Wales-based startup Dill has been named both Wales StartUp of the Year and AI StartUp of the Year at the 2025 UK StartUp Awards.
Founded in 2022, Dill is an AI-powered infrastructure layer for labelling across food, retail and hospitality. From food-to-go and traceability to stock rotation, pricing and nutrition, it takes the complexity out of design and printing — making labels automated and instantly deployable, with no drivers or IT setup.
Dill works with a growing set of brands — including BrewDog, Busaba, Atis and Nisa Local — across hundreds of UK sites, including forecourts under BP, Esso and Shell, and institutions like Starance and Swansea Council. It started in food-and-beverage labelling and is now moving into retail and beyond.
The company launched in the United States earlier this year and is scaling across North America to support multi-site labelling deployments.
From the founder
Alex Coldea, founder of Dill, said:
"Winning both Wales StartUp of the Year and AI StartUp of the Year is a huge milestone for us. We started Dill to solve a real problem for food and retail operators — making labeling effortless, accurate, and scalable. This recognition reflects the progress we've made and the impact our technology is having across the industry. We're excited to keep building, keep learning, and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI in food and hospitality."
Why it matters
Labelling is more than printing — it's about making complexity invisible:
- Making traceability and stock rotation seamless.
- Giving operators control, rather than relying on IT.
- Unifying fragmented labelling formats into one flow.
Working with partners like Brother UK, Dill wants to be the Stripe of label printing.
About the UK StartUp Awards
The UK StartUp Awards highlight startup success across ten UK nations and regions. Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the awards, said:
"Entrepreneurs across Wales are reshaping the economic landscape, turning bold ideas into thriving ventures and ambition into meaningful impact. From coastal towns to city centres, Welsh entrepreneurs are building businesses grounded in deep values, culture, and purpose — making a real difference in their communities. I'm delighted that Dill has won their category and am looking forward to seeing them join the 'best of the best' from across the UK at the national final later this year."
What's next
All regional winners go through to the UK StartUp Awards Final at Ideas Fest on 11 September (dubbed the 'Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs'), where Dill will compete with winners from nine other UK nations and regions.
More about Dill at www.mydill.co.uk, and about the awards at www.startupawards.uk.