Tech Business of the Year 2015

Start-up name: Purplebricks.com
Founders: Michael and Kenny Bruce
Started in: 2014
Based in: London
Business description: Online estate agency

Having already taken top spot in our Startups 100 index, Purplebricks has one more award to add to its shelf after its open-all-hours online property platform saw it crowned winner of the Tech Business of the Year, sponsored by .UK, at the 2015 Startups Awards.

Fraternal property veterans Michael and Kenny Bruce set out to “revolutionise the way people buy and sell houses” by allowing customers to arrange viewings, put houses on the market and even agree an offer or sale on a property from any device, at anytime, from anywhere.

Since launch in April last year, Purplebricks has already grabbed 61% of the national online housing market and 34% in London, by capitalising on the valuable time when local estate agents are closed.

The Bruce’s success can be partly attributed to their unusual business model – instead of taking commission customers pay a flat fee of £665 + VAT, which is said to save vendors an average of £9,000. This approach has seen the company consistently score ratings of 9.5 on Trust Pilot and steal a larger market share than leading rivals in some parts of the country.

Purplebricks fended of stiff competition from two worthy tech start-ups to take home the award. Second place went to Startups 100-listed car configurator Zerolight and third place to social media platform Gnatta.

Other contenders in the Tech Business of the Year category were IT services provider Roc Technologies, price comparison site Flubit and CommuterClub, a solutions provider helping commuters cut the cost of their annual season tickets.