Brent Hoberman is a well-known British entrepreneur, investor, and leader in the tech industry. He co-founded lastminute.com in 1998 with Martha and was CEO until 2006, later becoming chairman and chief strategy officer. The company was sold to Sabre in 2005 for $1.1 billion. In 2010, he co-founded Made.com, an online furniture retailer, but stepped down as chair before its 2021 IPO due to concerns about the listing. Made.com faced challenges, including a collapsed share price and administration in 2022.
Brent is also the co-founder and executive chairman of Founders Factory, a venture studio and accelerator, and co-founded firstminute capital, a $270 million seed fund supported by over 80 unicorn founders. His other ventures include mydeco.com and PROfounders Capital, a VC firm focused on early-stage internet projects.
Brent serves on the advisory boards of Google Cloud, the UK Government Digital Service, and the WEF Digital Europe Group. He has advised the British government on technology and has held non-executive director roles at companies such as TalkTalk, Shazam Entertainment, The Guardian Media Group, and The Economist.
Dedicated to improving opportunities for women in tech and young entrepreneurs, Brent has been a champion for change within The Global Tech Group and has advised four UK prime ministers. He was awarded a CBE in 2015 for his contributions to entrepreneurship.
A sought-after speaker, Brent shares insights on innovation and the importance of corporate-startup collaborations. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to fostering innovation have established him as a respected leader in the tech sector.
