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Ben Way
Ben Way
	File:BenWayred.jpg Ben Way
Born	28 September 1980 (age 43); Exeter, Devon, England
Occupation	Entrepreneur

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Ben Way (born 28 September 1980, Exeter, Devon, England) was one of the first dot com millionaires after developing a search technology called Waysearch which later became a business-to-business product called Pulsar. He was reportedly worth £18.3m in the 2001 Sunday Times Rich List. He started his first business in 1995 on his 15th birthday making him at that time the youngest company director in the UK.

Life and career

He won "New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur Of The Year"^[1] in 2000 which was given to him by Gordon Brown.

However, after a dispute with the investors in 2001 he was diluted out of the business and lost everything. It is reported that he was in the Sunday Times Rich List under Robbie Williams the same day he could not buy a tube ticket. ^[2] He went on to advise both the UK and US governments in technology, before heading up technical and environmental investments and due-diligence for the Rotch Property Group who have over £1 Billion in asset management.^[3]

In 2003 he started The Rainmakers, which is an innovations and corporate venturing company. He also has involvement in a number of other companies.^[4]

In 2006, he appeared on the Channel 4 TV show Secret Millionaire where he gave away £40,000 in a philanthropic act after spending two weeks in Hackney as a volunteer. £20,000 was given to a youth organization, £10,000 to a young entrepreneur, and another £10,000 as a thank you to one key member of the Hackney community.

Launched in 2007 the social website HorsesMouth which made it into the top 25 UK web 2.0 start ups.^[5]^[6]

In early 2007 he was invited to join Brightstation Ventures^[7] a $100m technology VC fund as the CIO (Chief Innovations Officer) where he has worked with projects such as miomi and Shiny Media^[8].

In September 2007 he launched the world first POIP service, ViaPost^[9] which allows printing of documents over the internet which are then sent by Royal Mail

He started the worlds first robotic defense company^[10] in 2008, as well as launching London's first green plumbing company^[11].

Publications

Telegraph Business Blogger^[12]
How to be a Teenage Millionaire]^[13]
City AM Columnist 2005-2006^[14]

Supported Charities and Organisations

Social Firms (Patron)^[15]
Edge (Advisor)^[16]
Anne Frank (Judge)^[17]
Edge Ice (Judge)^[18]
Make Your Mark (Judge)^[19]
Unlimited (Judge)^[20]
Pedro Club (Significant Donation)^[21]
Nesta (Advisor)^[22]

Awards and Achievements

Ben Way winning young entrepreneur of the year from Gordon Brown.

New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^[23]

Young Gun 2007^[24]

Television, film, and print

He has been in a number of documentaries including Britons Richest Kids(1997, Channel 4) and the Secret Millionaire and the Secret Millionaire changed my life^[25] follow up program, 3 Minute Wonder on Robotics^[26] was also a Telegraph blogger^[27] and wrote a chapter in How To Be A Teenage Millionaire^[28]

Politics

In 2006 he stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in Bayswater Ward in the City of Westminster.^[29]

References

Jardine, Cassandra . "One day, we'll take over the world...". The Telegraph - Syndicated version here, 14 January 2007,[1].
"International Who's WHO of Entrepreneurs". Who's Who Historical Society, Section 1 - p165
"Way out front". Ambition magazine, 16 October 2008, p56-57, [2]

External links

[1] ttp://42degrees.bankofscotland.co.uk/issue-10/turning-points-1.html

[2] ttp://www.execdigital.co.uk/Ben-Way-on-incubation--acceleration-and-the-value-of-failure_5547.aspx

[3] ttp://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=14307&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20010122

[4] ttp://www.makingrain.com

[5] ttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/16/the_top_25_uk_web_startups/

[6] ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/04/19/cnbpub19.xml

[7] ttp://www.brightstation.co.uk/bsv/ben.html

[8] ttp://www.shinymedia.com/

[9] ttp://www.viapost.com

[10] ttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/17/robot_defence_weaponry_caper/

[11] ttp://www.gogreenplumbing.co.uk

[12] ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/ybwaysworld/nosplit/ybwaysworld.xml

[13] ttp://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=0141323167&DB=220&Menu=Books

[14] ttp://www.cityam.com/

[15] ttp://www.socialfirms.co.uk/news/index.php/Item358.html

[16] ttp://www.edge.co.uk/docs/loves/loves/?id=75:0:0

[17] ttp://www.annefrankawards.org.uk/index.php?categoryid=15

[18] ttp://www.iceedge.co.uk/docs/judges.php#5

[19] ttp://www.makeyourmark.org.uk/get_involved/grand_idea

[20] ttp://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=1&PageName=whatareunltdawards

[21] ttp://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1951867,00.html

[22] ttp://www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/future_innovators/news/launch/index.aspx

[23] ttp://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/feb/11/careers.work4

[24] ttp://www.ukprwire.com/Detailed/Business/Young_Guns_are_the_future_of_social_innovation_10495.shtml

[25] ttp://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/S/secret_millionaire/millionaires/changed-programme.html

[26] ttp://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/generationnext/documentaries/3minutewonders/

[27] ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/ybwaysworld/nosplit/ybwaysworld.xml

[28] ttp://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Teenage-Millionaire-Judi-James/dp/0141323167

[29] ttp://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/elections/localelections2006/Bayswater.pdf

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox Person
-| name = Benjamin Peter Bernard Way
+| name = Ben Way
 | image = BenWayred.jpg
-| caption =
+| caption = Ben Way
 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|28|df=y}}
 | birth_place = {{flagicon|England}} [[Exeter]], [[Devon]], [[England]]
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | occupation = [[Entrepreneur]]
 | salary =
+| networth = {{gain}} [[GBP|£]]4 [[40000000 (number)|million]] ([[US$]]5.6 million)
-| networth =
 | spouse =
 | footnotes =
 | children =
 }}
+'''Ben Way''' (born 28 September 1980, Exeter, Devon, England) was one of the first [[Dot-com company|dot com]] millionaires after developing a search technology called Waysearch which later became a business-to-business product called Pulsar. He was reportedly worth £18.3m in the 2001 Sunday Times Rich List. He started his first business in 1995 on his 15th birthday making him at that time the youngest company director in the UK.
-'''Benjamin Peter Bernard Way''' (born 28 September 1980, Exeter, Devon, England) is an [[Internet Entrepreneur]] and technology consultant. He suffers from [[dyslexia]].<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article1622286.ece</ref>
-==Life and Career==
+==Life and career==
+He won "New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur Of The Year"<ref>http://42degrees.bankofscotland.co.uk/issue-10/turning-points-1.html</ref> in 2000 which was given to him by Gordon Brown.
-He allegedly started his first business in 1995 on his 15th birthday making him at that time the youngest company director in the UK.
+However, after a dispute with the investors in 2001 he was diluted out of the business and lost everything. It is reported that he was in the Sunday Times Rich List under Robbie Williams the same day he could not buy a tube ticket.
-After a business dispute with investors in 2001 his interest in "Pulsar", an Internet search venture, was diluted and he lost everything.<ref>http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Ben-Way-on-incubation--acceleration-and-the-value-of-failure_5547.aspx</ref> After this setback Way was offered work in a consultancy firm by a charitable friend.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/feb/11/careers.work4</ref>
+<ref>http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Ben-Way-on-incubation--acceleration-and-the-value-of-failure_5547.aspx</ref>
+He went on to advise both the UK and US governments in technology, before heading up technical and environmental investments and due-diligence for the Rotch Property Group who have over £1 Billion in asset management.<ref>http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=14307&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20010122</ref>
-In 2003 he started The Rainmakers, which is an innovations and corporate venturing company.<ref>http://www.makingrain.com</ref>
+In 2003 he started The Rainmakers, which is an innovations and corporate venturing company. He also has involvement in a number of other companies.<ref>http://www.makingrain.com</ref>
 In 2006, he appeared on the Channel 4 TV show ''[[Secret Millionaire]]'' where he gave away £40,000 in a philanthropic act after spending two weeks in Hackney as a volunteer.  £20,000 was given to a youth organization, £10,000 to a young entrepreneur, and another £10,000 as a thank you to one key member of the Hackney community.
+Launched in 2007 the social website HorsesMouth which made it into the top 25 UK web 2.0 start ups.<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/16/the_top_25_uk_web_startups/</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/04/19/cnbpub19.xml</ref>
-In 2006 he stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in [[Bayswater]] Ward in the [[City of Westminster]].<ref>http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/elections/localelections2006/Bayswater.pdf</ref>
-In early 2007 he was invited to join Brightstation Ventures - a $100m technology VC fund as the CIO (Chief Innovations Officer).<ref>http://www.brightstation.co.uk/bsv/ben.html</ref>
+In early 2007 he was invited to join Brightstation Ventures<ref>http://www.brightstation.co.uk/bsv/ben.html</ref> a $100m technology VC fund as the CIO (Chief Innovations Officer) where he has worked with projects such as [[miomi]] and Shiny Media<ref>http://www.shinymedia.com/</ref>.
-In September 2007 he helped to launch ViaPost - a company that allows printing of documents over the internet which are then sent by ''[[Royal Mail]]''.<ref>http://www.viapost.com</ref>
+In September 2007 he launched the world first [[POIP]] service, ViaPost<ref>http://www.viapost.com</ref> which allows printing of documents over the internet which are then sent by ''[[Royal Mail]]''
-In 2008 Way announced he had started the worlds first robotic defense company only to be ridiculed by tech website [[The Register]] - ''"WAR Defence thus far appears to have little substance beyond the Rainmakers phone number and a flash-heavy, info-lite website.."''<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/17/robot_defence_weaponry_caper/</ref> He was also involved in the launch of London's first green plumbing company.<ref>http://www.gogreenplumbing.co.uk</ref>
+He started the worlds first robotic defense company<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/17/robot_defence_weaponry_caper/</ref> in 2008, as well as launching London's first green plumbing company<ref>http://www.gogreenplumbing.co.uk</ref>.
-[[Image:BenGorden.jpg|thumb|Ben Way shaking hands with Gordon Brown.]]
+==Publications==
+* Telegraph Business Blogger<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/ybwaysworld/nosplit/ybwaysworld.xml</ref>
+* How to be a Teenage Millionaire]<ref>http://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=0141323167&DB=220&Menu=Books</ref>
+* City AM Columnist 2005-2006<ref>http://www.cityam.com/</ref>
 ==Supported Charities and Organisations==
 * Social Firms (Patron)<ref>http://www.socialfirms.co.uk/news/index.php/Item358.html</ref>
+* Edge (Advisor)<ref>http://www.edge.co.uk/docs/loves/loves/?id=75:0:0</ref>
 * Anne Frank (Judge)<ref>http://www.annefrankawards.org.uk/index.php?categoryid=15</ref>
 * Edge Ice (Judge)<ref>http://www.iceedge.co.uk/docs/judges.php#5</ref>
+* Make Your Mark (Judge)<ref>http://www.makeyourmark.org.uk/get_involved/grand_idea</ref>
+* Unlimited (Judge)<ref>http://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=1&PageName=whatareunltdawards</ref>
+* Pedro Club (Significant Donation)<ref>http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1951867,00.html</ref>
+* Nesta (Advisor)<ref>http://www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/future_innovators/news/launch/index.aspx</ref>
 ==Awards and Achievements==
+[[Image:BenGorden.jpg|thumb|Ben Way winning young entrepreneur of the year from Gordon Brown.]]
-* New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur Of The Year"<ref>http://42degrees.bankofscotland.co.uk/issue-10/turning-points-1.html</ref> in 2000 which was given to him by Gordon Brown.
+* New Business Millennium Young Entrepreneur Of The Year<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/feb/11/careers.work4</ref>
 * Young Gun 2007<ref>http://www.ukprwire.com/Detailed/Business/Young_Guns_are_the_future_of_social_innovation_10495.shtml</ref>
+==Television, film, and print==
-==Media==
+He has been in a number of documentaries including Britons Richest Kids(1997, Channel 4) and the [[Secret Millionaire]] and the Secret Millionaire changed my life<ref>http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/S/secret_millionaire/millionaires/changed-programme.html</ref> follow up program, 3 Minute Wonder on [[Robotics]]<ref>http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/generationnext/documentaries/3minutewonders/</ref> was also a Telegraph blogger<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/ybwaysworld/nosplit/ybwaysworld.xml</ref> and wrote a chapter in How To Be A Teenage Millionaire<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Teenage-Millionaire-Judi-James/dp/0141323167</ref>
-* 3 Minute Wonder on [[Robotics]]<ref>http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/generationnext/documentaries/3minutewonders/</ref>
-* Telegraph Business Blogger<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/ybwaysworld/nosplit/ybwaysworld.xml</ref>
+==Politics==
+In 2006 he stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in [[Bayswater]] Ward in the [[City of Westminster]].<ref>http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/elections/localelections2006/Bayswater.pdf
+</ref>
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+* Jardine, Cassandra . "One day, we'll take over the world...". ''The Telegraph - Syndicated version here'', 14 January 2007,[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=14307&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20010122].
+*"International Who's WHO of Entrepreneurs". ''Who's Who Historical Society'', Section 1 - p165
+*"Way out front". ''Ambition magazine'', 16 October 2008, p56-57, [http://www.ambitionmag.co.uk/]
 == External links ==
+*[http://hackneypost.co.uk/?p=2320 Hackney Post piece on the return of Ben Way]
+*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ba509d4a-15b8-11de-b9a9-0000779fd2ac.html FT comment]
+*[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/richard_tyler/blog/2008/06/30/will_britain_turn_its_back_on_entrepreneurs Telegraph piece on Go Green Plumbing]
+*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16c61800-0d38-11dd-b90a-0000779fd2ac.html Financial Times Comment On Commercial Mortgages]
+*[http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=viapost&aje=true&id=070903000640&ct=0  Financial Times about ViaPost]
+*[http://money.guardian.co.uk/workweekly/story/0,,1707012,00.html Entrepreneur Ben Way on a meeting of minds with telecoms boss Chris Moss]
+*[http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/reality-tv/the-secret-millionaire-channel-4/ THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE: Channel 4]
+*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2001/01/10/tldis10.xml One day, we'll take over the world...]
+*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article649909.ece Trials of a whiz-kid on Murder Mile]
+*[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/whats_on/listings/article644360.ece It pays to be the nice guy]
+*[http://www.plumbers-central-london.co.uk/ Stay heads above with Green Plumbers]
+*[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1951867,00.html Liz Taylor adored it. Now a reality show is rescuing the Pedro Club]
+*[http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1928028,00.html After wife swapping and celebrity sex, new reality TV phenomenon is ... philanthropy]
+*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/midweek_20061122.shtml BBC Midweek]
+*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/rich/article/0,,191217,00.html No teenage kicks]
+*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/health/2001/01/10/tldis10.xml&site=13 Telegraph article on Dyslexia]
+*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/rich/article/0,,191217,00.html The Guardian Article]
+*[http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/11/15/ftbaby15.xml The Telegraph article]
+*[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1951867,00.html Observer piece on ''Secret Millionaire'']
+*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article1622286.ece Sunday Times Biog Piece]
+*[http://www.channel4.com/player/v2/player.jsp?showId=6040 Channel 4 News Piece]
+*[http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/business/29382/part_2/its-dotcom-boomtime-again-but-can-soho-really-be-the-new-silicon-valley.thtml Spectator Article]
+*[http://technology.guardian.co.uk/businesssense/story/0,,1998625,00.html Ben Way commenting on the innovation environment in the UK]
+*[http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/article2653204.ece An education in the life of Ben Way, internet millionaire]
+*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/55b96d0a-59b5-11dc-aef5-0000779fd2ac.html Viapost service to challenge postal operators]
 *[http://www.makingrain.com/ The Rainmakers Ben Way's Main Company]
+*[http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Ben-Way-on-incubation,-acceleration-and-the-value-of-failure_5547.aspx Ben Way on incubation acceleration and the value of failure]
-*[http://www.benway.co.uk/ Ben Way's Blog]
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Way, Ben}}