AwardStage
AwardStage is a UK-based cloud SaaS platform that provides end-to-end awards programme management, including website building, entry submissions, judging workflows, and event ticketing, for awards managers, entrants, and judges.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersGodalming, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What AwardStage does
AwardStage is a cloud-based awards management SaaS platform operated by Oval Systems Limited, a private limited company registered in England, and part of the Oval Business Solutions group. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Godalming, Surrey, the platform serves three primary user types: awards managers (associations, media publishers, industry bodies, and corporate organisations running recognition programmes), entrants (individuals or organisations submitting entries), and judges (industry experts who score submissions). The platform provides end-to-end functionality for running an awards programme, including a drag-and-drop awards website builder, a drag-and-drop entry form builder with conditional logic, a flexible judging and scoring system supporting multi-criteria weighted scoring, integrated online payments via Stripe, and an add-on event ticketing module for ceremonies. Core infrastructure runs on AWS enterprise-grade multi-server architecture within a Virtual Private Cloud across EEA data centres, with AES-256 encryption, role-based access control, and optional MFA supporting ISO 27001:2022, Cyber Essentials, and GDPR compliance.
The company monetises through an annual per-award licence model priced in three tiers: Standard at £2,350 per year (up to 249 submissions, 30 categories, 50 judges), Pro at £3,500 per year (250-999 submissions, dedicated account manager, webhooks), and Enterprise on a multi-year quote-based contract with API access and multi-programme management. All tiers include free onboarding, and the platform supports an add-on event ticketing module. The go-to-market combines product-led growth (free 14-day trial with full platform access) with sales-led motions (online demo booking, dedicated account managers for Pro/Enterprise). Marketing is content-driven, centred on a blog, beginner's guide, and demonstration videos, and is supplemented by the Marketing Manager's seat on the Awards Trust Mark council, providing industry credibility. The company serves a globally distributed customer base including the American Marketing Association, ECMA, Sports Business Journal, Investors in People, and the Global Good Awards, with no single customer dominating the disclosed footprint.
AwardStage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AwardStage
- Legal name
- Oval Systems Limited
- Website
- https://awardstage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AwardStage is a UK-based cloud SaaS platform that provides end-to-end awards programme management, including website building, entry submissions, judging workflows, and event ticketing, for awards managers, entrants, and judges.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AwardStage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Awards Management Software
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms (THAHAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting) (MPAGAOAN)
Keywords
Where AwardStage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Godalming
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AwardStage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Platform licensing (per award, per annum): AwardStage operates on a one-time annual license model where customers pay a fee per awards programme per year. This covers hosting, platform access, and support for 12 months. The license is not automatically renewed but customers are contacted before renewal. Includes free onboarding across all tiers.
- Transaction fees from paid entries: For pay-to-enter awards, AwardStage collects entry fees through integrated Stripe checkout. While the payment processing is handled by Stripe, AwardStage facilitates these transactions for their customers.
- Event ticketing: AwardStage offers integrated ticketing module for awards ceremonies, allowing customers to sell tickets and tables online. This is included in Standard tier and available as paid add-on for other tiers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Standard tier for established awards programmes with up to 249 submissions, 30 categories, 50 judges, and 10GB file capacity |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Pro tier for established and sophisticated awards programmes with 250-999 submissions, unlimited fields, categories, judges, and administrators |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Enterprise tier for multi-awards bodies, publishers, and large independent awards with unlimited submissions and API access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
AwardStage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AwardStage is a cloud-based SaaS platform that enables organisations to run awards programmes end-to-end. It provides a drag-and-drop website builder, customisable entry form builder, flexible judging and scoring engine, Stripe-integrated online payment collection, and an optional event ticketing module. Customers license the platform on an annual per-award basis across Standard, Pro, and Enterprise tiers.
Product overview
AwardStage is a unified awards management platform structured around three pricing tiers — Standard, Pro, and Enterprise — providing end-to-end functionality for awards programmes. The platform is built around a core awards website builder (enabling custom landing pages and multi-sectional sites), an entry form builder with drag-and-drop functionality, a judging and scoring system with flexible multi-criteria scoring, an online payment module integrated with Stripe, and an event ticketing module as an add-on. Additional core features include an entrant dashboard (supporting registration, draft saving, and media uploads), an admin dashboard with live activity monitoring and data export, and an integrated content management system. Support services — including an online help guide, helpdesk, phone support, and dedicated account managers for higher tiers — are bundled into all pricing plans. A free 14-day trial is available without requiring payment details.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AwardStage Awards Management Platform Cloud-based SaaS platform that provides end-to-end awards programme management, including a drag-and-drop awards website builder, customisable entry forms, a flexible judging and scoring engine, Stripe-integrated online payments, an admin dashboard, an entrant dashboard, and an integrated content management system. Sold on an annual per-award licence across Standard, Pro, and Enterprise tiers for organisations running awards programmes.
- Event Ticketing Module Add-on ticketing module that allows awards managers to create standalone event pages for ceremonies, promote the event, and sell tickets and tables online. Available as a paid add-on across all pricing tiers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Platform maintains 99.9% uptime rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AwardStage
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AwardStage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature9 records
AwardStage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreAwardStage is hosted on enterprise-grade Amazon infrastructure using multi-server architecture in a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). AwardStage data is stored in AWS data centres in multiple EEA locations. AWS provides the underlying infrastructure reliability, scalability, and security for the platform.
- StripecoreAwardStage is integrated with Stripe for all payment handling. Stripe is PCI DSS compliant and processes entry fees and event ticket payments. AwardStage does not store any user credit card details, relying entirely on Stripe for secure payment processing.
- Awards Trust MarkcoreAwardStage actively promotes the Awards Trust Mark scheme to clients as an accreditation for awards programmes. The company's Marketing Manager serves on the Awards Trust Mark council, contributing to industry standards development. AwardStage is committed to supporting transparent and ethical awards practices aligned with the Trust Mark's requirements.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AwardStage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Submittable: Submittable is a broader submission-management platform used for awards, grants, and contests. While not awards-only, it overlaps with AwardStage's entry form, judging, and review functionality for enterprise and media customers.
- Open Water: Open Water provides application, review, and judging software used by foundations and associations for awards and grants programmes, overlapping with AwardStage on multi-criteria scoring and review workflows.
- SurveyMonkey Apply: SurveyMonkey Apply (formerly FluidReview) is a general-purpose application and review management platform used for awards, scholarships, and grants—overlapping with AwardStage on entry collection and judging.
Direct peers
- Evalato: Evalato provides end-to-end awards programme management software including online entry forms, judging portals, and event tools, directly competing for the same awards-manager and entrant customer base as AwardStage.
- Smarter Entry: Smarter Entry is an awards entry management platform focused on streamlining submission collection and judging for industry awards, competing for similar UK and international awards-manager customers.
- AwardForce: AwardForce is a dedicated awards management platform offering entry collection, judging workflows, and ceremony ticketing—the closest direct functional competitor to AwardStage, serving the same awards-manager and entrant personas across similar industry verticals.
- Judgify: Judgify is a judging and awards management platform offering entry submission, judge scoring, and ceremony workflows—overlapping functionally with AwardStage's judging and scoring module and competing for awards-organiser buyers.
- ReviewerCredible: ReviewerCredible offers awards management and judging software with entry forms, scoring workflows, and digital credentials—directly competing for the same niche awards-management buyer.
Emerging players
- Bizzuka: Bizzuka's AwardStage-branded white-label platform offers awards management tools overlapping with Oval Systems' AwardStage product—representing an emerging alternative solution in the awards software niche.
Others
- Classy: Classy is a fundraising and donor-management platform used by nonprofits running recognition and awards-style programmes—adjacent rather than directly competing, but representing a related SaaS category that could expand into awards management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AwardStage social profiles
Digital presenceAwardStage compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
AwardStage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AwardStage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
AwardStage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AwardStage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AwardStage
What does AwardStage do?
AwardStage is a cloud-based SaaS platform that enables organisations to run awards programmes end-to-end. It provides a drag-and-drop website builder, customisable entry form builder, flexible judging and scoring engine, Stripe-integrated online payment collection, and an optional event ticketing module. Customers license the platform on an annual per-award basis across Standard, Pro, and Enterprise tiers.
Is AwardStage a public or private company?
AwardStage is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AwardStage founded?
AwardStage was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AwardStage based?
AwardStage is headquartered in Godalming, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AwardStage make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Platform licensing (per award, per annum) is the primary driver. The others are transaction fees from paid entries and event ticketing.
Who are AwardStage's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Submittable, Open Water and SurveyMonkey Apply. Direct peers are Evalato, Smarter Entry, AwardForce, Judgify and ReviewerCredible. Bizzuka is listed as an emerging player. Classy is listed as an others.
Does AwardStage have an API?
Yes. API access is available exclusively on the Enterprise tier. Webhooks are included for Pro and Enterprise tiers, and available as a paid add-on in the Standard tier.
What industry is AwardStage in?
AwardStage's product category is Awards Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAFAB, Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAGAOAN, Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting). Its NAICS code is 56192 and its SIC code is 7990.