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Karen and Patrick O'Flaherty are the dynamic husband and wife duo at the helm of Pip Organic, a brand dedicated to crafting 100% organic food and drink for the whole family to enjoy. 

Karen and Patrick’s business journey began when they opened their own organic juice stall in London’s Borough Market. Their passion and drive has since led them on to create Pip Organic, a company dedicated to making top tasting products that work with nature.

With Karen’s expertise in branding, and Patrick’s passion for organic, Pip Organic has gone on to become a successful brand that is on a mission to make it easier for parents to say “yes”!

With hard work and perseverance, Karen and Patrick have transformed Pip Organic from the tiny seedling it was, into the brand it is now, all whilst raising two children - who of course provide advice for all the Pip products along the way!

Find out more about Pip Organic via: website, Instagram, LinkedIn & TikTok.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Alex Gibbs is co-founder and director of BAM (Built Asset Management), London’s leading co-living operator. BAM has housed over 6,500 young professionals in London and provides over 1,500 units of accommodation across the capital and beyond.

In under eight years, Alex and his business partner bootstrapped BAM from a zero- to eight-figure turnover business in one of the UK’s most competitive sectors. After four competitor acquisitions over the last two and a half years, BAM now operates over £350 million worth of residential real estate.

Alex is a passionate entrepreneur and has significant experience in scaling businesses, as well as acquiring both profitable and distressed SMEs. He is a recognised industry and business leadership media commentator and holds advisory roles within growing businesses spanning several sectors.

Find out more about Alex Gibbs via: LinkedIn.

Find out more about Built Asset Management (BAM) via: their website.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Louise Hill is co-founder and CEO of GoHenry - the prepaid debit card and financial education app designed to teach kids and teens how to be smart with money. Responsible for the UK operations of GoHenry, Louise has built the business from the ground up and played an integral role in its international growth, firstly with GoHenry’s acquisition of French Fintech Pixpay, followed by the merger with US Fintech Acorns. 

As a passionate advocate for financial education, Louise is a Trustee of The Centre for Financial Capability, a mentor for the Creative Destruction Lab accelerator programme at Oxford University and a speaker at leading Exec MBA programmes across the UK. Louise is also a huge supporter of women in business, regularly speaking at events and offering her time as a mentor for female founders, start-ups, and scaling businesses in order to drive cultural change around female leadership.

Whether you're passionate about financial literacy, intrigued by the world of fintech, or inspired by stories of female empowerment in the business world, this podcast episode with Louise Hill promises to be a captivating and enlightening listen. Tune in and embark on a journey of discovery, empowerment, and transformation.

Find out more about Louise Hill via: LinkedIn.

Find out more about Go Henry via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Adam Wills, a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary in the culinary world, boasts a track record of creating and launching successful food concepts both domestically and internationally. With a knack for innovation, he has spearheaded ventures like Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Crosstown Doughnuts, and Slerp, securing funding from both private investors and institutional partners.

At the helm of Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Adam oversaw its expansion to 10 sites within five years, ultimately orchestrating its acquisition by Clapham House plc for £10 million. This success story continued as GBK went global, fetching lucrative deals with private equity firms and industry giants, resulting in substantial returns for investors.

As co-founder and director of Seven Restaurants Ltd, Adam contributed to the flourishing of award-winning establishments like Kopapa Cafe & Restaurant, later acquired by Balan's Restaurant Group. Additionally, his role in establishing Crosstown Bakery, with its 20 retail outlets across the UK and diverse revenue streams spanning online sales, wholesale partnerships, and branded food trucks, has positioned it as a force in the market, attracting private equity backing and international expansion prospects.

Not stopping there, Adam is also a founding shareholder and Director of SLERP, a pioneering B2B venture capital-backed food ordering and delivery platform empowering restaurants to establish direct-to-consumer channels, steering away from traditional marketplaces.

His collaborative approach has been pivotal in assembling skilled teams and securing funding for scalable ventures, reflecting his commitment to driving innovation and growth in the food landscape.

Dine with Adam and Sharena in Central London on Thursday 29th February 2024:  https://lu.ma/startupstartnowadamwills

Find out more about Adam Wills via: LinkedIn.
Find out more about Crosstown via: their website, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Find out more about Slerp via their website.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nomi

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It all started with a chopping board.

In 2003 twin brothers and designer-makers, Antony & Richard Joseph designed their first product – a clever chopping board – and that was the beginning of Joseph Joseph. With a passion for invention and an emphasis on functionality and quality, they set out to revolutionise everyday tasks in the home, making everything from food prep to laundry easier and more efficient.

Proud to be celebrating 20 years of innovation, the brothers grew up in a family with a long history in design and manufacturing. Originally set up by their grandfather in the 1930s, the family business specialised in producing glass components. The brothers spent part of their summers working in the factory in Birmingham. 

Antony is a Creative Director and studied Design at Central Saint Martins College. Richard is CEO and studied Industrial Design at Loughborough, followed by a master's in Design Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, which led to his first role as a product designer at Dyson. As a sideline to their jobs, and with the support of their father, they utilised the capabilities of the factory in Birmingham to develop their own range of contemporary glass chopping boards. What started as a fun project soon became the seed of a new business idea. 

Soon more innovative kitchenware designs joined the range, and Joseph Joseph collections now include award-winning laundry & storage, bins & recycling solutions, and cleaning & organisation categories. With an international presence and major retail partners including Selfridges, Harrods and John Lewis, Joseph Joseph’s iconic products are designed in London and built to last.

Their distinctive, problem-solving approach and ability to blend innovative design with aspirational modern living is unique within the industry. Now one of the fastest-growing companies in the global housewares market, Joseph Joseph continues to earn accolades and awards for its brilliantly useful designs.

Find out more about Richard Joseph via: LinkedIn.

Find out more about Joseph Joseph via: their website, Instagram and TikTok.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!
 

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Chai Guys is the brainchild of Abhilash Jobanputra and Gabriel Unger, two entrepreneurs driven by their love for authentic Indian chai. Their journey began in September 2018 with a transformative trip to India, where they immersed themselves in the vibrant world of chai culture. Returning to London with a  suitcase filled with tea and a vision, they spent nine months perfecting their recipes, brewing techniques, and spice blends.

In May 2019, their iconic Masala Chai made its debut at Brick Lane Market, marking the birth of Chai Guys. Today, Chai Guys stands as a pioneer, introducing countless individuals to the enchanting world of chai.

Chai Guys' locations at Old Spitalfields Market and Seven Dials Market evoke chai's origins, creating an enchanting ambience for all. Together, Abhilash and Gabriel have woven their unique stories and passions into Chai Guys, delivering not only chai but an unforgettable journey of flavour and authenticity.

The arrival of Chai Guys Bakehouse marks a significant expansion for Chai Guys as a new chapter unfolds. 

Find out more about Abhilash Jobanputra via: LinkedIn.
Find out more about Gabriel Unger via: LinkedIn.

Find out more about Chai Guys via: their website, Instagram , TikTok and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Humble Crumble - A food stall that started from humble beginnings, today is the world’s first crumble bakery and a multi-million pound business with permanent fixtures in Old Spitalfields and Borough Market. With more than 500,000 crumbles served in the last three years, Humble Crumble has struck a chord with passionate crumble-loving foodies and has no signs of slowing down, with two new sites set to open in London’s gastronomic hotspots Camden Market and Covent Garden this year. 

Kim Innes founded Humble Crumble in 2018, but it wasn’t until October 2020 when things took a pivotal turn for her business. With Halloween in sight, Kim produced a moment of magic; introducing the famous Pumpkin-Spiced Crumble, which will forever be recognised as what thrust Humble Crumble into the limelight, making people aware that a crumble bakery existed. The special dessert gleaned viral attention following an Instagram post from Time Out, and then by a TikTok video from a customer. Although London was in a lockdown, the queues simply wouldn’t surrender for Humble Crumble, and the ever-growing demand for the perfect British grab-and-go crumble continues. 

Find out more about Kim Innes via: LinkedIn and Instagram.
Find out more about Humble Crumble via: their website, Instagram , TikTok and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Ben is the visionary Founder and CEO of BOXRAW - a boxing lifestyle & sportswear brand driving cultural and social change. BOXRAW was manifested from the powerful themes of Boxing and Business interwoven throughout Ben’s life which elevated him out of the socioeconomic and racial hardships he experienced growing up.  

BOXRAW has dressed the likes of Michael B Jordan, Gervonta Davis, Tommy Fury and Ryan Garcia, and hit sales of £5.2 million in 2020.

Founded with the vision, ‘to be the reason why the world got into boxing’, BOXRAW’s mission is to shift the narrative of the sport away from just the brute aspect of fight night, to focus on the journey it takes to get there; one of discipline, mindfulness and love. These values are the foundations of all of Ben’s life achievements.

The brand at every level is fuelled by a genuine desire to add value first, changing the world through the sport of boxing.

Ben also founded Boxing Is Love, a charity that teaches the "sweet science" to children in Liberia. The Registered Charity uses Boxing as a mechanism for positive change around the world.

Find out more about Ben Amanna via: LinkedIn.
Find out more about BOXRAW via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

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Sam Jameson is one of many UK-based, Black and female founders that are transforming the beauty and wellness space, one product at a time. A born creator and leader, Soapsmith isn’t Samantha Jameson’s first endeavour into the world of Entrepreneurship.  At the age of just 24, Sam launched and ran a successful event chocolate fountain business; the assets she later went on to sell to Thorntons Chocolatiers. Sam then turned her attention to starting the Soapsmith journey in 2010; marrying her talent for fragrances and desire to bring joy and new energy into everyday moments, through scent. 

Soapsmith is the result of Sam's true love; taking her hobby of artisanal soap making and scent creation, she soon transformed it into a viable business. In a true act of faith, Sam poured all her savings (topped up by cash made by pawning her engagement ring - that she later got back) into setting up a home in the Old Clockworks in Walthamstow. In 2012, Soapsmith officially launched with a small collection of products and just herself making each one. 

Sam sought inspiration for her scents from the real world around her. A born and bred Londoner Sam is constantly inspired by the raw, vibrant energy of the people and places she grew up around and still lives today. One of her first, and still best-selling scents is Hackney, which was inspired by Sam’s childhood home. The fresh, grassy scent is evocative of Sam’s teenage years and long summer days spent on the Marshes with her brothers and friends. 

Eleven years on the collection has grown exponentially, now offering a full range of products and 8 London scents and one international scent which is a limited edition Christmas scent, that has been brought back due to popular demand since its launch in 2022. Soapsmith has also launched their first ever homeware product, the limited edition Whitechapel diffuser. Products are stocked Nationwide in leading luxury retailers, hotels, restaurants and independent boutiques. The brand has also garnered a large, loyal online community through its online shops.

Sam’s love of bringing fragrance into tangible products comes from her innate curiosity and her ability to take huge inspiration from her surroundings and make something beautiful that reflects it.  A huge lover of travel and high-energy places (Las Vegas is her second love after London!) Sam and her team of Soapsmiths are developing the brand further with global inspiration as the world opens up again.

Sam is also passionate that the business serves a purpose for the wider community. Soapsmith donates soaps and scents to charity; from mental health and homeless charities to a small charity set up to support parents who have lost their babies. Sam is a firm believer that scent can bring great comfort, solace or joy to people when they need it the most.

Sam still resides in East London with her partner and little girl, Eva. After scent (and family), Sam’s other great loves include music, discovering new places, fashion and mojitos! 

Soapsmith products are available to shop at soapsmith.com, Liberty London, Fenwick, and Debenhams to name a few.

Find out more about Sam Jameson via: LinkedIn.
Find out more about Soapsmith via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what

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Paul Lindley is an award-winning British entrepreneur and social campaigner. 

Paul began his career as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG, then spent 9 years at Nickelodeon's children’s TV network, rising to become Deputy Managing Director. 

In 2006, he founded Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s biggest baby food brand.  Ella’s Kitchen believes in purpose as well as profit and was certified as one of the UK’s first B Corporations, validating its mission to use business as a force for good. Paul sold the company in 2013 and stepped away from it in 2018.

In 2017 his first book ‘Little Wins: The Huge Power of Thinking Like a Toddler’ was published.  His second, ‘Raising the Nation: How to Build a Better Future for Children (and Everyone Else)’ will be published in 2023. 

In 2018, Paul was appointed Chair of London’s Child Obesity Taskforce by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

In 2019 he founded just IMAGINE if… an annual innovation competition supporting entrepreneurial ideas designed to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2022 he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Reading.

Paul is Chair of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights UK, a director of the purpose-led business Toast Ale, and is a Trustee of Sesame Workshop, the creators of Sesame Street. 

Paul has received recognition as the UK’s Entrepreneur of the Year and Director of the Year, has been awarded two honorary doctorates and was appointed an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours.

Paul is a vocal advocate for entrepreneurship, for the evolution of capitalism towards better serving all of society, for a greater focus on ‘humanness’ in the way our economy and civil society are structured, and for children’s welfare. He campaigns for both public policy and societial behaviour changes in all of these crucial areas.

Find out more about Paul Lindley OBE via: LinkedIn.
Find out more about Ella's Kitchen via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.

A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!

Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you!

Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.