About
Ben Towers held a Communications Director role at GlaxoSmithKline before co-founding Happl (formerly Tahora). He previously founded Towers Design at age 11 and has worked on entrepreneurship initiatives with UK Government and Royal Family organizations.
Founder at HapplYC W22
Intro paths
YC
Ben went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) β any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Nicolas Dessaigne, General Partner at Y Combinator β the partner who ran Happl's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile β
β
In turn, Ben can intro founders to Happl's investors below.
Happl's investors Β· 7
6 Degrees CapitalLondon Β· $1.1M β $5.4M checks Β· since 2026AscensionLondon Β· since 2024HaatchLondon Β· $500K β $1M checks Β· since 2026PitchdriveAntwerp Β· $250K β $2M checks Β· since 2024Portage VenturesMontreal Β· since 2026Ventures TogetherLondon Β· since 2026Y CombinatorSan Francisco Β· $500K checks Β· since 2022
Experience
- HapplCEOcurrent2022 β presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- HapplCo-Foundercurrent2020 β presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- Founders PledgeMembercurrent2023 β presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- The Prince's Trust, Dogs Trust, Duke Of York (iDEA), The Diana Award & The Young Lives FoundationAmbassadorcurrent2016 β present
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)Advisor2019 β 2021London Area, United Kingdom
- GSKCommunications Director & Advisor2018 β 2020London Area, United Kingdom
- Investments Include: Press London, GripIt, MiiCare, Zing Zing, Good Box Co, Oval MoneyAngel Investor2018 β 2020London Area, United Kingdom
- Zest The AgencyDirector (acquisition period)2017Chatham, Kent
- Towers DesignCEO (now known as Zest The Agency)2011 β 2017Chatham, Kent
- Young Start-up TalentDirector2015 β 2016
- Federation of Small BusinessesFSB Connect Ambassador & National Counsellor2014 β 2016
- Medway MessengerPaper Boy2009 β 2012
- Ben TowersFreelance Web Designer2010 β 2011
Skills & more
Social Media99Entrepreneurship99Web Design33Public Speaking51Social Media Marketing38Start-ups99Online Marketing26Marketing81Social Networking32WordPress9SEO14Email Marketing16
+12 more
E-commerceHTMLWebsite DevelopmentAdvertisingGraphic DesignBrandingCorporate IdentityCMSFacebookManagementInspirationLeadershipLanguages Spanish
From Ben's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ben Towers?
- Ben Towers held a Communications Director role at GlaxoSmithKline before co-founding Happl (formerly Tahora). He previously founded Towers Design at age 11 and has worked on entrepreneurship initiatives with UK Government and Royal Family organizations.
- Where does Ben Towers work?
- Ben Towers is Founder of Happl.
- What companies did Ben Towers found?
- Ben Towers founded Happl.
- Where did Ben Towers go to school?
- Ben Towers studied at Rainham Mark Grammar School (GCSE, Business); Towers Design (Apprentice, Social Media); Y Combinator (Winter 2022).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
+ 8,766 more
Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
+ 4,709 more
Founders Pledge mafia20
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brent HobermanCo-FounderFounded Founders Keepers +2Fabian HeilemannAmbassador & Climate ChampionFounded Aenu +1Ferry HeilemannAmbassador & Climate ChampionFounded Aenu +1Magnus HambletonFounders Pledge MemberFounded Depict +1Stefan WalterPledgerFounded NAPDaniel DuboisPledgerFounded Handled
+ 13 more
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Happl1
Also worked at Founders Pledge53
Rouven DresselhausInvestor at Cavalry VenturesStefan WalterInvestor at Cavalry VenturesNick FitzInvestor at Juniper Ventures Management, LlcAndrew McLoughlinBrit in San Francisco; seed-stage venture capital investorDaniel DuboisInvestor at Side Door VenturesJonathan HsuCo-founder, Managing Director at Tribe Capital Firstlook
+ 47 more
Also worked at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)16
Tom PageHead of Investor Relations at Cambridge Innovation CapitalIlana WisbyEntrepreneur in Residence at Cambridge Innovation CapitalJames WisePartner at Balderton CapitalGemma SiddallInvestment Associate (Sustainability) at University of Cambridge EnterpriseLouise VilladsenManager at The Footprint FirmTony RavenChair of Board and Consultation Committee at UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund
+ 10 more
