The name has a familiar buzz and a suggestion of old boy networks. EtonPreneurs has been set up by two Etonians — Edward Drax, 42, and Adrian Lloyd, 33 — and already it has 500 members.
“The purpose of the EtonPreneurs is to inspire and assist its members to start, grow and invest in outstanding start-ups by providing a structure that allows them to share their knowledge, experience and networks,” they say.
All you need is to be educated at an old school near Slough. Successful Etonian entrepreneurs include Brent Hoberman, co-founder of Lastminute.com; Johnnie Boden, of the Boden clothing empire; Ministry of Sound owner James Palumbo; Nick Wheeler, founder of Charles Tyrwhitt and jellymaker Sam Bompas.
“There is a wealth of entrepreneurial, investment and mentor experience within the EtonPreneurs membership,” boasts the company website.
Their goal is to help members with advice and to inspire entrepreneurship as a viable career among Etonians at Eton and university. Internship programmes will start this term at school.
“We receive no funding or grants from Eton or from any other organisation. The society survives purely on Adrian’s and my time and money,” says Drax. “At the moment we are still in our infancy, evolving our various purposes. While there are many ideas in the pipeline, until they are more concrete we would prefer to remain out of the press.” Not very entrepreneurial, surely.
