All members
Alexi Pittalis
Founder, Investor & Mindset Coach
The Conscious Founder / Psamathe / JOMARO Group
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Duncan Greenfield-Turk
Chief Travel Designer | Founder & Managing Director
@luxurylondonguy
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Barnaby Wynter
Professsional Speaker, Brand Creation Expert, Mentor. Author
The Brand Bucket Company
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Lyndsey Simpson
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Jade Thomas
Branding, Web Design & Jewellery Designer
Eau Rouge Design | Jade Thomas Jewellery
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What do you bring to the club?
The Red Tree is the UK's leading beauty consultancy company. We are well suited to support businesses from well funded start ups to investors..What makes you unusual?
We are the UK's leading, largest and longest established beauty consultancy company.What do you want from the club?
Would love to make new connections and build our network even further.
What do you bring to the club?
I have founded and launched one of the first B Corp certified Brand Activism agencies in the UK. As a result, I hope to bring my network to the club, along with experience and expertise in sustainability and climate change, ethics and governance and workers rights. Always happy to discuss B Corp certification as well as what makes an ethical organisation in today's modern world.What makes you unusual?
Despite my eye-wateringly English name, I am actually half Turkish and can speak the language fluently.What do you want from the club?
A home away from my home in Cornwall and a thriving community of people I can socialise with.
What do you bring to the club?
Considerable experience helping technology focused organisations scale internationally, including my own. Ability to solve staffing and recruitment challenges and great knowledge of how to grow teams quickly, from sales functions to highly skilled technical teams.What makes you unusual?
I'm not sure I'm best placed to answer that!What do you want from the club?
A home away from home when visiting my London operations and a place to relax and mix with like minded people.
What do you bring to the club?
An unquenchable appetite to always be at the leading edge of innovative best practice in digital marketing and to share that knowledge and expertise with the club, so our businesses can all thrive together. We put that into practice everyday as Home Grown’s digital marketing agency, looking after all aspects of the club’s email marketing, social media, SEO and PPC strategy.What makes you unusual?
I’m good at being unusual! I’ve managed to turn a hobby into a source of income. I started my digital marketing journey at the age of 13 as a hobby to help out my mum and that has grown into Fast Online Marketing Experts. But I’m also unusual in the sense that my work is about more than just gaining an income. I want to make a difference, too. So, I also invest a lot of my time in eco-friendly living through the Eco Bravo business I run with my mum, and I’m committed to helping women to be successful in business by developing the FOME Female brand that’s dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs through marketing.What do you want from the club?
It’s not just about the business opportunities, important though they obviously are; it’s also about the access I have to my fellow club members – all of them remarkable entrepreneurs who together boast an exceptional range of knowledge, skills and expertise. Being part of the club means that every day feels like having an army behind me.
What do you bring to the club?
CORE provides digital solutions and services to global retailers in supply chain management, customs classification and sustainability. In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious Queen's award for Enterprise in International Trade.What makes you unusual?
Before I started my career I qualified as a chef, my speciality was Provencal cooking.What do you want from the club?
Networking opportunities & new relationships.
What do you bring to the club?
I am founder of a B2B media company focused on the app industry. We run a number of events including App Promotion Summit in London, Berlin, NYC and online, The App Growth Awards, App Developer Awards and Social Video Strategies - an event all about TikTok Marketing. Our media site Business of Apps provides marketplaces, news & insights and data on the global app industry.What makes you unusual?
That depends on what 'usual' is ...What do you want from the club?
I always love meeting entrepreneurial people and am looking forward to attending events at the club ... I can't wait to spend more time NOT working from home as well !
What do you bring to the club?
I have over 20 years experience in health & wellbeing. I believe in old fashioned networking and love connecting people.What makes you unusual?
I am unique in the blend of expertise I have. My approach is to help release physical restrictions by starting from the ground up. Our feet hold many clues to what injuries or strains are in our history and also the solution to moving better.What do you want from the club?
I am looking forward to having a base in London to expand my contacts and meet clients. I am looking forward to contributing where I can.
What do you bring to the club?
A different perspective, some expertise in my field and an open book! Feel free to talk to me about anything or ask whatever you want. I'm not always a big talker and have less answers than I'd like to believe but love to have fun, challenging and though-provoking conversations! (yes, they can all be rolled into one chat)!What makes you unusual?
In truth, not a lot... Perhaps resigning from my job to raise my daughter for a bit? It shouldn't be unusual but I've found the sad reality says otherwise! If really pushed I'd say my entrepreneurial spirit that I'd previously suppressed until more recently. Having hustled hard at a younger age running tuck shops from my class locker, putting in shifts at McDonalds after school + in the holidays, and starting a mobile DJ business at 16, it's only in the past couple of years that I found it again and was brave enough to take a leap and start another business!What do you want from the club?
New insights and perspective, a nice place to meet like-minded as well as different people, and hopefully many laughs, smiles, debates and connections along the way!
What do you bring to the club?
22 Marketing has recently been formed and was looking for a great base to utilise as our first office, whilst also allowing us to grow our brand, meet valuable people to learn and network with.What makes you unusual?
22 Marketing is unique because it is the UK's first sponsorship agency that solely focuses on sustainability & equality within sport.What do you want from the club?
Networking & investors
Martin Norbury
Director
Advocate Business Services
Business and professional services
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
Meet like minded peopleWhat makes you unusual?
Worked in corporate life as CEO and also built my own businesses. Autogiro of bestseller I don’t work FridaysWhat do you want from the club?
A place to go in London and feel comfortable in
What do you bring to the club?
Passionate about starting and building businessesWhat makes you unusual?
Varied career in completely different sectors from hospitality to Data CentresWhat do you want from the club?
Networking, relaxed environment for my London base and overnight stays
What do you bring to the club?
I have a wealth of experience ranging from a career in the British Army to founding number of businesses notably in Africa. I have set up businesses in the events, hospitality and childcare sectors as well as having worked for one of the largest industrialists in Africa managing a number of textile and apparel factories. I hope that my diverse experience both successes and failures brings a unique entrepreneurial perception to the club.What makes you unusual?
I would say a lot can happen in a decade: From serving in Afghanistan to running textile factories in Africa on one end of the spectrum through to setting up a beach club (and skydive centre) and the largest sport and music festival in Africa.. In short...the Fyre Festival that actually happened! All of this and now trying to disrupt the children activity sector by finding the solution to making life easier for parents through tech.What do you want from the club?
Meet likeminded people, share experiences and generally have a space where people understand the struggles (and vents) of an Entrepreneur! All over a glass of wine!
Feyi Fakoya
Banking, international finance and real estate lawyer
Raymond Saul & Co. LLP
Business and professional services
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
I co-own and run a dynamic boutique firm of solicitors in the City. I am also involved in some entrepreneurial ventures of my own.What makes you unusual?
I am able to see things from an entrepreneurial perspective to enable me to offer sound legal and business advice. In addition my law firm is well placed to provide efficient and cost effective legal advice in most business areas, including a well regarded dispute resolution practice.What do you want from the club?
Networking opportunities leading to mutually beneficial relationships for all parties concerned.
What do you bring to the club?
A career in the insurance and insurance technology space. Which until 2016 was as dull as it sounds, until we found ourselves as the hottest industry in the VC worldWhat makes you unusual?
My bad case of FOMO has led me to be a corporate CEO, consultant, entrepreneur, NED and VC/PE investor in the UK, US and Asia. Focus was never my thing.What do you want from the club?
A place to stay and hang out when I'm in London, with a few interesting meetings, chance or otherwise.
What do you bring to the club?
18 years of running my own business,& an array of international contactsWhat makes you unusual?
Well travelled, a driven self starter and believe in collaborations and sharing are the key to successWhat do you want from the club?
To meet new people, share ideas and add and give value where possible
What do you bring to the club?
Experience in Growth, Brand and Positioning strategies in a variety of industries.What makes you unusual?
I grew up in 3 different countries and speak 4 languages.What do you want from the club?
Network, inspire, and be inspired.
What do you bring to the club?
I am a part of an investment group of individuals that invests in early stage businesses (SEIS and EIS). We look to invest where we can add value though the experience and connections we have across a number of industries and disciplines. Current investments include Fifty (www.fifty.io), Everpress (www.everpress.com), Karma Kitchen (www.karmakitchen.co), Sportable (www.sportable.com) and Hun Wine (www.hunwines.com)What do you want from the club?
Looking for further investment opportunities where we can support entrepreneurs with capital, experience and connections to rapidly grow their businesses.
Jeff Gosling
Owner & Director
Precessional Effect Limited
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
I have a trusted network of proven people who can help any business owner from their current focus or challenge to the life they are in business to achieve. Feel free to reach out and I'm happy to share as relevant. I'm a business planning & growth specialist and owner, with a vision to build a community of like-minded business owners all helping each other to succeed. I invest extensively in my development and am happy to share resources with anyone in the club who would like a coffee or drink. If you are struggling with your time, frustrated at the pace of growth or returns from business (profit and value) let me know and you'll get some help.What makes you unusual?
I live by the Law of Precession. If I help enough business owners to succeed and achieve their goals, I'll be more successful than if I focus on my own success. It's worked so far! Also, that winning is always a team game, on my own is the harder expensive way. I'm also a QPR season ticket holder, quite unusual even in West London...What do you want from the club?
To support my vision of building a community of like-minded business owners, all helping each other to succeed. Help others where it is welcome and to learn from others to accelerate my growth. The club is somewhere to meet and share my own network of clients and partners, host events and conduct business based on trusted relationships.
Janine Mostyn
Founder & Managing Director
Huckleberry Sport Ltd
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
Huckleberry Sport are global search specialists, mainly across Digital, Creative, Commercial & Tech with an enviable client list in the Sports & Gaming Industry. We place the best talent, with the best clients within Motorsports, Football, esports, Athletics, Golf, Sports Betting and Media Agencies, to name but a few! Myself and my team would love to support the HG community with any recruitment needs they might have, or happy to make any suitable introductions to our networks that might help your own businesses. Especially anyone looking to invest in exciting businesses from the sport and entertainment sector. I’m looking forward to meeting some new interesting people and seeing how we can help each other’s businesses thrive.What makes you unusual?
IWhat do you want from the club?
2020 gave Huckleberry an opportunity to work differently and we embraced this, the HG/HH collection met all of our needs and was a no brainer for us! With this option, we can still offer a safe space for our clients and candidates to meet us face to face, and more importantly give our staff a better work/life balance having the option of both ‘their home’ or ‘home grown’ to work from. Having already introduced some business friends to the club who have since become members, I think the next year is going to be great fun! Huckleberry Sport also partner wish a consultancy who have an investment portfolio for anyone looking to invest in exciting businesses from the sport and entertainment sector. I’d be happy to make introductions to anyone from the HG community looking to invest in any of these businesses.
What do you bring to the club?
Significant change management expertise, and an ability to cut to the chase, fast.What makes you unusual?
I advise CEOs and Boards of fast-growing companies and global corporates on how to build businesses that can survive and thrive in a world of endless change.What do you want from the club?
A chance to meet and connect with like-minded leaders.
What do you bring to the club?
My company partners with early stage, non-technical founders to build great businesses by providing technology strategy, leadership and people. I have over 20 years experience in bringing products to market in the Caribbean, the US, Europe and Australia and want to help the next batch of entrepreneurs build products that people love.What makes you unusual?
When I wrote in Spanish class "Yo tengo doce dedos", I got an F. Turns out I was right....What do you want from the club?
Networking
Jonathan-Robert Perry
Senior Consultant
Huckleberry Recruitment
Business and professional services
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
In my professional role as a proud team member of Huckleberry Recruitment I am keen to support the Home Grown community with any talent needs. Huckleberry are a global Media, Entertainment & Tech talent search specialists, working with many of the household names bringing entertainment & technology into our homes. These include major Hollywood film studios, computer gaming giants, children’s entertainment brands, smart-tech start-ups & agencies. As a person i'm great fun to be around and chill with so please feel free to say hi!What makes you unusual?
People seem to have an idea of what a typical recruiter is ....i'm the opposite to that. I like to think outside the box and see the world in a different way. My glass is always half full :)What do you want from the club?
Aside from a nice setting to work from with the Huckleberry gang i'm really looking forward to expanding my social network and meeting people from all walks of life!
Mark Gillett
Chief Medical Officer/ Doctor
The Premier League/ Cleveland Clinic London
Leisure and entertainment
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
Energy and commitment to improving wellness and health systems in a country that so badly needs itWhat makes you unusual?
I'm happier now that I have no hair than I was with a fringeWhat do you want from the club?
A high quality place to work from and relax in equal measure
Dominic Warman
Founder & Managing Director
Huckleberry Recruitment Ltd
Business and professional services
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
Huckleberry Recruitment are global Media, Entertainment & Tech talent search specialists, working with many of the household names bringing entertainment & technology into our homes. These include major Hollywood film studios, computer gaming giants, children’s entertainment brands, smart-tech start-ups & agencies. Both myself & my team are keen to help support the Home Grown community with their talent needs, as well as meet interesting people & have a lot of fun along the way!What makes you unusual?
We all know how easy it is to get carried away in the noise of business, so for the last 5 years, I’ve always taken every Tuesday out to volunteer at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, as a “buddy” playworker on a ward for respiratory illnesses. The patients, families and staff there are simply inspiring & you can’t help but leave feeling humbled.What do you want from the club?
2020 gave us the motivation to reflect on the way we do business & whether we could do more to promote a work/life balance with Huckleberry. When given all the options, our team unanimously decided a blended approach of remote working & Home Grown would be the best way forward. Since joining the club, we’ve managed to maintain collaboration & our company culture, as well as increase in productivity. More of that please!
What do you bring to the club?
Helping hand to any member who needs itWhat makes you unusual?
I am writer, cinematographer, director and producer of feature films. I have shot movies in languages I don’t knowWhat do you want from the club?
Meet interesting people for business and make new friends
What do you bring to the club?
I am an entrepreneur having started several businesses primarily in the magazine publishing and exhibition world, My publishing knowledge spans some 40 years working for the largest publishing houses in the world and a good deal of the smaller ones. Given my career diversity not many have the experience and depth of knowledge in the publishing business.What makes you unusual?
My depth of knowledge in the magazine and exhibition business.What do you want from the club?
Everyday is a school day, and no matter how much experience one has, we never stop learning and I learn from people. I am keen to meet like-minded business people and attending the clubs events.
What do you bring to the club?
I have had a successful career in building businesses, deal-making and running commercial teams globally. I know a lot about complex sales, business development, M&A, customer relationships, IP licensing and contracts etc. I consult on deals and deal making through my company today.What makes you unusual?
I wrote a book called Build Your Sales Tribe about Sales in the Information Age. It is designed to help entrepreneurs, CEOs and management teams scale successful businesses which have complex products and services as so many do today.What do you want from the club?
A place to meet people, learn about new things and share where relevant.
Alexi Pittalis
Founder, Investor & Mindset Coach
The Conscious Founder / Psamathe / JOMARO Group
Other
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
I hope to encourage more self-awareness and inspire deeper meaning in the lives of founders & entrepreneurs, helping them find purpose in their work, satisfaction in their productivity, and joy in their achievement. And, in doing so, become the happiest, most empowered version of themselves.What makes you unusual?
I can balance almost any object on my nose... I also have and continue to work across multiple roles and industry's at the same time, it means I'm constantly learning and inspired. I guess I love solving problems (but not mathematical ones.....)What do you want from the club?
I want to connect and have inspiring conversations with fellow founders, hearing their stories and how they have overcome the greatest mental challenges that come with starting and leading ones own business.
Pavan Patel
Founder - Looking for investment
Oddpods Foods Ltd
Built environment and infrastructure
I am a
What do you bring to the club?
Experience trading soft commodities with a global supply network. Launching brands into retailersWhat makes you unusual?
I hate working at a desk !What do you want from the club?
We are looking for seed investment into our business Oddpods
Alexandra Groszek
Starting up, Eco design and geospatial
None, planning a start up
Built environment and infrastructure
I am a
What do you bring to the club?
Environmental design skills, ecosystem services understanding, tennis experience, interest in aiWhat makes you unusual?
Bilingual Polish- English, a sporty/ artistic/ scientist type, with English and Architecture degrees, and a tennis coaching qualificationWhat do you want from the club?
Networking, I'm looking for co-founders for an ecological geospatial ai startup, mentoring
Mary Steadman
Co-Owner & Director of Partners
LURA Lifestyle
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
I bring my energy, passion and extensive network in the luxury lifestyle space. I have worked in the luxury hospitality and tourism industry for over 20 years. During this time, I have served as a senior manager, guest lecturer, trainer, business owner and board member. Currently I am Co-Founder & Director of Partners at LURA Lifestyle Management.What makes you unusual?
The same thing that I bring to Home Grown, my energy, passion and network. Also that I was born in a small mining town in Northern Ontario called Manitouwadge which is Ojibway for "Cave of The Great Sprit".What do you want from the club?
An area I can create, connect and collaborate with unique individuals from across the globe.
Ian Tollett
Tech and branding lawyer
Williams Powell
Technology/IP - based business
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
Expertise without pomposity. Height without superiority.What makes you unusual?
I’m a scientist turned lawyer with a love of the arts. And cocktails.What do you want from the club?
Good times and interesting connections.
What do you bring to the club?
A passion to make things happen, a relentless drive for purpose, and bags of energy! I provide expert advice on how to truly grow and transform a business through people. People are every business’ greatest asset- if you make this feel true for employees, your business will thrive beyond your wildest dreams! Proud Consulting specialises in transformational change, culture and values, performance management, talent strategy, organisation design, leadership development, and employee wellbeing. People + purpose = performance 😊What makes you unusual?
I believe wholeheartedly that we each have a number of unique gifts- we just need help at times to see them, and to not allow ourselves to conform to what others believe we are. I’m proud (no pun intended!) to have earnt my management consultant ‘stripes’ at Deloitte, and I’m even prouder to be applying my experience and knowledge in my own way now, working with clients to help them reach their business aspirations through an entirely humanistic approach to transformation.What do you want from the club?
New contacts, opportunities and adventures.
What do you bring to the club?
Successful investor and entrepreneur - focus on SMEs. Happy to mentor and to learn.What makes you unusual?
I'm always totally honest about what I'm thinking!What do you want from the club?
Meet other like-minded people and to be able to help others achieve their goals.
What do you bring to the club?
Highly-differentiated, authentic and irresistible brand identities for driven entrepreneurs with burning ambitions to scale. We help businesses to grow by capturing their unique value and then communicating it with the world at every step.What makes you unusual?
I’m intensely independent and obsessed with freedom. For me - I left home at 16 and started my first business at 21. But also for others - I love to help friends start businesses doing something that lights them up, forever escaping the rat-run! But when it comes to Firestarter it’s my fierce focus on business-winning differentiation, combined with ingenious design and brand messaging… and a fun and playful approach. (When creativity is fun, our greatest work is done!)
Dr Chris Endersby
Psychological Coach | Change Agent
End2End Consulting
Business and professional services
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
I work with individuals, teams and organisations who are motivated to become more successful at making changes in their lives. My aim - and my passion - is to help people become more resilient and adaptable in the face of life’s stresses, adversity and trauma. By unblocking self-limiting barriers and empowering people to think clearly, feel positively and act purposefully we can transform performance and achieve positive, lasting change. So, if you’re finding lock-down tough, or would like to understand more about how to make change happen, then, by all means, get in touch.What makes you unusual?
I seem to have developed a skill for bouncing back, re-inventing myself and also working with others in some very demanding contexts. I started out as a social worker working in the child protection arena prior to setting up services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Since then, I’ve lived a life of change, working in management consulting, financial services and innovative technology firms. I’ve come full-circle and I’m excited to transition one last time to launch my new business which is dedicated to helping others change and flourish.What do you want from the club?
As a people person, I’m looking to build relationships based on trust and curiosity. When circumstances allow, and preferably over a good bottle of red, I’d love to meet, share stories and hear the adventures of my fellow members.
What do you bring to the club?
I am an experienced, straight talking PR/comms/reputation management consultant. My focus has always been on the impact that reputation has on business growth. I am always happy to sit down with members and have an honest and frank conversation about how they might target new audiences, manage their messaging and deal with a reputation issue.What makes you unusual?
I was taught early in my career that there is no value in being a 'yes person' as a PR consultant. I therefore like to assess situations and give genuine advice based on what I believe to be the right answer. Sometimes it may be uncomfortable to hear, but it is always constructive, reasoned and well thought through.What do you want from the club?
Conversations. If a small number of those conversations lead to new client relationships, then even better.
John G. Courtney
Founder and CEO
BoardroomAdvisors.co
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
Proud to be an Ambassador of Home Grown and to have run several webinars with the club on strategy and growth. We are planning to make our Scale-UP Growth Diagnostic available to members during Spring 2021.What makes you unusual?
I am a seriel idiot, having founded 7 businesses over 45 years. I am currently CEO of BoardroomAdvisors.co which provides part-time Directors for growing businesses. These can be NEDs and Chairs but our biggest piece is actually part-time finance, marketing, sales, operations and even managing directors - anything from 1 day/month to 3 days/week. Our clients are scale-ups and family businesses who need director-level advice but dont want, need or cant yet afford a full time person. I have been a judge for National Business Awards, Amazon Scale-Up, IoD Dragon's Den, etc and a speaker at many conferences and exhibitions generally around entrepreneurship, strategy, growth, funding and exit. I am based in Bristol but love staying when I come to town. You may also see my son James Courtney of Lux Rewards around the club - probably more frequently than me.What do you want from the club?
I love meeting entrepreneurs and investors, connecting people from my extensive network built over the 109 years I have been in business.
Stefanos Koutsakos
Portfolio Manager
QCG Capital Ltd
Business and professional services
I am an Investor
What do you bring to the club?
Interesting thoughts and positive energy. Sometimes I also bring investment opportunities.What makes you unusual?
Passion for motorsports and strong environmentalist.What do you want from the club?
Meet interesting people. Share business and investment ideas. Have a place to think and entertain friends.
What do you bring to the club?
An elite knowledge and experience in human performance, and strength and conditioning. My background in professional football, combined with my current studies for an MSc in Strength and Conditioning have given me a good combination of both practical, and theoretical experience to be an expert in my field.What makes you unusual?
I think it's relatively unusual to go from a professional sporting background, and transition into business. However at the same time, I think many parallels and skills can be drawn between the two. Sport teaches skills such as discipline, sacrifice, teamwork and confidence, and these are all skills which are very applicable to business. I also believe that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and vice versa, and would encourage everyone to train more.What do you want from the club?
I use the club as my base, and office when I am away from my gym, and not training clients. As my business grows I realise I need a workspace, and Home Grown has been perfect for me as it's local, and an inspiring work setting. The social element is also great.
What do you bring to the club?
I help my clients start conversations with their prospects. Everything works with Phase 2 has one thing is common - to make a sale, they need to build trust first. We help them use LinkedIn effectively, to nurture their leads and build a solid pipeline of future deals.What makes you unusual?
I got roped into appearing in the Home Grown promo video and now see pictures of myself on every screen, on the website and even while I'm writing this - which is very weird!What do you want from the club?
Somewhere to meet prospects and clients, and somewhere quiet to work between meetings. Plus somewhere fun to have a drink afterwards.
What do you bring to the club?
An open mind, energy to collaborate on projects aligned with our brand values, and a forward-thinking approach to education.What makes you unusual?
Bootstrapping our business to achieve a 7-figure turnover in Year 3.What do you want from the club?
To meet like-minded individuals with an interest in education, EdTech or luxury services.
What do you bring to the club?
A passion for creative branding and design. I lead a branding agency that focuses on health and wellness. We work with start-ups and entrepreneurs from across the globe to develop positioning, design and launch material that drive success. We work with early stage investment business and incubator hubs at companies such as Danone, Molson Coors & UnileverWhat makes you unusual?
A passion for creativity with real purposeWhat do you want from the club?
To connect, make new acquaintances, learn from others and immerse myself in new ideas and thinking (as well as a few drinks and a place to chill)
Duncan Greenfield-Turk
Chief Travel Designer | Founder & Managing Director
@luxurylondonguy
Business and professional services
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
Originally from Cape Town South Africa where he studied hospitality, Duncan has more than two decades of global luxury hospitality experience. During his career Duncan was a member of the pre-opening and opening team at the now famed Corinthia Hotel London where he held multiple roles. Duncan has also held roles with Jumeirah and St. Pancras Renaissance and more recently he played a key role in the rebrand, repositioning and launch of the highly successful luxury lifestyle boutique hotel The Trafalgar St. James. Throughout his career Duncan has been privileged to work alongside some of the most exceptional hoteliers and has also developed long-standing, close relationships with clients and partners across multiple sectors. Duncan believes that by leveraging past experience and continuing to build on existing relationships, @luxurylondonguy is perfectly poised to provide tailored and individual support to each of our clients.What makes you unusual?
With over 25 years of experience in global luxury hospitality coupled with an entrepreneurial mindset I bring desire, hunger and passion for the travel sector to investors, entrepreneurs and idea creators allowing them to focus on what they do best. I do this by providing hassle free travel planning with an understanding of what is important to a start up or business going through a growth phase.What do you want from the club?
I seek connections and opportunity to take my existing travel company to the next level.
What do you bring to the club?
Years of experience both in the private investment and corporate fieldsWhat makes you unusual?
I believe in doing things differently, we all have different qualities which when nurtured make us great business people.What do you want from the club?
To help and fund young companies in these difficult times. To meet like-minded members to bounce ideas off, and meet other members in view of making friendships.
Hakan Forsberg
Co Founder / Senior Partner
Conpleo
Business and professional services
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
I bring know-how, experience and a proven record of how to build or transform successful sales and marketing organisations for sustainable growthWhat makes you unusual?
A pragmatic approach to sales and marketing based on facts, experience and creativityWhat do you want from the club?
A place with a generous culture. Generosity in this context is when we find it natural to connect, share and learn from each other. I will try my best to do the same for the club.
What do you bring to the club?
As a Certified Scaling Up Master Coach I bring powerful Scaling Up Tools and resources that are designed to help organisations Scale FastWhat makes you unusual?
I once was a Jackaroo in Australia...What do you want from the club?
To have a great base in London. ( I live in Derbyshire ) and to meet other professionals and entrepreneurs who are passionate about Scaling Up.
What do you bring to the club?
Wealth of wisdom in the areas of fitness, physical training, nutrition, coaching and gym business.What makes you unusual?
Ex - Slovakian free-style wrestlerWhat do you want from the club?
To create win-win partnerships, meet like-minded people and learn.
Allyson Stewart-Allen
CEO
International Marketing Partners Ltd.
Business and professional services
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
Having helped over 240 companies across 26 countries to successfully internationalise, especially when expanding in the US, I hopefully bring that experience and appetite to learn from other members about ways they've approached localising their services/products and tackle the challenge of juggling global and local demands. As author of best-selling book Working with Americans, I also bring insights into how you win in the world's largest economy...What makes you unusual?
I am unusual as an American in London for over 30 years who speaks foreign languages, has lived in 3 countries, is a frequent media commentator and broadcaster, is speaker and author, and serves on Boards to help them be successful. I also started my company at age 30 in London, when that was a very unusual thing to do, especially as a woman.What do you want from the club?
I'd like to make the most of the club to meet members who share my interests in international business while building my knowledge of more industries. I'm naturally inquisitive and enjoy discovering all things new...
Barnaby Wynter
Professsional Speaker, Brand Creation Expert, Mentor. Author
The Brand Bucket Company
Other
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
The opportunity for change we face right now is to create brands that matter. I am available to any entrepreneur that is looking to create positive disruption so that the world we live in is a better place for future generations.What makes you unusual?
At a business level, I have created over 570 brands in the last 35 years and in doing so I have become a specialist generalist. This experience has enabled me to advise over 20 boards including getting one to listing on the Frankfurt exchange and invest in a number of businesses. I also am priviledged to be carrying the work forward of The Brand Bucket, a proven way for organisations to become marketing led. At a personal level I work on two probono projects a years. I am a Founder Freeman of The Company of Entrepreneurs, with roles on The Court, in Outreach and for Sponsorship of The Company.( do ask if you want to access to entrepreneurs in the CIty). My second role is to fund the construction of a school in East Africa which I am increasingly close to being able to do. Finally I am a huge fan of Disney, ride a Vespa scooter, adore skiing and collect fossils with over 10,000 in my collection. OK, I know what you are thinking but try and reserve judgement until we have met.What do you want from the club?
There is much work to be done to help the next generation of enterpreneurs.Given the knowledge economy it is not acceptable for early stage businesses to make the mistakes that I have made in running a successful business. They need to be making new mistakes no-one has made before. For me the club will become a safe place to share ideas, find help and be of help to others in return. That would make me feel at home.
What do you bring to the club?
Helping business owners secure the funds they need to meet their cashflow obligations and pursue their growth objectives. Working through numbers, narrative and network; to bring long-standing professional relationships with decision-makers at lending institutions to successfully deliver the funding you need.What makes you unusual?
Track record of operating through different economic cycles inside big banks, lending to businesses of all shapes and sizes, providing hands-on experience. My advisory practice adds value to business owners requiring guidance and manpower to put the financial resources in place to grow.What do you want from the club?
I love to meet new people and helping entrepreneurs gives me a real sense of purpose.
What do you bring to the club?
Eclecticism, diversity, serendipity, words (lots, many of them unusual)What makes you unusual?
My family might make other suggestions, but I'll go with being a lapsed classicist, adman, trainer, author, speaker, lecturer, cinema trustee,.storyteller, Behavioural Economics devotee and Arcade Fire aficionado with a penchant for puns and a weak backhand.What do you want from the club?
A place to explore and generate new connections and links, people and ideas.
Geoff Woodhouse
Salamanca Private Office
Business and professional services
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
I work with co-investors, mentors, professionals, creatives and technicians to help entrepreneurs and investors drive financial success. At Salamanca we take the heavy lifting out of business planning, investor pitch decks, due diligence, core financials and tax, enabling entrepreneurs and investors to get their life back.What makes you unusual?
I focus on elegant and sustainable solutions to create value for long term patient capital.What do you want from the club?
Conversations which bring long term relationships, co-investment opportunities and happy clients
What do you bring to the club?
Deep knowledge of macroeconomics, and the application of data science there. Keen to "pay it forward" by guiding people on their entrepreneurial journey.What makes you unusual?
I'm a non-judgemental libertarianWhat do you want from the club?
To expand my network of nice entrepreneurial folk.
What do you bring to the club?
After nearly 20 years experience working across financial services, investments and founding companies, I have a vast network and clear idea on how to make impactful decisions...What makes you unusual?
I am a Viking in London with a global footprint!What do you want from the club?
Meeting interesting people is fuelling my day!
William Maughan
Founder
Industrial Clairvoyants Ltd
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
If one already has all the structured and planned and goal oriented work, why not look at what is not structured or too clearly goal oriented from the beginning. Look differently to see differently. Otherwise where do new ideas comes from?What makes you unusual?
Using right brained techniques to uncover insights into some of the most intractable issues that then inform decisive action that delivers measurable results. Constructively challenging in order to make meaningful change. With humour, generosity of spirit, and good grace at all times.What do you want from the club?
To make meaningful connections with brave, courageous people. To use my experience to help start-ups and growth business avoid common pitfalls commonly encountered when scaling. Oh and continuous personal development!
Andrew Oldfield
Managing Partner
Newfields Communication AB
Business and professional services
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
I am a financially independent and international person willing to help others succeed. I have the time and energy to invest in a venture I believe in. I am looking for good friends and potential business partners and want to have a good time with you at the club!What makes you unusual?
I am based in Stockholm. I have worked as a Scandinavian manager and entrepreneur for nearly 30 years. I think this experience can give you another view on things.What do you want from the club?
To meet people who would like help in their ventures or who would like to start something together with me - or just to have a good time while we talk ideas through.
What do you bring to the club?
Entrepreneurial energy and experience across the Financial Services, Recruitment, Leisure, HR and Professional Services Industries. Keen networker and facilitator of introductions to help connect people to others in my network.What makes you unusual?
Every business I have been involved in is in a different sector which I have learnt from scratch. I am currently looking to redefine life for those over 55 as the need and desire to work and have adventures needs to be age-less with the concept of retirement replaced by a blended life.What do you want from the club?
People to seek expertise from in areas I am looking to grow my knowledge & network. To meet other passionate entrepreneurs who love business and making new connections. To have a place to hold meetings and stop over in London that feels like an extension to my office.
Jade Thomas
Branding, Web Design & Jewellery Designer
Eau Rouge Design | Jade Thomas Jewellery
Tradespeople
I am a
What do you bring to the club?
I bring two different design solutions to the members of Home Grown ... • -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- Through Eau Rouge Ltd. I create strategic, targeted and beautifully designed branding for businesses, plus any ongoing graphic design for print. I also design and build gorgeous and modern Squarespace websites. My websites are future-proof - We could start with a simple site designed to appeal to your target audience, and then - if and when it suits the business - add features such as a shop, a blog, a newsletter, or paid-for content in a membership area. I design websites that my clients can totally edit and update themselves, without it getting all too techie, or having to pay to outsource minor changes. • -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- • -•- • -•- •• -•- As Jade Thomas Jewellery, I design one-off pieces of luxury jewellery, featuring diamonds and rare or unusual coloured gemstones. I have a range of ready-to-wear pieces on my website, but I also design bespoke commissions and redesign inherited jewels into new pieces.What makes you unusual?
With my design business, the answer is that I'm able to step into the mindset of your ideal clients really quickly, in order to create designs that appeal to them. With my jewellery, most of my gems are so traceable that I can tell you the exact day and location they were discovered and show you an image of how each gemstone looked before cutting and polishing. They are truly one-offs and make amazing gifts or a treat to celebrate a success!What do you want from the club?
Firstly, having a beautiful, safe and central location in which to meet clients or simply use as a base when in London is a fabulous benefit to me and my businesses. It's also an inspiring place to meet business owners and entrepreneurs, and it is so, so much nicer than staying in a random hotel room on my own - I've also made some fab friends here! The staff are wonderful, friendly and I'm so happy to be a member. Whilst we've all been at home the webinars have been inspiring and thought-provoking, but I look forward to staying at HG again when possible.
Johnny Abraham
Managing Director
J9 Advisory Limited
Business and professional services
I am a Business Leader
What do you bring to the club?
I am a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute for Turnaround with approaching 20 years of experience in business funding, rescue, and restructuring. I am a phone call away for any members who would like to have a conversation about anything that maybe keeping them awake at night within their business. I also come across a lot of opportunities to acquire businesses or assets, and can assist anyone looking to sell assets or non performing operations.What makes you unusual?
I wouldn’t say I am your average accountant! I am also one of the Northern based member of HomeGrown.What do you want from the club?
I would like to expand my London network and hopefully attend some great events at the club. I’ll always make time for a few drinks at the bar.
Jessica Barwell
Marketing Communcations Manager
Home Grown Club
Leisure and entertainment
I am a Service Professional
What do you bring to the club?
As Marketing Communications Manager I manage partnerships and affiliations as well as developing the members events’ calendar for Home Grown. I am always keen to get to know members and help them connect and make valuable introductions.What makes you unusual?
Where to start... Having grown up in Hong Kong and lived in Dubai, France as well as spending time in Malta and the UK I always try and see things from a global perspective.What do you want from the club?
I am hugely inspired by members' successes, as someone who has always had the long term goal of starting my own business it's great to be around such driven proactive people. Energies are contagious and it's been particularly great to witness members' continue to grow their businesses through the rather turbulent 2020 that we have had.
What do you want from the club?
The opportunity to meet compelling people and compelling people through shared communication and dynamic visions in growing a better world., all topped with a massive dose of fun and funny.
What do you bring to the club?
I bring a creative flair and organised outlook on life.What makes you unusual?
Working in Media & events I have a very varied out look on life and run my own events brandWhat do you want from the club?
I want to get to know entrepreneurs and learn from what they have done in their industries
Glyn Heath
Business Evangelist
Crossing The T Limited
Technology/IP - based business
I am an Entrepreneur
What do you bring to the club?
I'm a tech entrepreneur who also provides business advisory services, coaches and mentors other entrepreneurs and actively invests in early-stage ventures. Some say I'm quite effective at these things; I make no claims either way.. All I'd say is 'give me a try'. It will have gone well if you get something out of it; it will have gone even better if we both do.What makes you unusual?
Like all 7.8 billion of our fellow humans I'm unique.What do you want from the club?
An ever evolving list of delicious cocktails to try!
What do you bring to the club?
I’m here to help anyone that’s looking for property investment deals in south London.What makes you unusual?
I’m a pineapples on pizza type of girl!What do you want from the club?
I want to network and make new friends!
What do you bring to the club?
A Welsh & Women's perspective on what it's like to be doing business on a global scale, with a base three hours away from London. And how being Welsh can sometimes be your best hindrance in getting ahead! A coaching persWhat makes you unusual?
An alternative view to the 'old ways' of business coaching! Having been trained in the USA as a coach following a 20 year career as an entrepreneur, journalist and academic, my way of viewing business is nothing short of alternative. Challenging the ethos behind a simple business plan, my high performance success coaching begins at the core of the individual or business. I like to think I bring to the club, disruptive coaching at it's best!What do you want from the club?
A deeply collaborative and expansive space to connect with other businesses and entrepreneurs who understand just how powerful real, sustained change can be; and the importance of a new way of excelling in business: expansive conversations, imaginative new ways of doing things and how the growth space in coaching is leading the way for next level thinking.
What do you bring to the club?
Dameon is an established Sales professional with 26 years’ experience within the business hospitality sector. Throughout his career, he has accumulated a wealth of industry knowledge and developed an extensive address book. Dameon has developed a niche skillset in accelerating sales growth for businesses, which led to him taking his own entrepreneurial journey, founding his own company in 2004, the vision to work with his business community to create a proactive sales and marketing company in London, for the UK and international hospitality markets.What do you want from the club?
The opportunity to create an eclectic community of entrepreneurial people, who can thrive in an ecosystem, that provides the resources to enable them to unleash their true business potential
What do you bring to the club?
Bringing together a community of leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and learn, solve problems, thrive and build long lasting relationshipsWhat makes you unusual?
Hotelier with 20 years of experience, having worked in a variety of global chains and boutique and most recently has spent his time in London opening and developing hotels.What do you want from the club?
As the General Manager for Home Grown, I am developing a curated and balanced community, leading a team of professionals and tirelessly creating a great environment to thrive, learn, collaborate whilst having fun at the same time!
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After cutting his teeth at Australia’s central bank, managing a derivatives desk, a proprietary trading desk and a hedge fund, from the mid nineties has operated as a “business angel”, backing more early-stage companies than anyone else in the United Kingdom. Many of these more than 75 unquoted companies have successfully floated on the market or have been acquired. Highlights include the sister club to Home Grown, Home House, Net-a-Porter and Reggae Reggae Sauce. His appearances on Dragons’ Den earned him the moniker “Mr. Nice” as he became reportedly its most popular panelist ever, offering constructive advice and the many offers for investment.
Richard’s book Taming the Lion, has received over 50 favorable media reviews, and been released in many languages worldwide. Richard also featured in the documentary “Australian Story, There But For Fortune”. An avid chess player, Richard has competed at two Chess Olympics.
As the original investor to Home House, Richard can often be found in Home House and Home Grown and featured in the first of our Rockstar series at Home Grown sharing his story to success.
As a care leaver, he is a passionate supporter and spokesman for foster children.
