Export business of the Year 2016

Start-up name: Netduma
Founders: Iain Fraser and Luke Barlow
Started in: 2011 (launched 2014)
Based in: Luton
Business description: Router software

Selling to over 75 countries around the world, and having launched just under two years ago, Bedfordshire-based Netduma is a worthy winner of Export Business of the Year 2016.

Founded by Iain Fraser and Luke Barlow while still at university, and like any great business idea, Netduma was born out of frustration and a need to solve a problem.

Experiencing a stuttering internet connection when their friends would hog the bandwidth, Fraser and Barlow created an anti-flood – a feature that “completely eliminates” network congestion at home.

On the back of this success, and following an intense period of R&D, the duo created Netduma – bespoke software which installs directly on to your router and is designed specifically with gamers in mind.

Eliminating the usual queues and connection issues that occur when too many devices are connected to the internet at once, the router allows gamers to experience a more efficient connection.

Its ‘geo-filter’ feature, completely exclusive to the Netduma R1, also allows users to set the maximum distance they want their game’s connection to travel from their home.

Claiming to sell “the only router in the world that will fix lag”, 50% of Netduma’s sales come from the US while the business has also generated strong sales demand in Germany, France, Spain and the Middle East.

Netduma faced very stiff competition from the other finalists in the Export Business of the Year category, with Wi-Fi enabled kitchen device producer Smarter and e-mattress company eve Sleep receiving the accolades of highly-commended and commended respectively.