Augmented reality startup’s Ambarish Mitra crowned UK entrepreneur of the year by EY
The boss of London augmented reality startup Blippar was crowned "EY entrepreneur of the year UK 2016 overall winner" at an award ceremony last night.
Blippar, best-known for creating jazzy, interactive magazine covers for titles such as ShortList and the Radio Times, is an app which lets users scan objects they are interested in to learn more about them.
Read more: London augmented reality startup Blippar closes $54m funding round led by Malaysian government
The company's founder and chief executive, Ambarish Mitra, had the idea for Blippar after sharing a joke with the company's co-founder Omar Tayeb, about the Queen coming to life out of a £20 note.
Stuart Watson, UK entrepreneur of the year programme leader, said: "Ambarish wowed the judges with his technology and his entrepreneurial spirit.
"This is an entrepreneur with an unwavering determination to succeed, who sees each triumph and failure as feedback to help drive the business forward.
Read more: Startups in London raised more funding than in any other European city this year
"They were also impressed by his personal journey from teenage runaway in New Delhi, to a chief executive of a fast growth, high-tech multi-national, transforming interactions with consumers."
Mitra will now go on to represent the UK at EY’s world entrepreneur of the year in Monaco next June, competing with more than 50 other country winners for the global title.