Raising Expert

What does it take to turn a personal struggle into a biotech company developing potential treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

On the Raising Expert Podcast, host Finlay sits down with Nick Sireau, founder of Serenatis Bio, to discuss his extraordinary journey from renewable energy and rare disease research to developing new treatments for OCD. Nick shares how his children's rare genetic condition and his own experience with OCD inspired his career in drug development.

They explore the realities of biotech entrepreneurship, including lengthy clinical trials, regulatory approval, specialist investors, and raising £1 million in pre-seed funding. Nick also discusses the company's £4 million-plus seed round, the challenges of finding investors, and why patience, persistence, and the right team are essential for biotech founders.

What happens when a frontline doctor becomes frustrated enough with healthcare technology to build something better?

On the Raising Expert Podcast, Finlay Kerr sits down with Dr. Ishanjit Sandhu, MD, founder of Diagnuvo Health Ltd, to discuss his journey from aviation, warfare, and emergency medicine into health-tech entrepreneurship. Dr. Ishan explains how fragmented hospital data inspired him to build an emergency department intelligence system designed to help clinicians recognize deterioration and make faster, better-informed decisions. dr-finlay

They also discuss building a working MVP, NHS pilot conversations, bootstrapping, sweat equity, cloud partnerships, fundraising, and why founders should focus on solving a genuine problem instead of desperately chasing investment.

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In this episode of the Raising Expert podcast, Finlay interviews Charlie Curson, a strategy coach with over 25 years of experience. Charlie discusses his journey into coaching, the importance of strategic thinking, and the challenges faced by founders. He emphasizes the need for support in leadership roles and shares insights on the Midlands Investment Forum, a platform aimed at helping entrepreneurs and leaders connect and grow. In this conversation, Charlie Curson discusses the importance of connecting various stakeholders in the Midlands to support startups and entrepreneurs. He highlights the role of angel investors, the innovative potential of the region, and the need for a cohesive ecosystem to foster growth. The discussion also touches on future plans for events aimed at showcasing Midlands businesses and the importance of strategic thinking in leadership, culminating in the announcement of Charlie's upcoming book.

Takeaways

• Strategy is fundamentally about people.
• Success in strategy requires strategic thinking and execution.
• Founders often face unique challenges that require tailored support.
• The journey of a coach involves continuous learning and adaptation.
• Networking and collaboration can lead to unexpected opportunities.
• The importance of communication in executing strategy cannot be overstated.
• Coaching can be informed by experiences in various fields, including sports.
• Supporting founders is a passion that drives many coaches.
• The Midlands Investment Forum aims to foster connections among entrepreneurs.
• Saying yes to opportunities can lead to significant career growth. There is incredible support for founders in the Midlands.
• Connecting stakeholders is crucial for startup success.
• Angel investors play a vital role in the ecosystem.
• The Midlands leads in several key sectors in the UK.
• Many startups leave the region due to funding challenges.
• The event successfully showcased the region's innovation.
• Future events will focus on scaling businesses.
• Strategic thinking is essential for leadership development.
• Collaboration among stakeholders can drive economic growth.
• Charlie's upcoming book will provide a framework for strategic thinking.

Summary

In this episode of the Raising Expert podcast, host Finlay speaks with Zaki Hasan, co-founder of the fintech company Affivo. They discuss Zaki's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of raising angel investment, and the importance of helping small businesses around the issues of delayed payments and invoice processing. Zaki shares insights on the current market landscape for startups, the significance of investor readiness, and practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Takeaways

• Zaki Hasan is the co-founder of Afivo, a fintech company.
• Afivo aims to solve the problem of delayed payments for SMEs.
• Zaki has a background in finance and corporate roles.
• The biggest challenge for Afivo is changing customer attitudes.
• Investors are cautious in the current economic climate.
• Chasing invoices costs SMEs a significant amount annually.
• Understanding your audience is crucial for fundraising.
• A solid pitch deck and financial model are essential for investors.
• Self-learning and adaptability are key traits for entrepreneurs.
• Valuation should be approached conservatively.

Summary

In this episode of the Raising Expert podcast, host Finlay speaks with Dougal Fleming, an environmental consultant at Middlesex University. Dougal shares his journey from outdoor adventure to environmental consultancy, emphasising the importance of cultural insights gained through travel. The conversation delves into the concept of 'nature positive' businesses, which aim to create more nature than they consume, and discusses examples of innovative companies that embody this philosophy. Dougal highlights the need for businesses to regenerate natural systems and the challenges they face in doing so. In this conversation, Dougal discusses the importance of remanufacturing and the hidden costs of consumer products on nature. He emphasizes the need for businesses to adopt nature-positive practices and the role of investors in supporting these initiatives. The discussion also covers the complexities of biodiversity credits, the significance of carbon accounting, and the necessity of investing in ecosystem services. Dougal highlights the importance of community building through business and the potential for innovation with nature to create sustainable solutions for future generations.

takeaways

• Dougal Fleming is an environmental consultant at Middlesex University.
• His journey includes outdoor adventure and cultural learning.
• Nature positive businesses create more nature than they consume.
• Regeneration is essential for sustainability in business.
• Cultural insights from travel enhance understanding of nature.
• Outdoor instructing can help process complex emotions.
• Mycelium is a key player in waste decomposition and life creation.
• Businesses need to evolve to support ecological systems.
• There are few examples of truly nature positive companies.
• The journey towards nature positive is long but necessary. Remanufacturing can save 85% of embodied carbon.
• The true cost of products includes environmental impact.
• Businesses need to assign a value to nature.
• Investors are increasingly interested in nature-positive companies.
• Biodiversity credits are complex but essential for investment.
• Carbon accounting is a crucial first step for businesses.
• Investing in ecosystem services can yield long-term benefits.
• Community engagement is vital for sustainable business practices.
• Innovative approaches can help integrate nature into business.
• The future requires collaboration and responsibility towards nature.

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Summary

In this episode of the Raising Expert podcast, host Finlay speaks with Dalia Sarwat, a venture partner at DenVC. Dalia shares her journey from working in fundraising at the American University in Cairo to her current role in venture capital. The conversation delves into the unique approach of DenVC, which combines venture capital with an accelerator program to support early-stage startups, particularly in the Pan-Arab and African regions. Dalia emphasizes the importance of market research, understanding one's unique selling proposition (USP), and the readiness of a business before seeking investment. The discussion also touches on the impact of AI on business operations and the necessity for entrepreneurs to adapt to changing market conditions.

Takeaways

• Dalia's journey from fundraising to venture capital is inspiring.
• DenVC combines venture capital with an accelerator program.
• Understanding your USP is crucial for startups.
• Market research is essential before pitching to investors.
• AI can save time and improve efficiency in business operations.
• Adaptability is key for entrepreneurs in changing markets.
• Early-stage startups have unique opportunities for growth.
• Collaboration among portfolio companies enhances success.
• Cultural differences impact market entry strategies.
• Focus on your own growth rather than just competition.

https://denvc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daliasarwat/

In this episode of the Raising Expert podcast, Finlay interviews Moez Seraly, founder and CEO of Perfect Cellar Moez shares his eclectic background, from his roots in Madagascar to his corporate career in tech and finance, leading to his entrepreneurial journey in the wine industry. He discusses the formation of Perfect Seller, the challenges and successes he faced, and the importance of networking and fundraising. The conversation also delves into the role of technology and AI in enhancing customer experience and business growth.

Takeaways

• Moez's eclectic background shaped his entrepreneurial journey.
• The wine industry is often poorly serviced, presenting opportunities.
• Creating a business plan requires time and reflection.
• Networking is crucial for fundraising and business growth.
• Understanding investor perspectives is key to successful pitches.
• AI can personalize customer experiences and recommendations.
• The journey of entrepreneurship includes both highs and lows.
• Building a strong team is essential for success.
• Adapting to market changes is vital for sustainability.
• Learning from past experiences can guide future decisions.

https://www.perfectcellar.com

In this solo episode Finlay outlines the subtle but important difference between investment need - as seen by a Founder and Investment Ready as decided by investor(s)

He explains the work between these two points "Investor Readiness" is critical to success and needs serious time and energy!

Richard McMullan of Aurelius Advisory is the guest on the podcast for this episode

Aurelius Advisory helps business owners prepare themselves and their business for a happy, lucrative, regret-free exit whenever they choose to do so.

Richard and Finlay discuss the similarities in investor readiness and preparing for an exit - "Start with the end in mind" and how owners need to access the 'Value Acceleration Flywheel'

Using his industry experience Richard helps SME owners add millions to their company values.

Get a copy of his NEW book to understand how

http://aurelius-advisory.com/book/

Judy Leung of Sweqlink is the guest on the podcast for this episode

Sweqlink is The sweat equity talent platform :helping entrepreneurs at pre-seed, pre-revenue stage, find work for equity talent and giving talent the opportunity to share in the future success of the companies that they're helping to build.

Judy and Finlay discuss the importance of finding a great match but also the challenges around agreeing on a valuation. Judy also points out the importance of risk - for the invest - in terms of their time.

For more information:

https://www.sweqlink.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyleeleung/