We Took On Ideas Fest! Reflecting on the National StartUp Awards

Yesterday, the Bikebook team stepped onto the national stage at Ideas Fest—the UK's premier festival for entrepreneurs at Champneys Tring—as a national finalist for Consumer Services StartUp of the Year at the UK StartUp Awards.

Having won the Consumer Services StartUp of the Year for the South East earlier this year, taking Bikebook to a festival with over 6,000 founders, investors, and business leaders was an unforgettable moment for us.

Pitching in the Field: How We Got Here

When we launched Bikebook in 2022, we set out to solve a problem every cyclist knows too well: finding a reliable, transparent, and hassle-free way to get your bike serviced. Whether you're commuting daily, training for a gran fondo, or keeping a family bike running smoothly, finding a local mechanic shouldn't involve endless calls or guesswork.

Our platform gives riders a clear way to compare local mechanics, read real reviews, and book repairs online in seconds.

At the same time, we saw independent mechanics and bike shop owners overwhelmed by outdated admin tasks. That inspired us to build Workshop by bikebook—our custom workshop management system that unifies job cards, parts inventory, customer messaging, and invoicing under one roof.

"Standing at Ideas Fest among the UK's most ambitious startups was incredible validation. It proves that bridging the gap between cyclists and independent workshops through modern tech is making a genuine impact on the industry."

— Ryan Elson, Co-Founder & CMO at Bikebook

What Ideas Fest Was Really Like

Often called the "Glastonbury for Business," Ideas Fest didn't disappoint. Pitching and networking amidst two action-packed days of keynotes, fire-pit conversations, and strategy sessions gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our platform on a national level.

Supported by advocates like Starling Bank, Innovate UK, Xero, and FundOnion, the UK StartUp Awards celebrate businesses making real noise with purpose and commercial viability. Representing the Consumer Services category alongside the country's best regional winners was an honour for our entire team.

What’s Next for Bikebook?

We might be heading home from the festival grounds, but we aren't tapping the brakes anytime soon. Here is what we're tackling next:

• Expanding Workshop Integrations: We are actively expanding Workshop by bikebook's integrations with top e-commerce platforms like Shopify and major supplier catalogs to automate real-time inventory management for workshops.
• Supporting Sustainable Transport: As urban mobility shifts toward cycling and micro-mobility, we are enhancing our software to support fleet operators and adaptive bike specialists.
• More Industry Milestones: Alongside our journey at the UK StartUp Awards, Workshop by bikebook is also shortlisted for Best Retailer Services at the BikeBiz Awards!

Thank You to Our Community 🚴‍♂️

We couldn't have reached the national stage at Ideas Fest without the thousands of cyclists who book through our platform, and the incredible independent mechanics who use Workshop by bikebook daily. Every completed repair and piece of feedback has helped shape what Bikebook is today.

Thank you to everyone who followed along with us yesterday—here’s to the next leg of the journey!