Harry Daymond

Harry Daymond is an inspirational award-winning young entrepreneur, business speaker and founder of The Cocktail Connoisseurs Ltd & co-founder of Rocket Pod Podcast

Winner of the Young Start-Up Talent Award, selected in the Transferwise 20 Under 20 and Ernst and Young Founders 30

Harry Daymond launched his first business Kart Kompany Ltd when he was just 15 years old. The company started over a school summer holiday when Harry decided to build a fully collapsible vintage cart with his Grandfather in his garage, and then started serving sweets off it for weddings and events. Throughout his GCSE and A-level years, he grew the business, joining networking groups and approaching venues in his free time. After college, he decided to not go to University, and instead pursued a digital marketing apprenticeship, allowing him to continue to run his business in parallel.

18 months later having worked a 9am to 5.30pm job, using his holiday, lunch breaks and evenings to run his business, the Kart Kompany had grown to multiple service offerings and carts – with the newest being the Cocktail Cart.

During his entrepreneurial journey, Harry encountered many different setbacks – especially due to his age, including funding, banking, getting business professionals to take him seriously and the challenge of balancing full-time studies and then a 9 – 5.30 apprenticeship with running his business.

Harry was named as the winner of Young Start-Up Talent 2017, with a prize package worth £50,000, selected by Transferwise in the Top 20 Under 20 Teen CEOs in the UK & Ireland, as well as successfully selected in the Ernst & Young Founders 30, pitching to the likes of Bianca Miller-Cole and ended up sitting on a table in the HM Treasury with Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the time to discuss ideas on how the Government can better help young entrepreneurs start and grow a business.

Harry has spoken at multiple events, across the UK and Paris, whilst also being a part of the Judging panel for Young Enterprise and The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge held at Wembley. In March 2019, Harry finished his apprenticeship with a distinction and made the decision to turn down the job offer and pursue a career on his own, focusing on his business Kart Kompany and his entrepreneurial dream.

Then in March 2020, Covid-19 and lockdown hit, and as a result Harry’s events and hospitality focussed business Kart Kompany completely stopped, with all events cancelled.

Undeterred, Harry adapted and took his new found passion for cocktail mixology to launch a new venture, bringing the cocktail experience to consumers at home through a range of DIY Home Cocktail Kits, launching The Cocktail Connoisseurs Ltd during the first national lockdown.

Fast forward to today, The Cocktail Connoisseurs has delivered 10000+ cocktails across the UK, run virtual cocktail masterclasses to groups of 100+ and worked with corporate clients including PwC, Johnson & Johnson, Hello Magazine, Salter, Samsung, JP Morgan and many more!

The Cocktail Connoisseurs journey continues, with plans for the year ahead that include a capital raise, subscription model and launch into retail.

Alongside this, Harry co-founded a new podcast ‘Rocket Pod’ in January 2021, with guests including Gold Medal Olympians, the UK’s #1 Business Speaker, Award-Winning Entrepreneurs, World Record Holders, Adventurers, Victoria Cross Recipients, C-Suite Executives & Youtubers!

SPEAKING TOPICS

Harry Daymond has been asked to share his story, encouraging people to follow their passion, define success for themselves, take every opportunity presented to them and never giving up in pursuit of their dream.

His speaking topics include

• Starting Your Own Business
• The importance of creating and taking opportunities
• Don’t Always Follow the Crowd – Create Your Own Journey
• University or not?