The Everyday Founder

What if your business could predict the future — even with barely any data?In this episode, I sit down with Dash Tabor, founder and CEO of TUBR, a predictive analytics platform turning small data into big insights.Dash started TUBR after one too many packed Tube rides in London — and ended up building a deep-tech company using a physics-based machine learning engine that helps small businesses forecast demand, sales, and staffing needs with minimal data.But her journey wasn’t smooth.She’s lost £500k in a day, rebuilt her team after losing her co-founder mid-fundraise, and turned down “life-saving” investor cash on moral grounds — all while keeping TUBR alive and growing.We get into the raw parts of being a founder:- Fundraising in a volatile market- Building deep tech without a technical background- Understanding investor psychology- Rebuilding after disaster- And why she left London for SheffieldThis is one of the most brutally honest founder stories yet.Chapters:00:00 - Why founders should never take “trenched” investor money00:41 - Introducing Dash Tabor & the TUBR story02:11 - The London Tube moment that sparked the idea03:47 - From overcrowded trains to AI innovation05:05 - What “machine learning” really means for small businesses07:09 - Predicting croissants, customers, and chaos08:57 - How much data is really needed for AI to work10:21 - Sponsor: Opus — the network for entrepreneurs10:41 - How Dash built deep tech without being a coder12:28 - Leaving a stable job to build something from scratch14:19 - When Liz Truss’ budget wiped out her customers overnight18:09 - Losing her co-founder mid-fundraise20:24 - Rebuilding the team from zero21:09 - Hitting rock bottom — and the “keep going” moment25:16 - The near-collapse and the £10K that saved TUBR26:17 - Fundraising lessons: quantity over tranches28:22 - The reality of raising as a female founder31:13 - How to “build the house you want to live in” with investors32:32 - Saying no to bad money — even when desperate35:14 - Choosing Sheffield over London38:48 - Building community and talent outside the capital39:28 - Finding balance (or trying to) as a founder43:10 - Who TUBR serves today & their new product “Pulse”45:57 - What’s next: partnerships, scale, and profitability47:53 - The real answer: talent vs luck in startup life49:49 - Where to follow Dash & TUBR Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Everyday Founder, James sits down with Tomas Helgaš, founder and CEO of Sutro — the AI platform that turns a single text prompt into a full production-ready app.Before Sutro, Tomas worked at Facebook (helping power the “People You May Know” feature), then went on to build and sell Sphere to Twitter after raising $30M.Now, he’s back for round two — building Sutro to change the way the world builds software. This conversation dives into the mindset, mission, and mechanics behind one of the most fascinating builders in AI today.We discuss:- Why Tomas left his dream job at Facebook to start Sphere- How he built a company that became the foundation for X (Twitter) Communities- The early days of Sutro and building secure, production-grade AI tools- The tradeoff between shipping fast vs. building safely- Co-founders, hiring mistakes, and second-time founder lessons- How AI will reshape how software is built — and why security is the next big frontierChapters:00:00 – Mission: change how the world builds software01:18 – Intro: Tomas Halgaš, Sutro, Facebook → Sphere → Twitter02:08 – Why go back after a successful exit03:10 – Early bet on OpenAI (GPT-2) and text-to-app ideas04:02 – Viral demos: prompt → live front- & back-end, fully deployed05:12 – Sphere origin story & community product07:42 – From partnership talks to Twitter acquisition09:24 – Post-acquisition & starting Sutro (overlap period)11:05 – Co-founder transition; going solo as CEO12:21 – Sutro thesis: production software with guarantees14:02 – Security horror stories & why prototypes don’t cut it15:42 – Comp landscape: “shipping fast” vs “building safely”16:57 – The mission (again): security-first software at scale18:13 – Sponsor: Opus18:38 – From prompt links to better human–computer interaction19:13 – Product/LLM inflection points; scaffolds & reasoning21:13 – Moving upmarket: serious, enterprise use cases21:39 – Raising capital: when VC makes sense23:16 – What a “good VC” actually does for founders28:15 – Second-time founder perspective on investor value28:42 – Family roots, teenage hacking, first sparks30:16 – Silicon Valley internship & mindset shift31:01 – Leaving Facebook: parental push & perspective33:02 – Hiring mistakes at Sphere: brilliant but hard to work with34:12 – New bar at Sutro: great humans, ex-founders35:04 – Remote vs in-person; hiring uncommon talent37:41 – Advice to younger self: read deeply, then build deeply41:01 – Working with people: persuasion vs. coaching42:03 – Coaching someone with a “dream job” to leap43:18 – Calibrate at the best; then go build45:21 – CTO vs CEO: different learning curves46:04 – Big tech cycles & urgency vs comfort47:03 – Co-founders: marriage, commitment, alignment49:13 – The “F-you number” & exit alignment51:21 – Host anecdote; aligning on outcomes52:19 – Post-acq reality: agency & decision-making changes54:21 – Corporate planning constraints & politics55:24 – How to set better terms for future acquisitions56:10 – Where Sutro is going57:16 – Better models, but HCI is the hard problem59:16 – English is ambiguous: need precise interfaces1:00:19 – The compliance/security wave is coming1:01:27 – Sutro’s advantage: guarantees, compliance, real software1:01:54 – The next interface: text + visuals + flows1:02:17 – AI moves fast; strategy expires quickly1:02:39 – Luck vs talent vs hard work1:03:39 – Where to follow Tomas & try Sutro1:04:03 – Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riham Satti was on track for a life in academia — Oxford PhD, research papers, professorship.Then she met her co-founder, built an app to get him a job at Microsoft, and accidentally uncovered a billion-dollar problem: human bias in recruitment.Today, she’s the CEO and co-founder of MeVitae, an AI platform using neuroscience and data to make hiring fairer and faster.In this episode, we go deep into what it really takes to go from academia to entrepreneurship — without the safety net of VC money or a Silicon Valley network.Riham’s story is one of grit, grants, and growth — building a mission-driven business the long, hard, but sustainable way.💬 Watch this episode if you want to learn:- How to turn research into a real business- The neuroscience of bias and decision-making- When to expand to the US (and how to know if you’re ready)- Why compassion is a founder’s superpower- How to stay in “startup mode” after 10+ years of building🎧 CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro: From Oxford to Entrepreneurship02:00 – Falling in love with STEM and academia05:30 – Building an app to hack into Microsoft08:00 – The first 50k downloads that changed everything10:30 – Discovering bias in hiring and founding MeVitae13:00 – Bootstrapping with grants (no VC, no network)16:20 – Early lessons in startup survival18:40 – How bias actually works in the human brain22:00 – The first enterprise client (and the chaos that followed)25:00 – Building the MeVitae team and culture29:00 – Expanding to the US — when and why33:00 – Balancing perfectionism with speed37:00 – The “10-year overnight success”42:00 – Compassion, leadership, and building a real company46:00 – What’s next for Riham and MeVitae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Florian Ehrbar, founder of OnchainLabs, went from calling time on a failing consulting gig… to convincing the investor to back a new team and a new idea: connecting real-world assets (skis, classic cars, gold - even trees) to the blockchain with actual utility.We get into radical candour, building “Wallet 2” that feels like email (not MetaMask), no-code tokenization, raising private capital, and leading a half-inherited team while staying focused when you could do everything.In this episode you’ll learn:- Why telling the hard truth can start your next company- Funded-from-day-one: hidden pressures and how to navigate them- Real user value in tokenization (CRM, warranties/insurance, provenance)- UX trade-offs: self-custody vs ease, and designing guardrails- The vision: a white-label, no-code RWA platform you can drag-and-drop deployChapters00:00 Intro — honesty when everything’s on fire01:10 The investor asks “what now?” → forming the new team02:36 Florian’s path: consulting → dating app → investments → founder05:10 Quitting a safe career with a young family06:19 Side-hustle vs jump: why he didn’t moonlight (and regrets it)07:45 Funded from day one: blessings and pressure09:06 The moment of candour that killed a project and birthed Onchain Labs11:05 What Onchain Labs does (physical → digital, real utility)12:54 Tokenizing luxury skis: CRM, insurance, activation incentives15:04 Blockchain basics (wallets, ownership, self-custody)17:22 UX reality: too easy vs too risky — finding the line19:35 Classic cars & provenance: why digitised records matter21:30 Leading a “half-inherited” team: empower vs decide23:40 Focus when you can do everything: pick the beachhead25:05 Building “Wallet 2” — make blockchain feel like email27:10 Towards a no-code, white-label RWA platform29:00 Commercial model: SaaS + transactions + implementation31:05 Who it’s for: gold tokenization, consumer apps, and beyond33:12 Ambition: the AWS/Shopify of tokenization (for non-financial assets)35:00 Fundraising, unusual backers & validation moments37:05 Founder life: work ethic, optimism, taking bigger risks sooner39:00 Skill vs luck — and where to follow FlorianIf this helped, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment with the next founder you want on the show.#Startups #Web3 #Tokenization #RWA #FounderJourney #Leadership #EverydayFounderPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former RAF pilot turned deep-tech founder, Kyle Thomas is building SAIF Autonomy—the “application firewall” for autonomous systems. We get into embodied AI vs deterministic autonomy, what it takes to certify and deploy robots in the real world, the UK vs US VC mindset, nearly running out of cash (with £22 left in the bank), and why veterans often thrive in startups.What's in the episode:- Embodied AI in the physical world (and why “trust layers” matter)- Defense to startup: decision-making under uncertainty- Real use cases: drones, logistics, shipping, aviation, space- Public perception & regulation: earning societal trust- Raising $1.2M from Silicon Valley as a UK deep-tech startup- Culture design: borrowing the best of military leadership- Practical founder advice: start sooner, ignore the naysayersChapters:0:00 Cold open — embodied AI, safety & “wrappers”1:12 Intro — Kyle’s RAF background & SAIF’s mission2:23 Military → startup: decision-making & stress tolerance4:09 UK vs US mindset on speed, growth & work ethic6:30 Meeting co-founder Matt; origins in RAF programs7:22 Rapid Capabilities Office & TRL (3→7 fast)8:42 From scripted autonomy to embodied, goal-based systems10:03 Real-world examples (drones, Waymo, sidewalk bots)11:01 Autonomy vs AI — clear definitions12:53 Deterministic vs embodied AI (and their failure modes)13:53 Today’s drone deliveries (hospitals, corridors, BVLOS)14:10 Scaling without city-wide infrastructure15:52 Proving it on land, sea, air… and space18:19 Public perception, safety cases & building trust19:13 Logistics, shipping & aviation use cases20:06 “Application firewall” for autonomy (trust layer)22:19 Fundraise story — $1.2M pre-revenue from Silicon Valley24:03 Why UK/EU VC often feels like PE (risk appetite)25:59 US lead, diligence, patents & why it clicked27:12 UK engineering talent vs US scaling capital29:05 CEO self-awareness: when to level up or step aside30:39 Targeting specialist US funds next33:17 Sponsor break — Opus community33:49 Near-death runway tale: £22 in the bank36:50 Money lands at 8:22pm on New Year’s Eve43:17 Split-second RAF story — refuelling saves lives47:49 Why veterans can excel in startups49:17 Culture & leadership: high trust, high standards52:04 Practical rituals (socials, flexibility, outcomes)55:11 Advice to younger self: start sooner, be bold58:07 Founder communities: Opus, ICE, Founders Pledge1:00:12 Be in the room — why London matters1:01:12 Trust over impressions (in-person beats ads)1:02:30 Luck vs talent (and timing)1:03:55 Where to find Kyle (LinkedIn, site, IG)1:04:45 Blog & updates coming soon1:05:08 OutroAbout Kyle / SAIF AutonomyKyle Thomas, Co-founder & CEO, SAIF AutonomyMission: a safety & assurance “trust layer” so autonomous systems can operate safely at the edge (air, land, sea, space) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to raise $1.5M from 66 angels across 400 meetings?Jamie Hamer, CEO of Loxa and founder of React News (acquired by Green Street), shares the unfiltered reality.From walking away from a £150k salary to making 30 cold calls a day, Jamie is building one of the most ambitious insurtechs in the UK—backed not by VCs, but by a cap table stacked with mission-aligned angels.In this episode of The Everyday Founder, we dive into:- Why angels is better than funds (and how to manage 66 of them)- The litmus test for picking advisors (time and money or nothing)- The playbook for user research that doubles as early sales- Why founder-led sales is still king in early-stage B2B- How to build a team around “total ownership”- What it’s really like to rebrand midstream- And how to “increase the surface area of your luck”If you’re raising, hiring, or selling at the early stage, Jamie’s insights are a masterclass in founder grit and strategic execution.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments.Chapters00:00 – Why advisors must have skin in the game01:20 – Jamie’s journey: from P&G to React News03:30 – Leaving a £150k salary to start up06:00 – The power of user research (The Mom Test in action)08:15 – Building and exiting React News10:20 – Why angels beat VC funding13:00 – How Jamie raised $1.5M from 66 angels15:25 – Managing a cap table of 66 investors18:00 – Co-founders, vesting, and avoiding dead equity21:00 – Hiring playbook: KPIs, probation, and personality tests24:00 – Total ownership as a cultural value27:00 – Founder-led sales: why cold calling still works31:00 – The pain (and lessons) of a rebrand34:00 – Building Loxa: tackling insurtech complexity38:00 – Transparency, trust, and fixing insurance for good42:00 – Increasing the surface area of your luck46:00 – Reflections on skill vs luck in entrepreneurship49:00 – Jamie’s advice to early-stage founders53:00 – Where to follow Jamie and Loxa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nikhil Arora has built a career at the intersection of leadership, global growth, and purposeful impact. Today, he’s the CEO of Epignosis, the company behind TalentLMS, serving 22M+ learners across 160 countries. But his story stretches far beyond EdTech.From helping build Kazakhstan’s first stock exchange, to leading international growth at GoDaddy, scaling Intuit in India, and launching WeWork in Asia, Nikhil has lived and worked across 9 countries and 4 continents—all while keeping up a daily running habit.In this episode, we cover:- What it takes to step in as CEO after two founders step aside.- How to balance mission and growth in a global SaaS company.- Why listening tours with customers and employees shape better strategy than any playbook.- Building culture across remote, hybrid, and global teams.- Vulnerability, failure, and why leaders must lead with authenticity.- The balance between being a missionary (purpose-driven) and mercenary (growth-focused) leader.If you’re a founder, CEO, or aspiring leader, this conversation is packed with insights on scaling businesses, managing up, and staying grounded while running at speed.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Declaring strategy vs listening first01:00 – Introducing Nikhil Arora, CEO of Epignosis02:00 – Building Kazakhstan’s first stock exchange04:00 – What Epignosis does today06:00 – Taking over from the founders08:00 – Balancing preservation and change as CEO10:00 – Product, customers, and culture as priorities12:00 – Leading a 250-person global team15:00 – Fireside chats, townhalls, and communication clarity18:00 – Vulnerability, failure, and celebrating mistakes22:00 – Creating a safe culture for feedback25:00 – Clarity, guiding principles, and decision-making27:00 – Staying focused and prioritising as a leader30:00 – Red, yellow, green framework for CEO focus33:00 – Managing energy, family, and fitness36:00 – Mission vs mercenary: purpose and growth40:00 – Managing up as an installed CEO45:00 – The #1 mistake founders often make48:00 – Why no one is truly self-made50:00 – Keeping your network and mentors alive53:00 – The importance of mentors (older and younger)56:00 – Skill vs luck in business59:00 – Where to find Nikhil online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Mabey left a comfortable career as a corporate lawyer at Freshfields to launch Juro, the all-in-one contract platform now trusted by Deliveroo, Cazoo, and hundreds of fast-scaling businesses. Since then, Juro has raised $38M+, grown to a team of 120+, and positioned itself at the forefront of AI-enabled legal tech.In this episode of The Everyday Founder, Richard shares:- Why he walked away from a secure legal career to pursue entrepreneurship- How Juro landed its first enterprise clients like Deliveroo through co-creation- The long road to product-market fit (and what retention really means)- Lessons in scaling sales, hiring the right early team, and keeping culture intact- Betting early on AI copilots and agents—and how that decision is reshaping the legal industry- His honest take on self-doubt, work-life balance, and what really makes founders succeedIf you’re a founder, lawyer, or builder curious about the realities of growing a SaaS company in a competitive market—this conversation with Richard is packed with hard-won lessons.Chapters: 00:00 – Why sales isn’t demand (and the role of marketing)00:49 – Introducing Richard Mabey, CEO & Co-Founder of Juro01:26 – Leaving law for entrepreneurship: riches-to-rags story02:44 – The pain point that sparked Juro04:00 – The inefficiencies of corporate law05:15 – Taking the plunge despite pressure & self-doubt07:24 – Early days: learning to code & finding a co-founder10:10 – Raising seed funding & first customers (Deliveroo)12:27 – Co-creating with early adopters16:10 – Slow growth to product-market fit (4+ years)18:30 – Defining product-market fit (retention & renewal)21:09 – Building repeatable sales: from scrappy to scalable23:36 – Why marketing came before hiring sales25:22 – Content as Juro’s growth engine26:06 – Founder self-doubt & keeping balance with family life29:16 – Work-life balance & startup intensity31:21 – Starting Juro while becoming a parent33:07 – Early hires, talent density & culture fit37:12 – Scaling the team from 30 to 100+39:05 – Rethinking hiring in the AI era40:51 – Why fewer people, but higher talent density, wins41:22 – Picking the right VCs & long-term partners45:28 – Radical transparency with the board & team47:43 – Building trust with customers (handwritten notes & support)50:20 – Using community to strengthen customer relationships51:27 – Betting big on AI copilots & agents55:09 – How AI is reshaping legal jobs59:32 – Competing with incumbents & new AI-native challengers1:02:12 – What’s Juro’s moat?1:04:24 – The next 5 years for Juro1:06:13 – Fundraising is just “stopping for petrol”1:06:40 – Luck vs skill in entrepreneurship1:08:41 – Final reflections & where to follow Richard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Cecily Motley — founder of Harriet and previously the CEO of Motley, a direct-to-consumer jewellery brand that raised millions before collapsing in the wake of Apple’s privacy update.We talk about the emotional toll of shutting down a business with your name on the door, the lessons she brought into building a venture-scale B2B company, and how she's leading a startup while raising two young children.This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what happens after your startup fails.⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro: Cecily’s story in 20 seconds01:15 - Why her first startup, Motley, shut down04:33 - The hidden costs of DTC and the iOS14 death blow08:10 - The emotional experience of failure as a founder12:00 - Starting Harriet: a complete pivot to B2B HR tech15:45 - What Harriet does and why it matters18:20 - Lessons from DTC applied to B2B SaaS21:30 - Fundraising post-failure: the mindset shift25:00 - What makes a defensible company in 202528:00 - Building while parenting: realities vs LinkedIn myths32:40 - Maternity & paternity leave: how founders should lead36:15 - Advice for founders dealing with failure39:00 - The importance of self-identity beyond the startup42:00 - Final reflections and Cecily’s founder advice#Startups #Founders #B2B #DTC #Harriet #Leadership #TheEverydayFounder #Entrepreneurship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why This Founder Left a $160M Startup to Fix Supply Chains with AICedrik Hoffmann is the co-founder & CEO of Ameeba, a startup bringing AI-powered intelligence to supply chain operations. Before that, he scaled and exited Valoreo — a $160M VC-backed roll-up of consumer brands across Latin America.In this conversation, Cedrik shares the raw truth of leaving high-paid jobs, building in overlooked industries, and how personal loss and failure shaped his founder mindset. From hustling trade shows in Taiwan with no product, to raising millions and leading hundreds — this is a story of grit, reinvention, and staying obsessed with the problem.—Chapters00:00 – The only career where failure is rewarded01:00 – Cedrik’s early life and unlikely path to Goldman Sachs03:00 – Realizing banking wasn’t the dream04:40 – The turning point: advice from his wife06:00 – Going all in: no business, no plan, just hustle08:00 – Meeting Jack and taking over a Taiwanese factory11:00 – How a cold call from old friends led to Valoreo13:00 – Raising $160M and scaling across Latin America15:30 – Why fundraising isn’t the milestone17:00 – The truth about exit returns and dilution18:50 – The origin of Ameeba and building the tool he wished he had21:00 – AI in supply chains: hype vs real problems23:30 – How Cedrik found the right co-founder26:00 – Choosing co-founders like life partners29:00 – Why co-developing with customers worked32:00 – What most B2B founders get wrong about product34:00 – The zombie tech stack inside global supply chains36:00 – How geopolitics is reshaping where goods are made38:00 – Nearshoring, cost misconceptions, and supply chain as a brand story42:00 – Competing with Shein and surviving retail disruption44:00 – Why founders need to understand their supply chain48:00 – Balancing fatherhood and founder life52:00 – Cedrik’s biggest failure — and what he learned54:00 – Luck vs talent vs grit56:00 – Where to find Cedrik online—Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with the founders behind real businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From £0 to £9M Booked in Two Years – The Cold Call Comeback | Greg Freeman, Data Literacy AcademyOn this episode of The Everyday Founder, I sat down with Greg Freeman, founder of Data Literacy Academy. From selling nightclub tickets in uni to building a 7-figure enterprise training platform, Greg’s story is packed with real, tactical advice for founders on the front line.We break down the early days, how he signed Bentley and SSE as clients before hiring a full team, why cold calling still works, and what building an enterprise business really looks like behind the scenes.👇 Chapters & Timestamps 👇00:00 – Why Cold Calling Still Works00:52 – Meet Greg Freeman, Founder of Data Literacy Academy01:17 – Why Greg Became an Entrepreneur04:20 – Backpacking in Peru & the Y Combinator Spark05:54 – What Data Literacy Academy Actually Does07:13 – Selling to Startups vs Selling to Enterprise08:41 – Winning Bentley, SSE, and Aston Uni as First Clients11:00 – The 0 to £1M Journey in 9 Months13:25 – The Enterprise Go-To-Market Strategy17:21 – How Greg Became a Data Expert Without a Data Degree19:14 – Picking Up the Damn Phone (How Greg Closed Big Deals)23:40 – Step-by-Step: Greg’s Cold Call Sequence26:50 – Cold Calling Isn’t Dead. You’re Just Scared.30:05 – Founder Loneliness, Solo vs Co-Founder Debate34:03 – Why Your Co-Founder Might Be the Most Expensive Round36:00 – Hiring Early: What Greg Got Right38:38 – The “Bleeds Green” Test for Early Hires41:01 – How They Built a High-Performance Team Culture44:07 – Radical Candour and No Dicks Allowed46:34 – Founder Strengths: Strategy > People Management49:11 – Culture That Actually Drives Growth52:18 – The Fast-Track: James’ Journey from £18k to Head of Role55:06 – Values Over Ping-Pong Tables58:26 – What’s Next for Data Literacy Academy1:00:26 – Exit Strategy vs Lifestyle Business1:03:06 – Luck vs Talent: What Actually Builds a Business1:03:48 – Where to Find Greg Freeman Online🔗 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemandla🎓 Learn more about Data Literacy Academy: https://dataliteracyacademy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to stay relevant as the world changes around you?In this powerful episode, I sit down with Steve Cockram — co-founder of GiANT and co-author of Five Voices — to explore how leadership is evolving in the digital age. From delivering a keynote in Abu Dhabi (after Bill Clinton and Bill Gates!) to building a leadership platform used by 250k+ people, Steve unpacks his journey with radical honesty.We talk:- The real cost of being a founder- How to avoid becoming an “oxbow lake” in your industry- Why most co-founder relationships fail — and how his didn’t- And how self-awareness is the unfair advantage in leadership and lifeChapters:00:00 - The age of AI & changing leadership01:23 - Meet Steve Cockram: from pastor to keynote speaker02:54 - Giving a speech after Bill Gates (and without a script)04:09 - Why failure makes you relatable — and valuable05:42 - Reinventing leadership tools for the 99.9%08:04 - Five Voices: the leadership personality system11:10 - Superpowers of each voice: pioneer, connector, creative, guardian, nurturer13:28 - The imbalance of voices in leadership — and why it matters14:39 - Are personality types fixed?20:16 - Why nurturers make amazing founders (once they believe it)22:51 - Founders are the product — and the pressure is real25:29 - Lessons from the early days of GiANT30:20 - Why luck often looks like generosity31:02 - Leadership must evolve with tech33:14 - How to stay relevant by investing in younger talent34:31 - Introducing Pulse: AI-powered relational intelligence36:37 - The future of leadership is communication39:04 - Remote vs in-person: the hybrid debate41:29 - Can anyone become a great leader?46:38 - The one trait every founder needs: integrity49:00 - Co-founders: the hardest and most important relationship53:33 - Lessons from 32 years of marriage57:17 - How to build a family as a founder01:01:23 - Leading with the end in mind01:06:47 - Why most CEOs are lonely — and how to fix it01:10:05 - Who really helps founders grow01:13:01 - Advisory boards to AI hacks01:15:32 - Talent or luck? What really matters01:19:28 - Where to find Steve Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about raising VC money—it's about playing your own game. In this episode of Everyday Founder, Jordan Schlipf, co-founder of Rainmaking and Startup Bootcamp, shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, from bootstrapping businesses to scaling and exiting a consulting firm to Bain & Company.🚀 We dive deep into startup failures, venture building, risk diversification, and why boring businesses can be the most profitable. If you're thinking about starting or scaling a company, this is a must-watch!🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more founder insights!📌 Chapters:00:00 - The Bigger Picture of Entrepreneurship00:54 - Introducing Jordan Schlipf01:18 - What is Rainmaking?02:45 - The Rainmaking Business Model Explained03:35 - Success Stories from Rainmaking04:56 - Notable Startup Exits & Failures06:19 - The Ego vs. Team Success in Startups08:11 - Risk Mitigation in Entrepreneurship09:40 - Capping Upside to Protect Downside13:30 - How Jordan Joined Rainmaking14:52 - Accidentally Building a Consulting Firm16:46 - The Corporate Innovation Opportunity20:28 - Scaling and Selling a Consultancy to Bain21:23 - How to Sell an Agency or Professional Services Firm25:45 - Hiring a CEO & Exiting Operations31:59 - When to Pull the Plug on a Startup34:47 - Balancing Risk and Resilience as a Founder38:26 - From Investment Banking to Entrepreneurship44:10 - Execution Over Novelty: Why Ideas Don’t Matter49:53 - The Myth of Unicorns & VC Culture52:18 - Profitable ‘Unsexy’ Businesses That Win56:07 - Structuring Leadership Transitions01:07:16 - The Future of AI & Vertical Applications01:09:44 - Picking the Right Startup Idea: Don’t Rush01:17:24 - Why Jordan Joined Opus & Founder Community01:20:28 - Luck vs. Skill: What Really Matters?01:26:31 - Where to Connect with Jordan💬 Join the conversation: Drop a comment below—what was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Everyday Founder we sit down with serial entrepreneur Andrew Humphries, formerly of The Bakery. Andrew shares his insights on building and scaling businesses, finding the right co-founder, securing funding, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. With a track record that includes leading sales at Adeptra (sold for $135M), advising the UK government on tech talent, and co-founding The Bakery, Andrew's wisdom is invaluable for any founder looking to grow their business.How do you find the right co-founder?When should you raise funding vs. bootstrap?What are the key ingredients to building a unicorn?How do you manage burnout as a founder?Tune in to hear Andrew's raw and real insights on startup life, leadership, and making the right bets as an entrepreneur.Chapters:00:00 - Welcome Andrew Humphries00:07 - From Adeptra to Government Advisor00:31 - The Bakery: A Corporate Accelerator01:51 - The Secret to Building Unicorns04:43 - Why Andrew Stepped Away from The Bakery06:41 - Finding the Right Co-Founder12:16 - The Three Questions to Ask a Co-Founder15:36 - When Should You Raise Funding?22:26 - The Reality of Big Fundraising Rounds29:05 - Lessons from The Bakery and Beyond37:37 - The Trade-Offs of Being a Founder45:03 - Managing Burnout & Founder Mental Health50:32 - What Business Would Andrew Build Today?54:46 - The Role of Luck vs. Talent in Entrepreneurship58:53 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-UpIf you're a founder or aspiring entrepreneur, hit subscribe and turn on notifications for more insights from top business leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Everyday Founder, we sit down with Anton Boner, CEO & Founder of Screenloop, the first AI-powered applicant tracking system (ATS) with an auto-generated scorecard.Anton shares his incredible journey—from being a high school teacher to climbing the ranks at Stack Overflow (promoted 7 times in 8 years!) to launching a venture-backed SaaS startup that’s redefining hiring and recruitment.In this episode:✅ The leap of faith from teaching to enterprise sales✅ How Anton helped grow Stack Overflow before its $1.8B acquisition✅ The evolution of Screenloop—from an AI note-taker to a full hiring platform✅ The challenges of building a SaaS startup as a non-technical founder✅ How AI is reshaping the hiring process (and why the CV might be dead by 2025)✅ Fundraising insights—raising $10M and choosing the right investorsWhether you’re a founder, recruiter, or just fascinated by the intersection of AI & hiring, this episode is packed with insights on entrepreneurship, scaling, and the future of recruitment.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below—what’s your take on AI in hiring?📌 Chapters:00:00 – Introduction & Anton’s Background01:08 – What is Screenloop?01:39 – From Teacher to Tech Sales at Stack Overflow02:54 – Making the Leap: Career Change & Relocation05:05 – The Birth of Screenloop07:23 – The Challenges of Being a Non-Technical Founder08:56 – Building the First Product & Early Growth10:59 – The COVID Hiring Boom & Market Shift13:09 – Pivoting from AI Note-Taker to Full ATS Platform15:48 – The Power of Remote Teams & Culture at Screenloop20:26 – Remote Work vs. In-Office Collaboration23:23 – Scaling from $100K to Seven Figures27:33 – How a Founder Switches Off & Avoids Burnout34:15 – AI & The Future of Recruitment39:34 – The Death of the CV?42:54 – Raising $10M & Choosing the Right Investors47:16 – Founders: Luck vs. Skill?55:02 – What’s Next for Screenloop?#AI #Startups #Recruitment #SaaS #TechEntrepreneur #Screenloop #EverydayFounder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered how someone goes from working as a Floor Manager at Halfords to raising £2M for an AI startup?In this episode of The Everyday Founder Podcast, Martin Mason, CEO of Talent Mapper, shares his unconventional journey, from retail and HR to building a high-growth HR tech company.We dive deep into:✅ The struggles of fundraising (and why it's a nightmare)✅ How Talent Mapper landed enterprise clients from Day 1✅ The truth about founder burnout and why therapy helped✅ Why internal promotions can save companies £450K+If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or just curious about the startup grind, this episode is packed with insights, lessons, and hard truths you won’t want to miss.#StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #HRTech #FounderLife #BusinessGrowth📍 CHAPTERS:00:00 – Intro: Who is Martin Mason?01:19 – The accidental entrepreneur: From Halfords to HR Tech05:32 – Building TalentMapper: A problem worth solving10:57 – The truth about fundraising (and why it's brutal)15:40 – Landing enterprise clients as a startup21:13 – Internal promotions vs. external hiring (£450K savings!)28:05 – The challenges of scaling a startup35:40 – The dark side of entrepreneurship: Burnout & therapy42:22 – AI & the future of HR Tech50:01 – Martin’s advice for founders: Hiring, growth & resilience55:15 – What’s next for TalentMapper?🎧 Listen & Subscribe for More Everyday Founder Stories! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Everyday Founder, we sit down with Nick Valenzia, co-founder of Leafr, a London-based platform transforming sustainability consulting. Leafr connects mid-market businesses with top-tier climate and ESG consultants, offering expert solutions at a fraction of traditional consulting costs.🚀 Key Takeaways from This Episode:✅ The rising demand for sustainability expertise in business✅ How Leafr built a 500+ consultant network with a growing waitlist✅ Navigating the challenges of fundraising in a high-interest environment✅ Finding the right co-founder and building a lean, scalable team✅ The role of AI in sustainability and the future of climate solutions⏳ Chapters00:00 - Intro to the Episode00:35 - What Is Leafr & Why It Exists01:46 - The Growing Demand for Sustainability Consulting03:23 - How Leafr Built a 500+ Consultant Network05:50 - Raising $500K in a High-Interest Market07:25 - The Biggest Challenge: Bridging the Sustainability Skills Gap09:19 - Lessons from a Failed Startup & Founder Fit12:07 - Balancing Work, Life & Founder Burnout14:45 - Building a Lean & Scalable Business Model18:04 - Why Advisors Are Critical for Growth22:19 - The Future of Sustainability & AI’s Role26:07 - How Leafr Plans to Scale Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could build a tech empire without writing a single line of code? 🚀In this episode of The Everyday Founder, Olga Dogadkina, Founder & CEO of Emperia, shares her journey of turning an ambitious idea into a multi-million-dollar business. From partnering with global brands like Walmart, Bloomingdale's, and L'Occitane to raising $10 million in funding, Olga proves that success isn’t just about coding—it’s about vision, resilience, and the right team.In this episode:✔ How Olga built a tech-driven company without a technical background✔ The tough decision to relocate to the U.S. for growth✔ Fundraising challenges and what she learned from them✔ Building a diverse, international team across 13 countries🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribeChapters:00:00 – Introduction to Olga Dogadkina00:33 – From an idea to a global business01:46 – Challenges as a non-technical founder06:03 – Moving to the U.S.: The make-or-break decision10:55 – Raising $10 million: The reality of fundraising16:04 – Building a diverse, global team22:30 – Lessons learned from scaling Emperia28:01 – The future of virtual retail experiences34:16 – Olga’s advice to aspiring founders40:45 – Final thoughts and where to find Emperia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎵 What if you could use your favourite chart-topping songs legally in your YouTube videos?In this episode of The Everyday Founder, we dive into the future of music licensing with Paul Sampson, Founder & CEO of Lickd. Paul shares his incredible journey in creating a groundbreaking platform that makes mainstream music accessible for content creators while navigating the complex world of copyright claims.🔥 What we cover:- The problem with using mainstream music on platforms like YouTube and TikTok- How Lickd bridges the gap between creators and music rights holders- The secrets to building a scalable business in the creator economy- Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable takeaways for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands alike!📍 CHAPTERS00:00 – Introduction to Paul Sampson & Lickd02:15 – The music licensing problem for creators06:45 – Why copyright claims hurt creators’ revenue10:30 – Building trust with major labels and publishers14:20 – How Lickd democratizes music for creators18:40 – The importance of licensing for future monetization22:15 – How Lickd attracted major partnerships (e.g., Warner Music, Epic Games)27:50 – Scaling the Lickd platform for creators and brands33:10 – Advice for founders raising investment for a new business38:45 – How to build a strong team and culture44:15 – Future of music licensing and new media innovations50:30 – The role of luck vs. skill in entrepreneurship56:15 – Final thoughts and call to action Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered how fresh graduates can successfully transition into the professional world? In this episode of The Everyday Founder Podcast, we sit down with Peter Wood, the inspiring CEO and founder of The Graduate Guide. Peter shares his journey from a recent UCL graduate to a full-time entrepreneur reshaping early career opportunities through community, storytelling, and innovation.We dive into:📌 The challenges graduates face entering the workforce📌 Breaking traditional career paths and redefining success📌 Building The Graduate Guide: from podcast idea to powerhouse media platform📌 Collaborating with industry giants like Google to foster young talent📌 Practical tips for leveraging LinkedIn to unlock career opportunities📖 Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:25 - What Is The Graduate Guide?01:12 - Addressing the UK Career Crisis03:12 - Breaking the Transition Barriers from University to Work07:05 - The Birth of The Graduate Guide Over a Pint10:14 - Building Confidence Through Curiosity13:41 - Peter’s Childhood and Entrepreneurial Influences16:00 - Podcast Milestones: 200 Episodes and Counting18:14 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Building Connections22:24 - Balancing Online and Offline Relationships27:34 - Exciting Collaborations with Google32:08 - Perspectives on Entrepreneurship in the UK36:00 - Addressing Corporate Job Descriptions vs. Startup Appeal42:30 - Revolutionizing Career Storytelling for Students47:16 - The Importance of Personal Branding for Employers50:38 - Building a Team: Meeting Co-Founder Molly54:41 - Sustaining Yourself as a Young Entrepreneur56:37 - Luck vs. Skill in Entrepreneurship59:14 - Where to Find Peter and The Graduate Guide📲 Connect with Peter:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwoodInstagram: @GraduateGuide💼 About The Graduate Guide:Helping students and young professionals navigate the transition from university to the working world through inspiring content, networking events, and career insights.👉 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs and innovators reshaping industries!#TheGraduateGuide #YoungEntrepreneur #CareerAdvice #StartupJourney #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bilyana Freye, Co-founder of Orbiit.ai, on Building AI-powered Connections, Pivots, and AcquisitionsIn this episode of Everyday Founder, Bilyana Freye, co-founder and CEO of Orbiit.ai, shares her entrepreneurial journey—from launching a job-shadowing startup, navigating a pandemic-induced pivot to AI-powered 1:1 connections, raising venture capital, and ultimately leading Orbiit to a successful acquisition by Hivebrite.Bilyana opens up about career-changing moments, building a company while raising a family, and why determination and community make all the difference for founders. Tune in for insights on startup pivots, VC fundraising, and scaling impactful businesses.📌 CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction to Bilyana Freye and Orbiit.ai00:30 - What is Orbiit.ai?01:50 - From Job Shadowing to AI-powered Matching02:40 - Pivoting the Business During COVID-1906:00 - The Early Career & Inspiration for Orbiit10:30 - Taking the Leap: Resigning to Build Orbiit13:00 - The First Customer: A Shadowing Experience15:40 - Getting Early Traction and Founders Fund Investment19:55 - Raising Funds as a Female Founder23:00 - VC Traction and Expansion into Community Platforms27:00 - Navigating the COVID Pivot and Going Digital31:00 - Lessons on Fundraising and Value-Aligned Investors35:10 - The Acquisition: Joining Forces with Hivebrite39:30 - What’s Next for Hivebrite and Orbiit42:00 - Balancing Entrepreneurship and Motherhood44:10 - Talent vs. Luck: The Key to Success🔗 Connect with Bilyana:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilyana-freye-6b4140a/🎧 About the Podcast:Everyday Founder brings you candid conversations with entrepreneurs who are transforming industries. Tune in for startup stories, actionable advice, and founder tips.📢 Sponsored by OpusJoin the community that connects ambitious entrepreneurs. Learn more at joinopus.org.🔔 Like, Subscribe, and Hit the Bell for Notifications!Let us know in the comments: What’s your biggest takeaway from Bilyana’s story? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the entrepreneurial journey of Leo Rogers, the founder of Solace Digital and Curvo.ai, in this in-depth interview. From building computers at 16 to scaling a seven-figure agency and launching a SaaS startup, Leo shares his insights, challenges, and strategies for success. Learn about his experiences with AI, venture funding, and the importance of persistence in business. Don't miss this inspiring episode!Chapters0:00 Introduction0:18 The Uninformed Optimism of Youth1:10 Welcome to the Show: Leo Rogers1:15 What is Cavo AI?2:06 Real-Time Sales Coaching with AI3:15 The Future of AI in Entrepreneurship5:00 Challenges in Starting a SaaS Business6:34 Building a Minimum Viable Product7:55 Iterating and Scaling Cavo AI10:28 Navigating VC Funding as a Startup13:20 Mastering the Art of Fundraising14:50 Challenges of Balancing Fundraising and Business Growth15:35 Reflecting on Leo’s Childhood16:27 The Value of Non-Academic Skills18:28 Leo’s Entrepreneurial Roots and Family Influence19:37 Rebel Against Comfort: Leo’s Drive for Greatness20:37 Early Ventures: Selling Chocolate and Building Computers24:00 From Custom PCs to Web Design25:27 Tackling Real-World Events at 1729:12 Lessons Learned from a Viral Event34:01 The Birth of Solace Digital During COVID38:00 Setting Ambitious Revenue Goals42:10 Scaling the Agency: Growth and Challenges45:20 Reaching the Milestone of £1 Million Revenue46:38 Innovative Acquisition Strategies for Fast Growth51:01 The Role of Outbound and Channel Stacking55:10 Balancing Two Businesses at 2357:56 Where Leo Sees Himself at 3059:18 Luck vs. Talent in the Entrepreneurial Journey1:00:02 Where to Find Leo Online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Rugby Fields to Billion-Dollar Boardrooms: Meet the Founder Behind Monitise and More!Discover the journey of an extraordinary entrepreneur who transformed a professional rugby career into the founding of multiple successful businesses, including Monitise and Pollinate. Hear about the challenges of navigating the world of startups, the importance of sales, and the value of camaraderie and teamwork in achieving success. Gain insights into the fintech landscape, the power of manifestation, and the future of tech innovation. This episode is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone passionate about business growth and innovation.00:00 Introduction and Early Career02:14 Transition from Rugby to Business04:27 Founding Monitise12:29 Challenges and Growth of Monitise20:09 Public Service and Advisory Roles30:12 Achievements in FinTech31:19 The Future of UK Tech Industries31:37 Supporting SMEs and the Formation of Pollinate33:58 The Importance of Right Touch Regulation35:20 Exploring Emerging Tech Sectors38:28 The Role of Communities and Networks41:06 Government Support and Cultural Differences47:01 Advice for Founders50:29 Future Goals and Reflections54:13 Balancing Time and Achieving Success Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MG Gurbaxani started his career in the San Francisco start-up tech scene. Many learnings shared from across the pond, how getting laid off stimulated the entrepreneurial bug, and finding partners for the journey.00:00 - Start01:52 - Introduction to Cuvama03:02 - Why did MG move away from a profitable consultancy model05:00 - Did MG always plan to build tech07:06 - Was it natural to step into life as a founder for MG08:41 - The story of MGpricing09:58 - Acquiring the first customers11:03 - MGs first talent hire and how did it go12:20 - Generalists or specialists as first hires15:10 - When is the right time to fundraise18:40 - How MGs wife pushed him into being a founder19:50 - How does MG balance work with family22:26 - Why MG has settled in London23:42 - The UK tech scene is 5 years behind the US24:37 - What can UK tech learn from the US27:37 - James on the difference between America and UK education29:15 - Does MG have an ego31:08 - Perception of founders in the sales cycle33:28 - Practical steps to making your first sales hire37:34 - How did MG attract talent in the early days41:06 - Cuvama perfect customer42:49 - What does the next 5 years look like for Cuvama45:21 - Where can you find MG online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Sophia Parvizi-Wayne from Kanjo HealthLinkedIn: in/sophia-pw/Sophia was diagnosed with Anorexia at age 15 after the loss of her friend. Before long she was on the front cover of media publications, leading nationwide mental health campaigns and advising governments. Fast forward a number of years and she is using her business and personal experience to provide clinicians with the data to provide better and earlier diagnosis for mental health illnesses at Kanjo Health.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6MnUbU9YzCVcbsoGJsJtJ0- Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-everyday-founder/id1732914477OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent.com00:00 - Start01:14 - introduction to Kanjo01:42 - How does Kanjo help its customers02:54 - why did Sophia start Kanjo05:38 - How Kanjo pivoted from B2C to B2B07:29 - My job is to make clinicians lives easier08:36 - has Kanjo received frictions from clinicians with product adoption10:15 - How does Kanjo acquire customers11:22 - how is it running an international business from another country13:36 - Sophia being diagnosed with ADHD16:55 - How was Sophia at school with neurodiversity18:29 - How does Sophia find balance with work and life20:28 - The good and bad of using health tech21:19 - James on health trackers22:25 - How health tech trackers can negatively impact your day24:12 - Sophia on biohacking25:57 - The impact of running on Sophias life business and health29:23 - The importance of a close network outside of your proffesion30:27 - What does it mean to win for Sophia32:36 - Top tips for fundraising from Sophia34:56 - Building a culture at Kanjo38:13 - Whats next for Sophia and Kanjo39:31 - Where can people find Sophia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Mai Medhat from Ginni.aiLinkedIn: in/maimedhat/Mai is a software engineer from Egypt and wanted to be a part of the startup ecosystem but nothing really existed. After a chance meeting with her future co-founder Nihal at an event they started Eventtus. 10 years of building this event tech platform to a global force they sold the business to Bevy a US-tech giant. Along the way Mai also had the chance to share stages with the likes of President Obama and Mark Zuckerberg.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6MnUbU9YzCVcbsoGJsJtJ0- Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-everyday-founder/id1732914477OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent.com00:00 - Start00:01:25 - Introduction to Ginni00:03:36 - What is eventtus00:04:58 - did Mai imagine Eventtus would become so successful00:06:01 - The importance of change and pivotting effectively00:07:51 - How Mai and eventtus pivoted during covid00:10:26 - taking a huge risk with covid virtual events00:13:08 - having a remote team during covid00:15:18 - moving location as a requisite to gaining funding00:16:26 - How Mai met Obama and Zuck00:19:55 - How mai came to be on stage with obama and zuck00:22:57 - Mai ending up on the front cover of forbes middle east00:24:52 - How does mai balance work to life00:28:46 - advice to emerging market new founders00:32:20 - How early on are you looking for acquisition partners00:34:00 - Going from founder to employee post sale00:38:49 - how do you feel when informing your team that the business has been acquired00:40:29 - how does it feel to receive exited money00:41:19 - round 2 as a founder with ginni.ai00:43:35 - best advice to an exited founder00:44:39 - being a mum and starting a new business00:45:48 - you find out who your friends are when you start a business00:46:58 - managing self guilt of fomo with friends00:49:18 - how did Mai acquire customers with eventtus00:51:57 - how important is network to Mai00:54:08 - how networking should be done offline00:56:28 - you never know where a network connection will take you01:00:21 - Where can you find Mai online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Anthony Rose from SeedLegalsLinkedIn: in/anrose/Anthony moved to the UK to lead the building of the BBC iPlayer, before delving into entrepreneurship. After starting and selling 2 separate businesses he moved on to the startup legals space where over the past 8 years he has been building SeedLegals - a legaltech scaleup where 1 in 3 of all UK fundraising rounds are completed through the platform.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6MnUbU9YzCVcbsoGJsJtJ0- Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-everyday-founder/id1732914477OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent.com00:00 - Start01:47 - Introduction to Anthony and Seedlegals02:29 - Why has Anthony settled in the UK03:16 - The story behind the iPlayer04:55 - The selling of Anthonys first 2 businesses08:18 - Why the automotive niche for 6Tribes09:52 - The whatsapp group at Seedlegals12:45 - The importance of feedback14:43 - CLG vs PLG16:47 - Any errors with contracts in the early days19:03 - How big is the Seedlegals whatsapp20:49 - How hands on should a founder be22:23 - 1 in 3 Uk fundraising businesses use seedlegals24:34 - The importance of having a online presence as a business owner27:45 - the importance of founder led marketing30:56 - when pitching start small32:30 - What question has anthony been asked the most34:09 - How large does your traction need to be before raising38:19 - Whats the plan for seedlegals over the next 5 years40:41 - logistical steps of setting up in the US for expansion42:56 - How does Anthony find balance managing 160 plus people44:40 - Anthonys views on culture and how to be successful46:54 - Offsites and away days essential at Seedlegals48:13 - Why is Anthony focusing on content today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Alife Whattam from AlfaLinkedIn: in/alfiegeorgewhattam/Alfie started his career as a magician whilst travelling the world, before landing in London and starting a career as a recruiter. A year before leaving his role to start Alfa, he started a podcast. 150 episodes later and zero outbound sales calls later, he has found success.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6MnUbU9YzCVcbsoGJsJtJ0- Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-everyday-founder/id1732914477OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent.com00:00 - Start00:07 - Introduction of Alfa01:24 - How is Alfa going03:07 - Recruiting for a recruitment business04:49 - Remote versus office for Alfa and Alfie06:47 - Future of remote working10:01 - Is there an increase in remote jobs in the UK12:18 - How does Alfa get Sales14:40 - the importance of content and community for a startup18:10 - How to be on every social media effectively23:31 - When does a podcast produce ROI27:30 - Dont be scared of getting started with content28:15 - ROI of content for Alfa30:10 - How a podcast has multiple revenue benefits32:28 - How to make your ordinary business stand out34:07 - The power of one episode36:28 - Should an existing business start producing content38:37 - Podcast is your shop window39:32 - A niche is all you need41:21 - How to choose your guests for your podcast42:57 - The easiest way to book meetings with millionaires44:16 - Alfies favourite guest on the Alfie Whattam show46:38 - Anyone can start content they just need to start48:21 - You are already creating content you just dont know it49:25 - Create content for yourself51:40 - the riches are in the niches51:49 - What is next for Alfie and Alfa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Mark McDermott from ScreenCloudLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhmcdermott/Mark built a digital product studio for 17 years working with BBC, British Airways, Microsoft and Nestlé. Today, running ScreenCloud a digital signage product which he has built to $20m ARR and over 120 employees.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6MnUbU9YzCVcbsoGJsJtJ0- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-everyday-founder/id1732914477OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Nick Telson-Sillett from TrumpetLinkedIn: /in/nick-telson/Nick grew and then sold DesignMyNight for £30m and today is a serial investor and second time founder in a sales-tech SaaS called trumpet.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent dot com00:00 - Start01:05 - Nick introducing trumpet02:15 - pitch deck versus trumpet03:01 - trumpets viral loop04:12 - how involved is Nick wiith Trumpet05:26 - to travel or to startup post exit05:57 - what keeps Nick up at night?06:54 - Dealing with the magpie effect07:59 - best route to founder startup or corporate10:19 - investment with the biggest impact on thier space11:20 - investment with the biggest impact on Nick12:50 - what is Nicks biggest indulgence13:25 - what does Nick do with his spare time15:09 - Nicks view on social media for business16:56 - could you have had the same success with trumpet without LInkedIn17:39 - How LinkedIn has saved marketing budget for trumpet18:15 - How to post on LinkedIn19:17 - Should you go all in with your startup or side hustle it23:46 - James talking about the 0.1pct founder24:05 - Nicks views on networking25:50 - young founders need to drop any ego26:23 - understand what you want from networking27:15 - power of linkedin for sales28:05 - how to maintain healthy relationships as a founder29:22 - what is and was nicks goals for his businesses29:54 - James view on the importance of those your surround yourself with30:43 - Nick view on keeping friend groups small31:30 - what are nicks goals33:29 - Nicks non-negotiables at work34:52 - non negotiable for nick at home35:48 - how would Nicks husband describe him36:31 - technical vs mental attributes as a founder38:35 - James view on mental strength as a founder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James built and exited a pet tech business called Luna, before starting his latest venture Baseline, a tech-led bipolar support app. He himself attempting to take his own life twice before being diagnosed with bipolar disease and managing his entrepreneurial life with limited care support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Farnfield talks with Roei Samuel from ConnectdLinkedIn: /in/roei-samuel/From selling a business at 25 for £2.4 million to raising £8m+ with Connectd and expanding into the US market.CONNECT WITH James:- LinkedIn: /in/james-farnfield/SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST:- Spotify:- Apple:OUR SPONSORS:- Done-for-you LinkedIn media company: shakecontent dot com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.