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UCL startup celebrates first place at Europe's biggest technology conference

13 November 2014

Basestone, a web and tablet-based drawing review tool for the construction industry, has been crowned the Dublin Web Summit's Best Startup 2014.

Alex Siljanovski pitching at the Web Summit in Dublin

The company, which was founded by Alex Siljanovski who studied the MSc technology Entrepreneurship programme at UCL, was awarded the accolade - as well as a prize of €10,000 in funding - after beating off 1500 rivals in the conference's PITCH competition, sponsored by Coca Cola's innovation fund. 

Alex won the competition for Basestone through showcasing the success of the company in driving technological innovation within the construction industry. Having faced a grilling from a panel of investors in the first two rounds, the company progressed to the final round of the competition along with three other startups.

On the final day of Web Summit, each of the three finalists battled it out and pitched their companies on the main stage in front of over 5000 eagerly watching attendees. Basestone triumphed, winning first place in the Alpha category.

"Knowledge from the Technology Entrepreneurship programme and support from business advisors at UCL Advances as well as academic staff has been paramount to our success" said Alex, speaking after the win. "Basestone was delighted to win first place, and looks forward to continue working with UCL to further accelerate its growth".

Since being established by Alex, as a web and tablet-based collaboration tool for architects and engineers in the construction industry, Basestone has grown through focusing specifically on the drawing review process, allowing users to inspect, snag, share and review any drawing, anywhere.

Basestone has previously won the London Entrepreneurs' Challenge and a UCL Advances Bright Ideas Award. The company is currently a resident of IDEALondon, the innovation centre established by UCL in partnership with Cisco and DC Thomson in 2013 for digital start-ups.

"It is great to see Basestone going from strength to strength," said Timothy Barnes, Director of UCL Advances, UCL's centre for entrepreneurship. "They have a solid business model and a product which is already profoundly changing the way people in the construction industry work. The recognition of this award is well deserved and completely justified by both their performance so far and their exceptional potential."

Links

Basestone

Alex's winning pitch 

London Entrepreneurs' Challenge 

UCL Bright Idea Awards

IDEALondon