Michael and James Eder: The Beans Group

Michael and James Eder, 31 and 32
Company: The Beans Group
Web: www.thebeansgroup.com

First covered in our Young Entrepreneurs feature back in 2009, James and Michael Eder’s venture Student Beans started life as a huge online directory of offers targeted at the UK’s student population. It has since expanded its offering to include a job and internship category and a digital student lifestyle magazine, establishing itself as one of the leading youth media brands in the country. The growth of the company is very much down to the consistent innovation of the Eder brothers, who have launched a diverse range of products through the Student Beans brand including Student Beans iD, a digital student ID card usable at 7,000 venues across the UK, award-winning campaign The National Online Freshers Fair, and even a student cookbook.

The pair have also utilised the considerable knowledge of the youth market to launch the second venture of The Beans Group, insights consultancy Voxburner. The youth-focused brand uses a combination of articles, research and industry events to offer its readers unique insights into the constantly changing world of youth marketing. The brothers plan to add to their 40-strong team this year as they look to launch Student Beans in the US for the first time.