small disruptive online companies in the UK

[dougs]

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]

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

 

[brum]

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]

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

 

[retired_member34]

Chris & chris at Sunshine.co.uk?

 

[Systreg]

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]

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]

update

I have added some details

Doug

 

[GreyWing]

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]

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


Chris

 

[dougs]

Pleasure

I think holidaywatchdog was more disruptive, but I'll let you in

Doug

 

[GreyWing]

Good luck finding that out

Is it just me as I am finding people really condescending at the minute. I'm pretty sure I asked a civil question.

 

[dougs]

its Chris

Chris is Scottish....need I say more...and one of the owners of sunshine. Nice guy though.

The buyer was expedia and it was strategic move to prevent anyone else taking it and building a tripadvisor...plus it made good money. I doubt the deal was pennies...

Doug

 

[Chris Clarkson]

Is it just me as I am finding people really condescending at the minute. I'm pretty sure I asked a civil question.

Apols, wasn't meant to be condescending in any way. I even added a smiley!

 

[GreyWing]

Apols, wasn't meant to be condescending in any way. I even added a smiley!

Not a problem Chris, My apologies also, was just checking if I had taken it the wrong way or not.

No hard feelings, I understand some things stay secret just wasn't sure if yours was one or not.

All the best
Graeme

 

[dougs]

Chris

Thats 4 posts for you Chris in 3 years

Doug

 

[mally]

Wow, great list and very inspirational. I've added the skyscanner.net search box to my reservation.co.uk site and can vouch its an excellent tool to find cheap flights as it also shows the likes of easy jet and jet2.

 

[GreyWing]

Wow, great list and very inspirational. I've added the skyscanner.net search box to my reservation.co.uk site and can vouch its an excellent tool to find cheap flights as it also shows the likes of easy jet and jet2.

Sky scanner is pretty awesome actually and I don't think many know about it yet. Got me back from China quick and easy, I would recommend it 100%. Shame their affiliate isn't fantastic yet but if they work on that then there is some good incentive to put it on sites because it does attract visitors.

 

[domainseller200]

www.FireBox.com - Michael Acton Smith went onto do www.MindCandy.com and also started www.Moshimonsters.com which needs no explaining to any parent of young kids on here

All started from the attic in his mums house, with a £1000 loan from her also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Acton_Smith

Really admire people like him, especially the 'breakthrough' moment

 

[Chris Clarkson]

Thats 4 posts for you Chris in 3 years

Doug

You know me, like to keep to myself...

FTR sunshine was started way before we cashed out of HW

Also, our current project is easily the most disruptive we've ever done.

Right, that's me for now, see you in 2014!

Chris