Building a company isn’t just strategy it’s mindset.

We dive into why founders in the US think bigger, how UK culture holds people back, and why being “positively aggressive” might be your biggest advantage.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:30 – Why pivoting = survival

02:45 – UK vs US mindset

06:00 – Ambition gap in founders

07:20 – New B2B growth expectations

09:30 – AI creating bigger outcomes

11:40 – SMB market opportunity

14:00 – Dev costs collapsing

17:30 – Show up & stand out

21:30 – “Positively aggressive” mindset

23:10 – Don’t disrupt, improve processes

25:00 – AI in legacy industries

29:30 – Generational shift

31:50 – Power of experimentation

33:00 – Contrarian idea

36:00 – Family & closing

Find Akriti Dokania online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akritidokania/

Twitter: https://x.com/akritidokania

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish sits down with Mukund Jha, co-founder & CEO of Emergent the AI platform changing how software is built.

This conversation goes deep into the biggest shift happening right now:

→ You no longer need to code to build real products

→ AI is turning non-technical people into software creators

→ What used to cost billions can now be built in months

Timestamps:

00:00 – Anyone Can Build Software Now

01:10 – Why Prototypes Are Dead

03:00 – From Idea → Product in Minutes

05:20 – AI Replacing Entire Dev Teams

07:45 – The Rise of Non-Technical Builders

10:30 – $2B Worth of Software Built by AI

13:15 – One Person = Full Company Now

16:00 – Why SaaS Is Under Threat

19:10 – Agents Running Entire Businesses

22:30 – The Death of Coding Skills?

25:00 – What Actually Matters Now

27:30 – We’re Entering an Age of Abundance

Find [guest name] online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukund-jha-a1596413/

Twitter: https://x.com/mukundjha

Emergent: https://emergent.sh

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy, CEO of Go Global, to break down what really happens when companies expand internationally.

From employer of record (EOR) vs setting up your own entity, to the hidden costs, legal risks, and operational chaos this is the unfiltered truth about scaling globally.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Jeremy joins the show

01:00 What is Employer of Record (EOR)?

03:00 Why global hiring exploded post-COVID

05:00 When to switch from EOR to your own entity

08:00 The real costs & hidden complexity of expansion

11:00 Why Go Global avoided raising VC money

14:00 Scaling globally without burning cash

18:00 The dangers of hiring too fast internationally

20:00 Global expansion mistakes founders make

24:00 Employment laws & risks across countries

27:00 Where companies are expanding right now

31:00 Offshoring, cost arbitrage & AI impact

35:00 Building products faster than ever (AI shift)

36:00 The 5 stages of international expansion

40:00 Why most founders expand too early

42:00 Smarter ways to enter new markets (partnerships & M&A)

45:00 Personal story & what drives Jeremy

Find Jeremy Wastall online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremywastall/

GoGlobal: https://goglobal.com

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

This isn’t another “AI is booming” story.

This is a power shift.

In March 2026, we saw something much bigger than funding rounds:

$110B raised by a single company

Private equity firms becoming the gatekeepers of AI adoption

IPOs reopening… but only for the elite

And capital concentrating harder than ever before

AI is no longer just a sector it’s becoming the foundation of the next computing stack.

The real question isn’t who’s building…

It’s who controls distribution, customers, and outcomes.

Because right now, the market is splitting:

A few dominant labs at the top…

And everyone else fighting for what’s left.

So where does opportunity actually sit?

And more importantly if you’re not inside the system… can you still win?

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish sits down with entrepreneur Timothy to unpack the real mechanics behind building successful companies.

From pitching for £15,000 at age 21 to building a portfolio generating £47M annually, Timo shares the frameworks he now uses to analyse opportunities, scale companies and avoid the mistakes most founders make.

They discuss why the best businesses are built around the “expertise gap,” why founders shouldn’t obsess over passion, and the fundamental laws — or “physics” — of business that every entrepreneur must understand.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction – From council estate to £47M portfolio

02:00 Interview begins

03:00 Hiring mistakes founders make

04:00 The “How I Work” document for new hires

07:00 Why shared goals matter more than shared backgrounds

08:00 Why great employees aren’t passionate about your business

11:00 The Expertise Gap explained

13:00 Why influencer agencies are harder to build today

14:00 The AI opportunity founders are missing

18:00 How AI could save companies millions

19:00 Turning down an £80M valuation

20:00 Stop building businesses for investors

23:00 Why systems make entrepreneurship easier

24:00 Building businesses like Lego

29:00 Why hard work is overrated

31:00 The worst phrase founders say

33:00 Why founders build things customers don’t want

35:00 Understanding the business behind the business

36:00 Why fundraising can be the real business

Find Timothy Armoo online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyarmoo/

Twitter: https://x.com/TimArmoo

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of What3Words the global addressing system that assigns three unique words to every 3-metre square on Earth.

Originally inspired by the challenges of organising live music events and directing crews to remote locations, What3Words has grown into a global platform used by businesses, delivery companies, emergency services, and major partners like Intel and Mercedes.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Chris Sheldrick & What3Words

00:46 The problem with traditional addresses

02:23 Addressing challenges around the world

04:09 The origin story: from music events to What3Words

07:59 Preventing location mistakes with word combinations

10:19 Building network effects for global adoption

12:07 How AI fits into What3Words

14:34 Why postcodes don’t work for navigation

18:33 The maths behind 64 trillion locations

22:40 The psychology of adoption

25:18 How delivery companies are using What3Words

28:58 Solving addressing problems in developing countries

33:24 Is What3Words a utility?

34:42 The vision for global adoption

36:40 Chris’s contrarian view on hiring globally

41:22 What moves Chris emotionally: music 🎵

FindChris Sheldrick online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissheldrick1/

Twitter:https://x.com/ChrisSheldrick

What3Words: https://what3words.com

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode, Felix Neubeck (Playfair) breaks down why most VCs get deep tech wrong, how commoditisation curves kill “breakthrough” startups, and why policy not venture decides industrial winners.

From quantum and fusion to defence and manufacturing, this is a sharp, no-BS look at where the West is heading next.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro – Why Deep Tech Is Back

02:45 Generalists vs Specialists: Who Wins in Deep Tech?

06:30 The Myth: “There Isn’t Enough Capital”

10:15 Why Technology Picking Is So Hard

14:20 One Shot at Goal: Selling to Concentrated Markets

17:05 The Danger of Ignoring Commoditisation Curves

20:10 How to Actually Diligence Deep Tech

24:00 Backing Teams vs Backing Technology

27:50 Venture vs Policy: Who Should Fund Sovereignty?

31:30 Defence, Government & VC Alignment

34:00 Europe’s Manufacturing Identity Crisis

38:45 Has China Overtaken the West?

46:20 Contrarian Conviction: Life Is Endless Struggles

49:15 What Truly Moves Felix Emotionally

Find Felix Neubeck online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fneubeck/

Twitter: https://x.com/FelixNeubeck

Playfair: http://www.playfair.vc

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

AI is still vacuuming up capital but investors aren’t clapping for demos anymore.

Public markets are questioning AI ROI. Mega-rounds are clustering into fewer “category kings.” Exit volume is rising, but valuations are shrinking. And secondaries are becoming the pressure valve for LP liquidity.

In this episode we break down:

• Why mega AI rounds are still happening but scrutiny is intense

• The “Great Unlocking” in exits (more deals, smaller values)

• Why secondaries are exploding

• Where capital is actually landing: robotics, autonomy, logistics, cyber

• The UK & Europe infrastructure software export story

• EU & UK regulatory changes that could reshape VC fundraising

The shift isn’t about less money.

It’s about higher standards.

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

People obsess over IQ scores and dominance tests. But success especially in venture it is about understanding people. I believe anyone can achieve greatness. With the right skills, even the NBA isn’t impossible. The limit is mindset.

Timestamps:

00:00 – We Tested My Dominance & IQ

01:12 – 172 IQ… What Does That Actually Mean?

02:45 – Why IQ Is Overrated in Venture

04:10 – Emotional Intelligence or Raw Intelligence

06:30 – Reading Founders & Managing Ego

08:05 – Skill Stacking: How Anyone Can Compete

10:20 – “I Could Play in the NBA Next Year” (Mindset Explained)

12:00 – The Real Limit: Belief vs Capability

14:15 – Final Takeaway: Anything Is Learnable

Find Amrit Sami online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrit-sami-4a1baaa4/

Twitter: https://x.com/amrit_sami

Mercia: http://www.mercia.co.uk

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, we’re joined by Elizabeth Yin, Co-Founder & GP at Hustle Fund, to break down what actually matters at pre-seed.

We talk about why finding 100 rabid fans beats chasing TAM, why distribution is the last real moat, and how founders should think about product-market fit in 2026.

Elizabeth shares:

– Why most founders misunderstand PMF

– The fastest way to validate demand at pre-seed

– How to build distribution before product is perfect

– Why niche markets win early

– The biggest VC advice that hurts founders

If you’re an early-stage founder, operator, or angel, this is a must-watch.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why pre-seed is about speed, not polish

03:45 Finding your first 100 rabid fans

07:50 Why distribution is the real moat

14:30 PMF is not a moment

22:10 Bad VC advice founders should ignore

Find [guest name] online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethyin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dunkhippo33

Hustle Fund: https://www.hustlefund.vc/

This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B.

Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/

Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.