Nominations have opened today (April 16) for the inaugural Asian Founders Awards, the latest step in a national programme to support, connect and celebrate Asian entrepreneurs across the UK.
The awards mark a major milestone in work that began two years ago to bring together communities of Asian founders, create stronger networks and open up access to opportunities that have historically been harder to reach.
Launched in 2023 by Barclays Eagle Labs and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), the Asian Founders network has grown into a nationally recognised platform, supporting more than 1,000 founders across 10 UK cities through events, showcases and targeted engagement with investors, corporates and policymakers.
The new awards are designed to recognise success and actively raise the profile of high-growth Asian-led businesses, connect founders to investors and partners, and create a platform that reflects the scale and ambition of this community.
A flagship national awards ceremony will bring together more than 300 founders, investors, policymakers and business people in Leicester on September 11.
Nominations are now open across nine categories, including:
- Rising Star Award
- Disruptor Award
- Asian Entrepreneur of the Year
- Scale-Up Business of the Year
- Community Impact of the Year
- University Collaboration Award
- Tech Excellence Award
A major report led by DMU in 2025 found despite contributing an estimated £25 billion to the UK economy, many Asian business owners face barriers including limited access to finance, underrepresentation in investment networks and a lack of visibility at national level.
The awards are designed not simply to recognise success, but to actively raise the profile of high-growth Asian-led businesses, connect founders to investors and partners, and create a platform that reflects the scale and ambition of this community.
Poonam Sharma, manager of the Barclays Eagle Labs Leicester, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering on the launch of the Asian Founders Awards to celebrate the ambition, innovation and impact of Asian entrepreneurs across the UK.
“Through Barclays Eagle Labs, we work with high-growth founders every day, and we know the scale of talent and potential within this community. These awards will recognise success, raise visibility and open doors to new opportunities.
“By bringing together founders, investors and industry leaders, the Asian Founders Awards will play an important role in accelerating growth and championing the next generation of UK business leaders.”
Helen Donnellan, director of Research Business and Innovation at DMU said: “Over the past two years, we’ve worked closely with founders across the UK and heard directly about the barriers they continue to face, particularly around access to networks, investment and visibility.
“The Asian Founders Awards are a direct response to that. They are about recognising excellence, but also about creating a platform that connects founders to real opportunities for growth.
“At DMU we see our role as bringing together business, finance and innovation ecosystems to drive inclusive economic growth. These awards are a clear demonstration of that commitment in action.”
Winners will be selected by an independent panel of business leaders, investors and ecosystem experts, ensuring credibility and rigour in the judging process.
Nominations close on 1 June, with finalists announced later in the summer.
Posted on Thursday 16 April 2026