Trojan Energy and Desana named Scottish finalists in competition to find a global tech pioneer

10/06/2021
James Kergon, senior partner for KPMG in Glasgow

TROJAN Energy and Desana were yesterday chosen to represent Scotland in KPMG’s search for the next tech pioneer in the UK.

Trojan Energy and Desana were two of ten shortlisted fast growth tech companies to pitch their business to a panel of industry experts on the hunt for two outstanding representatives from Scotland to go forward into the UK final to find the next tech giant of the future.

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Aberdeen’s Trojan Energy is an electric vehicle charging startup. Founded in 2016, the firm offers a unique system of charging points that are only visible when an electric vehicle is charging. By promoting the switch to electrification and addressing the lack of electric charging infrastructure, the firm hopes to help the UK lower its carbon emissions and improve urban air quality.

Edinburgh-based Desana’s lets organisations, and their staff, find and book desks and meeting rooms across a global network of flexible workspaces through a single digital platform. In addition to helping businesses operate more flexibly, the startup subscription service wants to help to cut down pollution, congestion and alleviate pressure on local transport infrastructure.

Following the success of KPMG’s Best British Tech Pioneer, which, for the last seven years has uncovered a host of tech unicorns, the competition has this year gone global. Ten tech businesses from Scotland were selected from almost 200 UK entries to pitch against each other to find an innovator who will represent the country at the UK finals later this year. The overall UK winner will secure a place at Web Summit in Lisbon in November, where they will compete against tech innovators from at least 16 other countries across most major regions of the world to be crowned the first KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Pioneer.

The other Scottish tech companies shortlisted for the competition alongside Trojan Energy and Desana were: Coastr, Gigged LTD, Obashi Technology LTD, OneBanks, Pawprint, Riiot Digital and Skyrora LTD.

Commenting on the competition, James Kergon, office senior partner for KPMG in Glasgow, said: “It was a difficult decision for the judges faced with ten fantastic businesses who all delivered great pitches and showed why Scotland is world-renowned as a hub for innovation. 

“Trojan Energy and Desana impressed the judges with the originality of their offering and potential for growth on an international scale. Their solutions also tap into two critical global trends – energy transition and flexible working.

“Both firms now have an opportunity to pitch in front of major industry players looking for the next potential startup to invest in, buy from, or partner with. We wish them the best of luck”

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