Founder: Tamara Arbib
Founded: January 2014
Website: www.rebel-kitchen.com

Tamara Arbib, named 2014’s Startups Awards Mumpreneur of the year, was inspired to launch her business after founding a charity to educate people in healthy eating and realising that she wanted to encourage a commercial change too. And the female founder’s start-up, which specialises in coconut-milk based drinks that come in a variety of flavours including cocoa, coffee and matcha, managed to catch the burgeoning free from market on the cusp of its explosion.

Since launch, Rebel Kitchen’s dairy-free ‘mylks’ have gained a cult-like following (who Arbib fittingly calls ‘Rebels’) made up of children (the brand’s initial target market) and adults alike – and includes a range of people including vegans, allergy sufferers and those just trying to live a little bit more sustainably. Boosting social stats of almost 17,000 followers and featuring regularly on ‘trendy’ health blogs; the business has gained placements in Waitrose, Tesco, Wholefoods Market and Ocado and has begun to expand internationally, with a presence in the US, Australia and Europe. And it’s not just the product that is organic but also the business’ growth – Arbib still owns 100% of the business.

For the next 12 months, Rebel Kitchen has further UK and global growth planned, with an ultimate aim to become a “pioneer in the food and drinks industry to encourage healthier, wholesome food and drinks to be developed.”

Founders: John Readman and Rob Hamilton
Founded: January 2014 (launched April 2014)
Website: www.ride25.com

There is no denying that the cycling industry has become a predominant sector in the start-up world as innovations in technology and a growing number of UK cyclists have inspired a range of bike inspired businesses. Bike tour operator Ride25 has utilised this quickly expanding marketplace – as well as the thousands of British adventure seekers – by making around the world bike trips accessible to people regardless of time and experience. The company offers flexibility in how you complete your tour with a choice to stagger the whole trip over 25 years – meaning you don’t have to quit your job or train like a Tour de France athlete to get the opportunity to see the world from your bike seat.

The business, which was conceived at an annual international charity cycle, has proved to be a huge hit for Young Gun Rob Hamilton and co-founder John Readman. Signing Google as one of their first corporate clients, the duo and their bike tours have garnered attention in the media and political world, featuring in national publications including The Telegraph and The Times, and meeting the Prime Minster, David Cameron, for “a quick cup of tea and a chat about cycling!”

Moreover, Ride25, which currently has 13 charity partners and donates £20 per trip booked towards getting a bike to Africa, has signed up a 1,000 cyclists for rides in 2015 – a number which they plan to double over the next 12 months.

Founders: James Codling and Paul Moravek
Founded: August 2013 (launched September 2014)
Website: www.venturefounders.co.uk

Businesses and investors alike have embraced the virtues of crowdfunding in recent years, leveling the playing field for smaller parties to get involved in exciting financial opportunities. Investment bankers James Codling and Paul Moravek admired the new format, but saw an opportunity to apply more traditional skills to enhance the existing market.

VentureFounders is an equity crowdfunding platform that presents investors with a range of curated and structured opportunities of between £250,000 and £2m in high-growth UK businesses. The company actively supports and nurtures it businesses through their fundraising journey, believing that raising capital is only the start. Companies are charged a success based fee once capital has been raised, and a profit share is taken once investors have had their original capital retuned.

Since launch last September, four fundraises totalling £4m have been completed through the platform, for Hiring-Hub, LabMinds, FreedMan and EcoHydra – with three further rounds currently in progress for Rockabox, freemarketFX and Feonic.

With a team that includes several industry leading professionals, and an old twist on a new investment model, this young company are set to revolutionise the crowdfunding market over the coming year.

Founders: Ryan Perera, Dihan Algama and Ingmaras Keleras
Founded: June 2014
Website: www.henchmanapp.com

With branding that recalls a Mafioso mentality – the organisation running the operation is known as ‘The Family’ – the Chelsea and Fulham-based Henchman app aims to get its users anything they want delivered to their door in 60 minutes or less.

From 11am to 11pm every day, time strapped young professionals can have food, groceries, retail goods and even medicine delivered to their door within the hour, and can track their own personal driver in realtime. Henchman simply charges a delivery fee and shares 10-30% revenue with participating establishments.

Although currently only operating in central London, this ambitious and relatively young company already has 5,000 registered users, with plans to expand over a wider area of London, launch in Manchester and reach 1,000 deliveries per day within the next 12 months.

Diverse backgrounds in computer science, coding, event management and even heart surgery, make founders Ryan Perera, Dihan Algama and Ingmaras Keleras – who sold his first tech business at 16 – seem like a crack team assembled for a bizarre heist. But with customers already asking for non-delivery related requests, a unique concierge style approach and 60 minute time frame, the founders’ long term mission of being a global service where no request is too big or too small, doesn’t seem impossible.

Founder: Cordelia Meacher
Founded: April 2012
Website: www.fieldhouseassociates.com                                                                                

With a multi-faceted communications strategy focused on achieving impact and results, without the need for “hype”, “crazy creative”, or “way out promises” – FieldHouse Associates is not just another PR agency.

Featured in Startups 100 2014, the company was founded to service the technology, enterprise and investment industries, getting results, not just coverage, whether for an exit, new funding or a product launch. Having worked in a number of big and small agencies before, founder Cordelia Meacher saw a niche in the market for an agency that would help the new generation of start-ups in the emerging tech, digital and mobile sectors.

FieldHouse charges monthly fees, with special rates for start-ups and competitive rates for others, with clients including Somo, xAd and kuato Studio, as well as investors Octopus Investments, MMC Ventures and Angel CoFund, to name a few.

Working with clients from development, through launch and onwards, three years after launch the company is still “growing like crazy” with new clients joining every week. Its unique approach and ability to respond to the shifting needs of the digital world should see this PR firm go far.

Founders: Andy Logan and Amar El-zayat
Founded: October 2013 (launched May 2013)
Website: www.vapeemporium.com

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and so is the need for the various products and paraphernalia associated with it. Vape Emporium is capitalising on this trend by developing, manufacturing and selling a range of quality devices, e-liquids and accessories.

After predicting the huge potential market demand and having noticed that consumers “weren’t being serviced properly”, founders Andy Logan and Amar El-zayat decided to give up stable employment to “do it themselves”. Vape Emporium sells products online and in its own and other bricks and mortar shops. The company also sources other products from around the world to ensure it’s up to date with the latest advances in the industry.

It’s clear Vape Emporium doesn’t just see its product as a fad, with stations in every shop allowing customers to sample the huge variety of flavoured e-liquids, and staff on hand willing to discuss each person’s individual requirements. Over the next 12 months the duo hope to launch a new website, introduce a more sophisticated sales system, open several new shops and develop and manufacture five new products. With Kate Moss one of the brand’s first customers, it seems Logan and El-zayat arrived at just the right time to capitalise on this ‘trendy’ and growing market…

Founders: Mandeep Singh, Maxim Berglund and Alex Loizou
Founded: January 2013 (November 2013)
Website: www.streethub.com

After noticing the merging of the on and offline retail worlds, due largely to advances in mobile technology and the increase in multichannel shopping, founders Mandeep Singh, Maxim Berglund and Alex Loizou spotted an opportunity.

Drawing on their combined years of experience in retail technology, they created an app that offers independents the necessary scale and technology to exploit these trends – while giving savvy shoppers something different.

The benefit for the 400 retailers already on board is obvious, increased exposure for a small subscription fee and for consumers it’s an equally appealing proposition. Users can browse products from StreetHub’s online marketplace, click and collect, and even get a Shutl delivery. It’s not surprising then that more than 35,000 Londoners are already using the platform to find quirky and original lifestyle products and clothes, supporting the capital’s small businesses in the process. The brand has even amassed a hugely influential celebrity fan – Stephen Fry shared his love for the app on social media, a coup for the young business.

Since launching in November 2013, the company has gone from one instrumental word of mouth recommendation to grow its product base by 600%, retailer base by 300%, and claims 500% year-on-year growth. Having just closed a substantial round of investment from Octopus Investments, Playfair Capital and Index Ventures, StreetHub is set for UK and international expansion over the coming year, as well as launching a new website and expanding its customer base.

Founders: Benjamin Dyer and Chris Barling
Founded: January 2012 (April 2013)
Website: www.powerednow.com

Returning to our list for the third year in a row, Powered Now should be a familiar name to Startups readers. The mobile business administration platform helps tradespeople keep on top of tedious paperwork with one integrated solution.

After noticing the struggles builders and decorators had providing punctual and professional invoices and quotations, founders Benjamin Dyer and Chris Barling decided the market was ripe for disruption. Their app combines payments, scheduling, finance and document storage, all available on a tiered service level subscription.

The last year has seen the company close a $1m angel round and hit its funding target on Crowdcube in just seven days – helping its registered userbase grow from just 2,000 to an impressive 20,000. Powered Now was also named as Crowdcube’s ‘Start-up of the year’ in 2014.

With such rapid growth it’s clear the platform has been embraced wholeheartedly by a sector that was in need of a simple and effective solution. The company will use the next 12 months to consolidate its market position, release a new multi-user version of the app and hit its roadmap and development plans.

Founder: Caner Veli
Founded: January 2014
Website: www.liquiproof.co.uk

After becoming disillusioned with the number of expensive suits, shoes and ties being destroyed during his daily commute thanks to Britain’s unpredictable weather, founder Caner Veli decided it was time to tackle the issue. And so Veli, with a background in pharmaceutical science and business, started developing a protective coating to shield clothing from damaging weather conditions and the occasional spill.

The result was Liquiproof, a now award winning eco-friendly and non-toxic protective coating, which, after spraying it on your clothing or shoes, protects it against the weather and other substances – including oil, acid-based liquids and ink. Named one of our Top new businesses of 2014, Liquiproof’s shoe protector has secured placement in over 170 stores, including Office, Offspring, The Natural Shoe store, Birkenstock, and Urban Outfitters. The start-up impressively turned a profit in its first year and predicts that its revenue, after joining the Business Growth Accelerator Scheme and securing partnerships with leading fashion brands, will increase to £2.4m in the next 12 months. The entrepreneur, who hinted at taking part in a well-known TV show this year, also hopes to expand Liquiproof’s offering with more products as well as continuing its overseas market expansion with a presence already in Holland and the US.

Founder: Amelia Humfress
Founded: December 2012 (launched February 2013)
Website: www.steer.me

With London’s tech sector continuing to enjoy a boom, and coding now part of the national curriculum, many are keen to access the enhanced employability and real world advantages programming skills can bring.

After taking a 10 week course on the subject, Amelia Humfress saw a gap in the market for a high quality crash course in coding. Steer provides introductory and specialist one to five day courses for between £300 and £1649 per person. Humfress wanted to distinguish the company from “geeky and male-oriented” competitors, and feels the price represents its high quality and attention to the customer experience.

Since appearing in the 2014 Startups 100 list, Steer has grown its team from six to 11 experienced developers, designers and teachers, and has begun to achieve its goal of a 50/50 gender split across its staff and courses. The company also recently worked with the Prince’s Trust Get Started programme for unemployed 16-25 year olds – and its partnerships like these alongside some newly launched courses – that should see it reach its projected turnover of £560,000 and profitability by the end of 2015.

With the internet becoming ever more integral to businesses across all sectors, coding is fast becoming an essential skill for prospective employees, and Steer will be sitting pretty on an enormous potential market.