36. Casabu

Founder: Rachel Oxburgh
Founded: April 2012
Website: www.casabu.com

Oxburgh’s story is a fantastic reminder that the entrepreneurial urge can come to anyone. A former geochemistry lecturer at Edinburgh University, she holds a phD from Columbia, New York. Her second start-up Casabu has jumped on the flash sales bandwagon, with a tailored website for mothers, offering up to 80% off all they need – from pregnancy through to adolescence.

With industry giants such as Fisher Price on board, Casabu has attracted more than 30,000 private members within three months of launch – as well as the financial support of several investors. Offering a ‘you beat it, we’ll meet it’ price promise, Oxburgh is confident her products can’t be found cheaper anywhere else online – and is targeting turnover of £5m for her first year of trading.