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Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, founder of TisOva, originally from Nigeria and now based in London, has scooped a national award from Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency.
The prestigious award will support her to grow her innovative online safety prevention solution that aims to protect vulnerable communities from cybercrime, with a particular focus on helping students identify and prevent digital fraud and scams.
Valeen’s journey from Nigeria to the USA and now building a global cybersecurity startup from the UK reflects the rising wave of African-led innovation shaping global markets.
Building on the success of Innovate UK’s targeted programmes like Women in Innovation and Young Innovators, this latest funding is designed to find and support the fresh innovation talent the UK needs.
Valeen is among the 233 high-potential innovators who have been awarded a £5,000 grant and a £10,000 contribution to living allowances. Critically, she will also receive 12 months of tailored business support, including mentorship and expert-led coaching to help her grow, scale her venture, and stimulate the UK’s digital economy.
Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and students are increasingly becoming targets. TisOva, Valeen’s cybersecurity startup, is designed to address this growing concern by leveraging advanced AI to provide real-time scam detection to prevent scams targeting university students. This support will allow us to fast-track research and development, and reach more young people across the UK.
Speaking on the award, Valeen said, “I’m incredibly honored to receive the Innovate UK Unlocking Potential Award. This recognition not only validates the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures but also fuels my commitment to developing solutions that safeguard vulnerable populations. This award also underscores the importance of diversity in innovation and serves as a testament to the potential that lies in embracing varied perspectives.
“I hope my journey inspires others from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
In line with the UK’s growing appetite for innovation, this award programme was one of the most competitive funding rounds Innovate UK has ever delivered, with over 2,100 entrepreneurs applying.
“Innovate UK estimates that to achieve the UK’s full economic potential, over 400,000 new innovators will need to be supported.
Coinciding with the Awards announcement, Innovate UK has joined forces with over 150 partner organisations to launch its free and accessible No Limits digital platform, which makes it easy for aspiring innovators to discover new career paths, sharpen their skills and access opportunities to develop life-changing innovations and future-proof the UK economy.
