TEES TECH AWARDS 2025
TECH START-UP
SPONSORED BY OUTRANK
FINALISTS
ECHO3. CLOUD
Outrank CTO Max Lyne presented the Tech Start-Up award to Assessable’ s Lisa Gosnay.
WINNER
ASSESSABLE
It was surely the most nerve-wracking way to win a Tees Tech Award – but education app Assessable proved it was more than up to the mark.
Unlike other categories, where judges decide the finalists based on entry forms, the three finalists for the Startup category, sponsored by Outrank, qualified through a judging process that saw them deliver two-minute pitches to a live audience at Flok co-working space.
Then they had to deliver their pitches again – but this time in front of the 300-strong audience at the awards night itself, who then voted for their favourite – and it was Assessable that emerged with the trophy after an impressive pitch by co-founder Lisa Gosnay.
Former teacher Lisa explained how Assessable, by utilising AI, could slash the amount of time hard-pressed teachers currently spend marking work.
In 2023, 27,000 teachers joined the profession but more than 40,000 left, with many citing excessive workloads as the key factor.
But by freeing up time spent marking work, the AI-enabled Assessable marking assistant app will allow teachers to spend more time where it really matters – in the classroom.
Describing as“ surreal” the experience of pitching for, and winning, the prize, Lisa told Tees Business:“ I’ m really happy because I believe Assessable is genuinely going to have a big social impact.
“ From talking to people in the room, they voted for us because they really understand what we’ re trying to do, which is great.”
With teacher workloads highest in areas of deprivation, it seems appropriate that Assessable is starting life on Teesside.
Initially, the start point is Key Stage 2( KS2) English, but the idea is to then scale up and expand into other qualification levels and subjects – and even internationally.
Alongside test partner Lift Schools – the third biggest academy trust in the country – testing is ongoing, with a view to launching in the autumn.
Lisa explained:“ Education is in crisis – by 2030, we need 44m teachers globally. The biggest issue bar none, particularly in this country, is workload.
“ But with Assessable, we can cut the marking of a class set of work from hours down to minutes.”
“ We believe it’ s a game-changer.”
SPONSOR’ S MESSAGE
Max Lyne, CTO Outrank: We’ re all about growth and for us, seeing what’ s new and innovative is really exciting. I’ m new to the tech scene in Teesside but I’ ve always heard great things, so to be involved in the start-ups and see and hear some of the ideas and stories that are driving these things, it’ s been incredible for me – and a deserved winner, a real stand-out.
Echo3. cloud is an all-in-one client and project management platform for UK freelancers to manage projects, store data securely and collaborate effortlessly.
With GDPR-compliant storage, automated workflows and a thriving freelancer network, it helps users stay organised and streamline operations without the hassle of multiple tools. It’ s the brainchild of Danny Reed, a lecturer in digital marketing and founder of Invictus Media & Marketing, who has used his skills in creative strategy, digital innovation and engagement to help develop the product.
A strong development team has now refined and trademarked the Echo3. cloud brand, resulting in a usable prototype that’ s been tested and validated by core demographic users, so laying the foundations for scalable success.
TRIPBOOKA
A trailblazing travel marketplace that connects travellers with independent travel agents, Tripbooka combines expert advice with smart technology to offer prices and tailored deals not available online.
Helping travellers find tailored deals while giving agents the tools to manage leads and bookings more efficiently, it has recently rebranded, upgraded its tech stack, expanded the team from one to five and improved its marketplace to streamline lead management and bookings for travel agents.
And driving its development is Helmut Okike, a seasoned product leader who thrives in startup environments. With more than eight years of hands-on experience at top companies, he combines practical entrepreneurship with a focus on building products that deliver real business results.
WINNERS’ ROLL CALL: 2024: Trusted-People. com
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