John Olival
Entrepreneur and strategist interested in VC, web technologies, social networking, location-based services, mobile and cleantech.
| Headline: | Entrepreneur |
| Work status: | Living The Dream |
| Website: | http://twitter.com/twubster |
| Industries: | Cleantech, Information Technology, Internet, Media, Mobile, Retail |
| Skills: | AJAX, Business, Chinese, Database Administration, Databases, Engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, German, Industrial Engineering, Java, Languages, Languages and Platforms, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Portuguese, Sales, Software Engineering, Spanish, System Administration, Web Development, Windows, Windows applications |
| Location: | London |
| Groups: | London Business School Business Plan Competition, London Business School Entrepreneurship Club |
| Visas: | UK, South Africa, Australia |
| Interested in: | Advising startups, Brainstorming, Finding business partners, Finding cofounders, Finding engineers, Finding team mates, Getting press, Meeting new people, Mentoring, Professional opportunities, Promoting my startups, Raising money, Receiving feedback, Recruiting for my startup |
| Schools: | London Business School, University of the Witwatersrand |
FEATURED STARTUP
Eveex
Eveex
Eveex: The world’s local shop. Find it near you.
- Startup type: Competition Entry
- Status: Active
- Stage: Prototyping
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | ASPone, London |
| Position: | Project Manager, Product Manager and Business Development |
| Time period: | January 2008 - December 2009 |
| Description: | Formulated strategy, after industry and market analyses, to take products to market and grow existing products.
Led projects and motivated software development teams based in Turkey (20) and India (5). Consulted with brokers and banks and worked closely with colleagues to productise foreign exchange, equity, money market and derivatives pre- and post-trade systems. Managed relationships with major clients and partners, including Reuters, RP Martins Brokers, HSBC, Bank of Ireland, Citibank and other major banks. Refined vague client requests into detailed documents attaining an outcome meeting user approval. |
| Employer: | Novasoft, London/Malaga |
| Position: | Entrepreneur (Managing Director/Finance Director) |
| Time period: | January 2004 - December 2007 |
| Description: | Developed long term strategic objectives and annual business plans and determined investment requirements.
Initiated and assisted in merger of Novasoft’s healthcare division with iSoft plc, sold for EUR18 million. Led Novasoft's UK and European activities (excl. Iberia), ensuring consistent turnover and profitability (20% EBITDA) and high levels of quality with all products and services. Monitored and analysed market trends and new technologies, advising Novasoft of potential niches/gaps. Marketed and promoted Novasoft to target segments, working with the marketing team and within budget. Won European and UK private and public tenders valued from EUR200k to 6m, while collaborating with Spanish counterparts. Completed regular financial statements and cost and management accounting reports using accounting concepts. |
| Employer: | Explican, London |
| Position: | Entrepreneur (Founder) |
| Time period: | January 2001 - December 2004 |
| Description: | Founded Explican in a difficult economic climate and built a successful and profitable business focussed on Internet applications, such as B2B, eCommerce and eLearning.
Raised £500,000 in funding. Solved and improved accessibility, usability and visibility issues with assistance through membership of GAWDS and the UPAUK. Analysed, designed, developed, implemented and managed software solutions and flow of information. |
| Employer: | Reflex New Media, London |
| Position: | Technical Manager |
| Time period: | January 2000 - December 2001 |
| Description: | Hired, led, motivated and represented the technical side of the business (up to 20 staff).
Pitched, together with sales staff, to clients at CEO/board level. Managed client interaction during project execution and in an after-sales support context. Managed full life-cycle of projects working to tight deadlines, controlling staff headcount to achieve project objectives. |
| Employer: | Mercedes-Benz, South Africa |
| Position: | Technical Consultant |
| Time period: | January 1995 - December 2000 |
| Description: | Gained detailed experience of local and international challenges faced by auto manufacturers around service, distribution and manufacturing.
Initiated innovative projects in a variety of departmental and company-wide teams. Presented high and low-level seminars and training sessions. |
EDUCATION
| University: | London Business School |
| Time period: | 2008 - 2009 |
| Degree: | Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Marketing, MBA |
| University: | University of the Witwatersrand |
| Time period: | 1990 - 1993 |
| Degree: | Engineering, BSc |
INFORMATION
| Sports: | Capoeira (Brazilian martial art), running (Prague half marathon), swimming (Midmar mile), rugby, scuba. |
| Hobbies: | Travel, theatre, sunshine, hiking (GR20 Corsica, 15 peak challenge Snowdonia, Drakensburg, French Pyrenees, Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh).
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| Clubs: | PE/VC Club, Energy Club, Tech Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Finance Club, Startup Club, Marketing. |
