10. Appear Here

Founder: Ross Bailey
Founded: November 2012 (launched February 2013)
Website: www.appearhere.co.uk

Appear Here wants to “completely disrupt” the commercial property industry and, given its track record to date, this goal looks well within reach.

A platform which allows entrepreneurs to rent space for pop-up shops across the UK, Appear Here is the concept of 23 year-old Young Gun Ross Bailey – a young entrepreneur who has already accomplished more than most established business owners could hope to achieve.

Since appearing in our 2014 index, Bailey has grown the tech company to a team of 25 employees, profitability and a client list which spans over 10,000 brands with names such as Marc Jacobs, Google and the BBC on its books.

Bailey’s growing property portfolio is no doubt part of the major attraction for these stellar clients. The company now has 600 spaces available and deals with some of the biggest landlords in the country with exclusive agreements with British Land, Transport for London, Hammerson, Capital and Regional, and Land Securities.

In November 2014, the company took its total investment to £6.1m when it secured $7.5m in a deal led by Balderton Capital and it’s clear that, as far as ambitions to expand the company go, the sky’s the limit. Bailey plans to launch in two international cities over the coming year so that budding entrepreneurs can “make their ideas travel” while his long-term goal is for users to be able to “rent a space anywhere across the globe”.