Space tech start-up claims major award

A Humber-based start-up has been named as the Business to Business StartUp of the year for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber StartUp Awards.

Pan Galactic Developments, who were also finalists for the national prize at the UK StartUp Awards, were recognised for technological advancements and innovation, determination, and success in its growth.

The company, who were also shortlisted as national finalists for Innovative StartUp of the year, are a UK Space Start Up on the UK Space Agency Accelerator programme having graduated the Explore programme last year and currently completing the LEO programme. 

Pan Galactic are building the future quantum secure data systems for Space and Earth through their development of the Pan Galactic Blockchain and their operating system GalacticOS which aims to provide the benefit of protections against cyber-attacks from both traditional and future quantum computers.

The platform also provides the benefits of blockchain in securing the integrity and reliability of data which will provide a useful way to make use of blockchain technologies in commercial applications and a means by which organisations can work in collaboration with each other across the same platform. 

Pan Galactic are also breaking new ground in the use of blockchain and Space technologies for sustainability with the support of partners Optimal Cities and the PATT foundation, supported by the European Space Agency and others.  

Co-founder Flow Collingwood said: “To have won the Business to Business Start Up of the Year award in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber regions really does mean a lot to us, especially when seeing some of the other great businesses who were also finalists.  

“We were also delighted to be shortlisted as national finalists for Innovative StartUp of the Year and these opportunities and recognition are a great motivator to the whole team and show that the team’s hardwork is moving the business forward on the correct trajectory. 

“We are excited to see how we place in the national awards later this year and are looking forward to attending Ideas Fest 2024.” 

Earlier this year, Flow Collingwood and Pan Galatic’s chief security officer, Alan Raw co-founded the Royal Society of the Arts' first ever Space community 'Space4Space' to help support and promote the future of Space exploration and Innovation and is one of the fastest growing communities with the RSA at this time, welcoming people from a plethora of industries to help consider the future of Space. 

The UK StartUp Awards were established to highlight the success of startups across ten UK nations and regions, including the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy.  

They are supported nationally by Starling Bank, Airwallex, Chime Agency, Development Bank of Wales, EvaBuild, ForrestBrown, GiftRound, GS1 UK, Join Talent, OVHcloud, Project Simply, ScoreApp, SFC Capital and the Welsh Government.

Harriet Rees, chief information officer at Starling Bank added: “Turning an idea into a successful business takes a lot of courage and dedication. Congratulations to Pan Galactic on winning their category in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and making it to this year’s UK national final. Start-ups need certainty to plan ahead. It’s great to see so many thrive, especially in these challenging economic times.” 

According to Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the awards, more than 70,000 new firms were created in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber last year.

Professor Jones-Evans believes that figure demonstrates the growing importance of entrepreneurs to the regional economy. 

He said: “Start-ups are the life of any economy and that is especially true in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber where new businesses are contributing to job creation, innovation, and prosperity across the whole of this entrepreneurial region. It’s been an honour and a pleasure to read the stories of those founders who have spotted the opportunity and taken the risk to launch their own venture. 

“All of the winners have demonstrated that they deserve to win their categories and I’m looking forward to having the ‘best of the best’ from the region competing at the UK final later this year” 

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