Eder was inspired to build Student Beans in 2005 after organising his university\u2019s summer ball\u2014a party for over 600 students where he was responsible for sponsorship. Seeing how much brands wanted access to students\u2014and how much students loved a deal\u2014sparked the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy calls to big brands led to me asking for samples and raffle prizes,\u201d Eder recalls to Fortune<\/em>. \u201cSoon, my student hall bedroom was filled with condoms from Durex, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Coffee from Starbucks, Pot Noodles and Lush soaps that made it fragrant for months after.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n At the same time, Eder was working as a brand manager for Yell, where he says he\u2019d already worked with more than 30 brands. A business plan assignment in his degree became the perfect place to shape the concept.<\/p>\n So after graduating, he and his older brother\u2014who worked at an investment bank and had his own side hustle, selling titanium power on Ebay\u2014bootstrapped what became one of the U.K.\u2019s defining student platforms, with a \u00a33,000 loan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over 15,000 students signed up to get exclusive discount vouchers from over 200 local businesses in its first year. By year three, Student Beans had 150,000 users. And today? It\u2019s rebranded as Pion, works with over 3,500 brands from Gymshark to Uber, with over 5 million customers in more than 100 countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Eder still holds a 35% stake in the \u00a330-million-a-year turnover company, he walked away from day-to-day operations 10 years ago to pursue another idea: A location-based rival to LinkedIn called Causr, where you\u2019d be able to see professionals nearby and connect.\u00a0<\/p>\n But despite raising \u00a3500,000 and attracting 3,000 users, Eder\u2019s second startup collapsed. A heart condition diagnosis forced him to rethink everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having a defibrillator implanted in his chest quietly reshaped how he approaches purpose, work, and the limited resource none of us get back: time.<\/p>\n Today, Eder spends up to half the year in M\u00e9ribel. He skis most mornings, and is fresh off the launch of The Collision Code<\/em>\u2014his book, which hit No. 1 on Amazon\u2019s \u201cMost Gifted\u201d list and has already raised more than \u00a38,500 for heart-health charities.<\/p>\n Yet even with the mountain air and flexible schedule, he says the real \u201cgood life\u201d is less about escape, and more about learning how to design a life you don\u2019t need to run away from.<\/p>\n What\u2019s been your best-ever investment?<\/strong><\/p>\n The best investment I ever made was \u00a3400 on a three-day personal development programme called The Landmark Forum in 2009. A friend invited me to an introductory evening. I was sceptical, but I also knew I had nothing to lose. At the very least, I thought it would be three days of reflection, learning about myself and meeting new people.<\/p>\n But it helped me understand how I operate, why I behave the way I do and which beliefs were holding me back. It shifted how I showed up for myself and for others. It gave me the confidence to speak up, build meaningful relationships and say yes to opportunities that scared me. Everything I have done since, from founding companies to writing my book The Collision Code, traces back to the moment I decided to invest in myself.<\/p>\n Once I became a qualified coach, these stepping stones enabled me to design a life that means I live in the French Alps up to six months of the year, enjoying the mountain air and skiing whilst balancing my clients and health.<\/p>\n And the worst?<\/strong><\/p>\n My second startup, Causr. I raised \u00a3150,000, registered for VAT (value added tax) and qualified for R&D tax credits, which brought the total investment closer to \u00a3200,000. I also invested three years of my life. We built an app for both Apple and Android and attracted around 3,000 users, but engagement was almost non-existent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I thought with the success behind me, having built Student Beans, I was so confident the world needed this and I could make this work. But I made the mistake of moving too fast. The moment the funding landed, I felt pressure to spend it and scale immediately. If I could go back, I would have continued testing, validating and learning with a much smaller audience before committing to a full build.<\/p>\n What are your living arrangements like?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m fortunate to spend time in between London, Kentish Town, in an old converted school with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a roof terrace that gets the sun for most of the day. I moved there when we relocated the Student Beans offices to Kentish Town and when I was there day-to-day it was just a ten-minute walking commute.\u00a0<\/p>\n For almost half the rest of the year I\u2019ve chosen to live in the French Alps in a beautiful studio apartment just above Meribel Centre in one of the best and largest ski areas of the world, The Three Valleys. I first fell in love with the mountains, skiing in the same area at around four or five. When I was diagnosed with my heart condition, it was a dream to be able to go back there and make this happen. I feel like I\u2019ve got the perfect balance of the buzz of London and having everything on my doorstep, then mountain escape. <\/p>\n What\u2019s in your wallet?<\/strong><\/p>\n I never carry any cash. I have two default bank cards I use: The Virgin Atlantic Credit card which affords me to travel regularly in premium and upperclass, or my Revolut, which offers such convenience for different currencies whilst travelling and a brilliant interface.<\/p>\n Do you invest in shares?<\/strong><\/p>\n I used an advisor for a number of years, making sure I benefited from the ISA tax-free allowances (similar to a Roth IRA in the U.S.). The most fantastic thing I did was invest in a money coach. For the first time, I understood how it works, what a bull and bear market is, what a tracker fund is \u2026 I now manage my funds and use Vanguard and Interactive Investor to do the work. I also invest in premium bonds, which are also tax-free investments.<\/p>\n What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?<\/strong><\/p>\n I would emphasise the importance of monthly contributions, however small and maximising the tax-free ISA allowances as much as possible.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the one subscription you can\u2019t live without?<\/strong><\/p>\n My EasyJet Plus subscription. Due to most of my European travel being short-haul with the majority served by EasyJet, it\u2019s a useful perk\u2014priority security, speedy boarding, seat selection and extra handheld luggage.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your most ridiculous ongoing expense?<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t have ridiculous ongoing expenses, but I make up for it with travel. Most of my outgoings are on destination travel and related expenses. My annual ski pass for those who don\u2019t ski might be questionable. <\/p>\n Courtesy of James Eder<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n How do you get your daily coffee fix?<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t drink coffee. I never got into it. My weakness is hot chocolate with cream, which I usually drink daily during the winter in the Alps, and it ranges in price from \u20ac5 to \u20ac10\u2014so a habit of up to \u20ac40 a week.<\/p>\n What about eating on the go?<\/strong><\/p>\n My go-to when I\u2019m in the U.K. is PizzaExpress and Wagamama, reasonably priced and quick eats. I usually eat out three to four times a week. If I\u2019m in town and in between meetings a Pret-A-Manger is a frequent destination. For meetings, I will often be at The Ivy, The Granary Square Brasserie in Kings Cross, The Wolseley or The Delaunay. Novikov or Sketch are also favourites.<\/p>\n Where do you buy groceries?<\/strong><\/p>\n When I\u2019m in London, I\u2019ll grab food on the way home from being out\u2014a stir fry, or salmon. In France, I do a weekly shop from Carrefour and feel like I have a better balanced diet as I have more time to spend planning and in the kitchen. It\u2019s just a different way of living.<\/p>\n What\u2019s a typical work outfit for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m usually in jeans from Citizens of Humanity with a shirt and a tailored jacket, polished but relaxed. Day-to-day, I\u2019ve been leaning more casual and think Uniqlo is great for quality basics. I budget up to \u00a31,000 a year on clothes and focus on things I\u2019ll wear again and again.<\/p>\n Are you the proud owner of any tech gadgets?<\/strong><\/p>\n My Apple Watch has been a game-changer. I originally got it with my Vitality Health Care insurance plan and it has helped me identify when I had a change in heart rhythm as well as give me more confidence in exercising.<\/p>\n The one gadget that I think would really improve the quality of my life is a kitchen robot. Of course, there are private chefs, but the idea of having something in my kitchen that can cook with anything is wild.<\/p>\n How do you unwind from the top job?<\/strong><\/p>\n What\u2019s your take on work-life balance at the top?<\/strong><\/p>\n In the early days of Student Beans, I was definitely working for over 12 hours a day and felt like I was always on. That was the same at Causr. Since I\u2019m now a coach and author, work ebbs and flows.<\/p>\n Some days I\u2019m out first thing for a breakfast meeting, working through the day, having an interview, doing a photo shoot, a lunch appointment, writing content, speaking at an event, recording a podcast and out for dinner. My take on work-life balance is to reframe it as being about life and whether you\u2019re enjoying it or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n How do you treat yourself when you get a promotion?<\/strong><\/p>\n Because I have always worked for myself, promotions were never my milestone. Instead, I celebrated big moments like signing a major client, or raising investment. Those were the times I treated myself to something special. I love the art in my flat and choosing pieces that connect to a memory makes them even more meaningful. One of my favourites is an original limited edition Paul Kenton print of London and the Thames.\u00a0<\/p>\n How many days annual leave do you take a year?<\/strong><\/p>\n Whenever I am in France, it naturally feels like a holiday even though I am working. On top of that, I actively take around three months each year to travel and explore.<\/p>\n Take us on holiday with you, where did you go this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n When I go on the heart transplant list, I\u2019ll need to be within four hours of Cambridge and the transplant hospital at all times, so it\u2019s made me focus on making the most of travelling.\u00a0<\/p>\n I started 2025 in France, in March, visiting Tignes, another ski resort where I was a social host on European Snow Pride, a week-long gay festival. In April, I went to Gran Canaria for a few days. From there, I flew to Geneva and visited Meribel to get the keys to my new apartment, followed by a few days in Paris for my birthday. I spent a couple of weeks in Sardinia, including a sailing trip on a catamaran around Sardinia and Corsica. I then went to Wales for The Do Lectures, a few days of glamping with a community of over a hundred inspiring people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n #Student #Beans #millionaire #heart #condition #millennial #founder #rethink #life<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today, we meet James Eder, the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[2710,2713,542,2703,2715,2704,2709,2705,2706,2714,2717,2707,2716,406,2708,1285,2037,2591,2711,56,81,2712,1982,932],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n<\/blockquote>\n
The finances<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/img-assets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/James-and-The-Collision-Code-e1765379007770.jpg?format=webp&w=1440&q=100\"\/)
<\/div>\nThe Necessities\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/img-assets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/James-in-Morzine.jpg?format=webp&w=1440&q=100\"\/)
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nThe Treats?\u00a0<\/h2>\n