Jason Trost: Smarkets

Jason Trost, 29
Company: Smarkets
Web: www.smarkets.com

For anyone who fancies a flutter but isn’t turned on by predicting the number of balls in the back of a net, Smarkets is the place to be. The site has made online trading simple and has attracted a niche crowd betting on a wide range of activities, which include among other things, politics, entertainment and current affairs. Online gambling is enjoying a surge, with other fledgling companies such as Betable also impressing investors, plus a predicted £1.5bn Betfair flotation on the cards. In Smarkets’ case, a sizeable investment led by ex-Last.fm chairman Stefan Glaenzer has helped it grow to its current state. Founder Jason Trost now hopes that by implementing features to make betting a more social experience, it will be at the forefront of the industry’s growth