University of Chester graduate pair behind Pop Specs named Ones to Watch in top business list

Lina Tejoprayitno and Daniel Barnes are the founders of Pop Specs, an optical business which aims to provide stylish and affordable prescription glasses ready to be fitted in as little as 20 minutes. 

Now the pair have been named as Ones to Watch by LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group. Run in association with The Times, the list accompanies The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders of 2024 and highlights entrepreneurs on course for great things, shaking up markets such as healthcare and finance, to change the way business is done. 

John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, said: “It’s been seven years since we launched The LDC Top 50 and in that time we’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable people, and this year has been no different. I’d like to congratulate this year’s Ones to Watch on their achievements so far – we can’t wait to see what they do next.” 

Lina and Daniel met while studying for their Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the University’s Business School and quickly became best friends. During the first lockdown of 2020 they set upon the idea to create trendy, affordable, and instantly ready specs. Dan's expertise in optics and Lina's ability to get the job done helped them to make Pop Specs a reality; a dream come true. 

From launching their first kiosk in Manchester’s Trafford Centre in 2020, the business has gone from strength to strength, opening dozens of outlets across the country, including London, Glasgow, Cardiff and York. There is also a Pop Specs store in Chester, inside the New Market. 

Earlier this year, Lina and Daniel appeared on hit BBC show Dragons’ Den. Describing his pitch to the fearsome Dragons’ panel, Daniel shared the Pop Specs vision of a kiosk within 20 minutes of everyone in the UK, as well as links to major supermarket chains. 

The pair were well received, with Dragon Peter Jones describing the team as a “breath of fresh air”. Peter and fellow Dragons Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies each agreed to take a 4% stake in the business for a combined £75,000. 

Lina and Daniel told LDC their proudest achievement so far is: “Being able to scale the business from just the two of us to having more than 100 employees.” 

The news comes as the University of Chester marks Global Entrepreneurship Week - a massive campaign to celebrate and empower entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world – with a range of online skills sessions open to students and graduates, via its Venture Programme.  

The Business School is also celebrating the week by highlighting the entrepreneurial learning opportunities that are part of its Business Management and related degrees, that see students take part in Young Enterprise competitions and starting up their own businesses.  

Kirstie Simpson, Associate Professor and Dean of Chester Business School, added: “We are absolutely delighted to see the success of our MBA graduates Lina and Daniel and to highlight their endeavours during Global Entrepreneurship Week. They are a beacon for entrepreneurship, showing just where a great business idea can take you. 

“As a positive and inspiring legacy for the many student start-ups we have here at Chester Business School and the wider University, they embody our Business School vision and are true 'catalysts for progress'. We are all really proud of them.” 

• For more information about Chester Business School, visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/faculties/science-business-and-enterprise/chester-business-school/  
• For more information about Pop Specs, visit: https://pop-specs.com/