Soda Inc., won the Not for Profit Award in the Westpac Waikato Business Awards in Hamilton on Friday night.

Soda is a business incubator that helps founders and entrepreneurs establish and grow their start-up business.

The Awards judges stated: "Soda is ably lead by Erin Wansbrough who is a dynamic and open leader. Soda’s clear focus on building the region’s innovators and providing shared working spaces is paying off and the judges are pleased that a strategic refresh is underway.

"Soda’s success stories and stories about developing capability in founders and innovators is compelling. They are supporting entrepreneurs and innovators to grow successful businesses through identifying and connecting them to high quality mentors with the right skill set, while building market and business capability."

Soda Inc. chief executive, Erin Wansbrough said Soda was proud to celebrate business success from across the greater Waikato region at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

"On behalf of my team at Soda Inc. we want to extend a big "thank you" to all of our supporters, in particular our cornerstone partners Wintec and Callaghan Innovation. We share this honour with you, as it is through your generosity that we are able to support the courageous Kiwis who dare to start a business, on their terms.

"We are humbled to be recognised as the winner of the Not for Profit Business 2018 and a finalist for the Supreme Award."

Wintec, a long-time supporter and sponsor of the Waikato Business Awards, was also part of the excitement.

This year, Wintec sponsored the Strategy, Planning, and Governance Award, which was won by Montana Group.

Montana Group was also named as Supreme Winner at the 2018 Westpac Waikato Business Awards, along with winning the Business Growth and Innovation categories.

Award winners, as well as 2018 Laureates to the Waikato Business Hall of Fame, were announced at the annual gala dinner on Friday 2 November at Claudelands Events Centre.