Click here to view Larry Smith's Presentation

Larry Smith 
Founder of Finagle a Bagel and London Taxis of North America

Larry Smith graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1978 with a degree in mechanical engineering and then worked for the General Electric Corp. in Lynn, MA as a manufacturing engineer in the aircraft engine division. While working there, Smith was constantly in search of an entrepreneurial outlet. While working at GE, he rented a small area at Faneuil Hall Marketplace where he sold cheesecake made with a family recipe. He began experimenting with various other products and eventually transitioned to making bagels. By 1991, Smith had quit his job at GE and rented a larger space at Faneuil Hall Marketplace to open his first Finagle a Bagel. 20 years later, the company has enjoyed much success and has 17 stores, a state-of-the-art automated bagel production facility, and revenues in excess of $20M. Larry sold the company in 1998.

In 2000, Larry flew to London in search of a new investment opportunity; something well established in Europe but unknown in North America. While hailing a taxi at Heathrow Airport, he identified the product he was looking for: the London taxi itself. He founded London Taxis of North America (LTNA). LTNA incorporates Smith’s vision to bring an internationally recognized brand to the underserved and generally undifferentiated North American taxi industry. Having experienced the superlative qualities of the London Taxi in the United Kingdom, Smith came to perceive the importation and sale of the vehicle in the U.S. and Canada as a significant business opportunity. After further research, Smith and his investors formed LTNA and began working with London Taxis International in Coventry (LTI), England, the maker of London cabs, to transform the opportunity into reality.

In June 2001, LTNA acquired the exclusive rights from LTI, to import, distribute and sell the London Taxi in North America. Since then, the Company has invested substantial time, effort and resources to make the London Taxi fully compliant with applicable U.S. and Canadian regulatory requirements. The London Taxi has a Ford turbo 2.4 liter direct injection turbo-charged and inter-cooled diesel engine and automatic transmission with over-drive, is very fuel-efficient and gets an average of 28 miles per gallon on the highway and 24 miles per gallon in the city. The typical lifespan of the vehicle is 500,000 miles. LTNA offers the “London Executive Sedan” for the upscale market and the “London Civilized Taxi” for the commercial taxi market.

The company's mission is to change the face of the taxi and livery industry in North America through the importation, sale and servicing of a purpose-built vehicle manufactured in England by London Taxis International ("LTI"). With the introduction of the latest London Taxi model, the "TXII", the company intends to significantly improve the quality of taxi and livery vehicles available in U.S. and Canadian cities.

Click here to view Larry Smith's Presentation