Brent Hoberman: The Technology Founder Behind Lastminute.com
How a British entrepreneur moved from online travel to startup investment, venture building and global founder support
Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Business Blog Media Editorial Team
Introduction
Brent Hoberman is a British technology entrepreneur and investor best known for co-founding Lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox in 1998.
Lastminute.com became one of the most recognised British internet companies during the dot-com era. It helped customers find late travel deals, hotel rooms, flights, entertainment tickets and other leisure services online.
Hoberman served as the company’s chief executive from its beginning. After Lastminute.com was sold to Sabre in 2005, he moved into startup investment and company building.
As of July 2026, his work includes Founders Forum Group, Founders Factory and firstminute capital. These organisations connect entrepreneurs, invest in young technology companies and help founders turn early ideas into working businesses.
Brent Hoberman Quick Facts
| Fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Full professional name | Brent Shawzin Hoberman |
| Profession | Technology entrepreneur and investor |
| Best known for | Co-founding Lastminute.com |
| Lastminute.com founded | 1998 |
| Lastminute.com co-founder | Martha Lane Fox |
| Other major businesses | Made.com, Founders Forum and Founders Factory |
| Investment firm | firstminute capital |
| Current main work | Building, funding and supporting technology companies |
| Honour | CBE for services to entrepreneurship |
| Main business sectors | Technology, travel, venture capital and startup development |
Who Is Brent Hoberman?
Brent Hoberman is a company founder who has played an important role in the growth of the British technology sector.
He became publicly known through Lastminute.com. The business was created when online shopping and internet travel booking were still new ideas for many customers.
Instead of staying focused on one company, Hoberman later created a network of businesses that support other entrepreneurs.
His career can be divided into two main stages:
- Building and leading internet companies
- Investing in and supporting new founders
This makes his work different from that of an entrepreneur who builds one company and then leaves the business world.
He continued working with startups, investors, large companies and technology leaders after the sale of Lastminute.com.
How Did Brent Hoberman Start His Career?
Before becoming a company founder, Hoberman worked in strategy consulting.
This work gave him experience in studying companies, markets, customers and new technologies. He worked in areas connected to media, telecommunications and business strategy.
He studied French and German at the University of Oxford. Although his degree was not in business or computer science, language study helped him learn how to examine information and communicate across different countries.
These skills later became useful when Lastminute.com expanded across Europe.
How Did Lastminute.com Begin?
Hoberman co-founded Lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox in 1998.
The basic idea was simple. Airlines, hotels, theatres and entertainment companies often had empty seats, unused rooms or unsold tickets. At the same time, customers were looking for late deals.
Lastminute.com used the internet to connect these two groups.
Customers could visit the website and search for offers on:
- Flights
- Hotel rooms
- Holidays
- Theatre tickets
- Restaurant bookings
- Entertainment activities
- Travel packages
The company entered the market when internet use was growing quickly. Its name was easy to understand, and it clearly explained the service being offered.
Why Did Lastminute.com Become Famous?
Lastminute.com became famous because it was one of the leading British internet businesses of the dot-com period.
The company showed that people were willing to make travel and entertainment purchases online. This may appear normal today, but it was a major change at the end of the 1990s.
The business also attracted public attention when it joined the London Stock Exchange in 2000.
Its market launch happened during a period of high interest in internet companies. Some technology businesses were receiving very large valuations before they had built stable profits.
Lastminute.com survived the wider dot-com market fall and continued growing through new services, partnerships and acquisitions.
When Was Lastminute.com Sold?
Sabre Holdings agreed to buy Lastminute.com in 2005.
The deal was valued at about £577 million, which was also widely described as approximately $1.1 billion at the exchange rates used at the time.
Hoberman remained involved during the acquisition period. He later moved away from the company’s daily management and focused on new projects.
The sale price represented the value of the whole company. It should not be described as his personal payment or net worth.
What Did Brent Hoberman Do After Lastminute.com?
After leaving the daily operation of Lastminute.com, Hoberman continued creating and supporting technology companies.
His later projects included online interior design, furniture retail, founder communities, startup accelerators and early-stage investment funds.
This part of his career shows how an experienced entrepreneur can use knowledge from one company to help build many others.
A similar move from company leadership to seed investment can be seen in Errol Damelin’s journey from company founder to early-stage investor.
What Is Founders Forum?
Founders Forum began as a private gathering for technology entrepreneurs and investors.
Hoberman co-founded the organisation with Jonathan Goodwin. The idea was to create a place where experienced founders could meet, share knowledge and build useful professional relationships.
The community later expanded beyond events.
Today, Founders Forum Group operates businesses and programmes connected to:
- Founder events
- Startup investment
- Executive recruitment
- Business advice
- Technology education
- Professional services
- Company development
The group says it supports entrepreneurs from the earliest idea stage to the period after a company sale.
According to the official Founders Forum Group profile, Hoberman is its co-founder and executive chair as of July 2026.
What Is Founders Factory?
Founders Factory is a company-building and startup investment organisation.
It was founded by Hoberman, Henry Lane Fox and George Northcott. Its purpose is to help entrepreneurs build, fund and launch technology businesses.
A traditional investor may only provide money. Founders Factory can also provide operational help in areas such as:
- Product development
- Marketing
- Recruitment
- Business strategy
- Fundraising
- Partnerships
- International growth
It works through venture studios, accelerator programmes and investment funds.
The organisation also partners with established companies. These business partners can give young startups access to industry knowledge, customers, technology and distribution networks.
Hoberman serves as Founder and Executive Chairman.
What Is firstminute capital?
firstminute capital is an early-stage investment firm co-founded by Hoberman and Spencer Crawley.
The firm mainly invests in companies at the pre-seed and seed stages. These are businesses that may still be testing an idea, developing a product or hiring their first team members.
Its main areas of interest include artificial intelligence, deep technology and software.
The fund is supported by a network of experienced technology founders. This gives portfolio companies access to people who have already managed business growth, fundraising and international expansion.
As of July 2026, Hoberman is a co-founder and managing partner of firstminute capital.
Did Brent Hoberman Co-Found Made.com?
Yes. Hoberman was one of the co-founders of Made.com, an online furniture retailer launched in 2010.
The company aimed to reduce some traditional furniture-industry costs by connecting manufacturers more directly with customers.
Made.com grew into a recognised online retail brand and entered the London stock market in 2021. Hoberman had left his position before the public listing.
The company later entered administration in 2022 following problems connected to demand, stock levels, shipping costs and difficult market conditions.
His involvement in Made.com shows that his business interests extended beyond travel and into online retail.
Another founder who used technology and community features to change online shopping is Simon Beckerman, the entrepreneur who created Depop.
What Is Brent Hoberman Doing Now?
As of July 2026, Hoberman is mainly focused on startup investment, venture building and founder networks.
His publicly documented roles include:
- Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Founders Forum Group
- Founder and Executive Chairman of Founders Factory
- Co-Founder and Managing Partner of firstminute capital
- Co-Chair of Enterprise Britain
Enterprise Britain is a movement created to support entrepreneurship, investment and business growth in the United Kingdom.
His current work is not centred on running a travel website. It is focused on finding entrepreneurs, investing in new technology and helping young companies grow.
What Companies Has Brent Hoberman Founded?
His main publicly documented companies and organisations include:
Lastminute.com
An online travel and leisure company co-founded with Martha Lane Fox in 1998.
Mydeco
An online interior-design platform that allowed users to explore furniture and plan rooms.
Made.com
An online furniture retailer co-founded in 2010.
Founders Forum
A global community bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and technology leaders.
Founders Factory
A venture builder and investor that creates and supports early-stage companies.
firstminute capital
A seed investment fund focused on ambitious technology founders.
These ventures are different, but they share a common idea: using technology to make services easier, faster or more widely available.
Why Is Brent Hoberman Important to UK Technology?
Hoberman is important to the British technology industry for two main reasons.
First, he helped build one of the country’s best-known early internet businesses. Lastminute.com encouraged more consumers to become comfortable with buying travel and leisure services online.
Second, he created organisations that support other entrepreneurs.
Through investment funds, founder events and company-building programmes, he has helped connect startups with money, advisers, corporate partners and experienced business leaders.
He was awarded a CBE in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to entrepreneurship.
What Can Entrepreneurs Learn From His Career?
Start With a Clear Customer Problem
Lastminute.com solved problems for both customers and travel businesses.
Customers wanted affordable late deals, while companies wanted to sell unused rooms, seats and tickets.
Use a Name People Understand
The name Lastminute.com immediately explained what the company offered.
A clear business name can make a new idea easier to remember.
Build for New Customer Behaviour
The company entered the market while more people were beginning to use the internet for shopping and travel planning.
Strong businesses often grow by understanding how customer habits are changing.
Use Experience to Help Other Founders
After building his own companies, Hoberman used his knowledge to support newer entrepreneurs.
Experience in hiring, fundraising and company growth can be valuable to founders facing these challenges for the first time.
Create Useful Networks
Money is not the only thing a startup needs.
Young companies may also need advisers, skilled employees, customers, business partners and introductions to later investors.
His later organisations were designed to provide this wider support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brent Hoberman?
Brent Hoberman is a British technology entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for co-founding Lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox in 1998.
What is Brent Hoberman famous for?
He is famous for building Lastminute.com and later creating startup organisations including Founders Forum, Founders Factory and firstminute capital.
Did Brent Hoberman create Lastminute.com?
Yes. He co-founded the online travel company with Martha Lane Fox and served as its chief executive from its beginning.
How much was Lastminute.com sold for?
Sabre Holdings acquired Lastminute.com in a deal valued at approximately £577 million in 2005. The transaction was also reported as being worth about $1.1 billion.
Is Brent Hoberman still part of Lastminute.com?
No. His current work is focused on startup investment, venture building and founder-support organisations.
Is Brent Hoberman the founder of Made.com?
He was one of Made.com’s co-founders. He left his position before the company entered the London stock market in 2021.
What is Founders Factory?
Founders Factory is a global venture builder and early-stage investor. It helps entrepreneurs create, finance and grow technology startups.
What is firstminute capital?
firstminute capital is a seed investment firm that supports early-stage technology businesses, particularly companies working in artificial intelligence and deep technology.
What does Brent Hoberman do today?
As of July 2026, he works through Founders Forum Group, Founders Factory, firstminute capital and Enterprise Britain.
Did Brent Hoberman receive a CBE?
Yes. He received a CBE in 2015 for services to entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Brent Hoberman is the technology entrepreneur best known for co-founding Lastminute.com during the early growth of online travel.
After the company was sold, he did not leave the technology industry. He moved from operating one major internet company to building a wider network that supports many founders.
His work now includes startup investment, venture creation, business events and entrepreneur support.
Lastminute.com remains the company that made him famous, but Founders Forum Group, Founders Factory and firstminute capital explain what he does today.
