Scale Up
Awards 2026
The Scale Up Awards celebrate and recognise the people, partners and stories that shaped the year, through meaningful impact, strong collaboration, and steady progress.
This year, we’re giving the Gapstars community a stronger voice, inviting them to help spotlight the people and stories that truly stood out.
Partner Awards
The Partner Awards celebrate the collaborations that shaped our year, recognising those who drove meaningful impact, grew with intention, and embodied our shared values.
Partner of the Year
Our highest honour, awarding a partner whose collaboration, leadership, and impact have set a new benchmark for success.
Selection Method: Five partners are nominated by the global management team based on defined criteria across People & Culture, Talent Acquisition, and Account Management.
These include developer satisfaction, retention, employee engagement, eNPS, Pulse Check insights, team growth, number of hires, and quality of communication and partnership collaboration.
Final scores are determined through a combined weighting of jury evaluation (80%) and community votes (20%).
Innovation in Action
Celebrating a partner team that embraced change, explored new ideas, and pushed boundaries in technology or business.
Selection method: This award starts with team leads and Engineering Managers, who submit short pitches highlighting a project they’re most proud of.
Next, team leads review the pitches and shortlist them the top five projects without being able to vote for themselves.
The Gapstars community gets involved through voting, helping highlight the stories that stood out most.
The final outcome is determined through a combined result, bringing together community voting and jury review.
Rising Star
Honouring our longest standing partners who continue to deepen relationships and grow with purpose.
Selection method: This award is informed by insights from Talent Acquisition, Delivery, and HR, based on their close collaboration and visibility across teams. These insights are reviewed by a jury, who will make the final decision.
Fastest Growing Team
Awarded to the partner who demonstrated remarkable momentum and commitment in growing their Gapstars team this year.
Selection method: This award is driven by growth data and is purely metric-based.
Long Term Legends
Honouring our longest standing partners who continue to deepen relationships and grow with purpose.
Selection method: Metric-based, partners with over five years of collaboration.
Community
Awards
The Community Awards recognise the individuals who bring our community to life, celebrating everyday impact, shared values, and long-standing commitment.
Star of the Year
Our most prestigious community award, honouring the teammate who’s earned the admiration of colleagues across Gapstars — a true favourite who lives our values and consistently goes above and beyond in the way they show up every day.
Selection: Voted by the entire Gapstars community, giving everyone a voice in spotlighting the person who inspires, uplifts, and strengthens our culture.
Long-Standing Employees
Recognising teammates who have reached the five-year milestone with Gapstars. This award honours long-term commitment and continued contribution across the years.
Value Champion
The Value Champion awards recognise teammates who consistently bring Gapstars’ core values to life through their actions and impact. Each value – Growth, Impact, and Community – is honoured with one dedicated award, celebrating individuals who embody that value in a meaningful and sustained way.
Selection method: Nominated by Team Leads and Managers, based on consistent demonstration of the selected value.
