Grant Lang, founder, Mozzo Coffee Grant Lang founded Mozzo Coffee at just 26-years-old, as a result of his passion for coffee and belief that businesses can be built on values, not just profits. In 2005 he created the Mozzo Coffee blend (100% Fairtrade, 100% organic). A year later he built the world's first solar and wind-powered art covered coffee cart, and in 2007 he was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Esquire Man at the Top Awards. He is currently setting up the Community2Community Fund, to support Mozzo Coffee growing communities in Columbia and create opportunities for emerging artistic talent in the UK.
Darren Fell, managing director, Crunch Darren Fell always wanted to be a serial entrepreneur. He built email marketing firm Pure360.com from scratch and sold it for £5.2m in 2008. Then he set about creating new ventures Crunch and FreelanceAdvisor.com, both of which he hopes to launch in 2009 having secured backing. He won entrepreneur of the year at the Sussex Business Awards 2007/08.
Duncan Cheatle, founder, The Supper Club If anyone knows the value of networking, it's Duncan Cheatle, the founder of the invitationonly Supper Club which, since 2003, has grown to become a must-attend event for the UK's most exciting entrepreneurs. Cheatle has also advised hundreds of entrepreneurs working with start-ups, fast-growing businesses and turn-arounds, and spearheaded the campaign against proposed changes to capital gains tax.
Simon Campbell, CEO and managing director, ViaPost Simon Campbell's ViaPost company aims to give customers the impact of a letter with the ease of email. He believes it will become one of the fastest growing and recognised communications companies this decade. ViaPost now has some of the largest companies in the UK trialling their system and a strong media profile.
Andrew Long, co-founder & CEO (respectively), Ten Lifestyle Management Ltd Andrew Long believes everyone should be able to achieve what's important to them and, to help make that happen, his company deals with over 10,000 requests for advice a month. His Green Home concierge service helps London homeowners reduce their carbon footprint, and was lauded by NESTA/Demos as one of the innovations that could have a big impact on climate change.
Wendy Wilson Bett, partner of wholesale division, Peter's Yard For many, becoming global director of the commercial leadership team of Cadbury- Schweppes in their early 40s would have been the peak of their career, but not Wendy Wilson Bett. She decided she wanted more, and, in 2007, left to join two other companies in setting up Peter's Yard, a small but growing bakery cafe which opened in January this year in Edinburgh.
Freddie Bourne, director, Capital Cycles Ltd For Freddie Bourne, inspiration came while waiting for a bus in Brixton: what London needed was cheap bikes. He set up Capital Cycles to provide bikes for under £100 and, within 10 weeks, his turnover had hit £25,000, providing commuters with an affordable, environmentally friendly, healthy and convenient way to get around town.
Kate Ancketill, managing director, GDR Creative Intelligence After working for Amnesty International, Kate Ancketill joined design agency selection firm Global Design Resources as an assistant. Within two years she was partner, and within four had bought the firm. She then set about reorientating it towards research, tapping into a huge network of creatives to help companies like Sony, Gap and Coca-Cola predict the future.
Sanchita Saha, founder and CEO, CitySocialising Ltd After a career at BBC Radio 1 and 1Extra, Saha used a Prince's Trust loan to set up what would become CitySocialising.com, the UK's only national eventsbased social networking site and community for city professionals. Saha was recently named one of Management Today's 2008 top '35 women under 35'.
Michael Welch, managing director, Blackcircles.com Losing his first job at a local tyre company gave Michael Welch the drive to succeed. He immediately started his own tyre business and, at 19, sold it to Kwik Fit, becoming their head of ecommerce. He then set up a new tyre firm, blackcircles.com, with management recruited from Emap, Tesco and Kwik Fit — and a major partnership with the AA.
Penina Shepherd, solicitor and managing director, Acumen Business Law Penina Shepherd founded Acumen Business Law to be an innovative creative business law firm with a clear vision to change the way in which legal services are being purchased in the market place. She also set up Acumen Business Group to provide strategic advice and services for the five key resources: law, finance, marketing, technology and HR, all under one roof.
Peter Wright, commercial director, Deluxe Digital London Peter Wright's CV is something to behold: after qualifying as an accountant he rose up through the ranks of Financial Times TV to become Commercial Director. He then headed up MTV Broadcast Services until he was invited to become CEO of Metro Broadcast. Peter is now Commercial Director of Deluxe Digital London and sits on the London Committee of the Royal Television Society.
Richard Alvin, managing director, Clearsight Publishing & Media Richard Alvin is the managing director of Clearsight Publishing & Media. Under his leadership he has made Business Matters magazine the leading magazine for SME owners in the UK with a readership of 147,000 per month. Clearsight has just opened offices in New York, started an events company, and won the publishing contract for London 2012.
Will Pearson, founder, Eye Revolution Will Pearson's Eye Revolution is a leader in high-quality virtual tours. When he started the company three years ago virtual tours were synonymous with small-sized, poor quality images. But Pearson was determined to do much better, and after a massive investment in hi-tech kit his client list includes SEAT, The Royal Opera House, Aston Villa, Windsor Castle and Siemens. In the past year his turnover has tripled.
