Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Managing Director operating in the E-Commerce space. If you think a Managing Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Alex Green
Managing Director, Amazon Video of Amazon
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About Amazon: Amazon is an e-commerce website for consumers, sellers, and content creators.
Federico Pienovi
Regional Managing Director – Head of EMEA of Globant
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About Globant: Globant is a digitally native technology services company building a new way of being digital.
Galahad Clark
Founder & Managing Director of Vivobarefoot
Galahad Clark is the Founder and Managing Director of Vivobarefoot.
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About Terra Plana, Vivobarefoot: UK-based shoe brand and Crowdcube alum
Stuart Hennell
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Watchfinder
Stuart Hennell is a Co-Founder & Managing Director at Watchfinder • Stuart spent 6 years working on various Major UK and European Projects in the Civil Engineering Industry • He has lots of experience negotiating and developing supplier/client relationships both inside and outside of the UK as well as strong leadership skills and have used them to build a strong and successful team at Watchfinder • Stuart goal is to build Watchfinder into a worldwide brand and a byword for quality products delivered with the highest standards of customer service • Stuart studied Engineering Geology & Geotechnics at University of Portsmouth
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About Watchfinder: Watchfinder is the world’s leading retailer of pre-owned watches
James Grant
Co-Founder & Managing Director of MyTutor
James is a driven, passionate and ambitious entrepreneur, with experience in sales, leadership, strategy, product, digital marketing and fundraising. He started a fledgling events business at 15, which grew to a team of 30, catering for over 1,200 weekly guests. After completing a Philosophy degree at University of Birmingham, James worked for Barclays Wealth, in the Chief of Staff Team, within the Office of the Chief Executive, helping to set the Division’s strategic agenda and taking responsibility for the implementation of sponsored projects. James is a co-founder of MyTutor, creating a new world of one-to-one tuition. The team are unwaveringly focused on their mission to give every student access to 1-1 support. The platform provides live, online one-to-one lessons, delivered by bright, inspiring undergraduates studying at the UK’s leading universities – their secondary aim is to become the leading provider of work to these students. MyTutor uses AI-driven matching algorithms to ensure perfect student-tutor matches and every lesson is taught in an interactive online learning space, which facilitates live video and audio chat, document editing, file sharing and lesson recording. The company’s proudest achievement has been helping 92% of their pupils in 2016 hit or exceed their grade targets. James enjoys public speaking and has presented at a number of education and business events. His other interests include sport (football, rugby, athletics), music (blues & hip hop), travelling, reading and all things startup. He has won a number of awards over the past few years, including Unltd’s ‘Do it’, Mercia’s ‘The Pitch’, O2 ‘Think Bigger’ and Santander’s ‘Spark’.
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About MyTutor: MyTutor offers affordable 1-to-1 tutorials online by connecting tutors from the UK’s best unis with pupils at home and in schools
Samantha Tyrer
Managing Director of Co-op
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About Co-op: Co-op, home to Food, Insurance, Funeralcare, Legal Services and Electrical
Sam James
Managing Director of Hassle.com
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About Hassle.com: Hassle.com is an online marketplace that matches busy people with local, trusted cleaners.
Pierre Sapin
Managing Director of BORN
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About BORN: BORN is the world’s first private B2B platform that connects a global network of design-led lifestyle brands and retail buyers.
Kim Ludlow
Managing Director of mySupermarket
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About mySupermarket: mySupermarket designs a supermarket shopping and comparison website that helps users to compare prices across different stores.
Norman Butler
Managing Director – Visa Payments Limited of Visa Europe
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About Visa Europe: Visa Europe is a payment technology business that enables European consumers, businesses, and governments to make electronic payments.
Will Wynne
Managing Director, Co-Founder & Chief Executive of Arena Online Ltd
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About Arena Online Ltd, Smart Pension: Flowers & gifts, London, UK & Europe
Colin Roughan
Managing Director, Asia Pacific of SquareTrade
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About SquareTrade, The Natural Edition: SquareTrade is an independent warranty provider for consumer electronics and appliances.
Kevin Gillan
Managing Director Europe of SquareTrade
As SquareTrade’s Managing Director for Europe, Kevin is responsible for driving the company’s growth and international expansion.
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About SquareTrade: SquareTrade is an independent warranty provider for consumer electronics and appliances.
Filipa Neto
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Chic by Choice
Filipa Neto is co-founder and CEO of Chic by Choice, Europe’s leading luxury rental marketplace allowing women to rent the world’s best items sourced from brands and e-commerce platforms at a fraction of the retail price. Chic by Choice provides retailers a yield management solution that can help manage excessive stock in a clever way, providing an alternative that can generate up to 5 times more revenue than discounting or outlets. Filipa was able to raise €520k investment for the venture at the age of 23. The success of Chic by Choice later led to another €1.5m of investment to continue to grow the company in the UK and Germany. In July 2015, the company acquired Laremia, a German dress rental competitor, which already represents 20% of the company’s revenue. In little more than a year, Chic by Choice is established as the leading dress rental platform shipping to more than 15 countries in Europe and with outstanding month on month growth. Filipa currently manages a team of 16 with offices in London and Lisbon and she is also part of the Global Shapers community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum a network developed and led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, their achievements and their drive to make a contribution to their communities.
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About Chic by Choice, Farfetch, The World Economic Forum: Hire designer dresses curated by boutiques and department stores.
Nigel Phan
Founder and Managing Director of Whirli
I am the Founder of Whirli – the ever-changing toy box, a start-up venture based in the UK. Prior to founding Whirli, I was an Associate Partner in McKinsey & Company’s London Office. I worked with retailers, CPG companies, and other consumer businesses on topics including strategy, marketing & sales, and operations. More broadly, I also worked with organisations in other sectors on strategic topics such as Corporate / Portfolio Strategy and Growth Strategy.
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About Whirli: Whirli is a provider of toy sharing subscription service for kids.
Sam Tierney
Co-Founder & Managing Director of SimplyCook
Sam Tierney is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at SimplyCook.
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About SimplyCook: SimplyCook offers home recipe kits with easy step-by-step guides to cook restaurant-quality food in less than 20 minutes.
Konstantin Zaripov
Managing Director of Dynapay
Konstantin Zaripov is the Managing Director of DynaPay Ltd.
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About Dynapay: DynaPay UK is accredited by the FCA as Authorised E-Money Institution.
Mark Wilkinson
Managing Director, EMEA & APAC of Profitero
Mark leads Profitero’s EMEA sales team, partnering with consumer brands and retailers to improve their eCommerce performance. Mark joins Profitero following his 18-year tenure at IRI. Most recently, he was Sales Director in the Technology Solutions group where he helped major FMCG organizations get the most from a diverse range of data to improve their key business processes. Mark has worked with Kellogg’s, Danone, Nestle, Mars and Heineken, helping these companies improve global business performance, in store execution, on shelf availability and multi-channel retailing (including eCommerce). Mark studied business at the University of Sheffield and is based in London.
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About Profitero: Profitero is the eCommerce performance analytics platform of choice for leading brands around the world.
Neil Old
Managing Director of Signet Jewelers
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About Signet Jewelers: Signet Jewelers engages in the retail sale of jewelry and watches in the United States, the United Kingdom.
Gary Rohloff
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Laybuy
Gary Rohloff is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Laybuy. He attended Massey University.
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About Laybuy: Laybuy is a technology-driven payments business that makes desirable and affordable payments.
Shane Lake
Co-Founder and Managing Director of hungryhouse
Shane Lake is co-founder and managing director at Hungryhouse.
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About hungryhouse: hungryhouse is a U.K.-based online platform for takeaway and food delivery that provides a wide range of cuisines and dishes.
Lorenzo Franzi
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Zipjet
Lorenzo is Co-Founder & Managing Director of ZipJet. ZipJet is an urban pick-up & delivery service for laundry & dry cleaning in London and Berlin. Previously, Lorenzo worked with McKinsey & Company as a consultant. Prior to McKinsey, he worked with Voice.ee a micro polling start up. Lorenzo started-off his professional career at JP Morgan in London. Lorenzo holds an MBA from INSEAD and Msc in Finance from the University of Maastricht.
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About Zipjet: Zipjet is an online laundry and dry cleaning service that enables its users to order laundry and dry cleaning pickup and delivery services.
Frank Bertele
Managing Director of Der Merklinger
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About Der Merklinger: Der Merklinger is an online shop that offers different kinds of baking and grilling materials.
Ian Benn
Managing Director, Northern Europe of Ingenico Group
Ian Benn is Managing Director at Ingenico Northern Europe where he is responsible for operations in the Nordics, UK and Ireland. Formerly COO of FIS in Europe, Middle East and Africa and previously CMO at Misys, Ian has spent his career in the join between financial services and technology. Author or “Strategic Outsourcing: exploiting the Skills of Third Parties” and, most recently, “Write to Win”, Ian is also an advisor to the Pennies Foundation and tech start-up, Obsidian Solutions.
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About Ingenico Group: Ingenico provides smart payment solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online, and mobile.
Anna Szanto
Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Goodness Project
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About The Goodness Project: The Goodness Project is a highly regarded e-commerce platform offering quality free from gifts, subscription boxes.
Ollie Marshall
Managing Director of Maplin Electronics
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About Maplin Electronics: Maplin Electronics is an online retailer of consumer electronics.
Paul Archer
Founder and Managing Director of Duel
World Record-breaking Adventurer, Best-selling Author and founder of Duel. Aside from his expeditions and writing, he has spent his career building technology, including the Daredevil Project app development studio, and consulting for advertising agencies and tech companies. He founded Duel to democratise and decentralise marketing for brands. Duel is solving the lack of emotional connection and social proof in often clinical looking online stores by rewarding customers for creating visual testimonials and advocating among their friends, rather than wasting millions on advertising to drive sales. Before this Paul conceived and implemented the It’s on the Meter Expedition to drive to London taxi around the World. The expedition broke two Guinness World Records, raised over £20,000 and passed through 50 countries after driving 80,000 miles from London to London in Hannah, a 1992 London Taxi bought of eBay. Paul is also an experienced speaker, moderator and a conference host. Including TEDx, SXSW, Festival of Media, Cannes Lions, Social Media Week, GenerationE, the Content Marketing Institute and Retail.Tech, as well as guest lecturing at the British School of Fashion.
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About Duel: Brand Advocacy Platform that enables purpose-led brands to drive organic growth & retention through word-of-mouth & advocacy
David Roe
Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director, Europe of Paramount Commerce
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About Paramount Commerce: Paramount Commerce is a financial services company that enables customers to make purchases online directly from their bank account.
Ian Cowley
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Cartridge Save
Ian Cowley is the managing director of Cartridge Save.
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About Cartridge Save: Cartridge Save is an online printer cartridge retail shop.
Michael Welch
Founder & Managing Director of Blackcircles.com
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About Blackcircles.com: Blackcircles.com is an online marketplace for new vehicle tires.
Tony Fairhurst
Managing Director and Founder of Wallsauce.com
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About Wallsauce.com: Wallsauce.com are here to deliver bespoke wall murals to help transform your living space or workplace.
Akshay Ruparelia
Founder and Managing Director of Doorsteps
Akshay Ruparelia is the Founder of Doorsteps.
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About Doorsteps: Doorsteps is a UK-based online estate agents.
Stephen Homer
Managing Director of PostSnap
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About PostSnap: We’re PostSnap an independent, privately owned online photo printing service going strong since 2015!
Tim Gaunt
Managing Director of The Site Doctor
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About The Site Doctor: The Site Doctor is a Herefordshire based web design and development company.
Joseph Munns
Co-Founder, Managing Director/CEO of Bakedin
Joe spent the majority of his career in various senior management positions at IBM UK, before moving to the food industry to lead Bakedin. He has previous experience in M&A, leading the integration of the Maidenhead based Butterfly Software into IBMs development organisation.
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About Bakedin: Bakedin, a Basingstoke-based baking subscription service, provides premium home baking products featuring exclusive recipes by Michel Roux.
Graeme Carr
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Paladone
Graeme Carr is Managing Director at Paladone Products Ltd
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About Paladone: Paladone is a gift designer company that creates and innovates giftware with a history of spanning 21 years.
Andrew Talbot
Managing Director of Custom Gateway
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About Custom Gateway, Custom Gateway: A cloud based software platform, content database and fulfilment network to aide manufacturing Customisable or On Demand products profitably
Asif Khetani
Managing Director, Ecommerce of BT Expedite
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About BT Expedite: BT Expedite provides innovative, proven technology and business solutions for retailers.
Jeremy Round
Managing Director of UK & Europe & Executive Director of Haynes Group
Jeremy Yates-Round is Managing Director of UK & Europe & Executive Director at Haynes.
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About Haynes Group: Haynes Group Provides online sales of car manuals and automotive related sites.
Charlotte Bearn
Managing Director of Art Republic
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About Art Republic: Art Republic is an online store that provides artworks, gifts and magazines including art advice services.
Steve Simper
Managing Director of Alltrade
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About Alltrade: Alltrade are the leading trade wholesalers and have been supporting the retail and installation sectors of the television reception industry
Abdul Ojomu
Managing Director MMIT UK of Mobile Media Info Tech Global Limited
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About Mobile Media Info Tech Global Limited: Mobile Media Info Tech (MMIT) is a mobile payment processing company.
Scott Morris
Managing Director of DisplayPlan
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About DisplayPlan: DisplayPlan is specialists in delivering retail display programmes for the world’s most prominent brands and retailers.
Bill Carr
Managing Director of Carpe Diem
Bill Carr is the managing director at Carpe Diem.
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About Carpe Diem: Full service digital agency specialising in website design, development and marketing to increase ROI with Customer Rate Optimisation.
Charlie Thuillier
Founder and Managing Director of Oppo Ice Cream
Charlie Thuillier is the Founder & Managing Director at Oppo Brothers.
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About Oppo Ice Cream: Oppo Ice Cream provides a wide range of ice creams such as madagascan vanilla, mint choc swirl, and salted caramel.
Harry Thuillier
Co-Owner and Managing Director of Oppo Ice Cream
Harry Thuillier is the Co-Owner and Managing Director.
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About Oppo Ice Cream: Oppo Ice Cream provides a wide range of ice creams such as madagascan vanilla, mint choc swirl, and salted caramel.
Rachel Cornish
Managing Director of ExtraDigital
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About ExtraDigital, ExtraDigital, Mynurva: Internet Marketing & Development Agency
Iain Coplans
Managing Director of Stokly
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About Stokly: Stokly provides a solution for large and small retailers.
Graham Withe
Founder and Managing Director of We Influence
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About We Influence, Webtise: We Influence is a digital marketing agency specializing in search marketing and conversion rate optimization.
Ken Platt
Managing Director of Elevaate
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About Elevaate: Elevaate is the most efficient way for retailers and their suppliers to execute trade funded activity online.
Mark Matias
Managing Director of OMdeSIGN
Director at OMdeSIGN. a creative website design and web development studio from London.
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About OMdeSIGN: OMdeSIGN is a creative digital agency focusing on website design and development.
Payam Tamiz
Founder/Managing Director of GoMoove
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About GoMoove: GoMoove is a property website and an online platform that helps users find and share information about properties available to rent or buy.
Michael Brooks
Managing Director of MPower UPS
Michael Brooks is Managing Director of Centiel Ltd which acquired the long-established UPS service provider MPower UPS Ltd in 2017. Michael Brooks founded MPower UPS in 2005 and has been in the industry since 1988, his previous roles include service engineer, service manager, service director, founder and managing director, working with Victron, Liebert, Emerson and Premier CBS.
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About MPower UPS: Sales and Maintenance of UPS power supplies and generators.
Tim Howes
Managing Director of Kontrolit.net
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About Kontrolit.net: Kontrolit is an experienced web design, development and digital marketing company.
Adam Murphy
Managing Director of Shnuggle
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About Shnuggle: Shnuggle is an innovative company that designs modern, clever baby products for the mid-high end of the market.
Ashley Morrison
Managing Director & Co Owner of Lockertek
Managing Director and chief tea maker. Literally knows everything about lockers, also thinks he’s a comedian.
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About Lockertek: The UK’s leading independent locker, and locker parts company.
Alun Bain
Managing Director of Black Robin Coffee Limited
An entrepreneur with 25yrs business experience, primarily in technology and food & beverage with a focus on sales, customer experience and product development. Currently a director and founder of Black Robin Coffee and Swap a Cup. Numerous investments in tech, food and beverage and eco products.
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About Black Robin Coffee Limited: High quality food & beverage available in-store, online and via subscription, aiming to be the ultimate convergence of coffee and technology
Sam Rutley
Managing Director of PushON
Sam Rutley is a managing director at PushON.
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About PushON: Award winning full-service eCommerce agency with offices in Manchester, Bristol & Edinburgh
David Bryan
Managing Director of Opace Digital Marketing Agency in Birmingham
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About Opace Digital Marketing Agency in Birmingham: Opace are a results-driven Birmingham based Web Design, eCommerce SEO & Internet Marketing agency.
Ruby Chan
Managing Director of My Teatime LTD
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About My Teatime LTD: Wholesome natural tea infusions: from blooming flower teas to perfectly crafted blends, made from whole leaves.
Leon Calverley
Managing Director of Door4
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About Door4: Door4 is a digital agency that provides business-focused e-commece websites, online promotion and internet consultancy.
Alex Ogilvie
Managing Director of Objective Associates Limited
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About : Software development for the ecommerce and marketplace sectors.
Neil Lewin
Owner, Managing Director and Web Developer of Semantic
Neil Lewin is the owner, managing director and a web developer at Semantic.
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About Semantic: Semantic is a web agency that uses design, technology and psychology to help clients sell products, services and ideas.
Andrius Ce
Managing Director, Executive Officer of AcEmpire
It is a one man business at the moment and unfortunately one man can`t go very far. That’s why he`s ready to expand, He is ready to build a prefessional and experienced team around me and take it to the next level. But to do so he need some funding. There would be an opportunity for a potential invester to work alongside the business and be involved in it`s growth. He knows exactly where and how to take this business but at a same time he is very open minded to a new ideas and suggestions. He hopes there are investers out there that can see the potential in this business and are passionate about it as much as he is. With the right funding they could lift this business of the ground in no time and go into much deeper waters. This is a great opportunity for investers to jump on a gold mine.
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About AcEmpire: AcEmpire has created a new e-commerce platform and put it on a global market.
Mike Johnson
Managing Director of Blank Lab
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About : Online Creative Platform and Marketplace
Edward Taylor
Managing Director of Framecraft Picture Framers
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About Framecraft Picture Framers: Quality Bespoke picture framers, mirror makers, art restorers and fine art printers
