Ex-slickers cooking up a storm
Poncho 8
FOUNDERS
Nick Troen (formerly a consultant at KPMG); Frank Yeung (formerly a trader at Goldman Sachs); Nick Birkett (formerly an investment analyst at BlackRock).
BUSINESS
The first Poncho 8 in Spitalfields opened in September 2009 with the aim of being the first of a fast-casual Mexican chain. www.poncho8.com
WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE CORPORATE WORLD?
Nick Troen: “Being in my early 20s and having no children, mortgage or any dependents, it was easier to accept the long hours with little to no pay that could be expected from starting a restaurant business in a recession. Also, I’ve always had a desire to create and build something – working in finance and accounting was a very useful background to the numbers side of the business – but I’d wake up every morning thinking I’ve got to do something more creative. Of course there are moments when I’d much rather be in a nice office, but then the freedom, leaving your stamp on the world, and hopefully at a latter stage the financial rewards of course more than make up for it.”
G’NOSH
FOUNDER
Charlotte Knight (formerly head of marketing and finance segment for Cisco Europe).
BUSINESS
G’NOSH is a range of gourmet dips in five flavours. It’s the brainchild of Charlotte Knight, a mother of two, and former marketing leader from the banking and IT sector. Formerly from New Zealand, Charlotte spotted a gap in the UK market for non-hummus flavours, seeking inspiration from the dips back down under. gnosh.co.uk
WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE CORPORATE WORLD?
“I had always wanted to be my own boss and create a business from the ground up, but it took me a while to get over the fear of giving up the security of a salary and to figure out what venture I wanted to pursue. I took some personal leave in 2010, giving me the space to think through my options. I realised I could fulfil my dream by marrying my two biggest passions: food and business. I’ve always loved food, spending any spare time trawling markets, food fairs and exploring new speciality brands or cooking up a feast at home. I’ve learnt more on my journey with G’NOSH than in my 16-year corporate career. But my existing experience ensured that I was able to accelerate the development of the brand from just an idea to an on-shelf product. I greatly value the experience and confidence those years in the City gave me, but I’m just a lot happier now that I’m finally doing my own thing.”
Hello Fresh
FOUNDERS
Pit Karbe (analyst at Morgan Stanley and equity analyst at Lord Rothschild’s RIT Capital Partners); Patrick Drake (lawyer at Goldman Sachs and Clifford Chance).
BUSINESS
Hello Fresh is a gourmet grocery and recipe delivery service. It aims to make good quality, home cooked food convenient to everyone, with pre-measured fresh ingredients and photo illustrated recipes. www.hellofresh.co.uk
WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE CORPORATE WORLD?
Pit Karbe: “My career change came about by accident. I previously had a solid job working in the City as an investment manager. However, I had a minor injury and had to take some time off to recuperate from the concussion. The break from work prompted me to think about my career goals. I realised that I wanted to create something that really mattered, so I decided to take the plunge and follow my passion for entrepreneurship. I was introduced to the start-up community and was constantly speaking to other entrepreneurs and investors, which is when I began to formulate the idea for Hello Fresh.”