The Entrepreneurs
A weekly deep dive into global business. Inspiring stories from startups to legacy brands in hospitality, design, fashion, and retail.
Latest Episodes
Eureka 162: Adidas Outdoor
Stuart Wells is the global head of brand marketing and communications for Adidas Outdoor, made up of Adidas Terrex and heritage brand Five Ten, which focuses on trail running, mountain biking, climbing and outerwear. The department operates as more of a start-up and is driving research and development and collaborations…
Virtuo
Karim Kaddoura is co-founder of Virtuo, the French start-up that’s shaking up car hire. It offers no-nonsense rentals of premium Mercedes not only from airports and train stations but in city centres across France and the UK. The company is expanding quickly, taking away the pain of hiring a car…
Eureka 161: Now Then
Andrea Salinas is the founder of eco-swimwear brand Now Then. While the landlocked Spanish capital of Madrid is the unlikely nerve centre for a women’s swimwear brand, Andrea’s savvy decision to base there has allowed her to shore up business opportunities and reliable logistics. Her eco-friendly fabrics are fitted around…
Bright Network
James Uffindell is the CEO and founder of Bright Network, a UK-based platform launched in 2013 that matches more than 200,000 graduates with jobs at more than 300 global businesses, including Bloomberg, Dyson, Goldman Sachs and KPMG. Uffindell began his entrepreneurial career after university by helping prospective students secure a…
Eureka 160: Yswara
Swaady Martin is the founder and CEO of Yswara, a line of ethically grown African teas and accessories. Based in South Africa, the brand was launched in 2012 and is now carried in 30 retailers across 17 countries. Its tea is the first African foodstuff to be sold at Harrods…
Supplycompass
Flora Davidson and Gus Bartholomew are co-founders of Supplycompass, a platform launched in 2015 aimed at creating a trusted and transparent supply chain for the fashion industry. From sourcing materials to manufacturing, the platform helps businesses and designers know exactly what they are buying. The firm works with more than…
Eureka 159: Florentine Kitchen Knives
Tomer Botner is the founder of Florentine Kitchen Knives, the Barcelona-based company he runs with his wife, Noam Blumenthal. The brand is named for the Florentin area of the couple’s native Tel Aviv. Botner started the brand as part of his thesis project while studying industrial design and now produces…
Dishoom
Cousins Kavi and Shamil Thakrar are the co-founders of Dishoom. Their seven restaurants across the UK are a love letter to the old Irani cafés of Bombay (now Mumbai): perfect meeting places in a bustling diverse city. The cultural mash-up bears a resemblance to modern London where Kavi and Shamil…
Eureka 158: Lexxola
Zane Saleh is the founder of Lexxola, the London-based sunglasses brand he was inspired to start after a trip to Los Angeles. Disappointed by the quality of what was accessible to him on the market, Saleh gave up his day job in art to pursue building the company. His mission…
Mark Gainey, Strava
Mark Gainey is the co-founder and chairman of Strava, the rapidly growing social network used by more than 40 million people in 195 countries. From gold-medal efforts to weekend jogs around the park, Strava allows users to share their workouts. Gainey is a Harvard graduate and former venture-capital executive whose…
