Finalists 6th Edition SME Heroes 2024

THE FINALISTS FOR THE SME HEROES AWARDS 2024 ARE NOW KNOWN

After voting closed, the 20 finalist success stories were determined. The big winners will be announced on 27 June.

Yunit Consulting, a Portuguese consultancy whose mission is to make SMEs big, has just announced the finalist companies of the 6th edition of the SME Heroes Awards, elected by public vote. There were 20 success stories that filled the top spots of the 6 competition categories – General SME Heroes, S Factor Sustainability, Digital Transformation, Internationalisation, and Revelation Startup - from a universe of 82 submitted applications.

In the year in which the General SME Heroes category will for the first time award a winner for each subcategory - Micro, Small, and Medium-sized enterprises – which earned it a 16% growth compared to the last edition, Porto once again leads as the district with the most applications reaching the final stretch (10). The district of Lisbon occupies second place with 3 nominations, followed by Vila Real and Leiria, both with two, and finally Aveiro, Coimbra, and Setúbal with one finalist application each.

“We feel honoured that for yet another year so many stories of struggle and overcoming have passed through our hands, inspiring us and encouraging other companies to take their first steps in the market. In this edition, which counted on more than 20,000 public votes, it is with deep admiration that we give visibility to all these faces. We celebrate excellent ideas, innovation, and sustainability. We celebrate Portuguese talent,” says Bernardo Maciel, CEO of Yunit Consulting.

Launched in 2016, the SME Heroes initiative has allowed SMEs to be awarded as examples of entrepreneurship and wealth-generating force, distinguishing their good practices and resilience even in the most adverse contexts. It has already had more than 600 applications and allowed distinguishing 61 companies representing a turnover of around 540 million euros, more than 5,400 employees, and a net result of 50 million euros.

The 6th edition of SME Heroes has the support of VICTORIA Seguros, SAGE, PRA - Raposo, Sá Miranda & Associados, ActionCoach, Reorganiza, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry,  Startup Portugal and Association of Professional Olympic Athletes.

The winners of each category will be known at the awards ceremony scheduled for 27 June.

See below for the detailed list of finalist SMEs:

General SME Heroes Category / Micro Enterprise

• Clay Arqueologia (service provision in the historical-archaeological heritage area)
• NBI (business and ecology consultancy)
• Ótica Maxivisão (optical services)

General SME Heroes Category / Small Enterprise

• Cocktail Team (certified bar school)
• Luzimeca (hydraulic and electrical installations)
• OLIMEC (sale, repair, and maintenance of heavy equipment and industrial maintenance)

General SME Heroes Category / Medium Enterprise

• Code for All (tech education)
• Dreammedia (advertising solutions)
• Inaceinox (development of stainless steel equipment)

S Factor Category - Sustainability

• Luzimeca (hydraulic and electrical installations)
• NBI (business and ecology consultancy)
• OLIMEC (sale, repair, and maintenance of heavy equipment and industrial maintenance)

Digital Transformation Category

• Construções de Corte Recto (construction and civil engineering)
• Consumers Trust (online reputation management)
• Mestrimagem (manufacture and commercialisation of uniforms and professional textiles)

Internationalisation Category

• Consumers Trust (online reputation management)
• Innovation Makers (software and hardware solutions for the financial sector)
• WDMI (distribution of IT equipment)

Startup Category

• Barkyn (personalised nutrition for dogs)
• Brainr (software development, applications, and IT activities)