About us

We're a close-knit team who thrive on the excitement of growth and the journey it brings. From startups taking their first steps to scaleups looking to expand, we're here to provide unwavering support through every phase.

Treating your brand as if it were our own, we go the extra mile to drive its success. With relentless effort and a genuine passion for what we do, we work hard to elevate and promote your brand's growth, ensuring that it thrives in the competitive market.

We live by our values

Innovation

We are always trying to break boundaries and seek out positive change and impact.

Community

This is why we exist. YV is all about the people building the companies of tomorrow.

Progress

Because we firmly believe that progress is just as important as perfection.

Exploration

Be curious, ask questions, break the mould, create adventure. Explore.

How it started

Back in 2020, mid pandemic, Gabbi embarked on a bold adventure - launching an accelerator program for the yachting industry. With a budget that could hardly be called substantial, her journey was fueled by hard work, resourcefulness and a sprinkle of good fortune.

She juggled YV as a part-time side hustle whilst at the same time pursuing her legal qualifications in London. In September 2022, upon achieving her qualifications, Gabbi went full-time on YV and initiated a pivot in the business model, aimed at providing startups and scaleups with more consistent and comprehensive support, throughout multiple stages of growth.

How it's going

Fast forward to the present day, and YV has evolved into a holistic support ecosystem for startups & scaleups within the leisure marine industry. The range of services offered has broadened to encompass support across the whole growth spectrum; including branding, marketing, PR, business development, global expansion, product launches and activations, fundraising and M&A.

Recognizing the importance of engaging corporates, YV now also collaborates with major events like METSTRADE, Abu Dhabi International Boat Show, and Palma Boat Show, creating innovation zones to help drive awareness.

YV has quickly earnt widespread recognition and is now in consistent high demand. With a community of +140 members, the enduring mission remains steadfast: to provide startups & scaleups in this domain with the essential network, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Meet the squad

Founder & CEO

Gabbi Richardson

Growing up in Mallorca, Gabbi has immersed herself in the yachting industry for over a decade.

Her journey began with a stint as a stewardess before she transitioned ashore, joining Camper & Nicholsons as a charter broker. Subsequently, she ventured into the dynamic realm of tech startups in London. As one of the first employees at SeedLegals, she collaborated closely with founders, startup accelerators, and investors to streamline and automate the fundraising process.

Growth & Global Expansion

Rachel Zlatar

Rachel is an active member of the global startup ecosystem having worked with incubators, accelerators, angel groups, VC firms and tech conferences across 18 countries and 4 continents. She has supported international startups directly with their business expansion plans, marketing strategies, fundraising and B2B partnerships.

Rachel works across a wide variety of industries including yachting, travel & tourism, fintech, Web3, blockchain, proptech and health care.

Digital & Content

Lucy Wright

Lucy has a creative background in copywriting, film production and content creation. She collaborates with companies to deliver marketing campaigns that work.

Her professional journey includes notable roles such as production assistant and programmer for the Evolution International Film Festival based in Mallorca. Lucy also worked as a crew member in the yachting industry for many years.

Branding & Design

Beth Murphy

Beth has spent the past 8 years managing creative and digital projects for everyone from tech start-ups to household names.

She has overseen the creation and delivery of brand identities, websites and app builds, photoshoots and video campaigns but also rolls up her sleeves and dives into brand strategy and UX design, particularly for early-stage businesses looking to disrupt.

Copywriting & PR

Gemma Harris

Gemma previously worked as yacht crew and has a wealth of knowledge into how the industry actually operates and the key considerations which make it unique.

She helps the startups in our community tell their story through various content services - from SEO rich blog posts, newsletters, and website content to increasing visibility of young brands in the industry through articles, interviews and press releases.

Inspired? Join us

We are always eager to hear from those that can add value to our growing team. If you would like to join the YV team, please describe why you would be a good fit below.