Jazz Shapers

Alice Wainwright and Ben Charalambous are the co-founders of RISE, a B Corp certified coffee subscription club. Alice and Ben join Elliot to share how frustration (during lockdown) at the lack of sustainable, ethical coffee options led them to launch their own multi-brand business, as well as their 'Friendly Coffee Fund', supporting coffee-growing communities in Uganda.

Lisa and Alana Macfarlane are founders of The Gut Stuff, a multi-industry platform democratising gut health education. The former DJ's join Elliot to chat about how taking part in Twin research with Professor Tim Spector, led them on a mission to shake up the confusing, elitist communication around gut health and make it accessible and fun.

Ben Branson, Founder of Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit; and the Founder of Pollen Projects, a venture studio that have so far created Seasn, (a range of cocktail bitters) and Sylva (a distillery and maturation lab making non-alcoholic spirits from trees).  Ben is also the Founder of neurodiversity charity The Hidden 20%.

Ryan Edwards is the Founder and CEO of Audoo, a music technology company, tracking the music played in public spaces so artists and songwriters are paid fairly.  Ryan joins Elliot to talk about the soul destroying impact of his band being dropped after coming off stage to 80,000 people, and how hearing his band's song in a department store led Ryan to launch a now global company backed by Pau...

Amelia Christie-Miller is the Founder and CEO of Bold Bean Co. on a mission to make people obsessed with beans.  Amelia joins Elliot to talk about the hangover in Madrid that led to a game-changing moment and how (she says) beans can change the world!

Kimberlee Perry is the founder and CEO of Bouncefitbody, the resistance-based fitness class company. Kimberlee shares with Elliot how loneliness (and a missed promotion at work) led her to buy 8 second-hand trampolines and launch her now global business. 

Nick Hird is the Co-founder & Managing Director of Vidrate, the natural hydration supplements, created to help you drink more water. Nick joins Elliot to talk about his drive to create a hydration product that wasn't loaded with sugar, calories and artificial ingredients despite 30 factories telling them their ‘holy grail’ was impossible to create.

Serial entrepreneur Heather Frankham is the Founder of Lifetime Training, (an apprenticeship provider) and Origin Workspace (a co-working space), as well as the co-founder of Bud, an apprenticeship management company. Heather joins Elliot to share the make or break moment while growing her first business, and her drive to connect with people and make a positive impact on their lives.

Sidney Neuhaus is the co-founder of Kimai, the lab-grown diamond jewellery brand. Sidney joins Elliot to share how she's disrupting an industry that for hundreds of years has created a huge environmental and social cost.

Ahti Heinla is the co-founder and developer of Skype, the internet communication platform, And co-founder of Starship Technologies, a robot delivery business. Ahti joins Elliot to talk about revolutions - how he changed the world of communication and is now reshaping delivery with a fleet of over 2,000 "much loved" robots. 

Kicking off the new season of Jazz Shapers and recorded live at Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2025, Elliot Moss is joined by Gary Crosby and Janine Irons,  Founders of Tomorrow’s Warriors, the creative producer and talent development agency, increasing opportunity, diversity and excellence in and through jazz.  

Joe McDonald is the co-founder and CEO of tem, a clean energy company changing the way renewable energy is bought, sold and powered. Joe joins Elliot - for the final Jazz Shapers of the season -  to chat about disrupting the stagnant energy market, and the myths around renewable energy that hold back its potential.

David Abrahamovitch is the Founder and CEO of coffee brand Grind.  David joins Elliot to talk about turning his late Father's mobile phone shop into a side-hustle coffee store,  that he's since grown into a chain of “café by day, cocktail bar by night”  venues and a thriving Direct-to-Consumer and grocery business.  

Joining Elliot is serial entrepreneur Flavilla Fongang, founder of 3 Colours Rule, a branding and marketing agency;  the Founder of GTA Black Women in Tech, a non-profit organisation improving representation, diversity and opportunities in the technology industry and Founder of Black Rise, an AI-powered platform aiming to 'bridge the gap between businesses and the immense...

Elizabeth Rossiello is the founder and CEO of AZA Finance, an African payments and foreign exchange fintech company.  Elizabeth joins Elliot to talk about her journey from Queens, New York to Nairobi and how she overcame the volatility of new Presidents and fights with governments to drive her mission of powering trade in Africa and beyond.   

Ed Currie and Andy Coxon are the co-founders of AKT London, the natural deodorant brand.  Ed and Andy share with Elliot how performing in costumes under hot lights in West End theatres, led to them spending 3 years experimenting with ingredients on the hob in their tiny Camden kitchen, as they tried to create a superior deodorant.   

Justin Basini is the Co-Founder & Group CEO of The ClearScore Group, a technology business helping users understand and manage their credit and finances. Justin joins Elliot to share the personal toll of trying to maintain his dotcom business as the markets crashed, and how the experience helped him grow his 3rd company (a mission-driven business)  that's now helping over 23 million...

Hannah Chappatte is the founder and CEO of Hybr, the student accommodation platform. Hannah joins Elliot to talk about how vulnerable first-time renters are to unresponsive agents and rogue landlords, and how this set her on a mission, to drag an archaic industry into the 21st century.

Jonny Goldstone is the co-founder of Green Tomato Cars, the environmentally-friendly taxi service. Jonny joins Elliot to chat about growing and selling the same successful company twice and his passion for helping other leadership teams. 

Vinita Rathi is the Founder and CEO of Systango, a digital engineering firm specialising in Generative AI, Web3, Automation, and Cloud solutions. Vinita joins Elliot to talk about growing up in a very traditional Indian family (where women weren’t expected to go out and work) and how she built a global consultancy, partnering with Amazon and Google and remains dedicated to increasing female repres...

Paul Noble is the Founder and Creative Director of Spiritland, a series of venues for music lovers in London and Lisbon, and also a production company. Paul joins Elliot to talk about how his experience of the  Japanese Listening Bars led to him shifting  careers and setting out to create a London version of this phenomenom with  - as he says - 'the best sound system in the world.'&...

Jeremy King is the Founder and Chair of Attest, a consumer research platform. Jeremy joins Elliot to talk about how he helps brands better understand the customers they don't yet have, and what it means to him to turn his greatest passion into a brand new business, Ocean Orchestra, on a mission to save the oceans using software.

Serial entrepreneur Lex Deak is the founder of QVentures, a Venture Capital firm, and most recently co-founder and CEO of Basket, the ecommerce start-up, aiming to revolutionise the online shopping experience. Lex joins Elliot to share the defining moments from his childhood and why he's always felt confident launching  businesses in so many different industries.   

Ed Foy is the co-founder and CEO of PRESS Healthfoods, the plant-based health food brand. Ed joins Elliot to talk through the dark days and breakthroughs of trying to bring an LA trend - cold-pressed juice -  to the UK.

Sandrine Zhang Ferron is the co-founder and CEO of Vinterior, the online vintage and pre-owned furniture marketplace. Sandrine joins Elliot to chat about how searching for a designer chair the same colour as her cat's eyes, led her learn to code and launch a company offering an alternative to flat-pack, short-life furniture.