UK— FreshMinds has bagged a £5m interest-free investment as a regional winner of the Bank of Scotland Corporate Entrepreneur Challenge.

The London-based firm, which was named Agency of the Year at the last two annual Research Excellence & Effectiveness Awards, fought off competition from the likes of Justgiving, Gü Puds, Country House Weddings and Quintessentially.

The judging panel, which included Nick Wheeler, founder and managing director of Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts, and Bill Muirhead, partner at M&C Saatchi, were impressed by FreshMinds’ rapid growth in the eight years since it was founded.

The funding will be invested in the agency’s latest venture FreshNetworks, which builds and manages online communities for qualitative research.

Wheeler said of the finalists: “All five were very good businesses, yet really different. We were looking for a true entrepreneur – and the entrepreneurial skills of FreshMinds made the difference in the end.”

FreshMinds co-founder Charlie Osmond said: “Winning this funding package will have a huge impact on the business and really allow us to build for the future.”

Author: Robert Bain