Investec Easies Winners

The Investec Early-Stage Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Winners Announced -Celebrating the New Era of Global Early-Stage Entrepreneurship.

• Five founders from the UK, South Africa and the UAE were recognised as theinaugural Early-Stage Entrepreneur of the Year winners
• Celebrations streamed live from London to the world, with events across South Africa and the UAE, with CNBC Africa and EXTREME broadcasting to global audiences
• Winners receive £10,000, global amplification and a place on the OPUS Delegation to Davos

10th December 2025, LONDON – The Investec Early-Stage Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (“The Investec Easies”), powered by OPUS, have announced their first-ever global winners. Designed to spotlight founders at the earliest, boldest stage of their journey, the Investec Easies recognised 50 standout entrepreneurs and selected five winners that are shaping the future, from the UK, South Africa and the UAE.

More than 1,200 founders from 55+ countries entered the awards in the inaugural year, with over 25,000 public votes cast across five categories. The celebrations unfolded simultaneously in London, Johannesburg and Dubai, connected through a live global broadcast hosted by AJ Odudu (British Television Presenter) and Sam Tidswell-Norrish (OPUS Founder & Chair), and streamed internationally by OPUS, CNBC Africa, EXTREME, and partners.

As the broadcast closed, Sam Tidswell-Norrish reflected on the spirit behind the Easies:

“The Easies exist to champion the outliers shaping the world ahead of us. These foundersaren’t just building companies - they’re building movements and solving problems. Themomentum of the inaugural year proves just how global, how diverse and how unstoppableearly-stage ambition truly is. And it is our future.”

Five founders were honoured and selected for their vision, grit and undeniable momentum.

• UK-based Claudine Adeyemi-Adams won the Impact ESEY for Earlybird, an AIpowered platform transforming frontline citizen services.
• South African founder Ndaedzo Madume took the Consumer ESEY forGraceNineteen, a breakthrough model helping renters become homeowners.
• UK founder Samantha Rosenberg received the Female Founder ESEY for Belong, reinventing wealth-building for the next generation.
• The Technology ESEY was awarded to Urav Shah, whose company Exa is buildingthe intelligence layer for the Global South.
• And UAE-based founder Anuscha Iqbal won the Professional Services ESEY forQanooni AI, the region’s first sovereign Arabic-enabled legal AI platform.

The celebrations brought together founders, investors, operators and cultural leaders who share one belief: the world’s next era of innovation will be built by founders brave enough to begin.

Joubert Hay, Chief Executive Officer of Investec Wealth & Investment International, commented:

“Many of our clients are founders of successful businesses, and we saw many of their qualities of vision, drive and a desire to make a positive change in the world, in the Easies winners. Our involvement in these awards is not only an opportunity to support founders, it’s a natural extension of how we do business”

Winners receive a £10,000 cash prize, global media exposure, bespoke growth supportfrom OPUS and partners, and a coveted place on the OPUS Delegation to Davos - openingthe doors of the world’s most influential forum to founders at the beginning of their journey.

Alastair Lukies CBE, Chief Engagement Officer at Endava, commented:

“Endava was built on the belief that the talent landscape is evenly distributed, while opportunity is not. The Easies allows us to lean into discovering the next generation of great entrepreneurs, and to support them through our global network and resources.”