Member News | LabCycle reaches finals of UK StartUp Awards 2024

Dr Helen Liang, Founder of LabCycle, which is the UK's first pilot plant for recycle plastic lab waste.

The UK StartUp Awards champions and celebrates the best and brightest start-ups from across the United Kingdom. The awards recognise the achievements of inspiring individuals who have had a great idea, spotted an opportunity, and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.

LabCycle, one of SETsquared Bath members, was a successful regional winner for the South West at the UK StartUp Awards and has now progressed to the UK final against unprecedented competition. In 2024, the competition had a shortlist of over 800 businesses across over 30 categories in 10 nations and regions.

LabCycle is the UK’s first pilot plant for recycling lab waste. They tackle single-use plastic waste in research and healthcare by recycling with innovative technology, promoting circular economy and sustainable research practices.

They are now UK finalists, having won two prestigious awards for the Clean StartUp of the Year and Equity-Backed StartUp of the Year for the South West region.

Dr. Helen Liang, Founder of LabCycle, says:

"I am delighted that LabCycle has reached the finals of the UK StartUp Awards for both Cleantech StartUp and Equity-Backed StartUp of the Year. Research and healthcare labs generate a huge amount of single-use plastic. Working at the interface of being both an entrepreneur and a researcher, I felt the responsibility and saw the opportunity to create a solution. I hope to scale up this work further and continue working with external organisations in reducing their environmental impact."

All the winners from the regional finals, along with a number of special judges’ choices, will be competing to be crowned the best in their sector nationally at the inaugural UK StartUp Awards hosted at Ideas Fest in Tring, Hertfordshire on 12 September.