Startup Chats - Frank conversations with business founders: Recent Episodes
Alex
Honest and frank conversations with startup and small business founders. Looking at the ins and outs, tools, techniques and the mindset needed to start your own business. Brought to you by The Seed Hub.
In this episode I take a look at investing FOMO (fear of missing out). How should you deal with this tricky feeling? How much should you trust your gut when investing in startups vs more traditional investments? Should you be an entrepreneur's patron?
I dive into Freetrade's recent raise on Crowdcube and look at whether you should be gutted or happy if you missed out. Then I have a quick look at GOODFOLIO, a fintech company currently raising money on Seedrs.
I was also lucky enough to speak with Omid, the CEO and a founder of GOODFOLIO (currently raising on Seedrs, link here) who gave some great insights into how to approach the first stages of setting up a company and proving product market fit.
Sign up to Seedrs with this promo code link and get £10 free investment.
I'd love to hear from you. Let me know what's working, what's not, whether I've made good or bad investment decisions and why! Email starttoinvestuk@gmail.com, find me on twitter @alexpiggins and head to www.starttoinvest.co.uk for more.
In this series within a series I'll be looking at everything to do with investing in startups.
In this episode we go looking for unicorns. Why do we want to and where can we find them? I'll also have a quick look at a company called Maslife and run their pitch through the 4 bucket investment strategy I outlined in the last episode.
I'd love to hear from you. Let me know what's working, what's not, whether I've made good or bad investment decisions and why! Email starttoinvestuk@gmail.com, find me on twitter @alexpiggins and head to www.starttoinvest.co.uk for more.
Explanation of series a, b & c funding
Link to Maslife Seedrs campaign
Sign up to Seedrs with promo code link here (get £10 free investment)
This week I got to chat with Lauren, a serial entrepreneur with a fascinating business history and unrelenting positivity. I know I always say this but I found this chat super interesting, we talk about her businesses but mainly discuss the mindset and attitude required to succeed as an entrepreneur.
We cover quite a lot of ground in this so from this episode you’ll take away:
- The cross over between faith, hope and entrepreneurial vision
- The difference skills and mindset required during the initial stage of starting up a business and then moving onto running it
- Why creating and entrepreneurialism are so intrinsically linked
- How winning the battle with yourself is more important than external circumstances
- How important it is to build a business and make decisions based on your core values
It’s worth mentioning, if you hear a little growl here and there in the podcast, that’s Lauren’s lovely dog Prince, not me.
And as ever if you like this podcast, follow it, leave a review, get in touch, all that good stuff!
Check out Lauren’s recruitment company at https://www.hkrecruitment.co.uk/ and her instagram is @llvaller
I'm on twitter @alexpiggins or email starttoinvestuk@gmail.com to say hi!
In this series within a series I'll be looking at everything to do with investing in startups.
This first episode delves into why I think investing in startups is a great idea (from a practical and philosophical perspective) then I breakdown the (very) rough strategy I use to invest in startups and explain why I invested in two companies recently (Perkier & Hexis).
I'd love to hear from you! Let me know what's working, what's not, whether I've made good or bad investment decisions and why! Email starttoinvestuk@gmail.com, find me on twitter @alexpiggins and head to www.starttoinvestuk.co.uk for more.
Link to Seedrs article on how VC's value a startup and look for a 10-40x ROI (return on investment)
Link to Perkier Seedrs campaign (now closed)
Link to Hexis campaign on Crowdcube
Sign up to Seedrs with a promo link here (get £10 free investment)
This week I had a great chat with Emily who set up Virtual school visits which facilitates online visits for schools from all sorts of interesting people from Authors & Olympic athletes to scientists and even historical characters. She has a great startup story and I think you’ll hear her enthusiasm for her business coming through the podcast.
From this episode you’ll take away:
- Why testing quickly and cheaply can have exponential returns
- How important it can be to capitalise on significant market events (like covid and lockdowns)
- And how focusing on customer service can give you free marketing
- Assessing your safety net before going full time on your startup
Thanks for listening and do have a look at the virtual school visits at https://www.virtualschoolvisits.com/ or email emily@virtualschoolvists.com and you can find them on twitter @curriculumwow
**And as ever if you like this podcast, follow it, leave a review or get in touch however suits you best!
I'm on twitter @alexpiggins or email starttoinvestuk@gmail.com to say hi!**
This week I caught up with Steffan who set up The Potter’s Corner, an online ceramics and pottery marketplace. It was really great to chat to Steffan, he’s another lockdown entrepreneur who’s found an interesting niche in a market which really feels on the up at the moment. He’s refreshingly honest about the difficulties of slogging through & re-finding motivation once the initial ‘honeymoon period’ has started to wane.
From this episode you’ll take away:
- How important stories are for customers and your business
- Capitalising on and enjoying the first exciting steps of setting up a business
- Bootstrapping a business and the effect it has on your mindset and approach to the business
- How important consistency is to building your entrepreneurial muscle
Head over to www.potterscorner.com to check out the website or have a look through the potter's corner instagram page here.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please do share it around or get in touch! We'd love to hear from you, email growbuildsell@gmail.com to say hi!
This week I caught up with Fabian who set up Camp Horizons with his Fiance Helen. It’s a kids summer camp in east london which does loads of different activities from football & dance to games & acting and everything in between. They both run Camp Horizons alongside full time jobs so it was great to chat about how that dynamic works and much more. From this episode you’ll take away:
- How to start of small and grow with no fear
- Coping mechanisms during intense periods
- Tailoring your product by actively listening to your customers
**Head over to the Camp Horizons website www.camphorizons.co.uk to find out more or email enquiries@camphorizons.co.uk to get in touch.
If you've got a business idea no matter how big or small, head over to www.theseedhub.co.uk and we can get you started.
Music
Autumn 2011 by Loxbeats https://spoti.fi/34tPBBO
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/autumn-2011
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/r4twe3BxxX8**
**Startup chats is a podcast where we have frank and honest conversations with founders of businesses. We’ll dive into the tools, techniques and mindset required to start a business from those who have lived through it.
Every week we’ll be talking to someone who has set up a business from people who boosted their side hustle to multimillion pound tech companies and everything in between. If you’ve ever thought about starting a business or just want to know more about what it takes, this is the podcast for you. So check out Startup Chats wherever you get your podcasts.**
Music
Autumn 2011 by Loxbeats https://spoti.fi/34tPBBO
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/autumn-2011
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/r4twe3BxxX8
This week I caught up with Maddie who set up Sidecake, a London tooting based bakery business. It was great to talk to Maddie, she’s really honest about her journey and the ups and downs of her business so far. From this episode you’ll take away;
- How important an open, learning mindset is
- Finding your first customers and
- Following the path of least resistance when tackling problems
**Head over to @sidecakelondon on instagram with the code NewBusiness for a bakery discount.
If you’ve got a business idea no matter how big or small, head over to www.theseedhub.co.uk and we can get you started.
Music by
Autumn 2011 by Loxbeats https://spoti.fi/34tPBBO
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/autumn-2011
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/r4twe3BxxX8**