• This year we've celebrated small businesses who have defied the pandemic 
• Our B Corp Beat series cast an eye on Britain's sustainable businesses 
• We met with startups Sokin and Lightyear which are disrupting the finance world
• Cheeky Panda told us about launching its eco alternatives to hygeine products  
• Now, we catch up with them to find out their plans for 2022  

The pandemic has spelled a year and a half of turbulence for almost all businesses, but it has been particularly hard on the startups trying to pave the way and disrupt their industries.

Still, plenty of entrepreneurs have pushed ahead to launch new businesses and build their existing ones.

This is Money has picked out some of the most successful small businesses who have managed to defy the pandemic, and some who launched despite the circumstances.

We asked them what their business has achieved in 2021, and what their goals are for the year ahead.

Former footballer Rio Ferdinand has backed new global money transfer company Sokin

Sokin is aiming for growth

The global money transfer start-up backed by Rio Ferdinand has been gaining traction since its launch in the summer.

We spoke to the former footballer, as well as Sokin founder and chief executive Vroon Modgill, about its plans to take on the likes of Wise.

Sokin, which means money transfer in Japanese, now boasts more than 60,000 customers with another 100,000 on its waiting list, despite only launching in August.

Its global currency account charges £9.99 a month for unlimited overseas transfers in 38 currencies to over 200 countries, as well as use of a debit card. This service will shortly launch in North America.