7. Stylus

Founder: Marc Worth
Founded: September 2010
Website: www.stylus.com

Not many entrepreneurs start a business, sell that business, then start a rival brand four years later – but then, Marc Worth is no ordinary entrepreneur. The restless risk-taker, best known for arranging the £142m sale of his fashion-forecasting firm WGSN in 2004, has re-entered the start-up scene – after more than 30 years in business. His latest offering Stylus reinvigorates the WGSN concept, by recognising the crossovers in contemporary culture to provide ‘design inspiration’ (from fashion to travel) to more than 200 corporate clients, including Marks and Spencer.

With a seven-figure turnover and a global body of staff, Stylus’ client base is already dominated by international demand – particularly from the US. Next stop? China and the Far East.