The companies selected for WebMission 2011 produce, and are developing, a wide range of web technologies, from Crisp Thinking, which uses behavioural analysis to stop cyber bullying, to BraveNewTalent, the next generation of online recruiting that harnesses the power of social media to build communities of potential employees and employers.
Others include: ParcelGenie.com, a service that allows users to send real gifts to friends via their mobile phones without needing to know the postal address and BookingBug's online system that allows users to book services for everything from a yoga class while on holiday to a neighbourhood restaurant at home.
The mission companies represent the very best of the UK's internet economy which, if it were a separate sector would be the UKs fifth largest.
"Digital services—are an area of development arguably capable of transforming the digital world just as manufacturing transformed the physical world," said David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board.
"The technologies developed by mission companies change and benefit the way we network and interact with others—they take advantage of ubiquitous web and mobile technology to advance the industry," Bott continued.
The mission is made possible by a range of public sector and private sponsors including the Technology Strategy Board, a government agency that promotes and supports research into technology with the belief that innovation gives companies a competitive edge and a springboard into the global marketplace.
Additional sponsors include UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), which aims to add value to the UK economy by helping business succeed internationally, and Orrick's Emerging Companies Group. The mission is also supported and delivered by partners Polecat, the Co-Sponsorship Agency, and The Long Run Venture.
"By bringing these companies to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, the Technology Strategy Board and mission sponsors give them an opportunity to learn from colleagues while also offering US companies the opportunity to partner with the growing UK technology arena," David Bott added.
