O ld Boys Reuben Bijl and Toby Vincent have built on a friendship forged at Christ’s College to create tailor-made apps for some of the biggest names in business. From school waffle stall organisers to ever-evolving Christchurch innovators, Reuben and Toby have quickly realised they are equal parts in a recipe for technological success. Co-founders of design, software and business consultancy Smudge, Reuben (Corfe House) and Toby (Harper House) started at College in 2000. “During my time at College, I became confident in striking my own path and figuring out things, even if I hadn’t done them before,” Toby recalls. “I remember Reuben and I ran a (very unprofitable) waffle stall at one school fair. The waffles weren’t great but we had lots of fun making posters and ‘marketing’ it. I also remember selling knock-off Red Bull from a mobile chilly bin, but I think the school shut that down fairly quickly. “When we started Smudge, the attitude we’d built at College – of giving things a go and not taking ourselves too seriously – was invaluable. When we came up against things we hadn’t done before, we weren’t intimidated.”
Meanwhile, Reuben relished “the opportunity to get involved in many different subject areas” during his school years. “I especially remember both enjoying – and being challenged – in Media Studies classes with Peter Hewson, Music with Mark Mawhinney, History with Warren Lidstone, Art with Darryn George, Drama with David Chambers, and Technology with Paul Rodley,” he says. “I recall the emphasis on asking questions and challenging ideas. “After College, I studied classical piano with Péter Nagy at the University of Canterbury (alongside Computer Science, as a double degree). I love the idea that humans can successfully blend the so-called ‘left-brain’ and ‘right- brain’ disciplines. This is one of the principles that underpins my world view to this day. I think the best people and the best ideas borrow inspiration from both the Arts and the Sciences.” Recalling one of their “first entrepreneurial moments”, Reuben and Toby highlight their school music/cultural trip to Italy in 2004. “We pitched to the then Headmaster, Simon Leese, the idea of creating a documentary of the trip. It was a formative experience. We learnt a lot about
Innovative thinkers Toby Vincent (left) and Reuben Bijl.
COLLEGE 2023
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