Edinburgh-based brand monitoring specialist, SnapDragon, has been shortlisted in three categories in this year’s Women in IT Excellence Awards.

The firm, which is championing the defence of intellectual property with brand monitoring tool, Swoop, was recently included on Real Business‘ ‘Top 23 SME Culture Leaders’ list.

Outstanding Contribution

The Women in IT Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding, pioneering contribution that women make to the UK’s flourishing digital sector.

SnapDragon, in particular, has been shortlisted for ‘Diversity Employer of The Year’ – an award that celebrates companies that encourage and champion diversity in the workplace.

SnapDragon CEO, Rachel Jones, said that the nomination highlights the talented and diverse team who have helped to deliver exceptional services.

She said: “Being in the running for such such prestigious awards is a tribute to our talented, committed and diverse team who user our Swoop technology to deliver above and beyond clients’ expectations.”

Jones added: “Integrity, commitment and passion underpin everything we do.”

Recognising Talent

Jones is also in the running for two prestigious awards at this year’s ceremony, which will take place at London’s Finsbury Square on the 27th November – ‘SME Innovator of the Year’ and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ are both up for grabs. Although both these awards focus on individuals, Jones insisted that the credit also needs to be shared among the staff at SnapDragon.

“Being shortlisted is amazing but the credit needs to be shared”, she said, adding “I started SnapDragon because I, personally, know the fury, disappointment, anxiety and every other emotion associated with the impact counterfeits have on a business – and its founders.

“But, I have an amazing team whom also appreciate this, and deliver above and beyond to defend brands and keep customers safe all around the world. I’m extremely humbled by the inclusion on such hotly contested lists but am driven by the need to help SMEs, in particular, to survive the hideous trading conditions presented by counterfeits. And this is what our Swoop software has been created to do.”

SnapDragon Tackling Counterfeiters

SnapDragon launched its automated brand monitoring platform, Swoop, earlier this year in an attempt to tackle online counterfeiting.

Since then, the company has gained widespread recognition for its work and was included on Disrupt 100 – a list of companies around the world which have the greatest potential to influence, change or create new global markets.

Swoop was the first of its kind to be made publicly available and enables brands to combat online criminal counterfeiting operations and copycats around the world.

Jones’ inspiration behind the development of this platform came after a harrowing experience in which her business fell victim to fraud.

In 2013, she fell prey to a highly sophisticated online counterfeiting scam, where her multi-award winning baby product, Totseat, was copied and sold online by fraudsters.

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