Gavin Wheeldon founded Wi-Fi and location analytics platform Purple in 2012 because he hated public WiFi and thought he could do better himself. In 2023 Purple raised £10.5m investment from BGF. In 2024 Purple became a B Corp and recently partnered with Newcastle City Council to deliver an extensive city-wide Wi-Fi network for residents, students and visitors. Wheeldon gets his middle name of ‘Lloyd’ after his parents stopped off at a branch of Lloyds Bank on the way to his christening – and decided to call him Lloyd. Purple recently opened a new office in Chadderton.
