A BUDDING entrepreneur has won a national award after designing an online platform helping first-time buyers secure homes.

Kieran Witt, 29, created Kotini, a digital property platform, after struggling to buy his first home with his girlfriend Chloe.

The Southend man was one of the winners of the Young Innovator Award for his work, which focuses on helping couples buy their first home in the smoothest way possible.

Mr Witt said his platform allows partners to organise and manage their search for a new home all in one place.

He said: “It focuses on couple buying a home and will launch with a feature that enables home hunters to share, discuss and rate properties that make their shortlist.

“Kotini works by giving you and your partner a place to log all the properties you might want to buy, which you both agree on, where you can rate and capture notes.

“Some will say you can already do this using other property platforms, but what makes Kotini different is that is creates a group property shortlist for you and your partner and not individual lists.”

Winners of the Young Innovator Award, run by Innovate UK, are awarded a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.

The 29-year-old said he didn’t think he would win the award but was confident Kotini would be a big hit.

He said: “I’m honoured and excited as there has been thousands of applications for the programme every year and winning has validated that Kotini has what it takes to be a game-change.

“I’m also so thankful for the opportunity the programme will give me to then be able to give back as I am not from the best background, I never went to University, and I was homeless for a period in my teens.

“The Innovate UK programme gives me a platform to inspire others with similar backgrounds to take their business ideas to the next level whilst at the same-time levelling up mine.

“Did I think I would win it? No. Did I think Kotini would? Yes, as I have every confidence in Kotini.”

To sign up on the waiting list, visit www.kotini.co.uk