Wise wins EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year award

Wise co-founders, Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, have been named Ernst and Young UK Entrepreneurs of the Year 2015.

The award recognises leaders of a young company that fit specific judging criteria: innovation, strategic direction, entrepreneurial vision, financial performance, passion and social impact. The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards receive over 10,000 global nominations each year.

Kristo, far right, celebrates with the EY award winners

Wise was praised by the judging panel for its simple but innovative approach to disrupting the traditional payments industry.

The award follows the company’s announcement that it has transferred over $1bn in the American market alone, since launching there in February. People are using Wise to transfer over £500 million through the platform every month. Globally.

On collecting the prize, Kristo Käärmann said:

“It’s a great achievement by the whole team to win the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Right now we’re saving customers more than £22 million each month, but really we’re only at the beginning of our mission of making the world of finance a little fairer. Our goal is to bring low-cost, fast and fair international money transfers to everyone who needs to send money abroad.”

Onwards.