I co-founded Firebox.com (online retailer of gadgets, games and gifts) in 1998 with Tom Boardman. Had a lot of fun scouring the world looking for new products and ideas. Invented the Shot Glass Chess Set along the way (bizarre fusion of chess and alcohol that was a surprise hit)
Launched Mind Candy in 2004 to create new types of online entertainment. First project was a puzzle-based Alternate Reality Game called Perplex City - a global treasure hunt played by tens of thousands of people around the world across many different types of media.
Mind Candy's first major hit was Moshi Monsters, an online world for kids that grew to tens of millions of registered players around the world. In 2011 the game expanded from the screen into the offline world with a wide range of new products such as toys, books, magazines, trading cards, videos games, music and a film.
Mind Candy has evolved into a family entertainment company and recent products include World of Warriors (an epic universe based on Warriors throughout history), and PopJam (a new type of digital creative community for kids)
In 2011 I launched Silicon Drinkabout which is a weekly after-work meetup for anyone working in a tech startup (now run by the Three Beards)
In 2012 I co-founded Calm with Alex Tew
I love working in start-ups alongside smart, creative and passionate people.
Favourite business quote:
“Tech start-ups are the dynamos of our society. They create new wealth, jobs and inventions – and sustain our competiveness on the world stage. Best of all, they shower wealth on the most unlikely people. Start-ups are the engines of human liberation. They’re also scary. They upset the established order. They’re risky. And they attract obsessive, difficult, headstrong people fixated on changing the world” (Wired magazine)
CEO @ Mind Candy is a games company that specializes in the development of new types of interactive entertainment.
The company's first project was the award winning Perplex City, a global treasure hunt played by thousands of people around the world across many different types of media.
Mind Candy's latest brand is a multi-player online game for kids called Moshi Monsters. In 2011 the game expanded from the screen into the offline world with a wide range of new products such as toys, books, magazines, trading cards, videos games, music and cartoons. From May 2004 to Present (11 years 8 months) Co Founder @ From May 2012 to Present (3 years 8 months) London, United KingdomCEO @ Firebox.com is a multi-channel retailer that specialises in the retail, marketing and manufacture of a highly select range of innovative gadgets, games and gifts. From June 1998 to May 2004 (6 years)
University of Birmingham From 1993 to 1996
Websites:
http://www.mindcandydesign.com,
http://www.firebox.com,
http://www.secondchancetuesday.com