After the success of last year’s inaugural Diwali event hosted by our friends at Investec, last week the success was topped by this year’s celebrations as Eileen Redmond-Macken and Anek Mhajan of Investec once again hosted an unforgettable evening at their offices in London. Joined by over 40 members of the Club and 100+ of their own guests, the evening played host to bringing good people together under the light of Diwali.
Photographs by Glenn Foster for INVESTEC x FOUNDXRS CLUB
The Gherkin. The Cheesegrater. The Walkie-Talkie. The City of London is home to a host of landmark buildings, and now, they have been joined by Principal Tower – a new luxury residential address making a statement within the London skyline. Here, we round-up the key things you need to know.
1. The design
Rising an impressive 175 metres, Principal Tower is one of London’s tallest residential buildings. It also happens to be the only residential project in London designed inside and out by globally renowned architects, Foster + Partners, the name behind some of the world’s most recognisable buildings, including 30 St Mary Axe in London, also known as the Gherkin, London City Hall and Beijing International Airport.
Architecture – with a façade of bronze stainless-steel cladding - takes inspiration from its location where the city’s rich local history and culture meets 21st century modernity. Inside, and in keeping with Foster + Partners’ minimalist aesthetic, apartments feature pale wood floors, white marble and delicate bronze detailing – designed to marry the quiet sophistication of the financial district with the creative, industrial aesthetic of nearby Shoreditch.
2. The views
London has some of the most iconic panoramas in the world, and Principal Tower is up there with the very best. Residents of the apartments enjoy far-reaching views across the capital, spanning East to West, and at every level, take in the cityscape and a host of the capital’s most impressive landmarks. Floor-to-ceiling glazing maximises the stunning views, as well as creating a feeling of space and light, and of course, mean residents always feel as if they’re in the heart of the city.
3. The amenities
Residents enjoy a suite of luxury hotel-style amenities, carefully crafted to maximise residents’ wellbeing and create the ideal environment for relaxation and rejuvenation, including an infinity pool, spa and sauna, whilst a state-of-the-art gym overlooks the buzzing piazza below. Perfect for entertaining, socialising or time with friends and family, Principal Tower also features a private cinema, residents’ lounge and mezzanine bar, all of which have been sumptuously designed for luxury and comfort.
A 24-hour concierge service, more akin to that of a five-star hotel experience, ensures the needs of every resident are met with ease and convenience. An underground car park is also available for private vehicle and bicycle storage, both accessed via two state-of-the-art car lifts for optimum security.
4. The location
The Square Mile is firmly back in style, for both business and pleasure. News that HSBC is relocating its HQ back to the City – amongst others - has shone a new spotlight on the neighbourhood and its evolution beyond its ‘business and finance-only’ reputation.
With its prime position where the City meets Shoreditch, Principal Tower is ideally placed to enjoy everything this desirable pocket of London has to offer – just a short walk from renowned eateries including Gavin La Chapelle and Sushi Samba, as well as must-visit hotels including The Hoxton, The Ned and Nobu.
For shopping, residents can head over to the nearby Royal Exchange, which features a plethora of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Tiffany & Co., or, alternatively, venture over to historic Spitalfields Market.
5. The penthouse
The jewel in the crown of Principal Tower – and on the market for £9.9m – is a spectacular duplex penthouse set across the 48th and 49th floors of the building.
Spanning an expansive 2,850 sq. ft and wrapped in curved floor-to-ceiling glazing, it offers sky-high living at its very best. A rare scale of space in the heart of the capital, the penthouse really is a one-of-a-kind property, with uninterrupted panoramas across the skyline and a myriad of London’s best-loved landmarks.
A triple aspect living, dining room and kitchen is complete with generous outdoor private terrace, enjoying views from the ArcelorMittal Orbit at the Olympic Park, across to Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, the Gherkin and the Cheesegrater, out to Wembley stadium and beyond to the hills of Surrey and Kent.
An impressive bespoke staircase leads to the upper floor, home to three expansive bedrooms, all three with ensuite bathrooms finished in the finest Italian polished marble, and two with generous walk-in wardrobes.
Prices at Principal Tower start from £1,205,000, for more information please visit: www.principaltower.com.
When it comes to inspirational entrepreneurs, they don’t get much bigger than this! Recently we had the pleasure of hosting one of the UK’s most successful self-made British billionaires and philanthropist, Mr John Caudwell.
John grew up in Staffordshire with very little and taking his childhood lessons as motivation he navigated his way to launching, building and selling mobile phones business PHONES 4U in 2006 for £1.46 billion.
In February 2013, he became one of the first Britons to sign up for Bill Gates and Warren Buffett’s ‘Giving Pledge’, which calls on billionaires to commit at least half their wealth to charity during their lifetime. Later, John increased his pledge from 50% to 70% as his commitment to the cause. John now dedicates most of his time to charitable causes including his own ‘Caudwell Children’ and ‘Caudwell Youth’.
A big thank you to John for joining us on the evening along with his right-hand-woman Jo-Ann, Head of Caudwell Youth, Karen, the team at 12 Hay Hill and of course all of our members who made it a fabulous evening.
Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club
An extremely warm September evening in London saw the showroom at Old Sessions House packed to the rafters with art collectors, creatives, investors, influencers and all in the world of ART as Foundxrs Club collaborated with contemporary artist Mr CONTROVERSIAL. The event was used to launch Mr C’s solo show simultaneously with his new collection merging the world of business with a little tongue and cheek.
Working closely together with Steve Humpherson, Foundxr of Cense Hospitality we partnered alongside Old Sessions House and Hama Rum to deliver an unforgettable evening.
Foundxrs Club X Mr Controversial X Cense
Photographs by Jai Shah for Foundxrs Club
We generally find ourselves working more hours than we should and probably harder than we’d like, so it’s important to once in a while simply let your hair down, be present and enjoy the moments. We decided to do just that by partnering up with one of our day 1 members, Raj Sangha, Foundxr of Car Audio Security in West London this summer.
Raj’s company is the UK’s largest independent car electronics retailer who specialise in everything from car audio to security alarm systems. From the success of car electronics Raj and his team branched out into home audio and visual systems ranging from headphones all the way through to complete in-door cinema systems.
With nearly 100 members joining us in taking over Raj’s showroom, we pulled in everything from Pizza trucks to DJs and mobile bars to make it a summer vibe. Luckily the British weather held out for us with not a raindrop in sight. A special thanks to CRAZY GIN and EQUIANO RUM for always showing love and providing their magic in bottle.
While the footballing world has seen a busy transfer window, Lawrence Stephens is proud to announce its own “triple” signing, as leading sports lawyers Mohit Pasricha, Jake Cohen and William Bowyer join the London law firm to head up a new Sports & Entertainment department. To celebrate the launch, Lawrence Stephens hosted an industry filled event with 300+ guests from the world of sports, entertainment and business to mark the occasion.
Mohit, Jake and Will backed by their wealth of legal expertise and industry knowledge, deliver first-class services to professional footballers, clubs, agencies, boxers, brands and other stakeholders in the sports and entertainment sector. Their clientele includes household names and the team will further compliment the existing services provided by law firm Lawrence Stephens. Mohit, Will and Jake will be heading up a new Sports & Entertainment department at Lawrence Stephens, following the recent addition of their new Regulatory Solutions team.
Director and Head of Sports, Media and Entertainment Mohit Pasricha commented: “The team and I are delighted to join Lawrence Stephens, and I am proud to head up its new Sports & Entertainment department. We are a team that is passionate about each and every client’s journey, consistently surpassing their expectations by bringing additional value, and ultimately forming long-lasting relationships. Alongside our exceptional team of 130+ colleagues at Lawrence Stephens, Jake, Will and I are excited to build upon our award-winning success, empowering our clients to redefine the game.”
Steven Bernstein, Senior Director and Co-Founder of Lawrence Stephens, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Mohit, Jake and Will to the Lawrence Stephens team. Their valuable expertise and industry insight will bring a new dimension to the firm, and further diversify our range of services and wealth of experience.”
In mid-September, Harold Benjamin Solicitors celebrated their 70th Anniversary with a spectacular event at London’s iconic Somerset House.
Blessed by a warm evening in London and over 400 guests in attendance a live band, delicious food and sumptuous flowing cocktails, the evening proved a tremendous successful showcasing the direction of the firm and the quality of its vision. With over 100 employees the firm has gone from strength to strength with key hires and new-found energy from its current managing partner, Vijay Parikh, being supported by a robust compliance and operational team.
Commenting on the event, Vijay explained: “It was a wonderful evening and I’m very proud to have celebrated the firm’s 70th anniversary with so many of our long standing clients, business associates and our staff. For the firm to remain truly independent for the last 7 decades, is a testimony to its founders, everyone at the firm, our clients and associates. I am certain that the next generation will take the firm into its 100th year and beyond”.
Photographs by Ed Tayler for Foundxrs Club
Recently, we partnered up with veteran creative guru Arnt Eriksen as he brings to market his first and hugely anticipated Brand and Marketing strategy course. We managed to grab some time with him for a Q&A to understand a little more about him, the course and why he decided to release the education programme.
Arnt, could you tell us a little bit about your background and how you became a leading authority in creative strategy for brand and marketing?
I am a creative strategist and a brand alchemist: I've been in the industry for over 20 years, working with a diverse range of brands, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies across most categories. My passion lies in helping businesses unlock their potential by developing compelling brand and marketing strategies. I've also authored a book, "Brand You Economics", which provides timeless, tangible tools and principles for creating a legacy brand. I started my career as an Art Director for a traditional advertising agency, and have over the years evolved into different roles in various companies and agencies. I became obsessed with the strategy side of things when I received briefs from the agency planners, which in my perspective didn’t dig deep enough, or was based on assumptions and not facts and data. In the past decade, I have immersed myself in brand and marketing strategy to live up to my personal vision of making a positive impact through my knowledge, passion and curiosity.
What inspired you to create the "Conquer Brand & Marketing Strategy" course?
I believe that a strong brand and marketing strategy is the cornerstone of any successful business. However, I noticed a gap in the market for comprehensive, accessible education in this area. I wanted to create a course that not only provides theoretical knowledge but also practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied in the real world. The thing is — there are so many companies that are either lacking a good strategy, and just operate on the day-to-day with tactics that deliver a fraction of the potential results, or they have an outdated plan somewhere which doesn't have any value, as it is not aligned with the intentions, visions and goals of the founders or people working there.
Who would benefit the most from taking this course?
This course is designed for anyone who wants to elevate their game in brand and marketing. Whether you're a business owner, a marketing professional, or someone looking to break into the industry, this course will provide the knowledge and tools you need to create compelling brand and marketing strategies that are aligned with the business goals, and that will help reach the right people with the right message and create results.
What makes your course different from other brand and marketing courses out there?
Good question! What sets this course apart is its focus on practical, actionable strategies. The course is designed to be interactive, with quizzes, assignments, and practical tasks that allow students to apply what they've learned. I've also incorporated insights from leading figures in the industry, such as Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, and Marty Neumeyer, to ensure the content is up-to-date and relevant. But the truth is — it is based on my knowledge and insights gathered over my career where I have worked with more than 400 brands to transform their brand, by giving them clarity and a simplified yet effective way to connect with their audience.
Can you give us a sneak peek into some of the topics covered in the course?
Sure, the course covers a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of branding, such as brand purpose, values, and personality, to more advanced topics like how to gather insights, dive deep into the collisions and challenges, the benefits the brand, product or services delivers, and how to define a clear strategy, and the idea that is actionable and has consequences. Each chapter ends with a summary and a learning activity, allowing students to consolidate their knowledge and apply what they've learned.
Arnt, you've mentioned that the structure and material of this course are based on workshops and strategy processes that normally cost a lot more if done by an agency. Can you tell us more about this?
Absolutely. The course is designed to simplify the complexity of creating a solid brand and marketing foundation, the bedrock of your company. It's based on the same tools, strategies and processes used in workshops I’ve done for my clients when I was working at an agency. These workshops and strategies would typically cost between £50,000 to £300,000 which is a solid investment for anyone, and not possible for smaller companies.
This course offers a unique opportunity to gain that same level of insight and expertise at a fraction of the cost. As a founder and brand owner you sit with the essential information, and this course gives you the guide and the questions needed for you to unlock the insights, and a process to make it all make sense. You do the work at your own pace, which means you can finish the course in 6 weeks' time, or in 6 months, it is entirely up to you. The important thing is to take the time and to really do the work. The video material and course material has all the information needed, and the learning activities and quizzes will make sure you can test your knowledge before progressing to the next chapter. The reason it is given at this very low cost is for two reasons. One: you are the one doing the work, so you have to find the insights, the data, and the facts that are relevant and needed, as well as put on paper all the information you have to make sure you progress and create a solid strategy. Two, I truly believe this will be beneficial for all parties involved. You are the brand that gets the needed foundation and prepares you to create assets and tactical activation that will actually work, but if you are a larger company, it gives you the needed insights to challenge your agency and make them deliver its best work. Every founder, entrepreneur, influencer, and company owner should take this course, as it will give the needed tools and insights to create success and achieve the brand's business goals.
What can students expect to achieve by the end of the course?
By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of what a brand and marketing strategy is and why it is needed. They'll be equipped with the tools and knowledge to create compelling brand narratives, connect with their target audience, and drive business growth. But more than that, they'll have the confidence to make strategic decisions that align with their brand's purpose and values. As I said, a brand strategy is the foundation for your brand house. You can’t execute marketing tactics if the foundation is not solid. That will only damage the brand sooner or later, and once it has fallen apart, it will be a much harder challenge to rebuild. Knowing why you do what you do, how you will execute it, and what the benefit is for your audience, it is much easier to make sure everything you do for the brand is aligned with the strategy so that the audience knows through interactions, perceptions and behaviours the authentic brand story, and reasons why they want to do business with you.
Finally, why should someone enrol in the "Conquer Brand & Marketing Strategy" course?
If you're serious about elevating your brand and marketing game, this course is a no-brainer. It provides a comprehensive, practical, and up-to-date education on how to create a brand and marketing strategy. Plus, you'll be learning from someone who's been in the trenches and knows what it takes to build a successful brand and the creative marketing tactics based on said strategy. This course is an investment to secure your future and the future of your business. Whether you're rethinking and elevating your current brand and marketing or starting a new company and wanting to do it right from the start, this course adds tremendous value.
As a member of FOUNDXRS Club, you already have the right mindset, and know the value of investing in your business, your network and knowledge, and best of all, you get it at a preferential rate, with a bunch of extra bonuses that is exclusive to the members.
There are many on the planet who can be defined as inspirational, visionary or even iconic, but very few ever possess the ability to encompass all three.
In May, we had the pleasure of welcoming Sonu Shivdasani OBE as part of our ‘Audience with’ series. One of the most inspirational and influential entrepreneurs in the world of hospitality.
Nearly 30 years ago, Sonu founded Six Senses Spas & Resorts and Soneva. After his exit from Six Senses, his focus remained on Soneva with his wife and co-Foundxr Eva (together creating the word Son-Eva).
Now regarded as one of the most luxurious resorts on the planet, Soneva consists of two resorts in the Maldives, one in Thailand and sailing yacht docked in the Maldives.
Residing on his island in the Maldives, and with only two days in the UK this year, we managed to grab 2 hours with the visionary for an intimate Q&A with club members. Club co-Foundxr and interviewer KP showed his admiration as he introduced the entrepreneur and delved into how he started and went about creating a luxury resort in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club
Music on video by ‘Sunglasses Kid’
Who doesn’t like a little indulgence? And that’s exactly what we had recently as we partnered up with Equiano Rum and J.J. Fox Cigars in St James, London.
30 Club members had the pleasure of spending the evening with co-foundxrs of Equiano Rum Aaisha Dadral and Ian Burrell along with J.J. Fox representatives and cigar experts Tazminah Edoo and Yiannos Ktistis.
After the success of the previous Cigar & Whisky evening, we had to bring this back, but this time we wanted to make it slightly different. Understanding those who enjoy whisky generally have a palate for rum and cognac. It’s usually a natural progression.” Explained KP, Club co-foundxr.
Photographs by Glenn Foster for Foundxrs Club
