Meet the 2023 Go:Tech Awards winners: Calvium

Calvium has been honoured with the esteemed Best Mobile Technology Award at the 2023 Go:Tech Awards. The recipient in this category captivated the judges with their development of an application that has already been implemented in eleven cities worldwide, offering substantial benefits to users and generating profitable outcomes.

With a team of twenty individuals, the creators have established Calvium as a thriving multi-million-pound enterprise. We caught up with the company’s CEO, Jo Reid, after scooping the Go:Tech Awards trophy to talk inspiration, breakthroughs and more.

Can you share with us the inspiration behind your winning business and how it addresses a specific industry challenge or opportunity?

The driving force behind the decision to set up Calvium in 2009 was the desire to develop an easy-to-use platform for creative people to produce location-aware mobile experiences. They could treat the world as a canvas to paint wonderful experiences for others to enjoy – whether they be community stories or histories.

Could you describe the key milestones or breakthroughs you achieved during the development of your project, and how they contributed to its success?

Placemaking initiatives and breakthroughs in the public sector helped us grow to become global experts in digital placemaking, with a large portfolio of place-based digital experience projects, all built on core user-centred design and testing.

As a winner at the Go:Tech Awards, what advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs or innovators who are looking to make a difference in the technology sector?

Follow your passion and find the help you need to grow. There are plenty of inspirational coaches and business advisors who can help make a difference. Be open to learning and adapting if things don’t go to plan.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs considering entering the Go:Tech Awards in the future?

Find the category that fits your situation and go for it! It’s a smooth process and a great award ceremony.

Looking ahead, what are your future plans for your business?

We have ambitious plans to extend our placemaking platform to address the needs of hoteliers and enable them to delight their guests in their own unique style through our Visit a Venue platform. This exciting new venture will strengthen our leadership position in digital placemaking. We also seek opportunities to become a trusted digital partner for sustainable initiatives to further our innovation for people, place and planet mantra.