In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner welcomes Matthew Stibbe, CEO of Articulate Marketing, for a fascinating discussion about his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his UK-based marketing agency. From his early days as a video game entrepreneur in the 1990s to becoming a thought leader in values-driven marketing, Matthew shares the unique path that led him to found Articulate Marketing.

Matthew recounts how Articulate grew from a one-person freelance writing gig to a purpose-driven agency serving sectors like health tech, sustainability, and lifelong learning. He discusses the impact of becoming a B Corp in 2018, which has deeply influenced the company’s ethos and work with clients. With decades of experience and marquee clients such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, and Google, Matthew delves into the challenges and opportunities of scaling a marketing business.

Listeners will gain insight into Articulate’s three-pronged customer acquisition strategy: leveraging referrals, driving inbound leads through content and webinars, and a targeted outbound sales approach focused on “100 perfect prospects.” Matthew provides honest reflections on the complexities of outbound sales, from refining ideal customer profiles to creating a seamless, consultative sales process that mirrors the client experience.

The episode also covers Articulate’s efforts to balance strategic clarity with operational execution, optimize lead generation, and cultivate a data-driven, iterative approach to improvement. Matthew offers invaluable advice on the importance of hiring senior talent and developing scalable processes, sharing lessons learned from his extensive entrepreneurial career.

Whether you’re building a business from scratch or scaling an existing company, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration for navigating the road ahead.

In this episode of *Founders Future*, Laura Skinner interviews Alex Buckles, CEO and co-founder of Forecastable, a platform revolutionizing enterprise sales through strategic partnerships. Alex shares his journey from 20 years in enterprise sales to launching Forecastable, inspired by his frustrations with managing complex deals and stakeholder relationships. He discusses the evolution of the platform, from early challenges selling sales technology to pivoting into partnership enablement. Alex highlights how Forecastable eliminates change management barriers by offering a comprehensive service that integrates technology, strategic advisors, and sales assistants. He explains the importance of partnerships as a sales play and how this approach drives profitability and market position certainty for clients. Alex also reveals his long-term plans to transition from private business to running Pathways for Autism, a nonprofit focused on empowering the autistic community through employment and entrepreneurship. 

In this episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Matt Burns, the co-founder of Atlas Copilot, to discuss the journey of his innovative startup. The episode begins with an introduction to the podcast's mission of exploring the experiences of entrepreneurs and their paths toward future growth.

Matt shares the inspiration behind Atlas Copilot, a platform designed to upskill and reskill HR professionals in medium to large-sized organizations. Drawing from his experience as a former HR executive, he emphasizes the complexities of the HR function, especially in the evolving post-pandemic landscape. He highlights that HR is about much more than hiring and training; it encompasses organizational psychology, employee relations, and long-term business strategy.

The discussion covers how Atlas Copilot leverages a curated knowledge base for HR professionals, providing them with a generative AI interface that simplifies research and application of best practices. Matt also touches on the challenges faced by HR teams today, who are often required to tackle diverse issues without adequate expertise.

As the conversation unfolds, Matt reveals that Atlas Copilot was launched in the summer of 2023 and discusses the company's current stage regarding product-market fit and scaling efforts over the past year.

Listeners can expect to gain insights into the startup's founding story, the critical role of HR in organizational success, and the innovative solutions that Atlas Copilot offers to meet the demands of modern workplaces.

In this engaging episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Hamish Jenkinson, the visionary founder of The Department, London. The discussion delves into Hamish's entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his early ventures and culminating in the creation of his innovative company.

Hamish shares the inspiration behind his entrepreneurial spirit, which was ignited by starting a company with a close friend after university. Despite initial setbacks, including challenges with regulatory bodies and ultimately shutting down that first venture, Hamish's determination led him to discover his true calling. He recounts his experiences running two prominent venues in London, where he collaborated with groundbreaking companies like Secret Cinema. These venues hosted immersive events based on popular films and artistic experiences, allowing audiences to engage in unique, interactive environments.

The conversation shifts to the concept of experiential marketing, which Hamish believes can deepen the connection between brands and their customers. He emphasizes the potential for brands to create engaging worlds that invite influencers and VIPs to participate, fostering strong emotional bonds that can be amplified through social media.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a startup in the experiential marketing space. Hamish's story is a testament to the power of creativity and resilience in entrepreneurship, offering a glimpse into the future of brand engagement and immersive experiences.

In this episode of *Founders, Future*, host Laura Skinner welcomes Arjun Pillai, the co-founder and CEO of Docket Inc., for an inspiring discussion about his entrepreneurial journey. Arjun shares insights from his experience as a serial entrepreneur, having successfully launched two previous startups before founding Docket. 

Docket aims to address a critical challenge in the sales process: helping account executives navigate complex product sales, particularly when buyers ask technical questions. Arjun reveals how his time at ZoomInfo informed his understanding of this problem and inspired him to leverage AI technology to create solutions that empower sales teams.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the importance of identifying market needs, the role of technology in enhancing sales efficiency, and the personal motivations that drive entrepreneurs. Join us for an engaging conversation that uncovers the story behind Docket Inc. and the vision Arjun has for its future growth.

In this insightful episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner sits down with Alan Grosheider, the innovative founder of Blue 222. The episode explores Alan's entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his early ventures in the environmental inspection industry and his transition to founding Blue 222.

Alan shares the inspiration behind his latest venture, highlighting a significant gap in the real estate inspection market. Drawing from his experiences, he recounts how traditional methods relying on emails and phone calls have hindered efficiency, particularly in obtaining bids for appraisals and inspections. Alan contrasts this outdated system with the seamless, on-demand services provided by companies like Uber and Airbnb, which sparked his desire to create a more efficient solution.

Listeners will learn about the challenges Alan faced, including the initial funding of his first company, which he launched with $85,000 on credit cards and later scaled to secure $3 million in venture capital. He emphasizes the importance of innovation in addressing industry pain points and discusses Blue 222's mission to revolutionize the real estate inspection process.

As the conversation unfolds, Alan offers a glimpse into the current state of his company and his vision for future growth, making this episode a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the evolution of industries through technology.

In this episode of Founders Future, Luke Hodgson discusses Commerce Thinking, a tech consultancy that addresses the technological leadership gap for growing brands. Born from Luke's previous tech ventures, the company emerged organically after brands sought his expertise in managing complex technological transformations. Their core service is a comprehensive 50-day audit program that interviews stakeholders, analyzes organizational tech challenges, and provides strategic roadmaps for growth. Initially focused on audit services, the company evolved to become an embedded team that helps implement changes, with the ultimate goal of training in-house teams to become self-sufficient. Luke's growth strategy involves leveraging networks, strategic partnerships, targeted newsletter content, and niche industry events. Philosophically, he emphasizes sustainable business building, work-life balance, and rejecting hustle culture, focusing instead on creating genuine value through deep understanding and strategic guidance. The episode reveals Luke's approach of building long-term industry relationships by providing meaningful, tailored technological solutions that help brands navigate their growth challenges effectively.

In this episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner engages with Peter Petrik, co-founder of Mergin Maps, to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the innovative solutions his company offers in the field of open-source Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 

Peter shares the inspiration behind Mergin Maps, emphasizing the need to simplify data collection in the field through user-friendly mobile applications. With over 15 years in the GIS market, Peter and his team have developed a platform that allows users to visualize and analyze spatial data effectively, bridging the gap between complex GIS software and practical field surveys.

Listeners will learn about Mergin Maps' evolution over the last five years, including its origins as a spin-off from Lutra Consulting and the challenges faced in making sophisticated GIS tools accessible to non-experts. Peter discusses the importance of making data collection straightforward, enabling anyone in a company to contribute to field surveys without needing extensive training.

This episode not only highlights the technical aspects of Mergin Maps but also offers valuable insights into the entrepreneurial spirit, the significance of adaptability in business, and the future of open-source solutions in the GIS landscape. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that sheds light on the transformative power of technology in data management and fieldwork.

In this engaging episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner sits down with Bethany Stachenfeld, co-founder and CEO of Sensepark, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and the innovative solutions her company offers in the realm of video communication. 

Bethany shares the origin story of Sensepark, highlighting how both she and her co-founder identified a gap in the market while working at another startup. They recognized that traditional email outreach was not scaling effectively, especially when it came to personalized video content. With a background in marketing automation, Bethany used her expertise to develop a platform that allows users to create personalized videos at scale, transforming the way businesses connect with potential customers.

The conversation delves into the challenges they faced in making video outreach efficient and effective, and how Sensepark has evolved to incorporate AI voice and video cloning technology. This innovation enables users to produce tailored videos quickly, addressing the need for personalization in customer engagement without the time constraints of recording individual messages.

Listeners will gain insights into the importance of innovation in marketing, the role of technology in enhancing customer interactions, and the future of video communication in businesses. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and the transformative power of technology in connecting with customers.

In this episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner interviews Jono Bacon, the co-founder and CEO of Community Leadership Core. The discussion delves into Jono's inspiring journey in the tech community landscape, where he has dedicated over 26 years to helping companies build passionate audiences around their products and services. 

Jono shares insights into his experience working with both large organizations like Okta and Adobe, as well as early-stage startups, emphasizing the importance of community building and effective market strategies. He recounts his background, including his leadership role in creating a community of 60 million users and his time at Xprize and GitHub. 

The conversation highlights Jono's philosophy on community engagement—advocating for a gradual, natural integration of users into vibrant communities rather than a transactional approach. He identifies a significant gap in traditional consulting methods, which often fail to translate information into actionable change, and explains how Community Leadership Core aims to bridge that gap.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into Jono's vision for future growth, the challenges faced by startups in fostering community, and the strategies that drive successful engagement.