A tech entrepreneur who developed an online platform for users of video game Minecraft to sell online products has now processed payments worth more than £300 million.

Lee McNeil founded Tebex, a gCommerce company, and ran it from his bedroom in Bulwell when he was just 16, after spotting a gap in the market for people wanting to sell in-game products.

The company has now branched out to offer its services in 12 games including Grand Theft Auto V and has reached the milestone of processing more than 21 million payments, which covers more than £300m.

Mr McNeil, now 23, whose company is based in Queensbridge Road, said: "We’ve been building great momentum as a business and as we’ve incorporated more and more games to our platform I knew that the 20 million mark was close, then of course 21 million, but it was still a little surreal.

"Tebex started out as just me, a gamer with a passion for coding and then the idea for a business that would help people to actually make money online with these immersive games.

''Now Tebex is truly a high growth company and we are looking to scale-up as we envisage the platform becoming the support infrastructure of the gaming industry.

"The only thing holding us back is the availability of skilled developers as we have the opportunity and capacity to take them on both here at our Nottingham HQ and potentially remotely. 

"They will be part of the next chapter of our story, helping us to break through the 50 million transaction barrier and with that to circa 500 million in total payments processed."

It is estimated Tebex, which employs four people, has been used by more than 10 million unique players since it was launched. Its anticipated revenue for this year is £750,000.

Monetisation and payments form the bulk of the company's operations, but it is also increasingly moving into fraud, security and server infrastructure solutions.

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