small disruptive online companies in the UK

dougs · 27-10-2011, 07:55:54 AM

The companies who create serious cash are always the ones who do it against the grain, so who is doing this against the grain in the uk?

The ones who I have seen in the past few years are:

forward.co.uk - or notably Neil who is now becoming huge and corporate - 200 staff/�100 million plus turnover
MyVoucherCodes - but I think Mark got one lucky and has lost his way - 100 staff/�10 million turnover
Skimlinks - Alicia and she is still going for it - 30 staff/no idea on turnover
Blurtit - Tim is a genius who has launched a few and one will go huge - 6 staff/upto 1 million visitors per day
skyscanner - vaguely met the guys, again seem to have gone proper now - 100 plus staff
easyfundraising - just need to have bigger dreams Woody

- 20 staff/but unique in the space
Quidco - since Paul went they have just slowwwwwed - 100 staff
VoucherCloud - Seem to still be adapting massively, really interesting - 2 million iphone downloads in the UK
Sharemyplaylist - Kieron, still don't get it, but hey

- ???
sunshine.co.uk - Chris and Chris, but they came with cash from holidaywaychdog sale - guessing 50 staff/guessing �50 million turnover
www.GreenpreferenceService.com - Paul great idea and will change an industry -disruptive of direct mail industry

There are other people who have done really well , like Dunc at Vouchercodes.co.uk but he is great at taking an idea and making it really good, so sorry Dunc not including you

That's my starter

Who else?

Doug

Edwin · 27-10-2011, 09:42:57 AM

Dark Group seem to have an ever-increasing number of impressive projects going...
http://www.dg.co.uk/

brum · 27-10-2011, 09:49:47 AM

It's sad just how few there are in the uk ... But I guess it comes down to ease of raising funding in the us and the fact the market is so much bigger ... So can grow so much quicker and the viral coefficient can be much higher ....

Noticed on the news trying to make digital easier across Europe ... Eg spotify has to agree separate agreements for each country in europe and only once for the whole of the US this is a massive advantage for silicon valley

dougs · 27-10-2011, 10:10:54 AM

Brum

All of the companies I listed were self funded in the UK, they grew because of a person with a vision. As I know many of them I can tell you that they almost all started in a bedroom.

forward.co.uk is the most impressive as Neil has gone from a bedroom to owning uswitch within 6 years and it is still self funded.

doug

GeoMal · 27-10-2011, 11:32:15 AM

Chris & chris at Sunshine.co.uk?

Systreg · 27-10-2011, 12:06:10 PM

I must live a sheltered life, of the names mentioned so far, I've only seen the MyVoucherCodes and Skimlinks sites, as for the rest:

Forward.co.uk - never heard of them.
MyVoucherCodes - heard of them, seen site.
Skimlinks - heard of them, seen site.
Blurtit - never heard of them.
Skyscanner - never heard of them.
Easyfundraising - never heard of them.
Quidco - heard of them, I think.
VoucherCloud - never heard of them.
Sharemyplaylist - never heard of them.
GreenpreferenceService.com - never heard of them.
Spotify - heard of them as seen the name mentioned on here before.
Sunshine.co.uk - never heard of them.
DarkGroup - never heard of them.

stender · 27-10-2011, 12:12:56 PM

I must be sheltered too but this is a hobby to me. Stories like these are inspiring though. My fulltime job is a bit uncertain at the mo' so perhaps nows the time to get serious with the web!

dougs · 27-10-2011, 01:44:06 PM

I have added some details

Doug

GreyWing · 27-10-2011, 01:47:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougs

I have added some details

Doug

Doug, Can I ask if you know or are able to say if you know what the holidaywatchdog site sold for? Not a problem if it's a bit of a secret.

Got something kind of launching shortly and tempted to make it target the same market, rather than other consumer areas.

Cheers
Graeme

Chris Clarkson · 27-10-2011, 01:49:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyWing

Doug, Can I ask if you know or are able to say if you know what the holidaywatchdog site sold for? Not a problem if it's a bit of a secret.

Good luck finding that out

Cheers for the mention Dougs, even if we didn't make your first up post :P

Chris

27-10-2011, 07:55:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
dougs Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,074 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 20)	small disruptive online companies in the UK The companies who create serious cash are always the ones who do it against the grain, so who is doing this against the grain in the uk? The ones who I have seen in the past few years are: forward.co.uk - or notably Neil who is now becoming huge and corporate - 200 staff/�100 million plus turnover MyVoucherCodes - but I think Mark got one lucky and has lost his way - 100 staff/�10 million turnover Skimlinks - Alicia and she is still going for it - 30 staff/no idea on turnover Blurtit - Tim is a genius who has launched a few and one will go huge - 6 staff/upto 1 million visitors per day skyscanner - vaguely met the guys, again seem to have gone proper now - 100 plus staff easyfundraising - just need to have bigger dreams Woody - 20 staff/but unique in the space Quidco - since Paul went they have just slowwwwwed - 100 staff VoucherCloud - Seem to still be adapting massively, really interesting - 2 million iphone downloads in the UK Sharemyplaylist - Kieron, still don't get it, but hey - ??? sunshine.co.uk - Chris and Chris, but they came with cash from holidaywaychdog sale - guessing 50 staff/guessing �50 million turnover www.GreenpreferenceService.com - Paul great idea and will change an industry -disruptive of direct mail industry There are other people who have done really well , like Dunc at Vouchercodes.co.uk but he is great at taking an idea and making it really good, so sorry Dunc not including you That's my starter Who else? Doug __________________ New Stuff My Blog Last edited by dougs; 27-10-2011 at 01:43:45 PM.

27-10-2011, 09:42:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Edwin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 4,161 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 46)	Dark Group seem to have an ever-increasing number of impressive projects going... http://www.dg.co.uk/ __________________ Memorable Domains Ltd - Over 7,000 descriptive, generic .co.uk domains for sale Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks! Last edited by Edwin; 27-10-2011 at 09:45:22 AM.

27-10-2011, 10:10:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
dougs Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,074 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 20)	Self Funded Brum All of the companies I listed were self funded in the UK, they grew because of a person with a vision. As I know many of them I can tell you that they almost all started in a bedroom. forward.co.uk is the most impressive as Neil has gone from a bedroom to owning uswitch within 6 years and it is still self funded. doug __________________ New Stuff My Blog

27-10-2011, 12:06:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Systreg Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: County Cork Republic of Ireland Posts: 4,180 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 106)	I must live a sheltered life, of the names mentioned so far, I've only seen the MyVoucherCodes and Skimlinks sites, as for the rest: Forward.co.uk - never heard of them. MyVoucherCodes - heard of them, seen site. Skimlinks - heard of them, seen site. Blurtit - never heard of them. Skyscanner - never heard of them. Easyfundraising - never heard of them. Quidco - heard of them, I think. VoucherCloud - never heard of them. Sharemyplaylist - never heard of them. GreenpreferenceService.com - never heard of them. Spotify - heard of them as seen the name mentioned on here before. Sunshine.co.uk - never heard of them. DarkGroup - never heard of them. __________________ For Sale sat.co.uk - pda.co.uk

27-10-2011, 01:44:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
dougs Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,074 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 20)	update I have added some details Doug

27-10-2011, 09:49:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
brum Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 583 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 52)	It's sad just how few there are in the uk ... But I guess it comes down to ease of raising funding in the us and the fact the market is so much bigger ... So can grow so much quicker and the viral coefficient can be much higher .... Noticed on the news trying to make digital easier across Europe ... Eg spotify has to agree separate agreements for each country in europe and only once for the whole of the US this is a massive advantage for silicon valley

27-10-2011, 11:32:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
GeoMal Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 450 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 14)	Chris & chris at Sunshine.co.uk?

27-10-2011, 12:12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
stender Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,368 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (96% / 26)	I must be sheltered too but this is a hobby to me. Stories like these are inspiring though. My fulltime job is a bit uncertain at the mo' so perhaps nows the time to get serious with the web!

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