85. One Minute London

Founder: Nelson Sivalingam
Founded: September 2012 (launched January 2013)
Website: www.oneminutelondon.com

“See it, like it, book it”. This is the mission statement of One Minute London, the capital’s first bookable video guide enabling users to view the capital’s restaurants, bars and clubs, prior to booking. Having spent evenings at “disappointing” restaurants that didn’t match up to their “marketing fluff”, 25 year-old Nelson Sivalingam, a film and video production specialist, wanted to create another way to scout out good places to eat and drink in London.

In January 2013 with the support of a StartUp Loan, he launched a platform which did just that. Simply described as “like watching a movie trailer and deciding whether you want to watch the film or not”, the site offers a new way for businesses to convert visitors into bookings; an idea which has already caught the approval of several leading venues. Within 18 months, the company has signed up the likes of Buddha Bar, Hix, Hyatt Group, and Be At One, and is currently generating over 1,500 bookings a month. Having featured in the Evening Standard as the “future of food”, over the next 12 months the video guide intends to secure additional investment, diversify into hotels and experiences, and expand into two other major cities.