7. ZeroLight

Founder: Darren Jobling
Founded: May 2014
Website: www.zerolight.com

Number 23 in last year’s Startups 100, ZeroLight is the brainchild of former racing videogame developer Darren Jobling who spotted the car market’s need for a more sophisticated virtual car showroom.

Using his games industry heritage, the entrepreneur founded Zerolight, a real-time 3D car configurator solution. The innovative software enables dealerships to create a fully interactive showcase of their complete range of models, designs and options – and the user can customise the vehicle of their choosing to any specification and view it from any perspective.

The company’s clients – including Audi AG, Pagani Automobili and two unnamed global mass-market manufacturers – purchase a per-year, per-dealership licence to use the technology for a minimum of three years. Zerolight also offers custom content and technology creation for any of its clients that need a bespoke solution.

2016 is set to be a big year for the business, with the announcement of its two new major clients and a launch into new international markets. Currently set to roll-out its first virtual reality experience in the form of Audi VR, the Startups Awards Tech Business of the Year finalist will continue to expand in the burgeoning field by working with a number of market leaders including Oculus, HTC Vive and Gear VR.