SoPost has built a digital sampling platform which enables over 200 brands, including Estée Lauder, L’Oréal and Unilever, to run data-driven online sampling campaigns. SoPost’s technology is available in 20 markets, utilising a global distribution network to ship samples direct to participating consumers’ homes. Founded in 2012 by Jonathan Grubin, the company is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, with international presence in five countries. SoPost generates about two-thirds of its sales outside the UK and has raised £1.6m in funding to date.
I caught the entrepreneurial bug aged 13…I’m now running a £20m business
Jonathan Grubin
Founder - SoPost
More Unemployables
The quiet tech entrepreneur who’s modestly building a half-billion-pound empire
It’s not about having gleaming offices, hiring tons of staff and shouting about how successful you are. These can be the trappings of ego-trippers. Effective entrepreneurship is more often about coming up with an idea, proving the concept as cheaply as possible, and scaling it as quickly as possible.
James Macfarlane
Founder - PM Connect
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 […]
Jimmy Williams
Co-founder
Urban Jungle
MyFirst: Starting an Insurance Company With ZERO Experience
James Noble, founder of MyFirst, joins us to share the incredible story of building one of the UK’s fastest-growing insurance businesses from absolutely nothing. Starting with just £10,000 from investors he met while caddying at Wentworth Golf Club, James left behind a career in professional golf to tackle one of the biggest frustrations facing young […]
James Noble
Founder, My First
“HOW TO HANDLE FAST GROWTH? ASK FOR HELP”
Connie Nam felt her confidence draining away. The founder of London-based lifestyle jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu had built a fast-growing, multi-million-pound company, but that didn’t matter. As unbelievable as it sounds, imposter syndrome was creeping in. The Seoul-born, US-raised Londoner explains why: “I’d hired someone who’d started to challenge how I ran the business. They were an expert in that field; I wasn’t. I saw myself as a founder, not a CEO, so the criticism hit home.”
CONNIE NAM
FOUNDER - ASTRID & MIYU
My life after my £200m exit
You heard it here first – “Behind every successful entrepreneurial awards are incredible ambassadors”. Which is why we’re super proud to have the brilliant Juliet Barratt as FEBE’s Growth 100 founding ambassador. We couldn’t be luckier to have her onboard. From working in education, to co-founding Grenade in her spare bedroom which was sold in 2021 for £200m – Juliet Barratt stands for everything FEBE is about: Determination. Hustle. Authenticity. Welcome to the FEBE family Juliet!
Juliet Barratt
Co-founder - Grenade
You’re fired! But can I have a 50% stake in your business, please?
Despite being a naturally gifted entrepreneur, Susie turned her back on her business in 2011 to pursue her ‘dream job’ but didn’t quite live up to her expectations. We caught up with Susie to find out how she used her appearance on The Apprentice as a catalyst to become one of the UK’s most successful young female entrepreneurs
Susie Ma
Founder - Tropic