate how improving patient understanding can contribute to better healthcare experiences and outcomes.”
Owais Iqbal, founder of Fledglings, said:
"I am incredibly proud to have been recognised by Aston University through the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards. I built Fledglings to give young people the skills that truly shape their futures, delivered through interactive, real-world scenarios rather than dull theory, because young people learn by doing. This recognition will help me take that mission further and reach far more learners.
"I'm now opening Fledglings' free pilot programme to schools, employers and training providers. As learners progress, the platform captures smart, anonymised data that turns their development into a clear, measurable impact story.”
Professor Mike Caine, interim Vice-Chancellor, said:
“We are incredibly proud to recognise this year’s winners of the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards.
“The quality of entries was exceptionally high, with a strong field of innovative and purpose-driven businesses.
“These entrepreneurs embody the innovation, ambition and purpose that define Aston University’s approach to enterprise. Their ideas have the potential to deliver meaningful impact across Birmingham and beyond and we look forward to supporting them as they grow.”
For more information about the Adrian Cadbury Entrepreneurial Awards, visit: https://www.aston.ac.uk/business/adrian-cadbury-entrepreneurial-awards