X AWARDS 2007

Arena's new stars of business

From retro bars to futuristic 3D projections, here's our pick of the best new entrepreneurs in the UK. We'll be announcing the overall winner in a couple of weeks. Check back then to see who's come top of this glittering list.

Richard Palmer

Business: d3o Lab
Region: Brighton
What he does: Founding partner of d3o Lab, which gives its name to the material that Palmer has developed. Described as an "intelligent shock absorber", the energy it absorbs means it has applications in sports clothes, cars and trainers.
What he says: "There's amazing stuff around the corner."

Andrew Impey, Mark Steer and David Hall

Business: Null Hypothesis
Region: Bristol
What they do: Run and write an irreverent science news website.
The 'Daily Telegraph' called it "the 'Private Eye' of science".
What they say: "People feel cut off from science, they feel it's stuffy and we want to challenge that."

Will Cavendish and Oli Collier

Business: Pufferfish
Region: Edinburgh
What they do: Produce 'dynamic digital display systems' and multimedia platforms. Which means they can project images on to surfaces you haven't thought of yet.
What they say: "We're on the crest of a wave… computing power allows us to do things that weren't possible five years ago."

Jake Burger

Business: Jake's Bar and Grill
Region: Leeds
What he does: The aptly-named Jake owns a bar and grill in the heart of Leeds' independent bar scene. It has steaks, "proper guitar music", and a selection of whiskies going back to 1905.
What he says: "Jake's is a drinker's bar… but also a connoisseur's bar, a place for people who want something a bit better in life."

Stephen Helsby

Business: Evolve Productions
Region: Liverpool
What he does: Produce 3D computer-generated imagery and visualisations
for clients, including interior designers, property developers and engineers.
You'd swear they're real.
What he says: "We can create the building, go inside and do virtual walk-throughs."

Bugsy Steel and Russ Cooper

Business: OneInThree
Region: London
What they do: Make videos for bands with good music and no money.
Their work is funny, irreverent and original.
What they say: "It's no good just doing something because the music
'sounds' a bit like your idea. You've got to have a concept behind it."

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