Entrepreneurs, scale-ups and innovators from across the UK have been shortlisted for the inaugural Asian Founders Awards, celebrating the founders and businesses driving innovation, creating jobs and making a positive impact in their communities.

The Asian Founders Awards are a joint initiative by Barclays Eagle Labs and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and mark the next milestone for the Asian Founders Community Meet, a national programme created to support, connect and celebrate Asian entrepreneurs across the UK.

The finalists reflect the breadth of Asian-founded businesses operating across the country, from emerging ventures to established companies, and span sectors ranging from AI and technology to businesses delivering significant social impact.

More than 250 founders, investors, policymakers and business leaders will gather at Leicester’s Marriott Hotel on Friday 11 September, when the winners will be announced at the inaugural awards ceremony.

Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: "The response to the inaugural Asian Founders Awards has been exceptional and reflects both the quality and ambition of Asian-led businesses across the UK.

"What has been particularly encouraging is the diversity of this year's finalists. They represent businesses at every stage of their journey, from exciting new ventures to established organisations, all united by a commitment to innovation, growth and creating positive impact.

The finalists are:

Community Impact  

• Fazan Tahir, Group Founder / Managing Director, Tahir Group
• Reena Anand, Founder and Director, Being Inclusive
• Kara Healthcare

University Collaboration  

• Structural Adhesives
• Ketan Dattani, CEO and Founding Owner, Buckingham Futures

Disruptor  

• Gaurav Chawla, CEO and Founder, Lumirithmic Ltd
• Berkfield Homes, Founder, Ravi Agravat
• Network Science Limited

Excellence in Tech  

• Berkfield Home, Founder, Ravi Agravat
• NSOffice AI
• Tony Banerjee, CEO and Founder, Harley Doc

Scale Up  

• Kara Healthcare
• Finrege
• Berkfield Home

Entrepreneur of the Year

• Magic AI
• Tahir Group
• Berkfield Home

Rising Star

• Arvind Sharma, CEO, Athenian Tech
• Dr Zainab Bibi, Founder/CEO of RTNZero.Ai
• Phoebe NG, Co-Founder of Excelas 

  Business of the Year

• Tahir Group
• Kara Healthcare
• Alt Labs

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2026