MSt in Entrepreneurship alumna Yi Ng in Forbes 30 Under 30

Yi Ng has been named in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2026 list in Art & Culture, in recognition of her pioneering work developing new business models for scaling creative intellectual property.

A Singapore-raised entrepreneur, Yi is co-founder and CEO of SR_A, a British luxury atelier founded in 2020 and built on the commercial model she developed through her Masters in Entrepreneurship final-year project at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

A non-traditional model for scaling creative intellectual property

Yi Ng commented: “The MSt in Entrepreneurship was instrumental in shaping the foundations of SR_A. Learning alongside entrepreneurs from fields as diverse as medicine, technology, finance and the sciences exposed me to fundamentally different approaches to innovation, risk and value creation, which challenged conventional thinking and encouraged me to analyse business building through a broader, more interdisciplinary lens. The programme’s dynamic classroom discussions and debates, led by Dr Monique Boddington, pushed us to rigorously test our assumptions and defend new ideas. That environment gave me the confidence and framework to develop a non-traditional model for scaling creative intellectual property, which ultimately became the foundation of SR_A.”

Rather than relying on traditional venture capital or licensing-led dilution, Yi’s model focuses on enabling creative founders to retain ownership of their intellectual property while scaling through joint ventures, long-term IP-led partnerships and strategic investor roles. Under her commercial leadership, SR_A has generated more than $8 million USD in gross revenue and over $30 million in gross merchandise volume, delivering industry first partnerships including:

• the first design joint venture with Inditex via Zara
• the first external principal design role with Apple through Beats by Dre
• investor and design leadership with WHOOP
• over five years of collaborations with LVMH Maisons, including Hublot and Acqua di Parma
• patent development with Kohler

Yi Ng’s journey

Prior to SR_A, Yi co-founded A COLD WALL* at the age of 20, serving as Commercial Director and leading the brand’s global retail and commercial expansion. Under her leadership, the company scaled to more than €18 million in annual revenue and built a wholesale and direct-to-consumer business across over 200 global luxury retail partners, including Harrods, Selfridges, SSENSE, END., Bergdorf Goodman, Galeries Lafayette and Browns.

Alongside her commercial ventures, Yi is committed to cultural leadership and access. In 2020 she co-founded the Black British Artist Grants Programme, which has delivered more than 50 grants to minority artists and entrepreneurs. The programme’s advisory board includes representatives from The King’s Foundation, the V&A Museum, the British Fashion Council, the Design Museum, the Royal College of Art and the University of Westminster, with guest judges including Grace Wales Bonner and Art Noir. Alumni have gone on to win the LVMH Hublot Design Prize, the Loewe Craft Prize and represent the United Kingdom at the Venice Biennale. Moving ahead, WHOOP will also contribute to the SR_A Black British Artist Grants Programme and host its selected recipient for an in-house design residency, enabling emerging talent to collaborate directly with WHOOP creative teams.

Yi Ng says: “The MSt in Entrepreneurship helped me move from being an operator to thinking more like a builder. It challenged me to look beyond immediate commercial opportunities and focus on creating scalable systems, durable partnerships and long-term value. That shift in perspective has shaped every aspect of my work since – from building global businesses to investing in creative talent and developing platforms that create opportunities for others.”

The MSt in Entrepreneurship helped me move from being an operator to thinking more like a builder.

Yi Ng

Combining commercial excellence with cultural impact

Yi’s work has been recognised with multiple awards, including Drapers 30 Under 30 (2026), the Elle Décor Award (2025) and the Wallpaper* Design Award (2024), alongside recognition from organisations such as LVMH, the British Fashion Council, Condé Nast, Fuorisalone and the Woolmark Prize.

Her work has been covered by Vogue Business, Monocle, Art Newspaper and she has delivered keynote talks for institutions including the Steve Jobs Archive Fellowship, the Virgil Abloh Foundation at the Royal College of Art, Deloitte International Finance Day and the London Design Biennale. In March 2026 Yi returned to Lucy Cavendish College to deliver the keynote address for International Women’s Day, speaking to students and fellows on innovation, entrepreneurship and building global creative businesses.

“Yi’s recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list is a testament to her ability to combine commercial excellence with cultural impact,” said Monique Boddington, Director of the MSt in Entrepreneurship and Management and Practice Associate Professor at Cambridge Judge Business School. “We are proud to see her work redefining how creative businesses are built and scaled, while opening doors for the next generation of diverse founders.”

As momentum builds following this recognition, Yi continues to champion new approaches to entrepreneurship across luxury, technology and culture, helping to redefine how creative businesses are built and scaled globally, while elevating minority voices into positions of leadership and decision-making.

Yi’s recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list is a testament to her ability to combine commercial excellence with cultural impact.

Monique Boddington, Director of the MSt in Entrepreneurship and Management