Professional Recognition: CatalyX Champions Series Awards Spotlight Industry Trailblazers

The 2023 CatalyX Champions Series Awards have concluded, honoring standout professionals who are driving meaningful change across the global tech ecosystem. The competition attracted participants from around the world, each presenting initiatives that blend cutting-edge innovation with measurable impact.

Expert-Driven Evaluation

At the heart of the CatalyX Champions Series Awards is a robust and uniquely rigorous judging process. Unlike many industry competitions, CatalyX places a strong emphasis on the professionalism and multifaceted expertise of its jury. The judges’ deep industry experience, strategic insight, and ability to identify breakthrough solutions with long-term potential are what elevate the prestige of the award.

This approach has helped position the program as a trusted indicator of future market leaders.

The handpicked jury included renowned figures from venture capital and industry:

• Mykyta Semeniak, founder of Weiz Logistics and a specialist in innovative logistics systems

• Tanya Yankova, a healthcare tech investor with deep domain knowledge in medical innovation

• Sebastian L. Johansson, venture capitalist at Techleap with a focus on tech-driven growth

• Lauren Sauerland of Concept Ventures, focused on scaling emerging ventures

• BaoYi Wang Kong, partner at Target Global, bringing a global investment perspective

A standout contribution came from Mykyta Semeniak, whose experience designing adaptive logistics systems in crisis environments brought a unique lens to the evaluation process. Organizers highlighted his expertise in building resilient supply chains and his innovative approach to risk management, which enabled a more comprehensive assessment of project viability.

“In today’s unpredictable world, the ability to engineer solutions that perform under imperfect conditions is a critical success factor,” Semenyak noted during the evaluation phase.

2023 Award Winners

After careful deliberation, the jury recognized professionals across several key categories:

• Best Leadership: Lorraine Coopes, for exceptional leadership in global procurement within the hospitality sector

• Outstanding Community Impact: Mich Turner, founder of LITTLE VENICE CAKE COMPANY

• Serial Entrepreneur Leadership: Christina Lissemm, for her trailblazing entrepreneurial vision

• Online Platform Leadership: Thierry Ngutegure, Head of Data Insight at SALT.agency

• Outstanding Contribution to Education: Janina Shingelskaya, for her groundbreaking IT education initiatives

• Tech Entrepreneur & Industry Leader: Roman Axelrod, a visionary entrepreneur with a remarkable track record in building and scaling tech ventures

  
  

Industry Impact

The CatalyX Champions Series Awards continue to identify and uplift leaders who combine professional excellence with real-world social impact. Winners gain access to exclusive resources, strategic feedback from leading investors, and valuable opportunities to expand their professional networks.

Through its interdisciplinary lens, the program doesn’t just spotlight innovative ideas—it highlights actionable solutions with strong potential for cross-industry scalability.

Written by: Mimmie Carlsson