‘Europas’ – The European Startup Awards this week

The Europas, the European Startup Awards, will be held this Friday, November 19, in London. The event is now totally sold out, with over 350 people coming from the cream of Europe’s startups, VCs and entrepreneurs.

Here are the finalists for the awards, all of whom are listed on Crunchbase :

Best Business or Enterprise Startup 2010
Alfresco – Open Source Content Mgmt System
Everbread – Airline Fares & pricing Engine
Erply.com – Online Retail store platform
Huddle.com – Project Collaboaration & management software
MyBuilder – Builder marketplace
PeoplePerHour – Freelance job marketplace
Podio – Social work platform
ShipServ.com – Online marine supplies marketplace
Tradeshift – Digital invoicing
VideoPlaza – Ad video server
Zendesk – Hosted Help Desk
Zmags.com – Digital Publishing Platform

Best Advertising or Marketing Tech Startup 2010
adjug.com – Online Advertising Exchange
Cognitive Match – Content targeting solution
Livebookings – Marketing & Reservation systems for Restaurants
Populis – Content & Media creation
Skimlinks – Affiliate marketing for publishers
Struq – Personalised Advertising
Tigerlily –
VideoPlaza – Ad video server

Best New Startup in 2010
Bambuser – Live Mobile video streaming
Cognician – Thought processor
FinanceAcar.co.uk – Car Loan, Hire & Finance
Flattr – Social marketplace
Memrise – Accelerated learning System
OneFineStay.com – London’s Online Unhotel site
OpenGamma – Open Source Financial Analytics & Risk Management Platform
Shutl.co.uk – Online Delivery Solution
Timetric.com – Indexing the world’s economy
Tradeshift – Digital Invoicing
Put.io – Online storage streaming

Best Platform Startup 2010
Conversocial.com – Social communication on Facebook
Curated.by – Topic manager on Twitter
Datasift – Tuning your tweets using cloud computing
Duedil.com – Allows Linkedin users to give anonymous feedback on each other
Paper.li – Read Twitter as a daily newspaper
PeerIndex – Understanding your social capital
Qwerly.com – People search for the social web
Tweetdeck – Social broadcast & browser
Tweetmeme – Search & retweet the hottest stories on Twitter

Best European Startup Tool For Startups 2010
Bijk.com – Server performance monitoring
Codility – Automated testing of coding skills
Gosquared.com – Realtime web traffic analytics
Pagedo.com – Effective landing pages
PlayNice.ly – Collaboration tool for software developers
Zendesk – Hosted Help Desk Software

Best European Web Application Or Service 2010
BaseKit – Web Designing & Content Mgmt System
MoshiMonsters – Adopt a virtual pet monster
Seatwave – Ticket exchange
Spotify – Music exchange
Shazam – Music discovery solution
Soundcloud – Cloud based Music Mgmt.
Wonga – Online short-term cash lender

Best Mobile Startup 2010
Apprupt.com – Application affiliate network
Cardmobili – Mobile loyalty card
helloinbox.com – One App for all your msgs
HulloMail – Voicemail & Instant voice messaging Application
Layar – Augmented reality viewer
Nimbuzz –  Free calls, IM & text for smart phones
Rebtel – Cheap international calls
Shazam – Music discovery solution
Taptu – Mobile Internet viewer
Vouchercloud – Discount vouchers

Best Entertainment, Sport or Leisure Startup 2010
Blinkbox – Movie & TV Search
eRepublik – Online Virtual World
Fanduel – Fantasy sports
Moshi Monsters –  Adopt a virtual pet monster
Map My Tracks – Location based sports tracking
PickLive.com – Live Fantasy football
Qype – Find & share venues, restaurants & gigs
Spoonfed – Things to do website
Sportpost.com –  Sports News, Blogs and Videos
Teamer.net – Sports Team Management
WeeWorld – Online Virtual World Games
Zoombu – Travel Planning

Best Learning Startup 2010
Babbel.com – Online Language Learning
De.bettermarks.com – Online Learning
Busuu.com – Online Language Learning
Lingueo – Live Online Language Lessons
MoshiMonsters.com – Adopt a virtual pet monster
Mangahigh.com – Maths game site
Sofatutor – Tutoring website

Best Social Innovation Startup 2010
Bipper – Mobile management for kids
JustGiving – Online fund raising & donation
LeapCR.com / LeapAnywhere – Employee volunteering
Patients Know Best – Personal Health management
Schoolofeverything.com – Online Learning
UnLtdWorld – Social network for Social Entreprenuers
Worldeka –  Social network for Charities

Best Commerce Startup 2010

Boticca.com – Online Jewellery Store
Just-Eat – Takeway ordering
KupiVIP – Clothes store
Made.com – Online designer furniture
Onefinestay – London’s Online Unhotel site
Shutl.co.uk – Online Delivery Solution
Stylight.de – Online Fashion store
SponsorPay.com – Virtual currency & premium content monetisation
Wahanda – Online Beauty products
Zalando – Shoes & Fashion online

Best Music Startup 2010
GigJunkie
Mixcloud
RjDJ
ShareMyPlaylists.com
Soundcloud
Spotify
Songkick

Best Video Startup 2010
23video.com
Bambuser
Blinkbox
Brainient
Jaycut.com
Ovia.me
Stupeflix
Sparkeo.com
Voddler

Best Cleantech/Environmental Tech Startup 2010

Alertme
Amee
GeoGoer
goCarShare.com
OffsetOptions.com
SpeedSell (for recycling)
Whipcar

Best Hardware or Gadget Startup 2010
AlertMe
Maxroam SIM roaming card
Openways
Powerkiss
Poken
Siine

Best Startup Founder / Co-Founders 2010
Alastair Mitchell and Andy McLoughlin, jointly, Huddle.net
Alexander Ljung, Eric Wahlforss, jointly, Soundcloud
Daniel Ek / Martin Lorentzon, Spotify
David Langer, Andy Young, Groupspaces
Errol Damelin, Wonga
Kieran O’Neill, Playfire.com
Michael Acton Smith, Moshi Monsters
Alex Chesterman, Simon Kain, Zoopla

Best VC or Seed Fund of the Year 2010
360 Capital Partners
Accel Partners
Atomico Ventures
Balderton Capital
Dawn Capital
Eden Ventures
European Founders Fund
Highland Capital Partners
Holtzbrinck Ventures
Index Ventures
Northzone Ventures
PROfounders Capital
Team Europe Ventures

Best Angel Investor of the Year 2010
Christoph Janz
Dave McClure, 500 Startups
Italian Angels for Growth
Julian Ranger
Kimaventures.com
Morten Lund
Octopusventures.com
PRO Founders Capital
Seedcamp.com
Stefan Glaenzer
The Accelerator Group

Best Startup Advisor/Mentor of the Year 2010
Alex Hoye, Angel
Angel Gambino, Angel
Bindi Karia, Microsoft Bizspark
Barry Vitou Bootlaw
Cedric Giorgi
Christoph Janz
Eileen Burbidge
Iqbal Gandham
Katy Turner, Eden Ventures
Marcin Grodzicki
Reshma Sohoni, Seedcamp
Stefan Glaenzer, White Bear Yard
Sherry Coutu
Sonali De Rycker, Accel Partners
Sean Seton Rogers, Profounders
Yossi Vardi, Angel

Best Service Provider to Startups 2010
Orrick
Winston & Strawn / Bootlaw
Ballou PR
Spark PR
Rougefrog.com
Brown Rudnick

Best Ongoing Startup Programme 2010
BizSpark (Microsoft Europe)
Hackfwd.com (Pan-European)
Garage48 (Estonia)
Seedcamp (Pan-European)
Startup Bootcamp (Denmark)
The Difference Engine (UK)
The Founder Institute (Pan-European)
Tetuanvalley.com (Spain)

Best Exit 2010

Betfair (public listing)
My CityDeal to Groupon
Plink to Google
QlikTech IPO
TrustedPlaces to Yell.com
Hostelworld / Web Reservations International to Hellman Friedman
Mail.ru IPO

1. Attrition increase

2010 Red Herring Asia winners

List of Asian companies winning the Red Herring Asia 2010 awards in Shanghai earlier this week

ABIBA Systems	India
Acacia Company	Taiwan
Active Cubes	India
AG Delta Pte Ltd	Singapore
AiDi Corporation	Japan
Annex Power Ltd	Thailand
Annik Technology Services	India
Arctern Consulting	India
ART GROUP LIMITED	Hong Kong
Astuon Networks	India
bc Business Intelligence	China
Beijing 58 Information Technology	China
Beijing China Payment Information and Technology	China
Bleum Inc.	China
BuildingIQ Pty Ltd	Australia
Chalkboard Pte Ltd	Singapore
Changzhou CTC Technical Fabrics	China
Cinemacraft Pte.	Japan
Clickoo Limited	Hong Kong
Club Intimate	Australia
Colour Code Technologies	Japan
Compassites Software Solutions	India
ConvenientPower Ltd.	Hong Kong
CresTech Software Systems	India
Crimson Interactive	India
Cyworld Vietnam	Vietnam
D-SIMLAB Technologies	Singapore
Dazhi Mobile Services Limited	China
Dealguru Holdings	Singapore
Dream11 Gaming	India
Drishti-Soft Solutions	India
Ecowatt LLP	Kazakhstan
Edulive Infra India	India
Englishtown	Hong Kong
ePulze	Malaysia
Firmus Security Group	Malaysia
Fullcircle Innovations	Japan
Greenlots	Singapore
Guangzhou Aipai Network	China
GuardTime	Singapore
i-Vista Digital Solutions	India
iCreate Software	India
INCOREP	Korea
Inventit Inc.	Japan
Jobmet Technology	China
JustCommodity Software Solutions	Singapore
KAI Square Pte Ltd	Singapore
KrazyMarket	Indonesia
LanzaTech NZ	New Zealand
Lashou.com	China
Luna Ergonomics	India
MangoSpring	India
Medsynaptic	India
Mi5 Ltd	New Zealand
Mobien Technologies Private Limited	India
MoneyLine.sg	Singapore
Morphlabs, Inc.	Philippines
Newspolitan.com	India
Nexshore Technologies	India
Nitman Software	India
Octaware Technologies	India
Pawaa Software	India
Paytronic Network Private	India
PChomestore	Korea
Pechora Technnologies	Singapore
Perfint Healthcare	India
POPS Worldwide	Vietnam
Priza Technologies	India
Rainbow Japan	Japan
Reverse Logistics Company	India
Richtor Inc.	Taiwan
S.Biomedics	Korea
Sairis Group	Japan
Sankalp Semiconductor	India
SAVI Group	India
Solution Box	Korea
somewhere in net limited	Bangladesh
Southern Online Bio Technologies Limited	India
Spectacle Industries Limited	India
Strand Life Sciences	India
Suvitech Company Limited	Thailand
Talentica Software India	India
Tigermed Consulting	China
Trekiz Network Technology	China
Ushi	China
Vanten K.K.	Japan
Vanuston Intelligence	India
Vcast Limited	China
VINJEY Software Systems	India
VIPStore	China
Vizualize Limited	Hong Kong
Wiwide Network Technology	China
Yoyi Media	China
Yureekah Software Technologies	India
Zenlok Corporation	Japan

Advent sells Sophis to Misys for £375m

MiSys acquires Dublin based Sophis from Advent International for £ 375m.

The acquisition establishes Misys as the number 1 application software and services provider in capital markets.

Mike Lawrie, Misys Chief Executive, said  “I am delighted to announce this significant acquisition that progresses Misys further in the Leadership phase of its transformation. Today we are creating the leading application software and services provider in capital markets. Sophis’s solutions are highly complementary to our existing treasury and capital markets solutions. We are delighted with the strength of the Sophis management team that will be joining us.”

Apax offloads Technology portfolio to Azini

Azini Capital backed by Lexington Partners and Greenpark Capital acquired Apax Partner’s Technology portfolio of growth and development stage technology companies.

Acquired companies include Starhome, an Israeli roaming solutions company which produces software that allows mobile network operators to capture and mange mobile phone customers who are outside of their home country. Another, Mobixell Networks, based in the US and Israel, enables internet, broadband, video, messaging and advertising on mobile phones. Mobixell has recently acquired US-based 724 Solution.

Corvil, a latency management systems for securities trading company, based in Ireland is also included, as is Digital Fuel, which operates in the IT financial management segment, allowing financial directors to manage IT-related costs, budgeting, planning and service levels.

Other companies include Frontier Silicon, Bolero, Centerbeam, BlueArc and Crescendo Networks. “Overall the companies are fairly mature. Apax hasn’t done any early-stage deals in a while, meaning even at the original investment the companies were reasonably developed,” said Nick Habgood at Azini Capital. “They are all profitable and cash-generative, with around a $20m to $60m turnover each.”

ISIS Equity Partners invests £3.2m in Inspired Thinking Group

ISIS Equity Partners (ISIS), investing funds from the Baronsmead VCTs, has completed a £3.2m investment in Inspired Thinking Group (ITG), supporting Management in its acquisition of Total Marketing Service LLP (TMS).

Birmingham based ITG provide services that help marketing departments operate more efficiently.  This includes outsourced print management services to major retailers and branded businesses including M&S, Punch Taverns and KFC.

ITG CEO Simon Ward commented: “ITG is a dynamic, ambitious business that is pushing back the boundaries of traditional marketing.  To do this we need an agile business culture and ISIS have supported this culture superbly.  Together, we will grow ITG into a market leader.”

Charlie Robinson of ISIS commented “Simon and his team have successfully combined their industry experience with a fresh and responsive approach to the challenges faced by their customers.  They learn by solving problems for customers.  The acquisition of TMS represents the first stage on an exciting new phase of growth for the business.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with them.”

LDC & Vertex helps 1st Exchange acquire N4Solutions

Funding for the acquisition of N4Solutions was provided by Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC) and Vertex.

LDC last year bought a controlling stake in 1st Exchange from Vertex. The company is part of LDC’s over 70-strong £2 billion portfolio of businesses. LDC continues to back strong management teams through the cycle in the UK mid-market. Technology support services are a key area of focus for its London team which also specialises in Business and Support Services and Outsourcing.

David Child, Managing Director at 1st Exchange, said: “Not only does this acquisition broaden our services into the mortgage distribution space, but we are now able to further develop our Enterprise offering in response to the changing market and client demand. Distributors cannot ignore the effect of the RDR on their business models and this acquisition enables us to offer our clients a holistic platform for the multi-channel distribution of financial products. We are seeing more and more client demand for these types of solutions as companies such as banks and life assurers look at different models to grow distribution to the mass market.”

Gary Muchmore, Managing Director of N4, who will be joining 1st Exchange as a sales director, commented: “N4 is industry leading in the provision of a complete platform for joining up the distribution of all financial services products. The combination of knowledge, skills and experience in the combined point of sale development teams at N4 and 1st Exchange creates an unequalled on and offline capability in the marketplace. We look forward to integrating our solutions with 1st Exchange’s existing product offering to bring a dynamic end to end multi-distribution platform proposition to market.”

Daniel Sasaki, Director, London, LDC said: “When we took a controlling stake in 1st Exchange last year we recognised that it is a great business with a strong management team and dynamic potential. This latest acquisition illustrates those characteristics and gives the company a much stronger offering and compelling market position in the Enterprise space. We are very satisfied with our investment in 1st Exchange, which fits squarely within our strategy to support high quality businesses in the Telecomms, Media, Technology (TMT) sector and in the business services sector area generally.”

Omnibus acquired by canadian Miranda Technologies

Miranda Technologies Inc. (TSX: MT), a worldwide provider of infrastructure, playout and monitoring systems for the broadcast and cable/satellite/IPTV industries, today announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding shares of OmniBus Systems Ltd., the pioneer of IT-based media management and delivery solutions for television and Internet broadcasters, from Palamon Capital Partners, a leading pan European private equity firm.

“With its compelling IT based playout and automation solution, called iTX, OmniBus is leading broadcasters away from multi-vendor, hardware-based systems, towards a single fully integrated, software platform,” commented Strath Goodship, Miranda’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The addition of OmniBus, and specifically iTX, allows Miranda to uniquely offer the complete range of playout solutions, from traditional hardware to a fully software-based environment. We are now exceptionally positioned to help our customers transition to more efficient operations, by offering the best fit of hardware and software products to suit their individual requirements.”

Mike Oldham, CEO of OmniBus Systems, said “iTX is an award-winning solution on a rapid growth trajectory. By joining Miranda, we will see real product synergies, and gain more extensive worldwide sales and support, creating new opportunities to increase our share of the expanding markets we serve. Importantly, the fit with Miranda is excellent, and the OmniBus team is really excited by the clear potential for our combined businesses.”

Lagan acquired by Kana Software

KANA Software, Inc., a world leader in software solutions for Service Experience Management (SEM), and Lagan Technologies, the global leader in government to citizen (G2C) technology, announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for KANA to acquire Lagan. On completion of the transaction, KANA and Lagan will be market leaders in customer service for the government sector, complementing KANA’s leading capabilities in the communications, financial services, healthcare, retail and technology sectors.

“With this acquisition, KANA will become a clear leader in public-sector SEM — combining our collective expertise, technologies and solutions to support governments and their citizens worldwide.  We are delighted to welcome Lagan employees, customers and partners to the KANA family,” commented KANA’s CEO Mark Duffell.  “The glowing reports of its customers, its exceptional ranking from top industry analysts such as Gartner Group and the expertise of its highly talented team made Lagan very attractive to us. The value we can deliver to both Lagan and KANA customers will only increase through the deep collaboration of our teams and the integration of our technologies.”

“Joining KANA will be highly beneficial for our global customer base, broadening the skills we can draw on and accelerating product development,” said Des Speed, CEO of Lagan. “We believe the combination of our domain expertise in the government sector and KANA’s visionary Service Experience Management platform will drive the next generation of government to citizen solutions. We look forward to leading the way.”

Touchtype receives £ 0.275m seed investment from Octopus Ventures

Touchtype receives £ 0.275m seed investment from Octopus Ventures. Touchtype is the leader in the development of text prediction technology designed to significantly boost the accuracy, fluency and speed of text entry on mobile and computing devices.

Jo Oliver from Octopus, commented: “TouchType is at the leading edge of next generation predictive text entry, a market that is growing rapidly. From the outset, we have been impressed by the vision, talent and enthusiasm of the founders, Jon and Ben. TouchType is exactly the kind of innovative business into which Octopus is seeking to make seed capital investments, with further funds earmarked for follow-on funding to enable TouchType to realise its full potential.”

Jonathan Reynolds, CEO of TouchType, added: “Securing Octopus’ involvement as a significant partner at this stage of our company’s growth is incredibly important to us. The investment will allow us to accelerate our product and commercial development and help us make a substantial market impact with our prediction technology. Octopus’ ability to provide further sizeable follow-on investment in future and the benefit of both the experience and extensive Venture Partner network were key in our decision to involve Octopus in the recent investment round.”

Energy Ventures invests £3.2m in Foster Findlay Associates

Norwegain Venture capital firm Energy Ventures has invested £3.2 million in 3D seismic data specialists Foster Findlay Associates (ffA).

ffA managing director, Jonathan Henderson, said: “We have some very exciting products in development at the moment and this investment will help us to roll out these products as quickly as possible and at the same time significantly increase our sales and customer support network.”