Stroudie launches charity-giving email service (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stroudie launches charity-giving email service

A BUSINESSMAN born in Stroud has launched a revolutionary new email service that donates money to charity.

Simon Martin, 41, who grew up in Seven Leazes Lane in Edge is the brains behind Ippimail, an email service provider that allows people to contribute to good causes at no cost to themselves.

The company donates 45% of its profits to charity. The service operates like Hotmail and is free to users, but generates money through banner advertising.

During the sign-up process, users are asked to choose which charities they would like to support - and these can be changed at any time.

Ippi means a helping hand in Japanese and the company has a large, inflatable hand as its mascot.

Mr Martin launched the company three weeks ago with colleagues Kate Plumb and Lorraine Hirst.

"The really cool addresses are still available for people to grab," he said.

"We also want smaller charities to sign up and benefit from the project. Users choose which charities they want to donate money from, so it's not just the big organisations that get all the money."

For more information, visit www.ippimail.com