If there was ever a question of whether entrepreneurialism is born or bred, look no further than Athan Didaskalou and Rich Li, the founders of July – the antipodean upstart of the $US57 billion luggage industry. (The answer? It’s a bit of both.)

“We’ve always said to be an entrepreneur, you’ve got to be a little bit arrogant and a little bit stupid,” laughs Didaskalou. The son of Greek immigrants and a serial entrepreneur, who had previously set up several businesses, at July he is charged with marketing and brand. Li is more quiet and considered, overseeing logistics and supply chain. He grew up on a Yangtze River coal ship run by his father, who would take him to meetings but discouraged him from starting his own company, a stance that only hardened Li’s resolve to do so.