To follow on from our maiden Tech Invest event, we’ve profiled some of the most exciting technology companies in the UK.

GrowthBusiness has now produced a new 2014 version of Tech Innovators, where we have again profiled some of the best technology ventures in the UK through interviews with founding entrepreneurs.

Movirtu

Based in: London Founded in: 2008 No. of employees: 38 Company founder: Carsten Brinkshulte

Founder profile:

Carsten Brinkshulte is an experienced tech CEO with more than 20 years in the software industry. He both founded and scaled companies, from the first hire to a listed company with 380 employees. He combines a technical background with the scars of selling to international operators for the past ten years.

Background business profile:

Movirtu provides mobile identity solutions based on its Virtual SIM platform, decoupling the identity from the SIM card and enabling operators to offer innovative solutions for business and consumer segments.

Inside track:

Bring your own device (BYOD) is no longer lurking just below the radar, it is firmly on the mind of businesses of all sizes.

It’s a case of technology security and the need for employees to be given the suitable tools for mobility.

The technology company’s virtual SIM platform enables multiple numbers to be active on a single standard SIM card.

Movirtu’s offering began back in 2008, and brought in Carsten Brinkschulte as CEO back in 2012 following a period as a non-executive.

‘What I found exciting about the opportunity was to take this product and focus on the emerging market,’ Brinkschulte says.

Much of what Movirtu does is protect corporate identity, separating out the business and consumer segments of mobile usage.

Its WorkLife product allows a secondary corporate number to be assigned, so that when making a phone call it can be decided whether that is on company time.

‘We are having discussions with two corporate venture partners – with operator VCs as what we do has strategic value to them.

‘The company has been historically focused on emerging markets, that is important to show traction.’

Having debuted WorkLife at the Mobile World Conference this year, Movirtu went on to have some highly productive operate meetings while at the show – a coup for a company as small as it is.

‘We have got about three Tier 1 operators which are looking quite good but we haven’t secured any contracts,’ Brinkschulte reveals.

Recent milestones:

• Carsten Brinkschulte joined as CEO in December 2012
• Reorganisation and focus on high-growth bring-your-owndevice (BYOD) market
• Corporate relaunch and building pipeline (now at £9 million unweighted, £3 million weighted)
• Signed group-wide framework agreement with operators Airtel and Tigo

Upcoming milestones:

• Roll-out throughout the Airtel group and commercial launch
• Winning first Tier 1 European operator
• Winning further Tier 1 operators in Asia

Alliances:

• HP
• Telesoft
• IBM

Investors:

• TLcom Capital
• Grey Ghost Ventures
• Grassroots Business Funds

See also: 25 of the most exciting fast growing technology companies in the UK