“SEATWAVE ANNOUNCED ONLINE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AND ANGEL OR VC-BACKED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR”
The country-wide search for the most ambitious companies in the UK is now over. After much deliberation, Seatwave has been unveiled as Online Business of the Year and Angel or VC-backed Business of the Year at the Fast Growth Business Awards 2009.
The internet continues to spawn large numbers of great new businesses. This year’s winner, Seatwave, has grown quickly to establish significant market share in a new but burgeoning secondary ticketing industry. The company’s innovative business model has seen it create a true peer-to-peer e-commerce network. It has a strong acquisitive pedigree, and the judges were suitably impressed by the breadth and track-record of a management team that have accomplished international careers in the e-commerce, marketing, technology and social networking industries. Furthermore, it is also leveraging its relationships with a diverse range of established venture investors to build up a truly international presence; it is already Europe’s largest fan-to-fan ticket exchange for sports, music and other live events.
The Fast Growth Business Awards, which honour the UK’s fastest growing businesses are organised by Crimson Business in conjunction with Growing Business magazine. Presented by Adam Shaw of BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, the black tie awards ceremony took place at the London Marriott on Wednesday 18 March. Amongst the 300 entrepreneurs and industry leaders who attended, were Kanya King, founder of the MOBO Organisation, David Soskin, Vice-Chairman of cheapflights.co.uk and Andy Baker, Managing Director of Friends Reunited.
The judges were hugely impressed by Seatwave’s entry. James Hurley, editor of Growing Business magazine and Growingbusiness.co.uk comments:
“The calibre of businesses that enter the Fast Growth Business is extremely high. And despite the current economic climate this year was no exception. The winners all had that little something to set them apart from the rest and the judges are in no doubt that they are set for an outstanding future.”
Other judges included Margaret Manning, CEO of Reading Room, Alastair Lukies, CEO of Monitise and Perry Wilson, Managing Director of Insure and Go, who were the winners of the Fast Growth Business awards last year.
Both Crimson Business and T-Mobile are committed to recognising and rewarding great businesses and the people running them. For more information about the Fast Growth Business Awards visit www.fgba.co.uk.
About Seatwave
Seatwave is Europe’s largest fan-to-fan ticket exchange, an online marketplace for buying and selling tickets for theatre, sports, music and other live events. The company was launched in February 2007 by Joe Cohen, ex Ticketmaster and ex match.com and early stage Venture Capital firm, Atlas Venture. Seatwave has more than 500,000 tickets on sale at any one time, 25 times more than eBay.
Seatwave guarantees that tickets come only from legitimate sources and will represent them accurately and honestly. Seatwave operates two types of customer protection. TicketintegrityTM guarantees that buyers will receive the tickets they ordered and in good time for the event. If not Seatwave refunds 100% of what was paid. All tickets bought on Seatwave are also covered by TicketcoverTM. This provides for a full refund if an event is cancelled and even covers buyers for a range of circumstances that may prevent them from attending their performance. The company is based in London. www.seatwave.com
Crimson Business
The 2009 Fast Growth Business Awards are organised by Crimson Business. Crimson Business specialises in publishing information for small and medium sized businesses. Crimson has established more relationships with entrepreneurs than any other B2B publisher resulting in its favourable position as market leader. For more info visit www.crimsonbusiness.co.uk. Specifically, Crimson has provided practical and inspirational information for growing businesses for more than six years via its flagship brand Growing Business.
Growing Business magazine
Growing Business magazine is the UK’s most popular magazine for entrepreneurs. Launched in 2001, Growing Business is established as the most trusted and requested small and medium sized business magazine. Full of success stories, it provides readers with practical advice, inspiration and information, all presented with a strong emphasis on what it takes to successfully grow a business.
www.growingbusiness.co.uk
T-Mobile
The 2009 Fast Growth Business Awards is headline sponsored by T-Mobile. As one of the leading mobile phone providers for growing businesses, T-Mobile understands the difficulties of running a successful business and how vital good communication is. T-Mobile offers flexible pricing, exclusive business extras and great network coverage alongside the best value voice and data plans and has delivered these through voice tariff Business 1 Plan, and web ‘n’ walk for your mobile data needs. Delivering best practice standards, T-Mobile supports its customers with dedicated business customer service teams and account managers.
www.t-mobile.co.uk/business or call 0800 587 0097
Other sponsors of the awards include: British Gas, Business Link, CIMA and Smith & Williamson
For more information please contact:
Louise Rutter / Claire Thom
Portland PR
T: 020 7842 0135
E: [email protected], [email protected]
For press information about the Fast Growth Business Awards please contact:
Sandra Kuhne
Crimson Business
Telephone: 020 8334 1680
Email: [email protected]
