LaunchLemonade founder Cien Solon shortlisted in top tech awards
Cien Solon, founder of London-based no-code AI platform LaunchLemonade, has been named among the top 10 finalists from over 1,100 worldwide applicants for the Investec Early Stage Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Solon is shortlisted in the Technology category, which recognises early-stage founders aiming to make an impact less than four years into their journeys and prior to a Series A funding round.
Industry recognition
The Investec Early Stage Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, known as "The Easies", highlight founders who are viewed as driving change across technology, climate, fintech, healthtech, culture, consumer and professional services. Of the many applicants spanning global markets, only five are chosen as category winners. The awards are designed to identify founders demonstrating high levels of ambition and a commitment to removing market barriers in key sectors.
LaunchLemonade was established in January 2024 and has developed a no-code platform that supports users, including businesses and entrepreneurs, in building, deploying, and monetising AI-driven tools without the need for technical skills. Through the platform's interface, individuals can create customised AI agents based on their unique data and areas of expertise. These agents can automate regular processes, generate content, and assist with data-driven decisions associated with commercial performance.
Platform growth
In less than a year since its inception, LaunchLemonade has grown to serve over 5,000 users. The company began as a social experiment and has since expanded, attracting users from various professional backgrounds.
Solon has focused on early user engagement and development, opting to concentrate on community-driven product design instead of seeking immediate traditional investment. The approach has aimed to shape the platform around user needs, with updates and new features delivered in response to ongoing feedback from the LaunchLemonade community.
Female founder challenges
Solon has highlighted her perspective as a woman founder in the technology sector. She has described the structural obstacles and funding limitations typically encountered by women in technology fields. LaunchLemonade's development has therefore prioritised accessible entry points and collaborative enhancement over rapid capital raising.
Solon's focus on democratising access to artificial intelligence aligns with the Technology category's intent to recognise those addressing barriers to adoption in growing digital markets. Her nomination signals broader industry recognition for efforts to widen participation in the AI economy.
"Being recognised at this stage hits differently when you're a bootstrapped founder. Nothing about this journey has been cushioned. Every decision, every build, every experiment has come from sheer belief that people deserve real access to AI. LaunchLemonade grew out of that conviction. So this nomination feels less like a spotlight and more like a signal that the work is landing. I'm grateful for the support and even more driven to keep pushing for an AI economy where anyone can build, create and compete," said Solon, Founder, LaunchLemonade.
