Amano is a continental style, all-day café: coffee bar in the morning, takeaway and eat-in sandwich bar at lunch and destination pizza restaurant and bar in the evening. Voted one of 3 UK ‘Hot Concepts’ at Restaurant 2007, a short-listed finalist at the Retailers’ Retailer Awards 2008 and a nominated finalist at the Sandwich Bar of the Year Awards 2008, Amano is the only emerging ‘all-day’ café brand to maximize the revenue-generating potential of a lunchtime sandwich operation. rnrnAt the heart of the concept is an artisan approach to familiar ‘fast-foods’ and the centrepiece motif is a stone-bake oven where flatbreads are continuously baked from scratch. rnrnOperating now from 4 sites in London, with current annualized sales of £2.4m, Amano has raised £400,000 of the £1m it is now seeking to roll-out a further 3 sites with the continued backing of The Capital Fund, to take it to the ‘proven’ platform needed to attract significant private equity for national roll-out. CEO Jonathan Cooper, was formerly founder of EAT and led the operational set up of the market-leading central European coffee bar chain, coffeeheaven. The Board is Chaired by Michael Anderson, an experienced early-stage investor. rn

Climatecars (CC) is an environmentally friendly car service based in Central London. CC offers customers a ‘green alternative’ to black cabs, normal car services, chauffeur services and minicabs. The CC cars are more luxurious than the non-green competitors and are controlled with the latest technology, thereby providing differentiation, which is building sales each month. The private hire market is fragmented and often badly served which provides a window of opportunity for this marketing-led company to grow from 12 cars operating 24/7 presently. The business model is proven with a high level of customer satisfaction, repeat sales and a low cost base. CC now seeks investment for additional cars and working capital for corporate accounts which are waiting for increased operating capacity. Management have launched the CC brand of service successfully and have the vision and energy to achieve significant market share very quickly.

“The future for Estate Agents is going to be online. It’s just a matter of how fast it happens” (Shawn Luetchens, MD Hotproperty.co.uk Sept. ’07). Homes Matter Ltd is a new type of estate agent, successfully trading online since summer 2007 without an expensive high street branch presence and other traditional costly overheads. As such, home sellers are charged a fixed fee of only £899 irrespective of the value of property, providing attractive cost savings compared to high street agents. In addition, they will shortly launch with their partners, an integrated estate agency, home information pack and conveyancing service for a fixed price that is considerably less than competitors charge for simply selling a home. The business was founded by Nigel Farren, a proven entrepreneur with a strong career track record at a senior level within publishing and banking. With a highly fragmented market where 80% of properties are sold through small independent agents, Homes Matter Ltd plan to grow quickly and a funding injection is now required to expand the business which is highly scalable and offers a very viable trade sale exit.

In November 2007, Islandrive opened the UK’s first drive-thru coffee bar at West Thurrock Retail Park (Lakeside) Essex. Customers are able to drive-up or walk-up to purchase top-quality own-label food and beverage products, including organic espresso based speciality coffees, fresh fruit smoothies, hearty sandwiches, indulgent pastries and healthy kids’ meals. The innovative Islandrive concept caters to people out-of-town and on-the-move. Uniquely, the business has forged strong strategic agreements with Colliers CRE and institutional landlords, including Capital & Regional. Islandrive design and build each new drive thru unit which is ultimately funded by the landlord. In a strained economy, coffee has rapidly become viewed as the safe bet by landlords seeking to enhance their retail tenant mix.  The business is now seeking to raise £750,000 to secure a further 7 identified trading sites. Ultimately Islandrive is seeking to roll-out 45 sites across the UK, at which point a trade sale is a very realistic option.

With the objective of becoming the UK's leading Fairtrade brand, The Ubuntu Trading Company has launched the first cola that applies 70% p.a. Fairtrade growth to a £1.9 bn UK market. In consumer research Ubuntu Cola matched/outperformed Coke & Pepsi on all key measures. "ubuntu" expresses the concept of human interdependence: "I am what I am because of who we all are" and the brand is underpinned by a robust Fairtrade proposition, distinctive design and a quality product. Launched in September 2007, Ubuntu Cola has established a ‘first to market' position and is currently distributed via 11 wholesalers to c.200 accounts, including universities, contract catering (Google, Procter & Gamble staff restaurants), cafes (John Lewis), bars, restaurants and shops. Additionally, significant unanticipated international demand has derived from Sweden, Norway and others. An innovative consumer marketing campaign will be launched in 2008 featuring Andy Cato of Groove Armada. The business also features an impressive management team including MD Miranda Walker (career in advertising with Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett), FD Phil King (previously FD with Cafedirect), and Operations Director Philippe Sibaud (extensive senior operations/logistic experience with TOTAL).

Disenco Energy Plc has developed one of the first commercially viable micro Combined Heat and Power (m-CHP) plants suitable for the domestic market. About the size of a washing machine, Diesnco’s patented HomePowerPlant is set to replace domestic boilers over the next 10 years as demand for cheaper energy supply in conjunction with low carbon footprint intensifies. Conventional power stations distribute electricity via a network of high voltage power lines across the country but this system wastes around 60% of the energy produced. A m-CHP is a highly efficient boiler which produces electricity simultaneously than can either be used in the home or sold back to the national grid. Conventionally supplied power is between 31 - 48% efficient whilst m-CHP supplied power is 90% efficient. Whilst costs and efficiency savings are compelling, m-CHP reduces the carbon footprint of an average UK home by up to 67% and this is attracting strong interest from both governments and utility companies who are struggling to reach new carbon reduction targets. The HomePowerPlant has undergone extensive field trials in collaboration with its engineering partners and the Carbon Trust over the last 15 months, with performance exceeding expectations.

Yellow Culture Limited is a marketing-led food business targeting healthier food options for children. Initial product sales to UK supermarkets (Sainsburys, Morrisons and Wholefoods) have almost doubled each month since the June 07 launch. Sales for 2008 are forecast at £800,000. Through its brand Good Food Village, the company specialises in ‘making good food fun’ and has developed patented technology to create a wide range of high quality packaged food products for children that are healthy, convenient and entertaining and sold through top-end grocers, airlines and convenience outlets in the UK. The company has also created a range of food products based on Bob the Builder to support its own unique range of Secret Shapes. The company is supported by an active advisory panel with senior management experience drawn from Kraft, Safeways and Procter & Gamble. The company aims to create a brand that reassures parents on the quality and integrity of the product, capitalising on the growing concern over the standard of food being offered to children.

Tipped is a new online community for people to share Tips on local places and businesses. According to Google there are 6055 plumbers in London. How does a customer decide which one is right, with any degree of confidence? Directories like Yellow Pages and Yell.com do a great job of providing a list of options and contact details, but they do nothing to help the user qualify them. The customer is left to sift through pages of listings and try and figure out which business might best suit their needs. Frustrated, most people turn to friends or colleagues for recommendations or pick randomly from the list and hope for the best. Tipped solves these problems by combining local business search with customer reviews and social networking features to help users make informed decisions at the right time and place. Tipped is designed for use on both PC and mobile phones and provides features like a search filter system, favourites, and community and map integration. Its highly optimized & accessible for most mobile phones. Tipped is free for users, and generates revenue through sponsored listings and advertising. Tipped founder was formerly Head of Mobile for Microsoft UK, responsible for developing and driving the mobile strategy for MSN and Windows Live for mobile.

Supercar club. Members pay an annual club membership fee, receive access to a club-owned fleet of supercars (i.e., Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari F430, Porsche 997 Turbo).

The New World Assembly Limited owns the largest aggregate online PC game community in the UK.

CJV introduces Digintel, a unique sales lead generation program that substantially improves On-line and Off-line Advertising, Marketing and Website performance. Digintel enables a company to be open 24x7 for new business enquiries with instant automated content distribution and data capture for building an opt-in database for remarketing purposes.

Monte Carlo Tennis Academy (MCTA) is the first touring tennis academy in the world. Its mission is to create an environment that becomes a model for the coaching, training and nurturing of young international players who have the potential to make the Top 100 and win championships. MCTA expertise has attracted consultancy work from top players such as Andy Murray and Justine Henin.

OOKL have developed, and are selling a system for schools, which is a mobile phone handset (with the calling function disabled) enabling children to take photos, record sounds and write comments about things they see on field trips.

Blueberry® is a leading edge provider of Prepaid MasterCard® cards to niche consumer markets. Prepaid ‘pay-as-you-go’ cards are set to take the UK and Europe by storm as they look like credit cards, but no line of credit is offered - only funds pre-loaded onto the card can be spent. Anyone can get a card, regardless of credit history and are perfect for those who are credit averse or want to ‘ring-fence’ funds for specific things. Blueberry’s first product is the BaBeeCard® aimed at the 750,000 per year mums-to-be in the UK, as well as existing mums and families. Friends and Family can top up the card and it can be purchased as a gift. Blueberry makes money from the cost of the card, monthly fees and transaction revenue. The cardholder enjoys online use of the card and substantial loyalty discounts.

StatsOnSports (SOS) provide un-rivalled research and analysis for the rapidly developing sports betting market. Just as equity analysts provide commentary and tools to evaluate companies and markets, SOS provide the betting industry and individuals with the equivalent tools and insight into sport.

Lifestyle Space has developed a personalised space capsule, branded Oculas, which is an ultra luxurious one person pod offering the user a private and personalised space of their own to work, relax or play. The capsules are produced using the finest luxury materials and equipped with the latest screens, surround sound, games consoles and broadband connections. To date the company has sold £400,000 of its first version Oculas however the company has recently re-engineered a second version in partnership with McLaren F1, which will be launched in June 2007. The new design will sell for £30,000 and sales of £180,000 have already been made to blue chip clients such as Disney, Saatchi and Ascari as well as customers such as the Saudi Royal Family, US rapstars and basketball stars and Russian billionaires. There is a strong sales pipeline going forward, especially from B2B customers who use the product to promote brand image or launch new products or films. The company is led by a highly dynamic management team with extensive experience in design, manufacturing, finance and marketing. During the design of Oculas, the company has registered a number of other innovations, some of which are already attracting stand-alone sales.

Trinity is a London based film distribution business which buys film rights for the UK and releases the product in cinemas and on all ancillary digital platforms. The company has rights to five titles including one that was nominated for an Oscar in 2008.

iXit Ltd was established to exploit the opportunities created by convergent technologies within the communications and computing markets. iXit technology capitalises on the inherent capabilities of mobile smartphones to generate new revenue stream opportunities for both airtime providers and content owners.

You will need to come and see us to truly appreciate the uniqueness of this street-based rental station network that allows you to hire and return a bicycle via your mobile phone. The OYBike system is based on the availability of rental bicycles at key locations, such as tube stations, public buildings and key transport interchanges. These bicycles are secured to their bike stands using cables that are attached to the bicycle and which double as security locking cables when the bicycles are on hire. Each bike stand is equipped with a specially developed electronic lock operated through a keyboard and LCD display. It costs in the region of £600 to put a fully-kitted rental bike on the road. Revenue is generated primarily through rental at rates of £2 per hour or £8 per day, and you pay through your mobile phone. In July 04, the OYBike pilot scheme was launched outside Hammersmith tube station, and there are currently 25 rental stations around West London. The business is looking to expand throughout London before exploring other national and international markets.

Wildlife Works is a fashion brand that will benefit from the rapidly growing worldwide awareness of environmental issues and wildlife conservation. Buying a Wildlife Works garment directly supports conservation in a practical and sustainable way. • The garments are produced using eco-friendly methods at sites in, or near wildlife sanctuaries (the first facility is in Kenya). Part of the purchase price will fund these sanctuaries; part will be used to educate local populations. • This 'consumer powered conservation’ concept ('Trade not Aid') is expected to generate high levels of PR in the UK, The brand was founded by Mike Korchinsky in the USA and Wildlife Works Inc owns the production facility in Kenya. • Wildlife Works UK (the Company) has been formed to develop the brand in the UK & Eire with an option into Europe.