40 Minute Mentor

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, our final episode of our VC feature series, we’re joined by Pooja Sikka, General Partner at KHP Ventures. 

KHP Ventures is a collaboration between King’s College London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The fund offers equity investments with Healthcare expertise for groundbreaking MedTech and digital startups. 

In today’s episode, you’ll find out more about Pooja’s squiggly career into Venture, and KHP’s brand new mental health immersion programme. 

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ A career in Healthcare  [04:00]

➡️ Pooja’s squiggly journey into Venture [08:30] 

➡️ Opportunities in Healthcare [14:35] 

➡️ Building strong relationships with Founders [20:00] 

➡️ The crucial skill of spotting talent [25:00] 

➡️ Launching a new Mental Health fund [30:00] 

➡️ Advice for Mental Health startup Founders [38:00] 

➡️ The importance of authenticity in pitching [44:00] 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Vegard Medbø: Building a portfolio valued at $4.8B with Antler 

George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25

Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Vegard Medbø, Co-Founder and COO at Antler, the global early-stage fund helping entrepreneurs go from zero to one. 

Before founding Antler, Vegard spent his early career in the Coastal Ranger Command of the Norwegian Armed Forces and at McKinsey, where he worked with the world’s top energy companies, helping them apply machine learning to renewable and non-renewable energy.

Since founding Antler, the team have invested in over 1,000 companies addressing meaningful challenges and opportunities across six continents.

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ Lessons from the Military  [04:00]

➡️ The beginnings of Antler [09:00] 

➡️ More about Antler’s successful portfolio [12:00] 

➡️ Lessons from the beginning of Antler that still hold true today [15:00] 

➡️ The perfect Founder for Antler [18:00] 

➡️ International expansions [20:00] 

➡️ Why you need optimism as a Founder [25:00] 

➡️ Predictions for the next decade in Tech [31:30] 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise

George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25

Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In this final 40 Minute Mentor VC bonus episode, we’re joined by Corinne Thompson, Founder of Ecap Financial. 

Today’s episode follows a slightly different format, with Corinne sharing a quick-fire checklist for you next fundraise. 

From the key metrics and data points investors really care about, to the biggest red flags and crucial questions Founders should ask their potential investor - this episode will equip you with everything you need to keep in mind as you’re raising your next round. 

📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise

George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25

Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by George Robson, Partner at Sequoia, the fund helping daring Founders build legendary companies from idea to IPO and beyond. 

From Investment Banking to Revolut and becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25, George’s CV is nothing but impressive and minutes into today’s episode, you’ll understand where his incredible drive and entrepreneurialism comes from. 

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ The impact of education  [03:30]

➡️ Foundations in Investment Banking [08:30] 

➡️ Joining Revolut & lessons learned [16:00] 

➡️ Navigating cultural fit [18:00] 

➡️ More about our sponsors [20:20] 

➡️ Joining Sequoia & investment approach [21:45] 

➡️ What makes a great Founder [28:30] 

➡️ Common mistakes during pitches [31:30] 

➡️ Sequoia’s Arc Program [33:45] 

➡️ The future of VC & the European ecosystem [36:00] 

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ Connect with George here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgerobson/

➡️ Learn more about Sequoia: https://www.sequoiacap.com/ 

📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone

Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

Corinne Thompson: Preparing for your fundraise

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

This 40 Minute Mentor VC feature season, we’re bringing you a special three-part bonus feature, brought to you by Ecap Financial and their Founder, Corinne Thompson. 

In today’s episode, Corinne shares helpful advice for setting up your company and team for an exit. 

We’ll discuss: 

✅ What it actually means to “set up for an exit” as a Founder

✅ When you should start thinking about preparing for an exit 

✅ The do’s and don’ts of navigating the transition 

📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise

Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone

Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Molly Alter, Partner at Northzone, the multi-stage fund partnering with Founders from Seed to Growth, across Europe and the US. 

Molly started her career in VC in 2016, straight out of Harvard University. Since then, Molly has worked with some of the biggest funds in the industry, including Insight Partners and Index Ventures. 

Now, at Northzone and back in New York, Molly focuses on vertical SaaS and AI, across early and growth stages. 

In today’s episode, we dive into her career in VC and her transatlantic focus. 

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ A foundation in theatre & first entrepreneurial ventures [04:00]

➡️ Joining VC early on [09:00] 

➡️ Characteristics needed in VC [14:45] 

➡️ Advice for getting into VC [20:00] 

➡️ Why Northzone [21:30] 

➡️ Focusing on SaaS & AI [24:00] 

➡️ Advice for Founders currently fundraising [28:30] 

➡️ US vs European market [32:00] 

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ Connect with Molly here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-alter-3ab1159a/

➡️ Learn more about Northzone: https://northzone.com/ 

📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

Nicolas d’Audiffret: How To Build A $2 Billion Unicorn In Under 3 Years

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

This 40 Minute Mentor VC feature season, we’re bringing you a special 3-part bonus feature, brought to you by Ecap Financial and their Founder, Corinne Thompson. 

In today’s episode, Corinne helps us take it all the way back to the beginning of the fundraising journey. 

We’ll discuss: 

✅ The key steps you need to follow before your investor meeting 

✅ Figuring out when the time is right to start fundraising 

✅ What to keep in mind when choosing between VCs, angels or alternative funding routes 

✅ How to mentally prepare for the fundraising journey ahead 

📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

From Operator To VC – Busting Industry Myths with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures

Catherine Lenson: From Being The First Female Managing Partner at SoftBank to Building a Portfolio Career

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Dinika Mahtani, Partner at Cherry Ventures, the early-stage VC firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies, such as Zalando and Spotify. 

Prior to her move into VC, Dinika was an Operator, working across Banking, UberEats EMEA and Uber’s JUMP e-bike product in the UK. She also served as Director of Finance and Operations at ClimateTech startup, Kaluza. 

Today, we take a trip back down memory lane, discussing those fundamental years as an Operator and how she made the move into VC. 

It’s a conversation filled with mentorship for Founders and anyone considering the VC route as their next career step. 

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ From Banking to Uber [06:30]

➡️ Key lessons from her time at Uber [11:30] 

➡️ Moving into VC [15:30] 

➡️ More about today’s sponsor [23:30] 

➡️ Looking for raw ambition [24:30] 

➡️ Going from Principal to Partner [27:30] 

➡️ Promoting and hiring more diverse talent [30:00] 

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ Connect with Dinika here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinika-mahtani-0a2494158/

➡️ Learn more about Cherry Ventures: https://cherry.vc/ 

📣 Learn more about today’s sponsor: 

Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. 

Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 

💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 

💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Masha Bucher: Harnessing the power of storytelling in VC with Day One Ventures

From Operator To VC – Busting Industry Myths with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures

VC & Fundraising Advice – Series 6 Best Bits

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re revisiting our popular episode with Ian Hogarth, Co-Founder and former CEO of Songkick, Partner at Plural Platform and Chair of the UK AI Safety Institute. 

In this episode, we talk about his rollercoaster ride with Songkick and how mentorship got him through the worst days, and what led him to building Plural, an early-stage platform dedicated to investing in Europe’s next-generation of tech companies with global ambitions.

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ Lessons from being a first-time CEO [11:00]

➡️ Why some hires can completely change your business [14:30] 

➡️ Grief & stepping away from Songkick [19:15] 

➡️ Jumping back into the Founder seat with Plural [24:40] 

➡️ Why Plural isn’t following the traditional VC model [28:15] 

➡️ What it takes to be an incredible Founder [32:50] 

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ Connect with Ian here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhogarth/

➡️ Learn more about Plural: https://pluralplatform.com/ 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Michelle You: From Exiting Songkick to tackling the climate crisis

Sophie Adelman: Creating access to opportunities for everyone

Eleanor Kaye: Making VC more accessible

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re revisiting our popular episode with the brilliant Alice Bentinck MBE, Co-Founder of Entrepreneur First and author of “How to be a Founder”. 

Frustrated by a business landscape that found latent talent shackled by predetermined career paths, Alice set out to challenge cultural norms when she co-founded Entrepreneur First in 2011 – an accelerator that celebrates and invests in talented, ambitious individuals and looks to match-make Co-Founders to launch successful businesses.

In this episode, Alice shares everything from her early career to challenging the norms of entrepreneurship and backing diverse talent. 

📚 Episode Chapters: 

➡️ The Birth of Entrepreneur First - [04:50] 

➡️ Overcoming early challenges & building for growth [07:50] 

➡️ Investing in Talent [17:00] 

➡️ The Co-Founder dynamic [25:00] 

➡️ Diversity & Inclusion in Tech [28:45] 

➡️ Building Diverse Teams [32:30] 

➡️ The importance of mentorship [42:00] 

⛳ Helpful links:

➡️ Connect with Alice here: LinkedIn

➡️ Learn more about Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/ 

➡️ Get a copy of Alice’s book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/how-to-be-a-founder-9781399411608/ 

⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 

🎧 You may also enjoy: 

Amali de Alwis: Embracing a non-linear career

Gary Izunwa: Driving Social Mobility through Referrals with Tangent 

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon: Changing the face of STEM

Enjoyed this episode?

Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review.