Welsh startup Cavefish has been named the winner of the 2025 Interceltic Startup Challenge, representing Wales on an international stage at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient, France.
The Interceltic Startup Challenge selects one high-potential startup from each Celtic region—Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall—to take part in an exclusive international growth programme. The initiative culminates in a live showcase at the Forum, where startups pitch their ventures to a network of investors, business leaders, and innovation partners.
Cavefish impressed the judges with EchoDepth, its emotional intelligence platform that places human emotion at the core of business innovation. The platform reflects Cavefish’s mission to prove that emotional insight is not just valuable—but essential—in the future of work and leadership.
“Still smiling. Not just because we won — but because we won as ourselves. A Welsh startup, proudly emotion-led, building something brave from a corner of the world that understands quiet power. This recognition tells us we’re not the only ones who believe that how people feel is worth measuring.”
Jonathan Prescott, Founder of Cavefish
This win not only shines a light on Cavefish’s emotionally intelligent approach to AI, but also underscores Wales’ growing influence in Europe’s Celtic innovation ecosystem.