The Europas, the annual European Tech Startup Awards, ended last night with a triumphant win by PeerIndex the social ranking service, which clinched the Grand Prix award. The result was based on both public online voting and expert judges, recognising the startup’s significant market traction against a much larger competitor, with less resources and a clear path towards both a big consumer and business market. VC DFJ Esprit offered a £50,000 convertible loan note to the Grand Prix winner on the night.

After 22 expert judges picked their favourites from 400 entries, and those results where combined with approximately 40,000 public votes from the tech startup industry, clear trends started to emerge from those marked out as Winners and those Highly Commended in the awards.

While London once again held it’s own as a crucible of tech startup innovation in Europe, with Conversocial, Pusher, OneFineStay and Mixcloud among those taking honours, there was a marked drift Eastward and North in Europe, as startups from Berlin (Amen, EyeEm, 6Wunderkinder) and Belgrade (Nordeus) won their category or were Highly Commended, while companies from Copenhagen (Podio), Stockholm (iZettle) and Helsinki (Rovio, AngryBirds) showed that European innovation remains strong even in smaller countries. Bucking that trend to the North was Busuu from Madrid which won the Education category, showing that tech entrepreneurship is alive and well across the breadth of Europe.

A packed crowd of almost 500 people started their evening with a short welcome video recorded by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who encouraged startups to set up operations in the city.

Speaking personally, I think it’s now beyond doubt that European tech startups can punch out to a global market directly from a European base. While Silicon Valley remains the leviathan of the industry, tech startups from Belfast to Belgrade, London to Ljubijana, are grabbing the opportunity to reach global markets with world beating products and services.

Below is a full listing of the awards winners. Further down are some photos from the night and here. Including me arriving on a Harley (hell, you gotta do it once, right?)

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Here is Reuters on the Grand Prix Winner, Peer Index:

And here is the coverage by the Wall Street Journal Europe.

Europas Winners 2011

The Europas Grand Prix Award

Sponsor presenting award:
Scott Sage, DFJ Esprit
Martin Varsavsky, FON

Grand Prix 2011:

PeerIndex

CrunchBase Information

PeerIndex

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Service Provider to Startups (Legal, Financial, PR etc)

Highly Commended:
33 Seconds PR
Brown Rudnick Lawyers
Spark PR
2Pears – the events and PR agency

Sponsor: LoveClients

Winner: Orrick

CrunchBase Information

Orrick

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Business or Enterprise Startup

Highly Commended:
Duedil
23 Video
Shutl
iZettle

Sponsor: Viadeo

Winner: Podio

CrunchBase Information

Podio

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Advertising or Marketing Tech Startup

Highly Commended:
Struq
YieldKit
Brainient

Sponsor: Unruly Media

Winner: Conversocial

CrunchBase Information

Conversocial

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best European Startup Accelerator

Highly Commended:
HackFWD
Springboard
H-Farm
Startupbootcamp
GammaRebels

Sponsor: TechHub

Winner: Seedcamp

CrunchBase Information

Seedcamp

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Startup Tool For Startups

Highly Commended:
GoSquared
RailsOnFire
BusyFlow
Mopapp
Blossom.io

Sponsor: Tropo

Winner: Pusher

CrunchBase Information

Pusher

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Mobile or Apps Startup

Highly Commended:
EyeEm
Wunderlist
SwiftKey
Shhmooze
vox.io

Winner: Amen

CrunchBase Information

Amen.

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Entertainment, Audio, Video, Music Startup

Highly Commended:
Mixlr
Wirewax
musicplayr
MXP4
Songkick

Winner: Mixcloud

CrunchBase Information

Mixcloud

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Gaming or Social Games Startup
(New category)

Highly Commended:
Shadow Cities
PickLive
Playmob
Oust.me

Winner: Nordeus for Top 11

CrunchBase Information

Nordeus

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Social Platform or Networking Startup

Highly Commended:
Amen
Readmill
CircleMe (Cascaad)
Datasift

Winner: PeerIndex

CrunchBase Information

PeerIndex

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Education, Recruitment, Media Startup

Highly Commended:
iVersity
BraveNewTalent
English Attack
Blottr
Workinstartups.com

Winner: Busuu.com

CrunchBase Information

busuu

Information provided by CrunchBase

Best Commerce, Finance or Payments Startup

LEAD PARTNERS OF THE EUROPAS

TechCity Investment Organisation

TCIO was set up by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and is designed to help the existing cluster of tech-digital and creative companies flourish. Tech City stretches out from the financial heart of the City of London to Stratford and the Olympic Park in East London, and is the fastest growing technology cluster in Europe. The TCIO team is a unique combination of experienced entrepreneurs and UKTI business specialists. Their role is to help　existing companies succeed, as well as attract global business, entrepreneurs and high-value investment to the digital capital of Europe.

For more information, visit www.techcityuk.com or www.ukti.gov.uk/techcity or follow us @techcityuk.

UKTI

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage.

For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media.

LEAD SPONSORS OF THE EUROPAS

UNRULY

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in London, Unruly is the global platform for social video advertising. With offices in New York, Paris, Sydney, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Stockholm,

Unruly has delivered, tracked & audited 1.34 billion video views and executed 1,200+ successful social video campaigns for global brands and agencies including T-Mobile’s acclaimed Life’s for Sharing series, Evian’s global Roller Babies hit and Heineken’s Legends campaign.

Reaching an audience of 725 million monthly unique users, Unruly distributes video and rich media formats across platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, premium publisher sites, influential blogs and mobile applications. Unruly’s mission is simple: to deliver the most awesome social video campaigns on the planet. Unruly uses its proprietary ad tech platform RAMP (Real-time Amplification and Measurement Platform) to identify the brand & content advocates that start conversations & fully trackable social metrics (measuring awareness, attention, advocacy & action) to deliver the desired brand engagement. Our outreach programme ensures we can reach a client’s target audience, however mass or niche.

DFJ Esprit

At DFJ Esprit we believe that good venture capital begins with good judgement and good relationships. Our partners have a track record of helping entrepreneurs to make their companies successful. In today’s world the best businesses have global ambitions from day one and the best venture funds have the networks to support those ambitions. DFJ Esprit is a member of the Draper Fisher Jurvetson Global Network, the largest venture capital network in the world with 140 investment professionals and over 600 portfolio companies. DFJ Esprit is a single team of partners all of whom benefit from and contribute to the success of our investments. We are entrepreneurs ourselves and we are proud to have built our firm to its current size and are passionate about continually moving forward, which means backing winning companies and doing everything we can to help them achieve and exceed their ambitions.

TROPO

Tropo enables you to make and receive phone calls, text messages and IMs from any web or mobile application. Using a simple API and pay-as-you-go pricing, Tropo’s cloud communications infrastructure allows your application to grow and scale, with reliability trusted by over 250,000 enterprise and web developers world-wide. In addition to being open-souce and based on industry standards, Tropo understands and speaks 24 different languages and dialects and offers local telephone numbers in over 40 countries.

Microsoft® BizSpark™

Microsoft® BizSpark™ is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources when they need it the most:

Software. Receive fast and easy access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products for immediate use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions. There is no upfront cost to enroll.

Support. Get connected to Network Partners around the world — incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters — that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship who will provide a wide range of support resources.

Visibility. Achieve global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients and partners As a Microsoft BizSpark member, you’ll be tapping into a rich, vibrant ecosystem of peers, partners and support resources around the globe, helping you grow and succeed. Microsoft BizSpark is the quickest way to get your Startup fired up.

Joining is easy. Check to see if you qualify – most privately held software development startups in business for less than 3 years that are generating annual revenue under USD $1 million can join. You can join BizSpark through a valid BizSpark Network Partner or a Microsoft BizSpark Champ to get your BizSpark enrollment code. Enrollment is free, just pay a USD $100 program offering fee at program exit. For more details about BizSpark, see: The Startup Program Guide , which describes the program benefits and more. If you want to join BizSpark, click on the link below or send an email to BizSpark@microsoft.com if you are eligible, we will send you a code. www.microsoftstartupzone.com

Eden Ventures

Eden Ventures is one of Europe’s most active early stage technology investors. Our background is that of successful entrepreneurs who became seed investors and then venture capital investors. We typically invest at the seed or A round, are ‘hands-on’ in investment style and, crucially, can support our best companies right through to exit. We typically look for great teams who have a vision of disrupting a big market. Eden has invested in over 30 European startups – some of our latest investments include: Lookk, Green Man Gaming, New Voice Media, Brightpearl and Level Business. We are keen supporters of the early stage community in London and proud to sponsor the TechCrunch 2011 Europas. Please find us at www.edenventures.co.uk, @edenventures

Twilio

Twilio offers developers a powerful API for phone services to make and receive phone calls, and send and receive text messages. Their product allows programmers to more easily integrate various communication methods into their software and programs. Twilio allows developers to use their existing web development skills, existing code, existing servers, existing databases and existing karma to solve these communication problems quickly and reliably. @twilio

Betfair

Betfair was founded in 2000 and is now the world’s biggest betting community, having pioneered the betting exchange. Driven by cutting-edge technology, Betfair’s exchange enables customers to bet at odds sought by themselves or offered by other customers. The company now processes over seven million transactions a day from its four million registered customers around the world. In addition to sports betting, Betfair offers a portfolio of innovative products including casino, exchange games and poker. Betfair has twice been named the UK’s ‘Company of the Year’ by the Confederation of British Industry and has won two prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, being recognised for Innovation in 2003 and most recently for International Trade in 2008. Betfair currently employs over 2,000 people worldwide, with technology teams in London being supported by technology development offices in Romania and San Francisco. The company holds betting licences in Gibraltar, the US, Tasmania, Italy and Malta.

Viadeo

Viadeo is a professional social network with over 35 million members including business owners, entrepreneurs and senior managers from a diverse range of organisations – both start-up and well-established – across 226 countries. Professionals use Viadeo to enhance their career prospects, discover business opportunities and build relationships with new contacts as well as to create an effective online identity. Viadeo recently launched its Graph API which is open to developers at http://api.viadeo.com with opportunities to tap in to our large member base and offer our members enhanced services based on their professional social graph. Viadeo is proud to be supporting the TechCrunch Europas and we wish everyone the best of luck. If you want to meet us at the event please ping us a message on Twitter to @viadeo or @waynegibbins – see you there!

CO-SPONSORS OF THE EUROPAS

LoveClients

The Search Marketing industry is plagued with big promises, and very little return so when describing an SEO Company, you don’t often think ‘Reliable’, ‘Transparent’ and ‘Affordable’. Not unless you’re referring to LoveClients that is. With 24×7-365 live client service (we literally never close) – LoveClients offers transparently-priced seo packages and re-brandable white label seo outsourcing for designers, agencies and their clients. Notice all the links in this description leading to LoveClients.com? That’s what we do.

All campaigns are managed through a custom built central communication tool – where you can log in to view all the ongoing tasks, and communicate directly with the team. Keeping everyone accountable, and the campaign on track.

Structuring our client sites to be deemed contextually relevant, and building authority in their niche – LoveClients works to deliver more targeted visitors, more often. There is no ‘magic’ to SEO, just well planned strategy & solid execution.

With offices in London, Vancouver & Riga we take advantage of the differences in timezone, to offer a true 24×7-365 service offering. Visit LoveClients & initiate a Live Chat for a Free site evaluation, a team of experts is available to answer your queries in real time.

TechHub

TechHub (@TechHub on Twitter) is a community of entrepreneurs, startups, and developers. Just 10 seconds walk from Old Street tube station, TechHub offers easy access to London’s main technology cluster and is in close proximity to its financial heart. In addition to the affordable permanent desk space, fast wireless connection, large member-based co-working area, meeting rooms for hire and conference/event space for up to 200 people, TechHub offers a great community of like-minded individuals that believe in the power of their businesses to change the world. Members come from all over the world and use TechHub as a base when they’re in London. Great perks are also available to members in the form of discounts at bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels in the area. The facilities at TechHub include over 60 permanent desk spaces for monthly hire and loads of co-working space for over 50 people. Meeting rooms for hire are discounted to members and include A/V, wi-fi, whiteboards, kitchen facilities and printing. Permanent desk spaces come with wi-fi/wired data, locker space, personal keys, power and a mailing address. Email Miguel@techhub.comto join our mailing list detailing all our amazing events. Contact us here:

TechHub London
Ground Floor
76-80 City Rd
London EC1Y 2BJ
UK

Exit 5 from Old Street tube station. A short walk from Moorgate tube station, Liverpool Street mainlines station, and close to taxis and buses.

Coadec

The Coalition for a Digital Economy (“Coadec”) is a non-profit organisation which works to support policies and legislation that foster a vibrant, innovative and sustainable digital economy for Britain. We represent a wide range of entrepreneurs, investors, artists, and consumers, and we speak in particular for tech-driven startups and SMEs, both in Silicon Roundabout and throughout the country. We are also closely involved in a number of government and private initiatives for promoting technological entrepreneurship. To get involved with Coadec, please join our Supporters List. You can find more information about our work on our blog, and we are also on Twitter (@Coadec).

tep Wireless

Recall the last time you traveled to a foreign destination: were you able to make phone calls and use internet services from the moment you arrived? Was it convenient? Was it cheap? The answer to at least one of those questions is always no. The 45 billion-dollar roaming industry is a testament to the demand for staying connected while traveling – and yet roaming is exceptionally expensive, and disturbingly uncompromising. Tep is a company turning the roaming paradigm on its head. Through tep pocket wifi hotspots and local smartphones services, travelers can go abroad connected while leaving all roaming fears behind.The service is currently available for travellers visiting 32 European destinations. By year end the service will be rolled out across 41 countries and we will launch our membership program, we also currently have a pilot program running with Europcar.
tep = travel. everwhere. powered.

Park Lane Champagne
Park Lane Champagne: bringing the ability to source single bottles of champagne, personalised as you like, through their new online site at www.parklanechampagne.co.uk . Check it out and if you like what you see, do blog about it and tell the World.