About luke

Luke Tobin
Exited Founder & Entrepreneur.

Serial exited founder. I scaled Digital Ethos into one of the UK's fastest-growing digital marketing agencies before a multimillion-pound exit, winning the Great British Entrepreneur Award in 2020. I now invest and operate across marketing, media and technology through Unusual Group, Tobin Capital and Succeed.
Projects
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Business Growth Expert

My entrepreneurial journey has been built on creating, scaling and exiting multiple businesses, most notably founding and growing Digital Ethos into a multi-award-winning agency, culminating in a multimillion-pound sale in late 2022. That experience now underpins how I invest and operate today, through Unusual Group, Tobin Capital and Succeed.

Exit Specialist

Through Unusual Group I acquire minority stakes in marketing and creative agencies and the technology companies serving them. Through Tobin Capital I invest in future-focused ventures across female-led brands, space, deep tech and biotech. And through Succeed, an M&A brokerage, I help founders navigate the sale of their own businesses. Three different vehicles, one throughline: building things that outlast any single exit.

Marketing Pioneer

I built Digital Ethos with a distinctively personal approach, growing it to over 80 experts across the UK, Germany and Canada before its multimillion-pound exit, and won Great British Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 in the process. That track record now shapes how I invest and how I write.

Passionate Investor

My investment portfolio reflects a commitment to groundbreaking ideas and positive change, with stakes in SpaceX, THIS and Freetrade, and support for companies like Psykhe AI, Plumb and Earthly.org. As a Virgin StartUp Mentor, in the programme established by Sir Richard Branson, I share what I've learned with the next generation of founders.

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Work Directly With Luke Tobin

1-2-1 coaching curated to fast-track your service-based company's growth using frameworks that have generated +$20M in exits across 3 industries.
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my investments
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From False Starts to Multi-Million Exits

My entrepreneurial journey isn't a straight line to success – it's a story of resilience, innovation, and learning from both triumphs and setbacks. Starting with a failed modeling agency in 2004, I've built and sold multiple businesses across different industries. Each venture taught invaluable lessons:
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2006
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Fine Drinks & Events

Built and successfully exited my first profitable business

Xperience This

Built and exited a direct sales and marketing company

2009
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2015
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Quick2Design

Scaled and sold, laying the foundation for digital agency expertise

Digital Ethos

Grew from startup to 80+ experts across UK, Germany, and Canada, culminating in a multi-million pound exit

2022
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This journey earned recognition including:

Great British Entrepreneur Awards
Great British Entrepreneur of the Year

Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year

2020
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2021
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The Times
Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders

Telegraph
One of 30 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs

2023
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2023

Lloyds Business Awards
International Entrepreneur of The Year 2023 (Finalist)

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Looking for More Than Theory? Book a Speaker Who's Lived It

Drawing from both successes and failures in building multiple businesses, I share the unfiltered reality of entrepreneurship alongside practical strategies for service-based growth and successful exits.

My talks combine battle-tested frameworks with authentic stories - from bootstrapping and navigating cash crunches to scaling Digital Ethos globally and engineering its successful exit. Whether you're running an agency or service-based company, my experience of both triumphs and setbacks will help you navigate growth challenges, optimise operations, and position your business for success.

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Become a Sponsor for Luke Tobin?

I partner with select brands that serve the entrepreneurial space. Download my media kit to explore how we can create value together.
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