Five to watch: James Uffindell, Bright Network

James Uffindell, 34
Company: Bright Network
Web: www.brightnetwork.co.uk

James Uffindell’s been starting businesses since his last year at Oxford University in 1999, such as education consultancy Oxbridge Applications and social enterprise Pure Potential. His latest venture, Bright Network – a niche community celebrating the brightest undergraduates and graduates in the UK – now employs 25 people and will this year post revenues in excess of £2m. At 17,000 members and growing, Bright Network members have an average of three As at A-level and attend Times Top 20/Russell Group universities. Bright Network connects over 200 client organisations, including firms such as Google, innocent and Goldman Sachs, with its members. In September 2012 Bright Network launched its ‘Bounty’ platform – a recruitment consultancy with a difference aimed at high growth start-ups wanting to cut their recruitment fees. Backed with £300,000 corporate venturing capital, the site’s users play headhunter and featured ‘bounties’ pay out up to £2,500 if users successfully refer a friend into positions advertised on the site.