Winners of the Guardian small business trade mission - in pictures

Here are the 10 SMEs who have won a place on the Guardian and UPS trade mission to Atlanta in March. They were selected from a shortlist of 19 who spent a day at the Guardian offices pitching their business to a panel of judges. Denise Harris, assistant director at UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), explains why they were chosen

  • Joe Kinch, founder of Joe’s Tea Co, during his lightning pitch. According to Denise Harris his business is: “Quintessentially British. There’s a sophistication about it that Americans will love.”
    Joe's Tea Co

  • Emma J Shipley is a womenswear and accessories brand. Owner and designer Emma Shipley presents her products at the showcase. “It’s Liberty all over,” says Harris. “She would do really well in the luxury stores in the US.”
    Emma J Shipley

  • Alex Epstein, founder and creator of Concoction (a customised haircare brand), delivers an energetic pitch. “It has a great appeal,” says Harris. “You can tailor the product to your own needs which is great.”
    Concoctions

  • Katie Cannon, head of sales at Sugru, which makes a multi-purpose mouldable glue. Harris praised the business for its innovation.
    Sugru

  • An acrobatic Laurence Kemball-Cook, chief executive of Pavegen Systems, demonstrates how his product works. Pavegen’s flooring tiles convert wasted kinetic energy into renewable electricity. “They were awesome, so innovative. They have a great future in the US,” says Harris.
    pavegen

  • Bare Conductive is a design and technology company, founded by Matt Johnson. Harris called the business “really inspiring.”
    Bare Conductive

  • Tim Rhodes is director of Aquaforno, a portable outdoor cooking stove and wood-fired pizza oven manufacturer. “It suits America,” says Harris. “It’s made for the Texan market. It’s a great product and fills a niche.”
    Aquaforno

  • Max Wiseberg, managing director of HayMax, talks to the judges. HayMax is a hayfever and allergy relief brand, which Harris describes as: “Simple but effective,” and a “great opportunity for the US market.”
    HayMax

  • Helen Pattinson, director and co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates, speaks to judge Emma Sinclair. “The product is great,” says Harris. “Americans love our chocolate.”
    Montezuma's

  • Plastic Castle manufactures a shock-absorbing foam replacement component for sports and personal protective equipment. Here chief executive John Wood presents it to the judges. Harris says: “It has great potential across multiple sectors, from security through to sports at schools.”
    Plastic Castle
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