We catch up with our Invisalign participants to see how mentorship helped them
In the final part of the Progress 1000 scheme, all four pairings share their experience of the past six months
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Your support makes all the difference.As part of this year’s Progress 1000, we asked some of London’s most influential leaders to mentor four aspiring entrepreneurs. Over the course of the past six months they’ve shared resources, contacts, advice and a few beers. So what have been the most valuable lessons learned — by both sides — along the way?
”We're a ridiculously good fit"
Kathryn Parsons, co-founder of Decoded, mentored tech entrepreneur Louise Doherty
In six months, Louise Doherty has raised £380,000 of funding, doubled the size of her team and moved into her first office space. “We’ve got plants and chairs and a little unicorn on the door,” she says.
It’s a huge leap forward for her social planning app PlanSnap, and her mentor Kathryn Parsons, who set up coding school Decoded, couldn’t be prouder.
“Louise is so impressive and from the moment we met I felt like I’d known her for years,” says Parsons. “We’ve been a ridiculously good fit and she’s gone out there and raised her capital. I’m so excited to see the next chapter unfold.”
PlanSnap officially launches in November, and the pair have already made plans to celebrate. “But knowing us it won’t be a drink in a bar,” jokes Doherty.
“It’ll be yoga or pilates or trail-running in Vietnam.” All organised on PlanSnap, obviously.
“She's been a fresh pair of eyes”
Anita Barr, fashion buying director for Harvey Nichols, mentored designer Fanni Varga
Getting a fledgling fashion label off the ground is no small feat, but designer Fanni Varga is well on her way, thanks in part to having had the insight of Anita Barr, one of the UK’s biggest fashion buyers. “I showed Anita my samples and she gave me great advice on what customers like and what to change,” she says of her mentor. “I tend to want to put everything in one design sometimes, but she told me ‘less is more’. It’s been great to have that fresh pair of eyes.”
Now, with her mentor’s help, Varga has made her final pieces for her SS18 collection. She says: “Just having someone who sees the industry from a different perspective has been really important.”
For Barr, being a mentor has highlighted just how tough the industry can be. “There are so many strong and talented people out there with some amazing products,” she says. “I really enjoyed mentoring Fanni as she is a talented girl with so much passion. What I hope I have taught her is to have a strong tone of voice and be confident in her convictions.”
“He's given me confidence I didn't know I had”
Brent Hoberman CBE, executive chairman at Founders Factory mentored tech entrepreneur Robert McInerney
At the start of this scheme, Robert McInerney’s company Intelligent Layer planned to use learning AI algorithms to help businesses understand their customers better. But since being mentored by Brent Hoberman, the founder of LastMinute.com — whose advice helped him “rethink things” — he has decided to flip the focus and put the customer first. Intelligent Layer will now channel its energies into creating its beer brand Intelligent X, which allows customers to give their feedback on the brew and change the recipe.
“Brent’s given me confidence in the skills I didn’t know I had,” says McInerney.
Hoberman, far left, adds: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Rob. The world of entrepreneurship can be daunting, but I know he’s cut out for it.”
“She's inspired new ideas for me”
Caroline Rush CBE, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, mentored textiles artist Onome Otite
For an artist who’s number one wish was to start teaming up with fashion designers, there could probably be no better mentor than Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council.
“I felt so lucky when I found out I was going to be mentored by Caroline,” says Onome Otite, who uses a combination of textiles and illustration in her work. “Not only does she know everyone in the industry, but she has run her own business so she understands the challenges of being a start-up. We’d regularly meet up to talk about ideas and I definitely came up with things I wouldn’t have thought of on my own, like getting a designer to collaborate in my process, rather than just acting as the inspiration to a piece.”
And Rush says that being a mentor has inspired her too. “Onome’s a wonderful person and I hope I’ve given her the confidence to make her ideas a reality,” she adds.
Best thing my mentor taught me…
Louise: The power of a good relationship with the media.
Onome: Nothing is out of reach if you have the right back up.
Fanni: To think about my brand’s DNA.
Robert: There are no shortcuts, you just have to keep the faith.
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