Manx Startup Wins Global Award

A business founded by a Manx entrepreneur has beaten thousands of entries to win the Santander X Global Challenge.

Harvey Lowe set up Arcube with fellow student Prithveesh Reddy during his first year at the University of Manchester.

Together they developed a platform swapping redundant loyalty points after flights into benefits for future flights.

These perks vary from extra baggage to business-class check-in, depending on what Arcube’s algorithm thinks you will prefer.

Manx Startup

By the time the 21-year-old returned to the Isle of Man for his summer holidays, Arcube had its first customer – Etihad Airways.

Using the Isle of Man Work Café as his office, Harvey worked on the business while completing his degree.

Arcube has since attracted $1.5 million in venture capital, is in talks with 60 airlines, and will soon have a global team of eight.

Harvey said: “Winning the award is great. It’s a specific award which covers exactly what we do as we are using personalisation and customer loyalty for our whole product.

“The award is a recognition of our technology and that it has real world applications.”

The Santander X Global Challenge

The Santander X Global Challenge – New era of Customer Experience Award brought together companies from 11 countries.

It aimed to identify the most innovative solutions that enhance user experience, personalisation, on-demand network quality, and anti-fraud security measures.

As well as prize money of €10,000, Arcube will also get access to Santander X 100.

Arcube plans to use the prize money to continue scaling its team and build the product integrations different airlines require for the platform.

The award comes just a year after Arcube was shortlisted for the Santander X UK Awards in the University entrepreneurial project category.