Global SME Awards — Recognising Excellence Worldwide

Past Winners

Recognised for
excellence

SME / Small Business

Beardbrand

Beardbrand is an American men’s grooming company specializing in premium products for beards, hair, and body. Founded by Eric Bandholz in 2012, Beardbrand grew from a simple YouTube channel into a cult-favorite lifestyle brand by championing the "Urban Beardsman"—the guy who wants a beard but also a professional, polished look. After famously turning down the Sharks on Shark Tank, they’ve stayed fiercely independent and bootstrapped in Austin. They don’t just sell beard oil; they’ve pioneered "Utility Oil" for face, hair, and body to simplify your morning routine

SME / Small Business

Pip’s Heirloom Snacks

Pipcorn is an American snack company known for producing popcorn and other heirloom corn–based snacks made with non-GMO, sustainably sourced ingredients. Founded in 2012, the brand gained prominence through its appearance on Shark Tank and the support of Oprah Winfrey, later rebranding as Pip’s Heirloom Snacks in 2025 to reflect its expanded product range.

SME / Small Business

Death Wish Coffee

Founded in 2012 by Mike Brown in a Saratoga Springs basement, Death Wish Coffee was created to satisfy a niche demand for the world’s strongest cup. Unlike competitors, they pioneered a high-quality blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, proving that high-caffeine coffee doesn't have to taste bitter. They are currently leading a shift toward climate-resilient coffee by elevating the status of Robusta plants, which are hardier than traditional Arabica. Recently, the company transitioned from a cult-favorite startup to a retail powerhouse, modernizing their supply chain with data-driven roasting and a more accessible brand identity.

SME / Small Business

Ugmonk

Founded in 2008 by Jeff Sheldon, Ugmonk transitioned from a minimal graphic tee side project into a world-renowned workspace design studio. The Pennsylvania-based brand prioritizes "less but better," famously rejecting Shark Tank to maintain its commitment to intentional, small-scale craftsmanship. A 2020 pivot to the Analog task system shifted their focus from apparel to physical productivity tools designed to combat digital distraction. Today, they lead the premium office market with modular systems like Gather, replacing disposable supplies with heirloom-quality wood and steel.

SME / Small Business

Soko Glam

Soko Glam pioneered the K-beauty movement in the West by curating the best of South Korean skincare for the U.S. market. The platform famously popularized the "10-step Korean skincare routine," shifting consumer focus from quick fixes to a holistic, "skin-first" philosophy. Beyond retail, the company operates an educational hub, The Klog, and has expanded into product development with its own highly-rated in-house skincare lines. Currently, Soko Glam is evolving from an e-commerce leader into a global brick-and-mortar force through international retail partnerships

SME / Small Business

Rothy’s

Rothy’s is a San Francisco-based lifestyle brand transforming the fashion industry through a deep commitment to sustainability and purposeful production. Utilizing innovative 3D-knitting technology, Rothy’s creates stylish, exceptionally comfortable, and machine-washable shoes, bags, and accessories from recycled plastic bottles. By operating their own wholly-owned factory and using sustainable materials, they achieve a near-zero waste process. Rothy’s blends eco-consciousness with modern design to create durable products that feel good and do good for the planet.

SME / Small Business

Cariuma

Cariuma was built on a mission to reinvent the sneaker game through a "constant evolution" mindset, proving that style, comfort, and sustainability can be synonymous. Rejecting the fast-fashion cycle, the brand focuses on crafting high-quality, ethically produced sneakers using responsibly sourced materials like natural rubber, organic cotton, and bamboo.

SME / Small Business

Package Free

Package Free is on a mission to create a positive environmental impact by making sustainable, plastic-free products accessible to everyone. Founded with the goal of reducing landfill waste by eliminating single-use plastic, the brand offers a curated selection of reusables, bulk goods, and zero-waste alternatives for the home and personal care. By reimagining everyday items and focusing on innovative packaging alternatives, Package Free enables consumers to live more sustainably and works to turn the tide on plastic pollution.

SME / Small Business

Graza

Graza is a Brooklyn-based olive oil brand on a mission to strip the pretension out of the pantry. What truly sets Graza apart is its commitment to high-quality, never-blended oils paired with a chef-inspired, squeezable bottle. By moving away from traditional, "precious" glass carafes and leaning into functional, playful packaging, they’ve transformed a kitchen staple into a vibrant lifestyle brand. Their core lineup—"Sizzle" for cooking and "Drizzle" for finishing—is designed to be used liberally and often, celebrating the idea that top-tier ingredients belong on every dinner table, not just on a shelf.

SME / Small Business

Fishwife

Fishwife is a women-founded and led food company on a mission to make ethically sourced, premium, and delicious tinned seafood a staple in every American cupboard. Inspired by the vibrant conservas culture of Spain and Portugal, Fishwife works with small-boat fisherfolk and responsibly managed aquaculture farms to bring high-quality, traceable seafood to the table. Known for their bold, artistic packaging and commitment to sustainability, they have transformed a sleepy category into a culinary movement. With a focus on flavor and traceability, Fishwife is redefining tinned fish for a new generation.

SME / Small Business

Brightland

Brightland is a kitchen essentials brand on a mission to bring "golden state" vibrancy to every home kitchen. Born from a desire for transparency and high-quality, honest ingredients, the company partners directly with small, family-run U.S. farms to craft premium extra virgin olive oils, fruit-forward vinegars, and raw honeys.

SME / Small Business

Magic Spoon

Magic Spoon has reimagined the nostalgic, sugary cereals of childhood into a high-protein, low-carb, and guilt-free daily staple for adults. With a mission to create a "better-for-you" breakfast that doesn't compromise on taste, the company utilizes high-quality protein blends, natural sweeteners, and zero artificial ingredients.

SME / Small Business

EcoPost

EcoPost is a Kenyan social enterprise that turns discarded plastic into practical building and outdoor-use materials. Its core product is recycled-plastic lumber, manufactured in profiles suitable for fencing, landscaping, signage and selected furniture applications. By treating used plastics as a production resource rather than waste, the business operates at the intersection of recycling, manufacturing and local infrastructure. The company's approach addresses several challenges at once: plastic pollution, demand for durable materials and the need for income opportunities within waste collection and processing. EcoPost's model connects collection activity with a marketable finished product, making circular production part of an everyday commercial supply chain. For the Global SME Awards, the business provides a useful example of manufacturing innovation shaped by a clear environmental purpose, with its proposition rooted in tangible products rather than environmental messaging alone.

SME / Small Business

Skin Gourmet

Skin Gourmet is a Ghanaian skincare company that creates handmade products using natural ingredients sourced in Ghana. Its range includes body butters, oils, cleansers and scrubs, with a brand identity built around minimally processed ingredients and the idea of skincare that is simple, recognisable and versatile. Local sourcing and production play a central role in how the business presents its offering. Alongside its consumer products, Skin Gourmet describes a broader mission focused on producer livelihoods and stronger local value chains. Its sourcing relationships include shea-producing communities, connecting brand growth with opportunities for people supplying its raw materials. The company illustrates how a consumer SME can distinguish itself through product philosophy, traceable sourcing and a sense of place. Its story is relevant to categories focused on enterprise growth, responsible sourcing, brand development and community impact.

SME / Small Business

ReelFruit

ReelFruit is a Nigerian food company specialising in dried-fruit snacks made from tropical produce. Founded by Affiong Williams, the business packages fruit in convenient formats designed for everyday snacking and positions Nigerian agricultural produce within a modern consumer-food category. Its product focus allows it to operate across food processing, branding, distribution and relationships with the wider agricultural supply chain. The company's stated ambition is to bring more of Nigeria's food potential to customers at home and beyond. Its story shows how an SME can create consumer value by processing familiar ingredients, building a recognisable brand and developing a market for products with a longer shelf life than fresh fruit. For an SME awards programme, ReelFruit is a relevant prospect in manufacturing, food and beverage, entrepreneurship and consumer-brand development. The profile should be considered on its business model rather than any assumption about current financial performance.

SME / Small Business

Kandaka Naturals

Kandaka Naturals is a Rwanda-based maker of handmade soaps and personal-care products. Its products are manufactured locally, with the company drawing on local suppliers for ingredients and packaging and offering customers options for customised soaps. The business presents natural formulation and straightforward production methods as key parts of its identity, giving it a distinctive place in Rwanda's domestic body-care market. Kandaka Naturals also places community welfare within its commercial model. The company says that a portion of its profits supports reusable menstrual products for schoolgirls, alongside education around menstrual health, and it describes steps to limit waste in its workshop and packaging. That combination of small-scale manufacturing, locally rooted sourcing and a social mission makes it a relevant example of purpose-led entrepreneurship. It would fit naturally within SME discussions about consumer-product innovation, community engagement and locally developed brands.

SME / Small Business

Takataka Plastics

Takataka Plastics is a Ugandan recycling and manufacturing venture based in Gulu. It transforms discarded plastic into products such as construction tiles and learning materials, combining practical engineering with the challenge of improving waste management. The business began with local research into plastic waste and developed equipment and production processes to turn recovered materials into useful goods. Its founders' work connects material recovery with jobs, training and environmental education. Rather than focusing only on the collection of waste, Takataka Plastics aims to create value from that waste through locally manufactured products. This makes the company relevant to several SME themes: applied innovation, circular manufacturing, community participation and enterprise development outside major commercial centres. Its approach shows how a relatively focused product and technology operation can engage with wider questions of employment, public health and resource use.

SME / Small Business

Lula

Lula is a South African financial-technology business focused on helping small and medium enterprises manage their finances. Previously known as Lulalend, it has broadened its proposition from business funding to include business accounts, payment tools and financial insights. Its services are designed for entrepreneurs who need clearer cash-flow visibility and practical ways to access working capital. The company's approach reflects a common challenge facing growing SMEs: day-to-day financial management often competes with the time required to win customers and operate the business. Lula uses digital applications and business-facing products to make financial services more accessible to its target market. In the context of the Global SME Awards, it offers an example of a company serving the SME economy as well as participating in it, with potential relevance to financial innovation, business services and entrepreneurship support.

SME / Small Business

Paps

Paps is a Senegal-rooted logistics company providing delivery, distribution and supply-chain services for businesses. Its offering covers parcels and correspondence, dedicated couriers, scheduled distribution and wider freight or warehousing needs. The company uses technology to coordinate services that are important to retailers, online businesses and organisations moving goods between customers and commercial partners. Paps describes operations beyond Senegal, including Côte d'Ivoire and Benin, reflecting an ambition to make business logistics more connected across West Africa. Its value proposition is grounded in a practical SME need: dependable delivery can determine whether a smaller company can serve customers consistently and enter new markets. Paps therefore makes a relevant prospect for categories concerning service innovation, logistics, business growth and technology-enabled operations, while the company's current size and geographic footprint should still be checked before a formal nomination.

SME / Small Business

NIRAMAI Health Analytix

NIRAMAI Health Analytix is an Indian healthcare technology company developing artificial-intelligence tools for breast-health screening. Its Thermalytix technology combines thermal imaging and machine learning to examine patterns associated with breast abnormalities. The approach is designed to be contact-free and radiation-free, offering a different route to early screening from conventional imaging-based pathways. NIRAMAI's work responds to a real access challenge: screening services can be costly or difficult to deliver in locations with limited specialist equipment. By combining software, imaging and clinical workflows, the company aims to make screening more practical across different healthcare settings. It is a strong example of specialised research being translated into a commercial service. For SME recognition, the relevant story centres on product innovation, healthcare accessibility and the operational challenge of bringing sophisticated technology into routine use; clinical effectiveness claims require independent medical evidence.

SME / Small Business

Sustenir

Sustenir is a Singapore-based agricultural company growing fresh greens through controlled-environment farming. Starting with indoor cultivation, the business has developed its approach to combine carefully managed growing conditions with modern greenhouse practices. Its products include leafy vegetables intended for local households, retailers and foodservice customers, emphasising produce grown close to the market it serves. The business's proposition is especially relevant in a city where access to agricultural land is limited and supply resilience matters. Sustenir uses cultivation expertise, environmental controls and planning to support reliable growing conditions and regular delivery. Its evolution from early indoor-farming methods to a newer greenhouse model illustrates how an innovative SME can refine technology around commercial realities. The company is a relevant prospect for awards considering food systems, applied innovation, environmental efficiency and the development of locally produced consumer goods.

SME / Small Business

Marou Chocolate

Marou Chocolate is a Vietnam-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker whose products draw on cacao grown in different provinces of the country. Founded by Samuel Maruta and Vincent Mourou, the brand grew from a search for distinctive Vietnamese cacao into a specialist chocolate business. Its approach places sourcing, flavour development and the chocolate-making process at the heart of the finished product. Working with a network of farmers, Marou creates chocolate that reflects regional differences in the beans it buys, while presenting Vietnamese ingredients through design-led packaging and branded experiences. The company is a compelling example of a producer building value around local agricultural materials, skilled manufacturing and a clearly defined premium position. Within an SME awards programme, the relevant themes include food manufacturing, supply-chain relationships, entrepreneurship and the development of an export-facing consumer brand with a strong connection to its country of production.

SME / Small Business

Rags2Riches

Rags2Riches, also known as R2R, is a Philippine fashion and design house that works with community artisans to create bags, clothing and home accessories. The company began by transforming unwanted fabric into woven products and has since developed a wider collection based on thoughtful design, traditional making skills and alternative approaches to material use. Artisans are central to Rags2Riches' business identity, rather than an external cause attached to the brand. The company describes its work as a way to provide more sustainable opportunities for makers while using overstocked fabrics and locally sourced materials where possible. Its commercial model links product development, manufacturing partnerships and consumer retail with community livelihoods. That makes Rags2Riches relevant to SME categories focused on responsible fashion, social enterprise, design-led growth and the ability to build a contemporary brand around skilled local production.

SME / Small Business

Du Anyam

Du Anyam is an Indonesian social enterprise that connects traditional weaving with contemporary commercial demand. Its product range includes corporate gifts, event merchandise, hotel amenities, hampers and home décor. The company works with women artisans and uses heritage weaving skills to develop goods that can meet the purchasing needs of organisations as well as individual consumers. A central feature of Du Anyam's model is its effort to create earning opportunities in rural communities while preserving techniques that might otherwise have limited access to larger markets. Its business-to-business focus gives an established craft a practical route into corporate procurement and hospitality supply chains. For the Global SME Awards, Du Anyam offers a relevant illustration of how design, responsible sourcing and customer-led product development can support both enterprise growth and community-based production. Its impact figures should be attributed to the company if used publicly.

SME / Small Business

Moreloop

Moreloop is a Thailand-based circular-textiles business specialising in surplus fabric. Its online marketplace helps designers, makers and brands find unused textile stock that might otherwise remain in storage or be discarded. The company also develops upcycled products, turning existing fabrics into new commercial items and giving suppliers a way to recover value from excess materials. The problem Moreloop addresses is familiar across the garment industry: fabric may be perfectly usable yet left over after manufacturing plans change or production runs finish. By matching available materials with buyers and projects, the business combines a straightforward trading function with a waste-reduction objective. Moreloop is relevant to SME awards as an example of a focused marketplace solving an industrial inefficiency. Its story brings together digital commerce, circular supply chains, product design and the practical economics of reusing resources.

SME / Small Business

The Picha Project

The Picha Project is a Malaysian social enterprise operating a catering and meal-delivery business that creates income opportunities for refugee families. It brings traditional dishes from different cultures to corporate events, private occasions and other customers. Its service offer includes catered meals and experiences that connect food with the backgrounds and stories of the people preparing it. The enterprise's model uses ordinary customer demand for food and events to support a wider social aim. Revenue is linked to paid culinary work, helping participating families contribute their skills and earn through the food they make. This makes The Picha Project distinctive among service-sector SMEs: community impact is built into the product rather than added later as a separate initiative. It is a relevant prospect for categories involving hospitality, inclusive entrepreneurship, service delivery and business models that combine commercial activity with social participation.

SME / Small Business

Rubies in the Rubble

Rubies in the Rubble is a British food brand making condiments from ingredients that might otherwise be wasted. Its products include ketchup and mayonnaise, with recipes designed to make practical use of surplus produce and other underused food ingredients. The company's beginnings are closely tied to founder Jenny Costa's interest in the amount of edible food rejected or discarded before it reaches consumers. Rather than treating sustainability as a separate product category, Rubies in the Rubble offers familiar cupboard staples with a different sourcing story. Its work touches on food manufacturing, retail distribution, consumer education and the challenge of managing imperfect or excess agricultural inputs. As a prospective SME awards candidate, it is relevant to product innovation, resource efficiency and brand development. The wider business case is that a recognizable daily purchase can also provide a route for commercialising ingredients that conventional supply chains leave behind.

SME / Small Business

Finary

Finary is a France-based financial-technology business offering digital tools for tracking investments and managing personal wealth. Its platform brings together information about different assets and accounts, aiming to provide users with a clearer overall view of their finances. The business was created by founders who wanted a more convenient way to monitor their own investments and understand the costs and composition of their portfolios. Over time, Finary has expanded its consumer-facing offering to include budgeting information and other investing-related services. Its proposition combines software design with the challenge of making complex financial information easier for individuals to navigate. For the Global SME Awards, Finary is most relevant as an example of product-led technology entrepreneurship within a regulated, detail-heavy market. The profile concerns its business model and user experience, not an endorsement of any investment product or financial outcome.

SME / Small Business

Kaffeeform

Kaffeeform is a German design and manufacturing business known for creating reusable cups from a material incorporating recycled coffee grounds. The idea began as a materials experiment by product designer Julian Lechner and developed into a commercial range that demonstrates how a discarded everyday resource can become part of a useful consumer product. The brand has since explored additional recovered materials and designs. Kaffeeform describes a locally organised production chain in which coffee grounds are collected in Berlin, prepared for processing and transformed into finished products with manufacturing partners in Germany. That arrangement links design, materials development, local production and social workshop activity. Its appeal as an SME profile lies in making the circular economy tangible: customers can see how the waste from a familiar habit is reworked into something durable. The company is relevant to product design, manufacturing innovation and responsible supply chains.

SME / Small Business

Sepiia

Sepiia is a Spanish clothing company focused on everyday garments made with technical fabrics and functional design. Founded in 2016, it began by developing a smarter shirt and expanded into collections for men and women, including tailoring and outerwear. The brand's stated aim is to make clothing more comfortable, practical and durable by applying textile research to ordinary wardrobe needs. Its model combines material innovation with a direct consumer proposition: clothes should perform well while fitting naturally into professional and personal life. Sepiia also emphasises its approach to production, recyclability and responsible business practices. For the Global SME Awards, its story is less about fashion trends than how a specialist company uses research and development to solve everyday product problems. It offers useful relevance to manufacturing, retail, sustainability and innovation-led brand growth.