UK market supports SaaS start-ups

The UK market is better placed than either that of Europe or the US to support small and medium software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, according to several top UK start-ups who were presenting at Tech Tour, a cloud and ICT summit being held in Geneva, says Computing.

The summit has seen 25 high-growth start-ups from across Europe presenting to leading venture capitalists in a bid to bag investment.

The 25 companies were chosen as the most promising and innovative companies in the cloud sector from a cluster of 234 by a selection committee comprising technology venture capital firms, members of the legal profession and blogosphere as well as members of European governments.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses in the UK are capitilising on the growing market for sustainable technology for export to developing countries, notes Green Wise.

As the UK seeks to control a share of the global market for low carbon goods and services, Cambridge University graduate, Nate Sharpe, is pioneering his green waste removal bicycle, the 'People Powered Poo Pump,' which will be exported to third world countries.

Targeting a similar area of the world, UK small to medium-sized enterprise, Interplex Solar Technology, recently received its first order to export solar panel kits to Africa.

Cisco revealed the roll out of 'Grand Slam', a programme designed to excite and reward its partners, and to drive awareness for Cisco's solutions across small and medium businesses in the sub-continent, according to the Business Standard.

As part of the programme, Cisco's SME-focused partners could win an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the Australian Open to be held in January 2011.

The programme will remain live until 23 December 2010 and will culminate in 35 partners with the highest points making a 4-day trip to Melbourne.