

The Entrepreneurs
Monocle
Monocle Radio’s weekly tour of the most inspiring people, companies and ideas in global business, from startups to heritage brands, covering the best in hospitality, design, fashion and retail.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Sep 19, 2025 • 10min
Eureka: Building consumer apps for brands in under a week with no coding required
David Brunier, CEO of Cata and co-founder of Flash Coffee, shares insights from his experience scaling tech-enabled F&B businesses. He discusses creating a SaaS platform that enables brands to launch consumer apps in under a week without any coding. Discover how Cata helps restaurants and retailers transition to digital platforms with minimal costs. His journey underscores the importance of innovation in today's retail landscape and offers valuable lessons on turning offline retail into successful online ventures.

Sep 17, 2025 • 30min
Watchmaking special: Aera and highlights from Geneva Watch Days
Aera co-founders Jas Minhas and Olof Larsson join us at Midori House to discuss how things have been ticking along at their watch brand since Minhas’s previous visit. Plus: Monocle’s Brenda Tuohy on Geneva Watch Days trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 12, 2025 • 8min
Eureka: Jeanne Autran-Edorh on architectural heritage and innovation in Togo
French-Togolese architect and co-founder of Studio Neida, Jeanne Autran-Edorh, talks about the future of design in Togo and how her work is making an impact internationally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 10, 2025 • 31min
Labombe by Trivet and Gracious Hospitality’s Cote
Jonny Lake and Isa Bal, co-founders and masterminds behind the two Michelin-starred Trivet in London, discuss their latest venture. Plus: Simon Kim chats about shaking up the traditional American steakhouse with the acclaimed Cote. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 5, 2025 • 7min
Eureka: Soundproofing with mushrooms – how greener panels are making their way into studios
Roberts Treize shares the story of Sporonex, a Latvian startup developing sustainable acoustic solutions using mycelium and circular-waste materials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 28min
Laurent Kleitman, CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Laurent Kleitman stops by Monocle’s Paris studio to reflect on the state of luxury hospitality, Mandarin Oriental’s takeover of the Lutetia hotel and the group’s starring role in season three of The White Lotus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 29, 2025 • 7min
Eureka: No sun needed! How to grow fresh greens year-round
Didrik Dimmen is the co-founder and CEO of Auk, an award-winning indoor smart-gardening system that makes it easy to grow fresh herbs, salad plants and even vegetables, no matter the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 27, 2025 • 34min
200 years of the of the modern railway and the future of train travel
We mark two centuries of passenger rail with a look at what’s down the line. Björn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, discusses the direction of travel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 22, 2025 • 9min
Eureka: CEO Naoki Mita explains how Le Furo created the ‘espresso’ of hot springs
What does it take to share something that’s rooted in place with the world? Naoki Mita discusses Le Furo’s “craft onsen” – concentrated hot spring solutions that capture the therapeutic benefits of Japan’s mineral-rich waters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 21, 2025 • 20min
Pullman Voices: Feng Chen Wang
Feng Chen Wang is a Chinese, London-based fashion designer who embodies what it means to update tradition. Her eponymous brand creates pieces that are deeply personal yet globally resonant, merging traditional Chinese references with modern tailoring, sportswear influences and futuristic silhouettes. As her brand marks a decade of boundary-pushing design, Wang reflects on her upbringing in Fujian, collaborations with major brands such as Converse and why straddling cultures is her superpower in both design and business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


