Celebrating the People’s Choice Win: Julia and WAVESIX at Demo Night Bristol

Some moments in a startup journey matter more than they look on paper. Not because of capital raised or press coverage, but because of signal. A room full of founders, operators and early-stage investors choosing your startup — publicly — is one of those moments.

At our recent Bristol Demo Night, that moment belonged to Julia, founder of WAVESIX, who was voted People’s Choice Award winner by the audience.

For first-time founders and early-stage investors in Bristol, this kind of validation is worth paying attention to.

Why the People’s Choice Award matters

The People’s Choice Award is not decided by a panel or a single investor viewpoint. It reflects collective judgment from a diverse room: founders at different stages, mentors, ecosystem builders and investors who spend their time evaluating early-stage ideas.

A People’s Choice win usually signals three things:

• The problem is clearly articulated and relatable

• The solution feels grounded and credible at an early stage

• The founder communicates with clarity, confidence and authenticity

In Bristol, the competition was close. The room was experienced. The questions were rigorous. That is exactly what makes this award meaningful.

What is WAVESIX?

WAVESIX is a holistic lifestyle tracking platform designed to help people understand patterns across the fundamental pillars of daily life: sleep, nutrition, movement, relaxation, relationships and self.

Instead of tracking habits in isolation, WAVESIX focuses on correlation. It helps users notice how changes in one area influence others, often revealing insights they would otherwise miss. Over time, users receive AI-supported reflections that highlight what is working, what is not, and where small adjustments could have outsized impact.

The product philosophy is reflective rather than prescriptive. It supports awareness first, behaviour change second. That distinction resonated strongly with the audience.

A demo night format that accelerates learning

This Bristol Demo Night used a speed-dating pitch format. Founders pitched their startup four times in quick succession to small groups, rather than delivering a single stage presentation.

The effect is compounding confidence.

Each round improves delivery. Feedback becomes more nuanced. Questions evolve. By the final pitch, founders are no longer reciting — they are conversing. Investors and peers see progress happening in real time.

Julia’s journey across the tables captured exactly why this format works. With each round, her clarity sharpened, her confidence grew, and her ability to handle questions deepened.

Authenticity beats polish

What ultimately won the room was not technical complexity or perfect slides. It was clarity, presence and honesty.

Julia spoke openly about where WAVESIX is today, what she has learned as a solo founder, and where she believes the platform can go next. That transparency builds trust — particularly with early-stage investors who know that execution, not certainty, determines outcomes.

After the pitches ended, conversations continued. People stayed. Questions flowed. That post-pitch energy is often the clearest indicator of resonance.

What’s next for Julia and WAVESIX

As a People’s Choice Award winner, Julia now moves into a phase of focused support, working with experienced operators and mentors to convert validation into momentum.

2026 looks like a year of consolidation and forward motion: strengthening foundations, refining direction and building confidence as the business matures. For investors watching the Bristol ecosystem, WAVESIX is a venture worth keeping an eye on.

Advice for first-time founders

Julia’s advice to other founders considering Demo Night is straightforward:

Put yourself forward.
Use repetition to your advantage.
Treat feedback as data, not judgment.
And enjoy the process.

Few environments offer such a founder-friendly way to test a pitch, build confidence and engage directly with early-stage investors before the stakes rise.

Your turn

If you are a first-time founder in Bristol — or an early-stage investor looking to spot emerging talent early — Demo Night is where ideas meet reality.

Check out all the Demo Nights taking place this year at lu.ma/Canopy and follow in Julia’s footsteps.

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