Eamonn Wilmott is a name synonymous with innovation and foresight. His is an entrepreneurial journey that began in the United States, where in the 1980’s he founded Super Computing Review, an award-winning magazine. This led him to discover that a large number of his readers had business cards with @ signs on. One simple question opened up the world of the internet, and 6 weeks later, he launched the world’s first commercial Internet service. An early demonstration of Eamonn’s ability to recognise emerging trends and position himself at the forefront of technological evolution.

Eamonn later became a pivotal figure in bringing the digital wave to the UK. In 1995, he co-founded Online Magic, one of the UK’s first digital agencies that established itself as a pioneer in web design and online marketing, helping many of the country’s leading businesses such as; British Airways, Manchester United, Channel 4, and others take their first steps into the digital realm.

The success of Online Magic didn’t go unnoticed. In 1997, the company was acquired by Agency.com, a global leader in digital services, cementing Eamonn’s role in shaping the UK's early digital economy and highlighting an ability to blend creative vision with technological insight. Agency.com would go public in 1999 at a market cap of $2B+.

After leaving his mark in the tech and media industries, Eamonn shifted his focus to a life long passion—horse racing. He launched the world’s first social media racing syndicate, designed to democratise the traditionally exclusive world of horse ownership. His goal - to make the sport more accessible, and in doing so, he brought a fresh perspective to the racing community. This and other work in the field led him to be asked to join the board of the British Horseracing Authority.

Returning to technology Eamonn co-founded Total Performance Data (TPD), a company that has revolutionised the way horse racing data is collected and used. TPD’s real-time race tracking technology offers unprecedented insights into performance metrics, reshaping the way trainers, punters and enthusiasts engage with the sport. TPD has successfully launched a machine learning algorithm to provide in-running odds for racing in the UK and the United States.

Not content to stop and take a well-earned breath, in 2019 Eamonn reached another career milestone by Chairing the syndicate that acquired the Tote from Betfred for £100M+. As Chairman of the UK Tote Group, he helped guide the historic betting organisation through a critical phase of re-branding and modernisation.

In recent years, in addition to his role as Chairman of TPD, Eamonn has provided mentoring and advice to many young up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Eamonn’s extraordinary career has been defined by his ability to merge visionary ideas with practical application. Whether in technology, media, or racing, his ventures have consistently pushed industries forward, inspiring others to embrace innovation and take bold strides into the future.

Q+A

Q: You’ve had an extraordinarily diverse and successful career spanning publishing, digital agencies, and horse racing. What drew you to explore such diverse industries and are there common skill sets at play here?

A: Passion is a critical factor in any success. People misunderstand that wanting to make a large amount of cash is not passion, that’s simply an outcome. When I’m looking at new ventures to advise or invest in, I’m looking for the combination of talent and passion. You will always be more successful when you love what you do. I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to combine lifelong passions; horseracing, betting, and sport, into my working life.

Q: Co-founding one of the UK’s first digital agencies, Online Magic, must have been an exhilarating ride. What were the most unexpected challenges in shaping the digital landscape back in the day?

A: Genuinely it was that no one had heard of the Internet. We are talking about the early 1990s and when I returned from the US I was astonished that people just hadn’t heard of it. Obviously, on one level that was a tremendous competitive advantage, but it also meant a lot of evangelising (which is never very profitable in the short term).

Q: When Online Magic was acquired by Agency.com, you transitioned from leading a start-up to becoming part of a global entity with 1500 staff and an eventual IPO. How did that huge shift alter your perspective on leadership?

A: To be a successful leader, you need to have a degree of vision, and then be able to attract and surround yourself with top talent. That’s the same in a start-up as it is in a public company. My lifelong mantra in business has been: Only do, what only you can do. I think that stands up regardless of the environment you are in, and personally I like all my managers to also follow that mantra. You want your team doing what they are best at, that sounds obvious, but it’s astonishing how much time talented people spend doing stuff that they shouldn’t be doing, and in many cases aren’t that great at.

Q: You've since successfully merged two seemingly very different worlds: tech and horse racing. How did your experience in tech influence your approach to the racing industry?

A: I think that looking at tech as being invisible is the right approach in any business/sector. Tech enables, no-one (bar the boffins) cares how it works. So provide a solution, don’t talk the tech.

Q: Introducing real-time data analysis to a sport steeped in tradition, like horse racing, feels like a bold move. How did you convince the industry to embrace this level of change?

A: Sometimes when you are taking a big leap forward in technology, you just have to build it so people can see it. Not ideal in terms of cash flow, but sometimes necessary. If you get it right, the rewards are tremendous. If you fail, hopefully you learn something.

Q: You led the acquisition of the Tote, a highly significant step to safeguarding an iconic institution. What advice would you offer when considering a move into acquiring established brands?

A: When you are talking about a brand that you grew up loving (and betting with!) there is a very strong feeling that you are only a custodian. Tread carefully, be highly respectful, and let the brand speak for you.

Q: Reflecting on your remarkable career, what key advice would you give to the next wave of aspiring entrepreneurs?

A: Be you, authenticity will attract the people (and the money) you need. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and constantly reassess as you grow.

Q: Finally, what’s next in the unpredictably diverse world of Eamonn Wilmott?!

A: Time to give something back to the new generation; advising, inspiring, and mentoring. And yeah, probably a couple more deals.

REFLECTIONS+

+ Remember it’s a long game.

+ What you fail at today will make your fortune tomorrow.

+ Do good and be good, people will remember.

+ Be ferociously honest with your partners & investors; they will come with you again if you fail well.

+ Try to find a business you would do even if you weren’t getting paid.

+ Failure and success are both imposters, you can do brilliantly at something and fail, and succeed when you made mistakes.

+ Stay humble, and don’t believe the/your hype.

+ Timing is off-the-charts crucial. Too far ahead of the curve and you will starve, too far behind and you will drown. Timing!

+ And most of all, enjoy the ride …