That's right, Twitter has come of age. It has hit that all-important milestone: the 100 million active users mark. This revelation also proves that uptake of the micro-blogging platform is showing no signs of slowing: the Twitter network has grown 82% since the start of the year.

Wendy Tan White, founder and CEO of Moonfruit.com, explains why, unlike the dotcom bubble of the late nineties, this time round the huge valuations of tech firms are justified. Or, at the very least, this bubble is made of sturdier stuff.

Ross Dickinson, founder of Kibosh, has won over three expert judges in the the Scottish heat of The Pitch, held as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Serial entrepreneur Karen Darby, marketing expert and star of Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire Carl Hopkins, and Amanda Boyle, Bloom VC founder and non-executive director at Young Enterprise Scotland, were bowled over by his invention: a nifty widget that provides a temporary fix for burst water pipes.

Just one week in and voting has gone bananas! Competition for the £10,000 O2 Smarta 100 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards has been fierce. We take a look at the leaderboard to see who's in the running, who's bringing up the rear, and how to push your brand up the rankings. Remember, voting for the Smarta 100 closes on the 20th September.

Young entrepreneur Daniel Thomas launched his online hot tub and spa site Danz.co.uk five years ago. In 2009, he decided to spread his wings and look further afield: France, to be precise. Here's what happened when he tried to cross the Channel with Danz.

You may be a small business, tiny even, but don't let that stand in your way. Here are five top tips on looking like a big firm when you're still a tiddler, or just starting out. From virtual office space in swanky locations to professionally-hosted email and smart business cards, these little nuggets of wisdom will have you raking in the custom in no time. Just remember: Before you make it, it's okay to fake it.

Dino Forte, MD at outsourced contact centre Ventrica, has a stern warning for online businesses: Don't hide behind your website or risk alienating new and existing customers.

When new business website LondonLovesBusiness.com asked the capital's small businesses to reveal their top issues, hottest potatoes and toughest challenges, the entrepreneurial community obliged. This is their wishlist for City Hall, their call to arms for the new Mayor of London. Boris, Paddy and Ken best take heed...

It is with great excitement and jubilation that we announce the winners of the Smarta 100 Awards, 2011. The judging process has been lengthy, gruelling and - at times - heart-breaking. We had so many fantastic entries this year that we wished it was the Smarta 200. This is a collection of the brightest, smartest and most inspirational businesses, hailing from the length and breadth of the UK. And now it's over to you to vote for your favourite. Seek out the business you believe deserves our grand prize: the £10,000 Smarta 100 O2 Business of the Year Award. Go get 'em tigers. VOTE.

Victoria Brannen, founder of asset management firm Maya, gives her top tips on 'safe' investment opportunities in the wake of stock market volatility, crises in the Eurozone and the Arab Spring. Unsurprisingly, her recommendations lean away from equities and toward smart deals in the leisure and communications sectors. And let's not forget the Olympics! Here's a sneak peek into the mind of an asset management specialist at work.