The Entrepreneurs
A weekly deep dive into global business. Inspiring stories from startups to legacy brands in hospitality, design, fashion, and retail.
Latest Episodes
Hello Ruby
Linda Liukas is a Finnish programmer, author, illustrator and founder of Hello Ruby, an interactive and fun children’s book series about technology and computing. Launched on Kickstarter in 2014, the series is now published in 25 languages. Liukas also founded Rails Girls, teaching programming to young women in more than…
Eureka 178: Waterdrop
Martin Murray, founder and CEO of Austria’s Waterdrop, has created the ‘microdrink’: an effervescent, compact cube made of plant and fruit extracts that can be added to tap or filtered water. It’s a response to the large carbon footprint of the drinks industry, which ships glass and plastic worldwide.
Fender
After working at Nike and Disney, Andy Mooney joined Fender in 2015, becoming the first CEO of the US heritage guitar brand to actually play the instrument. He now oversees the relaunch of Fender’s iconic models and the company’s digital growth.
Eureka 177: Snow Peak
Lisa Yamai is the executive vice-president of Snow Peak, the Japanese outdoor apparel and gear firm, and granddaughter of the company’s founder. Yukio Yamai was an accomplished mountaineer who started the brand in 1958 to create climbing gear that met his standards. In 2014, Lisa joined to lead the design…
Deciem
Nicola Kilner is the co-founder and CEO of Deciem, a skincare firm with 50 shops that is known for its tagline, ‘The abnormal beauty company.’ Kilner co-founded the company with Brandon Truaxe, launching 10 brands in 2013. But it was the firm’s eleventh brand, The Ordinary, which has been its…
Eureka 176: Cossac
Agata Kozak launched Madrid-based Cossac in 2014, a women’s fashion label with a focus on sustainability. Kozak – who grew up in Poland, studied in Barcelona and Istanbul and worked in London – wants people to buy less while investing in quality pieces, which is why she makes wardrobe staples…
Farmacy
Camilla Fayed is the restaurateur behind plant-based Farmacy, which uses vegetables, fruit and herbs from her biodynamic farm in Kent. Launched in London in 2016, Farmacy now has an outpost in New York.
Eureka 175: Ocean Bottle
Will Pearson and Nick Doman are co-founders of Ocean Bottle, the London-based company behind a reusable water bottle that allows consumers to measure their impact on the collection of plastic in our oceans and rivers. Every bottle funds the sweeping up of about 11kg of plastics through partner Plastic Bank,…
Vivobarefoot
Galahad Clark is the co-founder of Vivobarefoot, whose lightweight shoes promote natural movement and help feet grow stronger. Galahad launched the company in 2012 with his cousin Asher Clark, both of whom are relatives of the original founders of Clarks, the English heritage shoe brand.
Eureka 174: Vitruvi
Brother-and-sister duo Sean and Sara Panton founded this Vancouver-based essential-oil brand in 2014. While the pair began by blending their products in their shared kitchen, Vitruvi is now one of North America’s leading players in a fast-growing industry.
