Entrepreneurs have been recognized for their contributions to a single successful business venture. However, other entrepreneurs have created more far-reaching impacts by establishing entrepreneurial ecosystems through which hundreds of businesses have been grown successfully. Brent Hoberman is one of such entrepreneur who have established a legacy through entrepreneurship over the last two decades.
Hoberman, best known for co-founding Lastminute.com, realized the economic potential of the internet at its early stages. After succeeding as an online travel entrepreneur, he decided to focus on a broader purpose: helping entrepreneurs establish and grow innovative businesses.
With ventures like Founders Factory and Firstminute Capital, Hoberman has helped several founders across various industries like artificial intelligence, fintech, healthtech, sustainability, software, and digital commerce. From Hoberman’s career, it is evident that not only does success in entrepreneurship matter but also helping others succeed is more impactful in the long run.
Early Life: Curiosity, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
Having been born in the United Kingdom, Brent Hoberman showed his curiosity towards technologies, business, and innovations at the dawn of the internet revolution.
Having finished his studies, Hoberman began thinking more and more about the possibility of changing traditional industries through emerging internet technologies. At that time, when many businesses were still skeptical about the internet’s possibilities as a means of making money, Hoberman was already thinking about ways to reinvent customer experience.
Not willing to wait until large companies start applying innovations, Hoberman decided to create businesses of the internet age himself. This approach eventually made him one of the first internet success stories of Europe.
Brent Hoberman at a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Brent Hoberman |
| Industry | Venture Building & Technology |
| Notable Companies | Lastminute.com, Founders Factory, Firstminute Capital |
| Nationality | British |
| Business Focus | Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Startup Growth |
| Known For | Venture building and startup ecosystem development |
| Leadership Style | Collaborative, founder-focused, innovation-driven |
The Success of Lastminute.com
In 1998, Brent Hoberman co-founded Lastminute.com, an online travel and leisure platform that helped customers book flights, hotels, holidays, entertainment, and experiences.
At a time when internet commerce was still in its infancy, the company introduced a more convenient way for consumers to purchase travel services online.
Lastminute.com capitalized on unused inventory, connecting customers with discounted travel opportunities while helping businesses maximize revenue.
Its rapid growth demonstrated the transformative potential of digital platforms and established Hoberman as one of Europe’s leading internet entrepreneurs.
The success of Lastminute.com also provided valuable lessons about scaling technology companies, attracting investment, building teams, and adapting to rapidly changing markets.
From Founder to Venture Builder
While many entrepreneurs continue focusing on their original businesses, Brent Hoberman pursued a different path after Lastminute.com.
He recognized that early-stage founders often possessed exceptional ideas but lacked access to experienced operators, funding, strategic guidance, and technical resources.
Rather than investing capital alone, Hoberman sought to build organizations that actively helped startups grow.
This vision led to the creation of Founders Factory, a venture-building platform that combines investment with operational support, product expertise, marketing guidance, recruitment assistance, and access to corporate partnerships.
Instead of simply funding startups, Founders Factory works alongside entrepreneurs to accelerate their development.
Brent Hoberman’s Venture Building Ecosystem
| Initiative | Purpose | Impact |
| Lastminute.com | Digital travel platform | Helped pioneer online travel services |
| Founders Factory | Venture studio and accelerator | Supports startup creation and scaling |
| Firstminute Capital | Early-stage venture capital fund | Invests in technology entrepreneurs globally |
| Startup Mentorship | Founder support | Shares operational expertise with entrepreneurs |
| Corporate Partnerships | Innovation collaboration | Connects startups with global enterprises |
The Founders Factory Model
Traditional venture capital typically provides funding and strategic advice.
Founders Factory expands on this model by offering hands-on operational support.
Entrepreneurs receive assistance in areas such as:
- Product development
- User experience design
- Marketing strategy
- Talent acquisition
- Business development
- Technology infrastructure
- Fundraising preparation
This collaborative approach helps startups avoid common early-stage challenges while accelerating growth.
By combining experienced operators with ambitious founders, Founders Factory has helped launch and scale companies across multiple sectors.
Investing in the Next Generation Through Firstminute Capital
Hoberman further strengthened his commitment to entrepreneurship by co-founding Firstminute Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on supporting technology startups worldwide.
The firm invests in businesses working on innovations including:
- Artificial intelligence
- Financial technology
- Climate technology
- Healthcare
- Enterprise software
- Consumer technology
- Deep technology
Its philosophy emphasizes identifying exceptional founders at the earliest stages and supporting them throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
Rather than chasing short-term trends, the firm prioritizes long-term value creation.
Leadership Lessons from Brent Hoberman
| Leadership Principle | Business Lesson |
| Build Ecosystems | Great entrepreneurs help others succeed |
| Invest Early | Supporting founders early creates long-term value |
| Think Long Term | Sustainable businesses require patience |
| Encourage Collaboration | Shared expertise accelerates innovation |
| Stay Adaptable | Technology evolves continuously |
| Focus on People | Strong founders build strong companies |
Leadership Philosophy
Brent Hoberman believes successful venture building depends on more than financial investment.
His leadership philosophy centers on:
- Collaboration over competition
- Founder empowerment
- Long-term partnerships
- Continuous learning
- Responsible innovation
- Operational excellence
He encourages entrepreneurs to remain curious, experiment responsibly, and build businesses capable of solving meaningful global challenges.
This founder-first mindset has earned him respect across Europe’s startup ecosystem.
Supporting Innovation Across Industries
The companies supported through Hoberman’s venture-building initiatives operate across diverse industries, including:
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital health
- Climate innovation
- Financial technology
- Education technology
- E-commerce
- Enterprise software
- Consumer platforms
This broad investment strategy reflects his belief that technological innovation can improve nearly every sector of the global economy.
Rather than focusing exclusively on one industry, Hoberman supports entrepreneurs tackling significant real-world problems through technology.
The Future of Venture Building
The startup ecosystem continues evolving rapidly.
Artificial intelligence, automation, cloud computing, and global digital infrastructure have lowered many barriers to entrepreneurship while increasing competition.
In this environment, founders increasingly seek more than capital.
They value:
- Strategic mentorship
- Operational expertise
- Industry networks
- Global partnerships
- Technical guidance
- Recruitment support
Hoberman believes venture builders will play an increasingly important role by providing comprehensive support throughout a startup’s growth journey.
As innovation accelerates, collaborative ecosystems may become as valuable as financial investment itself.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Brent Hoberman
Brent Hoberman’s career offers practical lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage.
Build relationships, not just companies.
Strong networks create opportunities that extend beyond individual businesses.
Support others.
Helping entrepreneurs succeed strengthens the broader innovation ecosystem.
Invest in people.
Exceptional founders often determine long-term business success.
Think beyond capital.
Operational expertise and mentorship can be just as valuable as funding.
Stay future-focused.
Technology evolves quickly, making adaptability essential.
These principles have helped Hoberman influence not only the companies he founded but also countless startups he has supported.
Conclusion
Brent Hoberman’s contribution to entrepreneurship will be long remembered, as he has expanded the scope of his vision beyond building successful companies to building successful founders. Through Lastminute.com, he showcased the potential of digital innovation commercially. Through Founders Factory and Firstminute Capital, he is helping mold the next wave of technology entrepreneurs, giving them funding, mentorship, operational support, and strategy.
Throughout his career, it has become evident that venture building goes much deeper than simply investing in startups. Venture building requires creating conditions under which innovation is nurtured, founders get educated and businesses grow in a sustainable way. With technology changing the landscape of industries all over the world, Hoberman’s collaborative entrepreneurship can prove itself a successful model for innovation.
The examples set by Brent Hoberman will always serve as a reminder to aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders that true innovation lies in both companies being built and founders who will build them in the future.
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