AN INVENTION to tackle obstructive sleep apnoea, described by judges as having ‘explosive potential’, was among the winners of a business awards competition.

SmartCare, co-founded by 31-year-old Megan Morys, from Kennington, won Best New Business Idea at the Spark Vale awards in South Oxfordshire last week.

Best Business Growth Idea went to 31-year-old mother-of-two Rachel Bird, from Grove, whose firm Babybird Blankets sells children’s handmade blankets.

The two firms won a prize worth £60,000, which includes free office space from Harwell Innovation Centre and support services from local businesses.

Ms Morys said: “The judges clearly saw the huge market potential of our technology and have given us this great opportunity to accelerate the business.”

Ms Bird, of Babybird Blankets, added: “My passion is designing and making the blankets but I don’t know a lot about marketing or PR, so the competition prize will really benefit me.”

Spark Vale, which launched earlier this year, is a Vale4Business and ByBox-funded business scheme, managed by Oxford Innovation.

Chris Allington, managing director of Oxford Innovation, said: “The business plans and pitches were all of fantastic quality and covered a wide range of industries. All finalists demonstrated unrivalled passion and commitment throughout the entire process.”

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