Monocle 24: The Entrepreneurs

Gavin Eddy was working as a trader in the City before he decided to quit and buy some land in the countryside. He stumbled on the town of Frome and, captivated by the town’s vibrancy and identity, decided to invest in it. Today, he runs a destination street market once a month, The Frome Independent, showcasing some of the best craftspeople, designers, makers, producers and traders in the South West. We hear how Gavin’s project gave a new lease of life to the town.

Australian-born Adam Iezzi founded AIPR in 2005. Today the company counts fashion brands such as JW Anderson and APC among its clients. Iezzi tells us how availability, communication and slow and steady growth have helped shape his company.

Joni Steiner is the co-founder of Opendesk, a global online platform that facilitates the local production of furniture by connecting consumers to a library of designs and a host of nearby craftsmen. Originally trained as architects, the team behind the company developed their concept with the help of crowdfunding and an incubator programme. We find out more about this furniture-making movement, the democratisation of production and distribution and what the future holds for the Opendesk.

Andrew Dale, a 30-year-old former banker from Toronto, founded his high-end leather-bag brand, LeDaveed, in 2016. He shares the story of how he left big finance in favour of independent fashion.

For this special edition we head to Lisbon for this year’s Web Summit. The Portuguese capital hosted entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors and political leaders as part of the event’s largest edition yet. We hear from three very different mobility innovators: Lewis Horne, CEO of Uniti; Alexander Zosel, founder of Volocopter; and James Meeks, CEO of Move Systems.

South African-born Bernie de Le Cuona founded her eponymous fabric brand in London in 1992. This week she tells us how an inspirational trip to India led to the beginnings of her business.

John Hitchcox co-founded property-development company Yoo in 1999, along with maverick designer Philippe Starck; since then design-minded hotels and residences have sprung up in more than 30 countries worldwide. Hitchcox tells us about founding the firm, his close relationship with Starck and the approach that has fuelled Yoo’s success.

Philip Knatchbull has always been surrounded by film: his father was one of the UK’s pre-eminent producers, behind such features as “Murder on the Orient Express” and “A Passage to India”. Today Philip is CEO of Curzon, the brand behind 21 cinemas across the UK and leading film-distribution business Curzon Artificial Eye; it also has its own digital platform. Here he tells us how he has created a powerhouse in the world of independent cinema.

George Bevis is founder and CEO of Tide, an innovative start-up on a mission to revolutionise banking for small businesses. This week he shares his journey.

Alan Moore thinks that the business world needs a dose of beauty; not physical attractiveness but strong purpose and positive cultures, with products that are good to people and the planet. Here he urges entrepreneurs to rethink not just what they make but how and why.

London-based entrepreneur Taha Fezzani left a two-decade career in the oil industry to launch Zest and Zing, his brand of premium spices inspired by his childhood family holidays in Libya and travels around the world. Fezzani shares how he launched the brand and what he’s learned.

Sheherazade Goldsmith and Laura Bailey are the founders of Loquet, a London-based luxury jewellery label. Since launching the brand in 2013, the pair have attracted an army of loyal fans and are now stocked in more than 60 retailers around the world, from Browns to Colette. This week they explain how they did it.

Jonny Boud and Alex Potter run the hospitality group GoodLife Projects. Together they’re the creative minds behind some of London’s most popular hotspots – from the day-party concept Love Brunch and the Caribbean-inspired eatery The Rum Kitchen to the acclaimed new restaurant Foley’s. They share their story and inspiration.

Before launching his influential British menswear label Universal Works, David Keyte’s career stretched from signwriter apprentice and coal miner to working with fashion designer Paul Smith. This week he shares his influences, top business tips and lessons learned.

Huckletree co-founder Andrew Lynch shares the story of his fast-growing co-working start-up.