Alex Hearn
Encyclopedia
Alex Hearn, is a British
inventor and entrepreneur based in London
.
, Godalming
, Hearn went onto to study Classics (Literae Humaniores) at New College
, Oxford University where he majored in Hellenistic culture and Ancient Athenian Democracy
. He graduated in 2005.
The lead product is a replacement for the tobacco
cigarette
, a non-electronic medicinal nicotine
inhaler using the company's proprietary technology which mimics cigarettes not only in nicotine delivery but in the "psychological rituals and routines" that is associated with smoking.
In 2002, Alex attracted the attention of the Enterprise Centre at the Said Business School, Oxford where he founded Oxford Entrepreneurs as the first president. After initially being closed down by the university due to contraventions in IP laws, Hearn funded the initial phase through loans while navigating the challenges. The organisation officially launched in 2003 with several key note speakers and support from the university. Since that time it has attracted speakers such as Sir James Dyson
, Lord Sugar and Dame Anita Roddick
. Oxford Entrepreneurs is now the largest entrepreneurs society in Europe with 10,000 members and the Daily Telegraph named it as 'one of the three top entrepreneurial organisations in the country'.
, Grant Berry, and Sir Peter Davis
. Recently the company has also received investment and backing from Sir Terry Leahy.
The lead product is a replacement for the tobacco cigarette, a non-electronic medicinal nicotine inhaler using the company’s proprietary technology which mimics cigarettes not only in nicotine delivery but in the “psychological rituals and routines” that surround smoking. The company signed a global licensing deal with Nicoventures in December 2010, a subsidiary of BAT, in its first move into pharmaceutical grade nicotine products. The product is currently undergoing full scientific and clinical testing. Several other technology platforms are in development.
Hearn is also a co-founder and contributor to the think-tank the Askesian Society
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
inventor and entrepreneur based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Education
After winning a scholarship to enable him to go to Charterhouse SchoolCharterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, Godalming
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
, Hearn went onto to study Classics (Literae Humaniores) at New College
New College
-United Kingdom:* North East Worcestershire College Redditch and Bromsgrove* New College Durham, County Durham* New College, Edinburgh, Edinburgh* New College London, St John's Wood, London* New College Nottingham, Nottingham...
, Oxford University where he majored in Hellenistic culture and Ancient Athenian Democracy
Athenian democracy
Athenian democracy developed in the Greek city-state of Athens, comprising the central city-state of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, around 508 BC. Athens is one of the first known democracies. Other Greek cities set up democracies, and even though most followed an Athenian model,...
. He graduated in 2005.
Career
After keeping daily records of inventions, it was in his first year as an undergraduate at Oxford University that he started his first company aged 19. Although a classics student, he started to form a series of partnerships with science researchers departments at the University and formed a reputation for medical innovation.The lead product is a replacement for the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
, a non-electronic medicinal nicotine
Nicotine
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves...
inhaler using the company's proprietary technology which mimics cigarettes not only in nicotine delivery but in the "psychological rituals and routines" that is associated with smoking.
In 2002, Alex attracted the attention of the Enterprise Centre at the Said Business School, Oxford where he founded Oxford Entrepreneurs as the first president. After initially being closed down by the university due to contraventions in IP laws, Hearn funded the initial phase through loans while navigating the challenges. The organisation officially launched in 2003 with several key note speakers and support from the university. Since that time it has attracted speakers such as Sir James Dyson
James Dyson
Sir James Dyson is a British industrial designer and founder of the Dyson company.He is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. His net worth in 2011 was said to be £1.45 billion.-Early life:Dyson was born in...
, Lord Sugar and Dame Anita Roddick
Anita Roddick
Dame Anita Roddick, DBE was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner, best known as the founder of The Body Shop, a cosmetics company producing and retailing beauty products that shaped ethical consumerism...
. Oxford Entrepreneurs is now the largest entrepreneurs society in Europe with 10,000 members and the Daily Telegraph named it as 'one of the three top entrepreneurial organisations in the country'.
Enterprise
in 2006, Hearn founded Kind Consumer a consumer healthcare company, which focuses on pioneering inhalation technologies. After filing the initial patents and being joined by co-founder Dr. Sam Bakri in 2007, the team attracted business angel and latterly undisclosed venture capital from industrials Martin BeaumontMartin Beaumont
Martin Beaumont is a British businessman who was, until October 2007, the chief executive of the Co-operative group, today a £9.4 billion turnover enterprise employing in excess of 85,000 people across a diverse portfolio of businesses...
, Grant Berry, and Sir Peter Davis
Sir Peter Davis
Sir Peter Davis is a British businessman, who was until June 2004, the chairman of J Sainsbury plc, which operates the UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's. He worked for J Sainsbury from 1976 to 1986 and was responsible for all buying and marketing operations.He was chief executive of Prudential plc...
. Recently the company has also received investment and backing from Sir Terry Leahy.
The lead product is a replacement for the tobacco cigarette, a non-electronic medicinal nicotine inhaler using the company’s proprietary technology which mimics cigarettes not only in nicotine delivery but in the “psychological rituals and routines” that surround smoking. The company signed a global licensing deal with Nicoventures in December 2010, a subsidiary of BAT, in its first move into pharmaceutical grade nicotine products. The product is currently undergoing full scientific and clinical testing. Several other technology platforms are in development.
Hearn is also a co-founder and contributor to the think-tank the Askesian Society
Askesian Society
The Askesian Society was a debating club for scientific thinkers, established in 1796 in London. The name was taken from the Greek term Askesis, meaning 'training' or 'application'. It was founded by William Allen, who allowed the use of his laboratory at No...
.