The winners of the annual business Startup Weekend have been announced.

And the honours this year went to Shiply — a web-based platform that connects people bringing in a container with people who want to transport goods to the island.

Shiply — the brainchild of a team led by Kenaz Lodge and including Oliver Hellewell, Sandra Dill and Surlena Smith — allows container importers to earn cash from unused space by giving customers a “name your price option.”

Mr Lodge said: “Startup Weekend is awesome. Working with a team allowed me to further develop my initial business idea and to formulate a workable business model.”

And he added: “Look out for Shiply in the near future.”

The second spot was taken by SWIM, a prototype for a flotation device specially designed to support disabled people and accident victims with water therapy.

And in third place was Flying Art, an online platform to share and sell children’s art, developed by a team led by 12-year-old Abigail Lavery.

The people’s choice award went to Gamercade, an arcade and laser-tag business pitched by a team of young entrepreneurs aged between 9 and 17.

The event saw five businesses set up in the space of last weekend, ranging from an online concierge service to the SWIM device.

Start-up Weekend was backed by Government’s Department of E-Commerce and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, with prizes donated by existing businesses like IT firm Fireminds, Mediaville and hospitality company Beach Boys.

Marisa Stone, director of e-commerce, said: “We were pleased to see technology take centre stage as entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds developed their business concepts throughout the weekend.

“We at the Department of E-Commerce truly believe in the power of technology to transform lives for the better.”

Dr Stone added: “We are happy to support Startup Weekend, which provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to develop their ideas into real businesses.”

The event, held at Pier 6 on Front Street, was sponsored by a number of organisations, including Bermuda College, insurers Freisenbruch-Meyer and Argus and professional-services firm Deloitte.

Start-up Weekend committee member Jamilah Lodge said: “We could not have done this without the support of our sponsors. This is an example of public and private partnership working in the best way possible — to help and create the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

Brent Henshilwood, a partner at Deloitte, said: “We have supported Startup Weekend each time it has been held locally because we see this event as a great starting point for entrepreneurs to learn, inquire and develop their networks by talking to people who can share insights regarding new technological developments.”