Bryanston welcomed Old Bryanstonians (OBs), along with parents and former parents working across a wide range of industries and early-stage ventures, from design, marketing, HR and finance to technology, to London on Thursday 26 February for the launch of its inaugural Founders’ Forum.
This ambitious new initiative aims to connect, support and inspire entrepreneurial talent across the Bryanston community, creating a platform where experienced founders, emerging entrepreneurs and aspiring innovators can share insights, build networks and create new opportunities.
Kindly hosted by AlixPartners, the evening brought together a group of OB entrepreneurs for an event that blended insight, mentorship and networking. Head Richard Jones and Head of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Caroline de Mowbray, set out Bryanston’s vision to embed enterprise education more deeply within the school experience.
The evening featured a series of fireside conversations, including a discussion between Rupert Swallow (Sa ’85) and Tom Woollard (C ’12). Rupert, a Governor of Bryanston with a 36-year career in finance and entrepreneurship, has founded or invested in more than 20 start-ups since 2009. Through his venture capital firm Kinney & Sons, established in 2021, he now oversees a portfolio of growth businesses across the insurance and technology sectors.
Tom Woollard, CEO and co-founder of property technology company BUNK, reflected on his journey from raising millions in venture funding to successfully exiting the business. Now working with organisations on practical AI transformation and serving as a Non-Executive Director and adviser to first-time founders, Tom is also a member of Bryanston’s E&I Advisory Board.
Discussing his decision to invest in Tom’s business, Rupert emphasised the importance of backing people as much as ideas. “You invest in a person,” he noted, highlighting adaptability, determination and belief as essential qualities in a founder. He also underlined the power of mentoring, particularly during the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurial life. “It’s about offering a support network for the difficult times, not just about the investment.”
The programme continued with a talk by Flinty Bane (Hn ’13), founder of SKIN, the beauty price comparison app that secured investment from Sara Davies on BBC’s Dragon’s Den and earned a place in the Startups 100 index. Flinty, also a member of the E&I Advisory Board, shared her experiences of building a brand in a competitive sector.
Amanda Armstrong (Pk ’96), Founding Partner and Co-CEO at Yomira Superyachts, spoke about modernising a traditionally transactional industry and championing female leadership in a sector where women remain underrepresented at executive level. With more than 25 years of experience, Amanda is one of the few female CEOs in the superyacht world.
Connor Bryant (P ’13), Co-founder and CEO of circular economy consultancy Rubbish Ideas, closed the formal talks on sustainability and the importance of re-engaging with Bryanston’s school community. Reflecting on his recent involvement in Bryanston’s Future Roots Festival, he described working with pupils on proactive sustainability initiatives and challenged them to tackle festival waste through innovative thinking.
Throughout the evening, attendees reflected on what more could complement and enhance the Sixth Form curriculum, from translating skills into employment and strengthening project management capabilities to developing resilience and the confidence to pitch. As several noted, entrepreneurship can be lonely; developing adaptability and perseverance is vital.
The Founders’ Forum forms part of our wider commitment to empower the next generation. We are developing an ambitious programme of immersive entrepreneurial experiences, integrating enterprise education and employability into the curriculum and strengthening links between pupils, employers, mentors and founders.
Through biannual in-person gatherings and a virtual support network offering mentoring and access to business services, including start-up capital, the Bry Founders’ Forum will provide a lifeline of support, particularly for early-stage ventures. The initiative also encourages successful founders, following a capital raise or exit, to consider giving back to the Bryanston School Foundation to help fund entrepreneurship bursaries, education programmes and future pupil ventures.
In his closing remarks, Richard Jones invited attendees to support the school in three key ways: by mentoring and returning to speak with pupils; by offering work experience, apprenticeships and employment opportunities; and, where possible, by considering philanthropic support.
The evening finished with networking over drinks and canapés. The Founders’ Forum marks the beginning of a powerful new chapter for entrepreneurial collaboration within the Bryanston community.
With special thanks to OB Cosimo Hawkings (P ’24) for filming the event, and to the team at Alix Partners for their hospitality.
If you’d like to get involved with the Founders’ Forum, please see here.
