News / Entrepreneurship
Bristol teenager named among UK’s rising tech entrepreneurs
A Bristol-based student has been named among the top movers and shakers of the UK tech sector in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, dubbed the “Grammys of Entrepreneurship”.
Oliver Hodgson, who entered the world of tech startups at the age of 14 while juggling schoolwork, has been named a finalist for Technology Entrepreneur of the Year in the South West category.
When Bristol24/7 spoke to him recently, he was just about to complete his final A-level exam. A pupil at Redland Green School, Oliver demonstrated a natural flair for entrepreneurship from an early age.
Defying the preconceived notion that a strong background in coding is required to launch a tech startup, the 18-year-old has positioned himself as proof that it is not a prerequisite.
Oliver Hodgson, pupil at Redland Green School, entered the world tech entrepreneurship when he was fourteen
His AI-driven startup, Dashboard Daddy, a no-code software development company that helps businesses and agencies launch and scale their own software products using a new approach. By primarily working with tools such as Bubble.io, Oliver builds AI-powered SaaS products significantly faster than through traditional development methods.
Through this approach, the young tech entrepreneur aims to support businesses in creating and marketing digital tools they can sell to their clients.
He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be named a finalist – especially at just 18 years old. I started Dashboard Daddy at 16, and have been growing the business while studying for my A-levels – which I’ve just completed this month.
“To now be recognised nationally for my work in tech while balancing my studies has been an incredible experience. It’s also a huge testament to the power of no-code tools, and a reminder that you don’t have to follow the traditional path to build valuable tech. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the journey so far.”
Having completed A-levels in economics, Spanish and geography, Oliver is now looking ahead to the next stage of his entrepreneurial journey.
He said: “Now that A-levels are done, I’ll be going full-time on Dashboard Daddy and scaling the business further – with clients across the UK and internationally.
“Longer term, I want to help more young entrepreneurs see that they can launch powerful tech businesses without needing to be traditional developers or raise huge funding.”
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Previous winners of the award include the founders of BrewDog, Grenade, ClearScore, Zilch, and Unbiased. This year’s shortlist features over 800 entrepreneurs from across the UK, recognised for their innovation, impact and resilience. Oliver expressed his delight at being counted among them.
Conrad Ford, chief product and strategy officer at Allica, said: “At Allica, we’re consistently inspired by the energy and strength of UK SMEs. This year’s finalists – from early-stage start-ups to established and family businesses – represent a vital force in the British economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and making a real difference in their communities.
“We’re proud to support the Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the third year in a row, recognising these outstanding business leaders who are not only demonstrating resilience in a challenging business environment, but are paving the way for future entrepreneurs to follow.”
Frankie James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, added: “We’re so proud to reveal this year’s shortlist — a truly remarkable group of founders who are changing lives and transforming industries.
“The quality of entries gets stronger every year, and it’s clear that the entrepreneurial spirit in the UK is more alive than ever. Many of our finalists go on to become household names, and we can’t wait to watch what this year’s cohort achieves next.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on November 17, held at London’s Grosvenor House, with over 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders in attendance.
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are supported by Allica Bank.
All photos: Oliver Hodgson
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