Exeter alumni included on prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list
Clockwise from left: Molly Bevan, George Wade, Lara Acosta, Dominic Kalantary, Minnie Royden and Holly Reddaway
University of Exeter alumni have been singled out by Forbes for the huge impact they are making in their young careers.
Six alumni were included in the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 lists, which highlights the “most dynamic young innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers” under the age of 30 across various industries.
Exeter alumni who made the cut include entrepreneurs who are providing innovative solutions in volunteering, climate action, transport and education, the founder of a London fashion brand, and a theatre and screen director.
Molly Bevan (Business, Economics and Finance, 2019) and George Wade (Geography, 2020) made the list for Social Impact. Molly is the founder of Impactic, which curates tailored volunteering days for companies that match a team’s skills with a charity’s needs, while George is the co-founder of Zevero, a global carbon management platform with offices in London, Tokyo and Singapore, helping organisations measure, reduce and report on their emissions.
Both alumni accessed start-up support from the University during the early days of their ventures through the Student Startups Incubator and Exeter Innovation Accelerator.
There was also recognition for self-described ‘serial entrepreneur’ Lara Acosta (MSc Digital Marketing, 2023), who made the 30 Under 30 list in the Media and Marketing category. Lara’s achievements include founding Literally Academy, an online education business focusing on Linkedin and B2B lead generation, and Kleo, an AI writing tool focused on thought leader content for experts who want to build personal brands on Linkedin. She dedicated her inclusion on the list to her course director at Exeter, Emma Wood, who she said gave her the “courage to keep going throughout my masters” and “empowered me to push beyond my limits.”
Dominic Kalantary (Economics and Politics, 2018) made the 30 Under 30 list in the Manufacturing and Industry category as the co-founder of Vectare, a transport management service which has grown into one of East Anglia’s largest bus operators, and Minnie Royden (Politics, 2019), the founder and director of Minka Dink London, a fashion brand that grew out of a Covid lockdown sewing project, was included on the Retail and Ecommerce list.
There was also success for Holly Reddaway (Drama, 2018) an award-winning voice and performance director who made the 30 Under 30 list for Games. Holly’s credits include Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Lies of P, Park Beyond, Zombieland VR and Assassin’s Creed.
Professor Alexandra Gerbasi, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Faculty for Environment, Science and Economics at the University of Exeter said: “From pioneering climate solutions to building innovative businesses and creative careers, our alumni continue to demonstrate the ambition, ingenuity and social purpose that define the University of Exeter. We are immensely proud to see these exceptional graduates recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists. Each one is a testament to the power of an Exeter education to inspire meaningful impact on a global stage.”
