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Being an entrepreneur is probably the worst way to make money…you have to be in it for the adventure!

This ‘insurtech’ start-up uses technology to deliver online insurance and detect fraud. It offers insurance policies to renters and people in house shares, as well as homeowners, and has amassed more than 100,000 customers since it was founded in 2016 by Jimmy Williams and Greg Smyth. This May, the London-based company secured £16.5m in a funding round led by North American investor Intact Ventures and the Ingka Group (the world’s largest IKEA franchise), bringing total funds raised to £32m.

Disclaimer: The statements made by our interviewees are an expression of their own views and opinions and in no way reflect FEBE Ventures’ views or opinions, nor are such views or opinions endorsed or supported by us.

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We made millions from Spandex costumes…then we nearly lost it all

MorphCostumes is an online fancy dress costume retailer founded in 2009 by brothers Ali and Fraser Smeaton and their flatmate Gregor Lawson. The company started as a small online business selling full-body skintight costumes – commonly referred to as Morphsuits, after the founders noticed their popularity at a stag do. In 2014, the Edinburgh-based company […]

I’m an accidental entrepreneur…now turning over £38m

Hamilton Court provides foreign exchange services through its subsidiaries Hamilton Court Foreign Exchange Limited (HCFX), Birchstone Markets, Goldhawk Partners and Italian subsidiaries of HCFX. Clients of the subsidiaries include both public and private entities – ranging from FTSE250 companies to private equity firms, and high-net-worth individuals in the UK, Europe and Canada.

Why you need a not-to-do list

When Nicholas Charles Tyrwhitt Wheeler talks business, you listen. The founder of Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts has built a company that turns over £220m. He owns 95% of it. So, it’s fair to say Nick has picked up a few valuable lessons since launching his business in 1986. So, when we met Nick, we walked away with seven golden nuggets that we’d like to share with you…

James Cadbury: Building his own chocolate empire

Love Cocoa was created in 2016 by James Cadbury, who was inspired by his great-great-great grandfather John Cadbury who founded Cadbury Chocolate in 1824. Love Cocoa has an ethical and sustainable focus: its chocolate bars are free from gluten and palm oil and use recyclable and compostable packaging.

HOW TO BOOTSTRAP A FUTURE UNICORN

Entrepreneurs set themselves testing targets – it’s what they do. From hotel owners to jewellery makers, they must strike out alone or with a small team and forge something special. Doing so requires a deliberate dash – naked at first – into a painful daily hailstorm of challenges. It’s a tough calling by nature, and there are as many different dreams burning holes in founders’ pillowcases each night as there are stars in the sky. But of all the entrepreneurial goals, there can be few more demanding than the one Dima Kats set himself in 2016.

“It feels like we cheated the system – entrepreneurship is meant to be risky”

Charlie Green doesn’t believe he ever took a risk while co-creating his £500m business, The Office Group. “We just did what made sense,” he says. And he has some simple advice for anyone thinking of following in his footsteps. Starting with ‘Step one: use a proven business model’…