Brent Hoberman: The Visionary Entrepreneur Who Helped Build Britain’s Digital Future
Brent Hoberman is one of the most influential technology entrepreneurs in modern Britain. He first became famous as the co-founder of lastminute.com, a company that helped change the way people booked travel, hotels and entertainment online. He later built a second major success with Made.com and went on to create a wide network of companies, investment funds and support programmes for founders.
Who Is Brent Hoberman?
Brent Shawzin Hoberman is a British entrepreneur, investor and business leader. He was born on 25 November 1968 in Cape Town, South Africa. As of July 2026, he is 57 years old and will turn 58 in November 2026. He is best known for co-founding lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox in 1998. The company became one of the leading British names of the dot-com era. He later co-founded Made.com, Founders Forum, Founders Factory and firstminute capital.
Brent Hoberman’s Early Life
Hoberman was born in Cape Town and spent the first years of his childhood in South Africa. His family later lived in the United States and Britain. His full legal name is Brent Shawzin Hoberman. The middle name Shawzin comes from his maternal grandfather, Leonard Shawzin, who became an important influence on his life.
His Grandfather’s Business Influence
Leonard Shawzin built a large clothing retail business in Africa. Hoberman has described him as a passionate entrepreneur who enjoyed creating and growing companies. His grandfather’s achievements helped shape his belief that business could be both exciting and creative. Hoberman’s father also worked in the early venture capital sector. The names of his parents have not been confirmed by strong sources.
Brent Hoberman’s Education
Hoberman attended Dragon School in Oxford from 1979 to 1982. He then studied at Eton College between 1982 and 1987. At Eton, he was an Oppidan Scholar. He later attended New College at the University of Oxford. From 1988 to 1992, he studied Modern Languages and Literature, with a focus on French and German. He also served as president of the French Club.
How Oxford Helped His Career
His degree gave him skills in communication, cultural awareness and handling complex material. These abilities later supported his work across European markets.
Early Professional Career
Before becoming a founder, Hoberman worked in business strategy, media and telecommunications. He joined Mars & Co, an international consulting company, and then worked at Spectrum Strategy Consultants from 1994 to 1997. His role focused on fast-changing areas such as media, technology and communications. He also worked in business development at LineOne, an internet service provider connected with News Corporation and BT. In addition, he gained experience with QXL, an early online auction business.
Brent Hoberman and Lastminute.com
In 1998, Hoberman co-founded lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox. Their aim was simple but powerful: help businesses sell unused travel, hotel and entertainment capacity at the last moment. The company offered flights, holidays, hotel rooms, restaurant bookings, theatre tickets and gifts through the internet.
Building the Company
Hoberman served as chief executive from the beginning. The business started in a very small office near Portobello Road in London. Despite limited space and resources, the founders built one of Britain’s most recognised internet brands. The company expanded rapidly across several European markets. Hoberman later said that lastminute.com reached more than $2 billion in gross bookings. It also completed 14 acquisitions after entering the stock market.
The 2000 Flotation
Lastminute.com joined the London Stock Exchange in March 2000. Its shares were priced at 380p, giving the business an opening value of about £571 million. Demand was extremely strong during the first day of trading. The company’s value briefly rose much higher, while Hoberman’s shares were valued on paper at roughly £91 million. The dot-com market soon fell sharply, yet lastminute.com survived and continued to grow.
Sale to Sabre Holdings
In 2005, Sabre Holdings bought lastminute.com for £577 million, equal to about $1.1 billion at the time. Hoberman received more than £26 million from the sale. He stayed with the company after the takeover. He stepped down as chief executive in 2006 and later left his senior positions in 2007.
Mydeco and the Move into Digital Interiors
After lastminute.com, Hoberman entered the home design and furniture market. He launched mydeco, an online service that helped users plan rooms and buy furniture. The platform included three-dimensional design tools. Customers could test layouts, colours and products before making a purchase. Its direct-to-customer furniture model helped create Made.com.
Brent Hoberman and Made.com
Made.com was founded in 2010 by Hoberman, Ning Li, Julien Callède and Chloe Macintosh. The company aimed to sell designer furniture at lower prices by connecting customers more directly with manufacturers. Hoberman became the founding chairman. He helped guide the company during its early development and supported its business strategy.
Growth and Stock Market Debut
In June 2021, the company joined the London Stock Exchange with a value of about £775 million, equal to roughly $1.1 billion at the time. Hoberman had left the board before the flotation. He had already reduced his direct role after helping establish the company’s foundation.
The Collapse of Made.com
Made.com later faced serious problems. Shipping costs rose, deliveries were delayed and supply chains became unstable. Consumer demand also weakened as living costs increased. The company entered administration in November 2022. Next bought its brand and intellectual property, while many employees lost their jobs. Hoberman was no longer running the company when it entered administration.
Founders Forum Group
Hoberman co-founded Founders Forum in 2005. The organisation began as a private gathering for entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders. The meetings allowed founders to share problems, discuss ideas and form business partnerships.
Growth into a Business Network
Founders Forum developed into a global community. Its events now bring together company founders, investors, chief executives, government leaders and technology experts. The wider Founders Forum Group has launched or supported several businesses. These include Founders Factory, Founders Intelligence, Founders Keepers, Founders Makers, Founders Law, Founders of the Future, EQL:HER, Founders Pledge, Grip and 01 Founders.
London Tech Week
Founders Forum partnered with Informa to strengthen London Tech Week. Hoberman became a co-host of the event, which promotes British technology and connects companies with global investors.
Founders Factory
Hoberman co-founded Founders Factory in 2015. The organisation helps entrepreneurs build, fund and grow technology companies. It works as a venture studio, accelerator and early-stage investor. Founders receive support with product design, engineering, recruitment, marketing, finance and business strategy.
Founders Factory has worked with hundreds of companies across several continents. Hoberman remains co-founder and executive chairman. Companies House records also confirm his long-running role as a director.
Firstminute Capital
Hoberman and Spencer Crawley founded firstminute capital in 2017. The firm invests in young technology businesses, especially those at pre-seed and seed stage. The fund backs European founders with global aims. It has about $500 million in assets under management and has supported more than 170 businesses.
Major Technology Investments
Firstminute capital has invested in companies such as Wayve, Mistral AI, n8n, Storyblok and Tessl. Several of its early investments later reached billion-dollar values. Hoberman has also invested personally in businesses including GetYourGuide, Onfido, Owkin, Pangaia, Truecaller, Loveholidays, Alan, Academia.edu, Busuu, Maven Clinic, Treatwell and Zama.
Other Companies and Projects
Hoberman has helped create many organisations connected with entrepreneurship. Founders Intelligence was a consultancy that helped large companies understand new technology and business models. Accenture bought the firm in 2021. Founders Keepers focuses on senior recruitment for technology companies. Founders Makers provides creative services to growing brands. Founders Law offers legal support to start-ups and larger technology companies.
EQL:HER works to improve the position of women in technology. Founders Pledge encourages entrepreneurs to donate part of their wealth to effective charitable causes. Grip uses artificial intelligence to improve networking at business events. He also helped create 01 Founders, a coding school network designed to provide technology training without normal entry barriers.
Current Company Appointments
Companies House records show active roles across his main business network. These include Founders Factory Limited, Founders Forum LLP, Firstminute Capital LLP and FF Management Limited. Newer appointments connect him with Founders Health Holding, Firstminute Capital IV Holdco 1, Firstminute Capital IV Holdco 2, Miroma Founders Network, Forgevity, Tech City Group, Tech Nation Group, Founders Forum Events and Strike2 Unlimited.
Several separate officer pages use the same full name, birth month, nationality, addresses and related companies. They concern the same person, even though each page shows a different appointment total. This happens when company filings create separate officer records. Some former businesses connected with him are dissolved or in liquidation, including Made.com Design and Karakuri. A company’s legal status does not by itself prove personal fault by a director or former director.
Government and Advisory Work
Hoberman has advised four British prime ministers and taken part in several government business groups. He served on the Business Council for Britain under Gordon Brown. He later co-chaired a council focused on entrepreneurship, smaller companies and scale-ups during Theresa May’s time as prime minister. He has also worked with the UK Government Digital Service and the World Economic Forum’s Digital Europe Group.
Major Advisory Roles
His advisory work has included Google Cloud’s EMEA Advisory Board, the Tessa Jowell Foundation, the Oxford Foundry and Imperial College’s Innovation Fund. In 2016, the Duke of Cambridge asked him to chair a Royal Foundation task force on cyberbullying. The group brought together technology companies, charities and communication businesses to protect young people online.
Board Positions
Hoberman has served on the boards or councils of many major organisations. His former roles include positions with Guardian Media Group, TalkTalk, Shazam Entertainment, The Economist, Time Out, easyCar, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Royal Academy of Arts, Eton College and the University of the Arts London.
Enterprise Britain
In 2026, Hoberman became co-chair of Enterprise Britain with Stephen Fitzpatrick, the founder of OVO Energy. The organisation supports entrepreneurship, investment, employee ownership and growth in the United Kingdom.
Brent Hoberman’s Wife
Brent Hoberman is married to Genevieve Hoberman. She has been described as a former interior designer. The couple keep much of their family life private. No dependable source gives their wedding date or her date of birth.
Brent Hoberman’s Children
Brent and Genevieve have three children. Their son is Monty Hoberman, and their daughters are Jade Hoberman and Celeste Hoberman. The children have remained outside the main business spotlight. Reliable details about their education, careers and relationships are limited.
Brent Hoberman’s Net Worth
His exact fortune in 2026 is not known. A British technology wealth ranking in 2023 estimated his net worth at £119.6 million. That figure was a media estimate, not an audited financial statement. His private investments and fund interests can change in value.
Awards and Honours
Hoberman was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2015 New Year Honours. He received the CBE for services to entrepreneurship. He has also been named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and served as a British business trade ambassador.
Leadership Style and Business Beliefs
Hoberman believes founders should work with speed, energy and strong personal commitment. He values ambitious teams and often stresses the importance of hiring talented people early. He is known for being demanding and highly focused on detail. He encourages entrepreneurs to think internationally from the beginning. He also believes Britain must create better conditions for fast-growing technology companies.
Brent Hoberman’s Lasting Influence
Hoberman’s importance goes far beyond lastminute.com. He helped prove that a British internet company could grow across Europe, survive a market crash and complete a major international sale. He then used his experience to support a new generation through investment, advice, talent and global contacts.
His career includes major success, difficult setbacks and long-term public service. Lastminute.com made him famous, but his wider contribution comes from the network he built after it. Brent Hoberman remains a powerful figure in British technology. His work continues to shape start-ups, investment and entrepreneurship across the United Kingdom and beyond.
FAQs
1. Who is Brent Hoberman?
Brent Hoberman is a British technology entrepreneur, venture capitalist and angel investor. He is best known as the co-founder of lastminute.com and Made.com. He also co-founded Founders Forum, Founders Factory and firstminute capital.
2. How old is Brent Hoberman?
Brent Hoberman is 57 years old as of July 2026. He was born on 25 November 1968 in Cape Town, South Africa, and will turn 58 in November 2026.
3. Is Brent Hoberman married?
Yes, Brent Hoberman is married to Genevieve Hoberman. She previously worked as an interior designer. The couple keep most details about their marriage and private life away from public attention.
4. How many children does Brent Hoberman have?
Brent Hoberman and his wife, Genevieve, have three children. They have two daughters, Jade and Celeste Hoberman, and one son, Monty Hoberman.
5. What is Brent Hoberman’s net worth?
Brent Hoberman’s exact net worth has not been officially confirmed. A 2023 British technology wealth ranking estimated his fortune at approximately £119.6 million. His wealth comes from company sales, venture capital funds and investments in technology businesses.
