Founded & Grounded

From performing magic for prime ministers and billionaires to gracing stages on shows like Britain's Got Talent. Alfie Whattam shares his unorthodox journey from entertainment to launching his own recruitment startup, Alfa Technology. Alfa builds software engineering teams for businesses operating in cutting-edge technologies like AI and Web3. 
 
Uncover Alfie's game-changing insights on cultivating a bulletproof mindset, building effective content strategies, and disrupting outdated industries ripe for innovation. 

The recruitment industry is broken. Hear how Alfie is challenging the status quo, taking on the incumbent ‘dinosaurs’, questioning unethical practices, and doing things differently. 
 
Alfie's insights delve into pressing issues, like the ethical implications of AI, and the exponential speed of development, which could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. Alfie emphasises the need for genuine community-driven approaches in recruitment. 

Key takeaways

- How to build a winning Content Strategy – Alfie shares his blueprint so you can drive inbound demand for your business. He stresses the importance of consistency and a clear strategy to make content work effectively for your goals. 

- Delegation and Automation - Alfie emphasises the significance of delegating tasks, systematising, and automating to avoid burnout and maximise productivity. 

- The potential and dangers of AI and Web3 technologies. Hear the immense potential for transforming entire industries and creating new business opportunities. But the rapid evolution also poses ethical and existential questions that we explore

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How this entrepreneur overcame ADHD and dyslexia and used these diagnoses as his superpower to build two businesses worth millions. 

Hear the inspiring story of Roei Samuel, who discusses the importance of self-belief, transparency, and resilience in entrepreneurship. Roei got an exit with his first business, Real Sport, and has gone on to build the UK's fastest-growing startup community in Connectd.

The platform has shaken the early-stage investment landscape by utilising data to ensure transparency, trust, and better connectivity in the investment process. By the end of the episode, you'll be encouraged to think bigger, embrace bold decisions, and navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with more confidence and resilience.

Key Takeaways

- How to create an unstoppable mindset - Roei shares how he has created an intoxicating self-belief to overcome challenges and remove crippling self-doubt.

- Develop self-awareness and play to your strengths - How to become more self-aware and focus on your personal strengths. Embrace who you are and prioritise self-care to achieve long-term success and happiness.

- Create a big vision - Roei is on a mission to democratise the investment landscape and empower entrepreneurs worldwide. 

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Meet the power couple who quit their jobs and made Dragons' Den history, by giving away 5% of their business for £5. 

Introducing Charlene Mitchell-Hood and Simon Hood, the founders of Sooper Books. Hear their incredible journey, which started as a simple idea to aid their daughter’s bedtime routine, which quickly turned into the world's number one bedtime story streaming service and saw all five Dragons invest. 

Their journey will inspire you and arm you with valuable insights for your own startup. Don't miss this masterclass on how you can turn your passion into a category-defining leader.

Sooper Books is a storybook streaming service offering hundreds of world-class stories and audiobooks to millions of families around the world, completely free of charge.

Key Takeaways

- Value of relationships over money. Learn why and how they prioritised connections over cash, which has opened doors and fostered significant growth for Sooper Books. This illustrates that sometimes, who you know is as important as what you know.

- Authenticity in pitching and brand building. Learn how their genuine approach in the Dragon's Den and beyond has not only differentiated them from competitors but also helped build a brand that's beloved by families worldwide.

- Balancing business and personal life. Discover the delicate art of managing a business with your spouse, the importance of delegation, having clear boundaries in place and the pivotal role of learning from failures to ensure both business and personal growth.

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A teaser for Season 5. We deep dive into the minds of early-stage founders, who are only a couple of steps ahead.

Our unique podcast format, blending interviews with analysis, brings you closer to the action. Our hosts, Dr Becky Sage and Ollie Tiramuragan Collard unpack the business lessons for you.

Join us as we tackle taboo topics and feature a diverse range of guests, with over 1 in 3 being female founders and 1 in 4 being from an ethnic minority background since the podcast was launched in 2019.

We delve into Ashleigh Tennent's journey in the coaching industry. We also hear about Andy Welsh's financial struggles. Eric Fulwiler shares his career journey, marketing insights, and experiences with Gary Vaynerchuk.

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The untold story of how one woman's mental health crisis led her to create a revolutionary mindset company for women.

Meet Kim Palmer founder of Clementine, a company on a mission to free women from unhelpful thoughts, feelings & expectations.

Kim's very personal crisis led her to champion mental well-being and create a movement for women. Clementine is reimagining mental health and paving the way for digital therapeutics. Kim risked it all as the main breadwinner, giving up her well-paid job in strategy to follow her dreams. 

Key Takeaways

- Expansion and growth: Explore Clementine's strategic shift from an App to a mindset company

- Founder well-being: Kim discusses the critical role of self-care, the power of trusting one's intuition, and maintaining emotional well-being amid the demands of startup life

- The Importance of Customer Discovery: How to effectively use customer insights to validate your business model, fuel growth and build an engaged community

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Get a rare insight into one entrepreneur's remarkable journey to a $1.5B market cap. 

Discover John Williams's insider strategies and personal challenges as he co-founded and scaled Kudan from startup through to IPO. John's next chapter is building SCVC, a deep tech VC he and partner Harry Destecroix wished they had as founders.

This episode is a must-listen for every entrepreneur and tech enthusiast.

Key Takeaways

- Insider IPO Strategies: from leading Kudan through to a historic IPO, John shares his untold story of the strategic manoeuvres and personal challenges of scaling a company to achieve a billion-dollar-plus valuation. 

- Venture Capital Reimagined: discover SCVC's unique approach as a deep tech VC firm that supports early-stage founders, focused on transforming academic research into commercial spinouts.
 
- Technology product fit, learn how a deep understanding of your technology can guide you to the right product and market.

Investor mindset -  hear how SCVC is helping early-stage founders navigate the complex and long journey from academic research to spinout success. 

Hear how John hopes to leave a legacy and go beyond his massive IPO milestone,  by backing the best technical founders who are creating the fourth industrial revolution.

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Meet Conal Cunningham, a music industry veteran turned pet food innovator, and discover his remarkable business journey of perseverance and innovation.

We deep-dive into the origins of Mr Bug, a company redefining pet nutrition through sustainably bred insect protein. 

This startup story has everything from kitchen experiments to funding struggles and scaling triumphs. 

Whether you're a founder, an eco-conscious individual, or simply curious about the intersection of sustainability and business, this episode is a must-listen. 

Key Takeaways:

- Understand how starting small and bootstrapping can be leveraged as a strategic advantage for learning, evolving, and growing your business

- How to engage with your customers early on and how this can lead to immediate sales and traction when you launch your startup

- The framework for building a stand-out brand in a crowded marketplace

- The potential of insect protein to contribute to food security and the circular economy.

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Entrepreneurship is a lot like dancing; both require resilience, adaptability, and the courage to step outside your comfort zone.

Find out how one startup, SOS Dance Global, is combining these elements to reach the top of the industry. This is a story of empowerment, resilience, and defying the odds.

Bonnie Parsons, shares her remarkable journey from professional dancer to pioneering entrepreneur, and how she's empowering a generation of women through the universal language of dance.

Key Takeaways

- How to confront challenges head-on. Hear the harsh truths behind the obstacles facing female founders and the keys to success in balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood. 

- Empowerment as strategy. For Bonnie, she's clear on her mission to positively impact lives globally, providing strength and confidence to women. 

- Scaling up requires a transformative mindset, implementing systems, and spreading culture and processes for business growth

- Persistence pays off. Building a startup is a long game where patience, strategic planning, and understanding your worth are essential ingredients for success.

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Experiencing the collapse of a startup can be devastating, yet for Vasily Alekseenko, it was the catalyst for change. 

After witnessing the dark side of fundraising, Vasily took matters into his own hands. Rare Founders was born with a simple mission to connect founders and investors.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of networking, pitching, investment, and the magic that happens when founders come together to uplift one another.

We discuss the importance of diversity in the investment landscape, the significance of community, and the future of early-stage funding.

Key Takeaways

- How to be more resourceful and do more with less. Focus on creative solutions and confidence in your vision

- How to overcome your insecurities and pitch with confidence

- Fun as a foundation. How to inject fun into your startup and gamify life as a founder

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The innovator turning forgotten spaces into thriving community hubs.

Meet Felix Atkin, founder of tech startup Sharsey - the Airbnb for community spaces.

What stemmed from a personal problem of trying to book a local venue for his kids' birthday party has blossomed into a business that has already generated over £1million in bookings.

Felix delves deep into his journey, unveils the strategic steps behind Sharesy's considered growth, and shares invaluable insights on coping with the demands of startup leadership.

Key Takeaways

- Self-Care Is Paramount. Amidst the drive for success, remember that personal well-being is crucial for sustaining long-term ambition.

- Resilience in Fundraising. Embrace rejections as learning opportunities. Maintain transparency with your investors and lean on your support network during challenging times.

- Learn the secret of how to context switch  between high-level strategic planning and the nitty-gritty of day-to-day operations in your business
- How to win at founder-led sales

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