technology
Julie Meyer faces allegations of unpaid bills and lost investments across multiple countries
A year-long investigation examined business dealings involving entrepreneur Julie Meyer in London, Malta, Switzerland and Greece. Former associates reported unpaid wages, insolvent companies and missing investment funds. Meyer did not respond to requests for comment.
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Former business associates of entrepreneur Julie Meyer have described a pattern of unpaid bills, missing funds and failed ventures spanning more than a decade. The Guardian spoke with dozens of former staff, partners and entrepreneurs in London, Malta, Switzerland and Greece. They cited insolvent companies, unpaid wages and debts to suppliers.
Early career Meyer arrived in London in 1998 after earning a master’s degree from France’s Insead business school. She joined a venture capital firm and helped run the First Tuesday networking club during the late-1990s dotcom period. She received recognition including a Davos “global leader of tomorrow” designation, a Wall Street Journal ranking and a 2012 MBE.
Meyer also appeared as an investor on the BBC series Dragons’ Den.
Later ventures and disputes In 2009, Meyer offered £20,000 on air to 23-year-old Lex Deak for his Family Fridge social-media project. Deak said he never received the funds and later assisted others with similar complaints. ” He said she moved between jurisdictions after exposure.
Investors and founders told the Guardian they lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in three separate incidents they characterized as scams. Meyer has previously stated that her activities are above board. The investigation found a continuing cycle of new ventures and social-media promotion despite earlier controversies.
