The Entrepreneurs

Victor Lugger and his business partner Tigrane Seydoux spent two years driving around Italy to find the best producers and suppliers before opening their first restaurant in Paris. Today, they have nine restaurants as part of the Big Mamma Group, including a new trattoria in London’s Shoreditch called Gloria.

Angela Scott is the founder of The Office of Angela Scott, a women’s shoe brand all about elegance and functionality. After working in construction and estate management – and learning of the impracticality of high heels – Angela wanted to create a line of boots and shoes that celebrated women, using the same craftsmanship she was seeing in men’s shoes.

Harry Mead is the founder of the recently opened London members’ club The Court, an ambitious £2m (€2.3m) venture, inspired by Mead’s favourite classic films. The luxury club recently opened its doors in the former Bag O’Nails site in Soho, an iconic music venue. The menu was created by Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, the cocktail list by Mr Lyan and artwork by Bradley Theodore.

Max Kreijin and Nick Brackenbury are the co-founders of NearSt, a platform getting people back to the high street. They’ve also paired with Google so that those searching for a specific product can be told that it might be available nearby.

Gabriella Somerville is the founder and managing director of ConnectJets, a private-jet brokerage handling sales, charters and logistics for clients around the world.

Tay Liam Wee is the chairman and co-founder of Watchbox, a growing trading platform for pre-owned watches shaking up a multi-billion-dollar industry. Watchbox mixes personalised online shopping with high-touch retail service. Tay is the former owner of Sincere Watch, a family business he took over in the 1980s, expanding the company across Asia.

Stefan Allesch-Taylor CBE is chairman of Coffeesmiths Collective Inc, owner and operator of a number of standout brands in coffee, including The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, Nordic Bakery and Baker & Spice. A serial entrepreneur and award-winning philanthropist, Allesch-Taylor has more than 25 years of experience in finance and growing start-ups and is also a professor of entrepreneurship at King’s College London.

Whitney Bromberg Hawkings is founder and CEO of Flowerbx, the florist trusted by some of the biggest names in fashion, retail and hospitality. Hawkings spent almost two decades as Tom Ford’s personal assistant before launching her own company in 2015. Flowerbx has also collaborated with top designers on a series of vases, created a line of bespoke fragrances and has a regular client list including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tory Burch and The River Café.

Michelle Kennedy is the CEO and founder of Peanut, a rapidly growing app and network for mothers. She was previously deputy CEO of dating platform Badoo and later, along with Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe, created dating app Bumble.

Karen Mabon is a Scottish designer and illustrator, based in London, who’s known for her colourful and playful silk scarves. Her eponymous label was launched in 2013 after she attended the Royal College of Art. Her pieces are stocked by a number of retailers including Anthropologie, Bloomingdales and Harvey Nichols. The collection now also includes cashmere scarves, silk sleepwear and cushions, with plans to introduce more homeware and women’s clothing this year.