The Entrepreneurs

Linda Liukas is a Finnish programmer, author, illustrator and founder of Hello Ruby, an interactive and fun children’s book series about technology and computing. Launched on Kickstarter in 2014, the series is now published in 25 languages. Liukas also founded Rails Girls, teaching programming to young women in more than 300 cities, and here discusses why our view of life with computers isn’t more hopeful.

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Martin Murray, founder and CEO of Austria’s Waterdrop, has created the ‘microdrink’: an effervescent, compact cube made of plant and fruit extracts that can be added to tap or filtered water. It’s a response to the large carbon footprint of the drinks industry, which ships glass and plastic worldwide.

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After working at Nike and Disney, Andy Mooney joined Fender in 2015, becoming the first CEO of the US heritage guitar brand to actually play the instrument. He now oversees the relaunch of Fender’s iconic models and the company’s digital growth.

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Lisa Yamai is the executive vice-president of Snow Peak, the Japanese outdoor apparel and gear firm, and granddaughter of the company’s founder. Yukio Yamai was an accomplished mountaineer who started the brand in 1958 to create climbing gear that met his standards. In 2014, Lisa joined to lead the design and development of the company’s first ever clothing line. We met her after the launch of Snow Peak’s new flagship store in central London.

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Nicola Kilner is the co-founder and CEO of Deciem, a skincare firm with 50 shops that is known for its tagline, ‘The abnormal beauty company.’ Kilner co-founded the company with Brandon Truaxe, launching 10 brands in 2013. But it was the firm’s eleventh brand, The Ordinary, which has been its most successful to date. In January 2019 – after a turbulent 2018, which included a very public struggle with mental-health issues – Truaxe was found dead. Kilner has spent the year helping the company follow through on Truaxe’s vision.

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Agata Kozak launched Madrid-based Cossac in 2014, a women’s fashion label with a focus on sustainability. Kozak – who grew up in Poland, studied in Barcelona and Istanbul and worked in London – wants people to buy less while investing in quality pieces, which is why she makes wardrobe staples to span the seasons.

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Camilla Fayed is the restaurateur behind plant-based Farmacy, which uses vegetables, fruit and herbs from her biodynamic farm in Kent. Launched in London in 2016, Farmacy now has an outpost in New York.

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Will Pearson and Nick Doman are co-founders of Ocean Bottle, the London-based company behind a reusable water bottle that allows consumers to measure their impact on the collection of plastic in our oceans and rivers. Every bottle funds the sweeping up of about 11kg of plastics through partner Plastic Bank, which pays collectors in Brazil, Haiti, Indonesia and the Philippines. Since this year’s launchit has sold more than 30,000 bottles.

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Galahad Clark is the co-founder of Vivobarefoot, whose lightweight shoes promote natural movement and help feet grow stronger. Galahad launched the company in 2012 with his cousin Asher Clark, both of whom are relatives of the original founders of Clarks, the English heritage shoe brand.

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David Kahl is the CEO and founder of Fully, a Portland-based office-furniture brand designing desks and chairs which, it says, encourage a more active and energetic workspace. Kahl started his professional life as an accountant. The job took him to Manhattan, where he lived through the horrors of September 11th, an experience that inspired him to focus on building positive work environments. He launched Fully in 2006, which is now a Certified B company working with top manufacturers in Europe.

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