A small Angus-based tech firm is making waves across the UK’s business scene after being shortlisted for not one, but two major awards in this year’s Scotland StartUp Awards.
AgriAudit, a farm-focused audit management app founded just last year, is in the running for both Digital StartUp of the Year and Innovative StartUp of the Year—recognition that’s caught the eye of the industry and beyond.
From Farm Fields to Finalist List
The brain behind AgriAudit is Tom Porter, a local entrepreneur who launched the app in 2024. His idea? Streamline the painful, paper-heavy audit process that’s become a thorn in the side of farmers everywhere.
One sentence: What used to take days can now take hours—or less.
Porter says the nomination proves the company is “on the right track.” He added, “This recognition validates what we’re building for farmers. We’re simplifying something they dread, and doing it in a way that works for them.”
AgriAudit’s inclusion in the awards has made it one of just 750 startups selected from across the UK—out of more than 846,000 new businesses launched in 2024 alone.
A Startup Scene That’s Getting Louder
The UK StartUp Awards were created to spotlight the new businesses reshaping the economy. That includes companies like AgriAudit that are pushing boundaries in old-school industries.
Here’s a quick look at this year’s startup landscape:
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846,000 new UK businesses launched in 2024
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750+ shortlisted for UK StartUp Awards
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4,600+ new jobs created by finalists
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£200 million in annual sales from nominees
Not bad for businesses that didn’t exist three years ago.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, founder of the UK StartUp Awards, praised this year’s crop of finalists, calling them “the very best of entrepreneurial spirit” and highlighting their role in driving employment, innovation, and economic growth.
Built for Farmers, Not Investors
AgriAudit wasn’t created to impress Silicon Valley or chase buzzwords. It was designed to solve a very real problem—fast, confusing, regulation-heavy audits.
Many farmers dread inspection season. Porter’s app turns that panic into something manageable.
Here’s how it works:
| Feature | Traditional Process | AgriAudit’s Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Record Keeping | Paper files and folders | Cloud-based document store |
| Audit Preparation | Manual checklists | Smart audit templates |
| Compliance Tracking | Prone to error | Real-time alerts & updates |
| User Interface | Non-existent | Built for mobile, offline |
It’s simple, but it works. And that’s the whole point.
Scotland’s Innovation Roots Still Run Deep
AgriAudit isn’t just putting Angus on the map. It’s also part of a wider trend—Scottish startups punching well above their weight.
The region’s finalists for the Scotland StartUp Awards span everything from health tech to fashion to AI, but AgriAudit stands out for sticking close to Scotland’s roots—agriculture, land, and practical problem-solving.
One sentence: It’s innovation without the ego.
Tom Porter’s down-to-earth approach is part of the firm’s appeal. He’s not building hype. He’s building something useful.
What Happens Next?
Winners will be announced at the Scotland regional final in May. Then, all regional winners move on to the big stage: the UK National StartUp Awards at Ideas Fest on 12 September 2025 in Hertfordshire.
It’s been called the “Glastonbury for Business.” So yeah, it’s a big deal.
If AgriAudit wins at the regional level, they’ll be flying the flag for Scottish innovation on a national scale—and maybe proving that apps built for muddy boots can outshine the ones built for boardrooms.
