Founder: Nick Halstead
Website: www.tweetmeme.com

TweetMeme aggregates content from Twitter, providing relevant and interesting links. Services include re-tweetable ads and custom channels. Launched in February 2009, the idea came from games industry old hand Nick’s original project, Favorit, which aggregated content from across the web. Customers come from a range of sectors and industries, from PR agencies through to professional bloggers and brand owners.

Founders: Joanna Ward and Sue Harrison
Website: www.studentgems.com

Studentgems.com is a website that provides employers with a near-professional resource for less than the professional price by connecting them with students for one-off jobs. The idea was sparked when Joanna and Sue, who have employment consultancy and PA backgrounds, hired a photography student for another project. They realised if they hired a student they would save money and the student would ‘earn more than pulling a pint’. The site has over 1,800 businesses registered, some 15,000 students another 1,400 private individuals on the books.

Founders: Paul Föckler, Victor Henning, Jan Reichelt
Website: www.mendeley.co.uk

Mendeley is being pitched as a “Last.fm for research”. The team is clearly onto something as the company has the backing of early seed investor and former chairman of Last.fm, Stefan Glaenzer. While studying for their PhDs, Victor and Jan found accessing and managing research papers a real handful. They decided they could develop software to help manage and share them, and with the help of Paul produced Mendeley.

The management software also features a network to discover papers and like-minded researchers. According to the founders, if it continues to grow at its current rate, the company will become the largest online research repository in 2010.

Founders: Laura and Paul Clark
Website: www.phatpasty.com

Delivering handmade Cornish pasties to workplaces in quirky VW camper style ‘Phat Vans’, Laura and Paul are revolutionising the traditional snack van with the Phat Pasty Co. Based in Milton Keynes, the pair operate four vans and a buffet business, and have further franchises in Bedford and Newcastle. Since its launch in February 2007, Phat Pasty Co has grown considerably. Within a week of starting the business, they had over 40 companies signed up; by the second week they were at capacity. Today in Milton Keynes, Phat Vans visit over 350 businesses each day.

Founders: Sunny Moran and Jacqui Cleaver
Website: www.newyoubootcamp.co.uk

New You Boot Camp is the UK’s first women’s military-style, residential ‘luxury’ weight loss boot camp. It offers ongoing support to help customers reach their goals, and prides itself on being anything but a ‘quick fix’.

The company was founded in December 2007 by Sunny and Jacqui, who both have experience running their own businesses, Raw PR and Innovate Events. From the start, demand has outstripped supply. The pair originally planned just nine boot camps a year. Instead, they had to schedule a hectic 49 in their first year alone.

Founder: Shazia Awan
Website: www.peachy-pink.com

A long-term fan of shapewear underwear, Shazia wanted to develop a product that would be an improvement on the thick and uncomfortable anti-cellulite products currently available on the market. She wanted something that was lightweight, easy to wear, and that looked good so came up with her own product: Peachy Pink.

At 62 denier, the product is said to lift the bum by up to three inches and helps reduce cellulite. After just one week of sales, Debenhams said Peachy Pink was one of the fastest growing items ever sold in the underwear department. The product has been featured on GMTV and covered in The Daily Mail and Closer magazine.

Founders: Harriet Hastings and Stevie Congdon
Website: www.biscuiteers.co.uk

PR expert Harriet and catering pro Stevie are bringing pretty, handmade, iced biscuit collections to the masses through their online shop and major retailers such as Harrods and Selfridges.

Founded in September 2007, the idea for Biscuiteers came about when the pair realised that despite their popularity in the States, iced gift biscuits were practically unknown in the UK. Now they have five full-time staff, 15 shift-working icers, and big plans to develop their wedding division over the coming year.

Founders: Justin Gayner and Wil Harris
Website: www.channelflip.com

With a journalistic background and stints working with talent such as comedy producer John Lloyd, Justin stumbled upon the idea for ChannelFlip while having a chat with the QI production team in a bar. Wil, who had an idea for making TV work on the internet, happened to be in earshot. He pulled up a chair and the rest is history.

ChannelFlip creates and distributes professional video content, making money through TV advertisement sales and client branded programmes. Its breakthrough moment came on signing David Mitchell to appear in a sponsored video series. It’s one of the most downloaded video shows in the history of iTunes. Clients include Volvo, Cadbury, Sky, Dave and Stella Artois.

Founder: Rob Wood
Website: www.musicconcierge.co.uk

When Rob, editor of Jockey Slut magazine and programme director for Groove Armada’s Lovebox festival, was approached by a boutique hotel about creating a playlist, he spotted a niche in the market. His high quality music consultancy, Music Concierge, offers a bespoke playlist design service to brands and branded spaces, giving each a ‘signature sound’.

Launched in September 2007, clients include breakthrough signing Mulberry, as well as Dunhill, The Connaught and many other luxury brands. Rob was recently named by Arena magazine as a leading ‘consultant of cool’.

Founders: Kate Hamilton and Geraldine Hurd
Website: www.bettyandbelle.co.uk

Betty and Belle was started after senior fashion buyer Kate developed breast cancer and experienced frustration at the lack of specialist bras and advice. Geraldine, a Macmillan volunteer and lingerie designer, had also struggled to find ladies’ post-surgery underwear.

Since the launch in July 2007, the specialist lingerie shop has built up an excellent reputation within the medical profession. Kate and Geraldine also regularly visit schools and cancer groups to talk about good bra fit. Over the coming year, they have plans to develop a new swimwear range, and to grow Betty and Belle’s web presence.