Startup Scaleup People

By Mario Rivas

🎙️ Startup Scaleup People shares real stories of how founders, execs, advisors, NEDs & fractional leaders build companies, careers & lives — from startup to scaleup to enterprise.

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FAQs about Startup Scaleup People:

How many episodes does Startup Scaleup People have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.

Startup Scaleup People episodes:

April 20, 2026 Most AI projects don’t work, and here’s why | Tim Daines
What’s really happening behind the AI boom?
In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sis down with Tim Daines, an enterprise AI expert working across the UK, Europe, and Dubai, to unpack the gap between AI hype and operational reality.
From billion-dollar investments to failed implementations, this conversation breaks down why most AI projects don’t deliver ROI, and what companies must do differently.
Key insight:
AI success isn’t about models—it’s about data, workflows, and operational design.
About Tim Daines:
Tim works at the intersection of AI strategy and execution, helping organizations move from hype to real production systems. He’s advised companies across healthcare, enterprise, and government, including work with the NHS, and now operates in Dubai’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem.Real conversations with builders, operators, and investors shaping the future of tech.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Dubai’s $47B AI market explained
04:52 UK vs Dubai AI strategy differences
08:18 Government-driven AI adoption
11:23 Challenges working in high-AI-hype environments
17:38 Why ambition beats compliance
23:02 Why AI investments fail
27:15 The hidden cost of data debt
31:08 How to measure AI ROI
36:40 KPIs that actually matter
37:20 Lessons learned in AI strategy

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43min
April 13, 2026 Board Director vs NED: What You Need to Know Before Joining a Board | Kelly Kuhn
In this episode, we dive deep into corporate governance, board dynamics, and the real role of non-executive directors with Kelly Kuhn, an experienced independent board director, chair, and former global C-suite executive with 30+ years of experience.Kelly shares practical insights on what boards actually do, how governance differs from execution, and how to start a board career, including what most people get wrong.If you're a founder, executive, or aspiring board member, this episode is for you.Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Kelly Kuhn and what a board does
02:20 Board director vs non-executive director
05:10 Why boards matter for shareholders, oversight, and governance
08:10 Board structure in the UK, US, and different company types
11:40 Executive vs board mindset: when governance becomes different
15:40 Real board experience and learning in the first board role
20:20 How many board roles and what types Kelly has served on
25:10 What to look for when interviewing for a board role
31:10 Why site visits and employee connection matter for boards
38:20 Advice for younger board members and executives considering board service
44:10 Charity boards: what to know before joining
49:00 Final advice and closing thoughts
Hosted by Mario Rivas
About Startup Scaleup People:
Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#CorporateGovernance #BoardOfDirectors #Leadership #StartupGrowth #Scaleups
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47min
April 13, 2026 Board Director vs NED: What You Need to Know Before Joining a Board | Kelly Kuhn
In this episode, we dive deep into corporate governance, board dynamics, and the real role of non-executive directors with Kelly Kuhn, an experienced independent board director, chair, and former global C-suite executive with 30+ years of experience.Kelly shares practical insights on what boards actually do, how governance differs from execution, and how to start a board career, including what most people get wrong.If you're a founder, executive, or aspiring board member, this episode is for you.Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Kelly Kuhn and what a board does
02:20 Board director vs non-executive director
05:10 Why boards matter for shareholders, oversight, and governance
08:10 Board structure in the UK, US, and different company types
11:40 Executive vs board mindset: when governance becomes different
15:40 Real board experience and learning in the first board role
20:20 How many board roles and what types Kelly has served on
25:10 What to look for when interviewing for a board role
31:10 Why site visits and employee connection matter for boards
38:20 Advice for younger board members and executives considering board service
44:10 Charity boards: what to know before joining
49:00 Final advice and closing thoughts
Hosted by Mario Rivas
About Startup Scaleup People:
Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.
...more
47min
April 13, 2026 Board Director vs NED: What You Need to Know Before Joining a Board | Kelly Kuhn
In this episode, we dive deep into corporate governance, board dynamics, and the real role of non-executive directors with Kelly Kuhn, an experienced independent board director, chair, and former global C-suite executive with 30+ years of experience.Kelly shares practical insights on what boards actually do, how governance differs from execution, and how to start a board career, including what most people get wrong.If you're a founder, executive, or aspiring board member, this episode is for you.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Kelly Kuhn and what a board does
02:20 Board director vs non-executive director
05:10 Why boards matter for shareholders, oversight, and governance
08:10 Board structure in the UK, US, and different company types
11:40 Executive vs board mindset: when governance becomes different
15:40 Real board experience and learning in the first board role
20:20 How many board roles and what types Kelly has served on
25:10 What to look for when interviewing for a board role
31:10 Why site visits and employee connection matter for boards
38:20 Advice for younger board members and executives considering board service
44:10 Charity boards: what to know before joining
49:00 Final advice and closing thoughts
Hosted by Mario Rivas
About Startup Scaleup People:
Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#CorporateGovernance #BoardOfDirectors #Leadership #StartupGrowth #Scaleups
...more
47min
April 13, 2026 E26
Super
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47min
April 13, 2026 Board Director vs NED: What You Need to Know Before Joining a Board | Kelly Kuhn
In this episode, we dive deep into corporate governance, board dynamics, and the real role of non-executive directors with Kelly Kuhn, an experienced independent board director, chair, and former global C-suite executive with 30+ years of experience.Kelly shares practical insights on what boards actually do, how governance differs from execution, and how to start a board career, including what most people get wrong.If you're a founder, executive, or aspiring board member, this episode is for you.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Kelly Kuhn and what a board does
02:20 Board director vs non-executive director
05:10 Why boards matter for shareholders, oversight, and governance
08:10 Board structure in the UK, US, and different company types
11:40 Executive vs board mindset: when governance becomes different
15:40 Real board experience and learning in the first board role
20:20 How many board roles and what types Kelly has served on
25:10 What to look for when interviewing for a board role
31:10 Why site visits and employee connection matter for boards
38:20 Advice for younger board members and executives considering board service
44:10 Charity boards: what to know before joining
47:00 Final advice and closing thoughts
Hosted by Mario Rivas
About Startup Scaleup People:
Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#CorporateGovernance #BoardOfDirectors #Leadership #StartupGrowth #Scaleups
...more
47min
April 06, 2026 AI in Healthcare: Scaling Drug Discovery & Clinical Trials | Mathilda Strom
How Mathilda Strom Is Scaling AI in Healthcare
In this new episode, we explore how leadership and AI are transforming the future of healthcare and drug discovery. Mathilda Strom shares how foundation models are reshaping clinical trials, improving patient outcomes, and redefining business strategy in biotech and AI.
With $76M raised at Series A and over 1 million model downloads, Bioptimus is at the forefront of AI-driven biology.
This episode is a masterclass in scaling deep tech, navigating complex markets, and building high-impact companies across healthcare and AI. Hosted by Mario Rivas.
About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation. New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare
01:30 The Role of AI in Drug Discovery
04:38 User Adoption and Real-World Impact
07:23 Key Performance Indicators for AI Models
08:53 Revenue Models and Business Strategies
10:09 Lessons from Bima: Distribution and Trust
15:36 AI's Impact on Scientific Work
21:31 The Future of AI: Human and Infrastructure Roles
22:57 Control of AI Infrastructure: Private vs Public
24:05 The Role of Governments in Innovation
26:31 The Future of Virtual Healthcare
35:36 Lessons Learned and Simplification in Business
Key Highlights
▸ AI’s biggest opportunity is fixing clinical trial failure rates
▸ Founder mindset: simplicity drives adoption and scale
▸ Scaling lesson: last-mile adoption is where growth happens
▸ Operational insight: track every unit cost to win at scale
▸ Governance insight: AI infrastructure needs private innovation + regulation
Follow & Subscribe
https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/
https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416
https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/
startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신
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41min
March 30, 2026 The #1 Reason Companies Stall at $100M | Sharon Parmar
Want to scale your company from $100M to $500M? The secret isn’t just strategy, it’s culture.In this episode of the Startup Scaleup People Podcast, Mario sits down with Sharon Parmar, CEO of Humanity Works Consultancy, to reveal how culture, leadership, and trust drive exponential business growth.Sharon has helped global companies scale revenue, reduce churn, and build high-performance teams, and in this conversation, she breaks down exactly how it works.
What you’ll learn:Why 70% of companies fail to scale (and how to avoid it)The real meaning of culture (hint: it’s not values on the wall)How to build a high-trust organization that drives growthWhen you need to let people go to scaleThe #1 KPI to measure culture impact (and how to improve it)How AI is changing hiring, leadership, and team structureWhy the best leaders embrace conflict (and how to do it right)
Key insight:Companies with strong trust cultures outperform others with up to 4–5x higher revenue.If you're a founder, CEO, or leader scaling your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately.
Connect with Sharon Parmar:Website: https://humanityworksconsultancy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-parmar/

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Sharon Parmar
01:44 Culture as a growth lever
05:28 How culture projects start in scaleups
10:52 Metrics that show culture is working
15:44 The 100M to 500M scaling challenge
18:33 AI, jobs, and the future of work
24:44 Leadership, conflict, and trust
37:53 Final advice for CEOs and founders

Hosted by Mario Rivas

About Startup Scaleup People:Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#StartupGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #CompanyCulture #Entrepreneurship #AI #BusinessStrategy
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41min
March 20, 2026 Why 99% of Startups Fail Fundraising (Investor Secrets Revealed) | Beth Crosier
How Beth Crosier Helps Startups Become Investor-Ready | Startup Scaleup PeopleStartup and Scaleup founders often struggle with leadership, financial clarity, and funding strategy. In this episode, Beth Crosier explains how strong financial discipline transforms early-stage startups into scalable businesses, and what investors really look for when backing founders in today’s competitive startup ecosystem.From pre-seed to £2M+ raises, this episode breaks down real funding journeys, financial model mistakes, and the reality of raising capital outside major hubs. This is a masterclass from Beth in startup funding, financial storytelling, and scaling strategy. Hosted by Mario Rivas 📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.🧭 Chapters00:00 Startup Funding Myths & Founder Mistakes01:14 The Real Funding Gap Outside London03:50 Why Raising Capital Is Harder Today05:56 Fixing Financial Models for Investors09:13 KPIs Investors Actually Care About12:42 Ambition vs Reality in Financial Forecasting18:13 Unit Economics & Profitability Explained23:23 Red Flags That Kill Startup Deals28:55 Scaling from Startup to Scaleup32:36 Founder Mindset & Leadership Lessons💬 Key Highlights▸ Most startups fail fundraising due to weak financial storytelling▸ Founders must shift from intuition to financial discipline▸ Scaling requires repeatable growth, not just traction▸ Strong unit economics matter more than rapid growth▸ Investors evaluate cash, traction, and governance first🔗 Follow & Subscribehttps://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/🧠 Keywordsstartup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech, financial models, unit economics, fundraising strategy, investor readiness, venture capital funding, startup KPIs, burn rate, runway, SaaS metrics, startup finance, growth strategy, scaling startups, fundraising mistakes🏷️ Hashtags#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신
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36min
March 13, 2026 AI Transformation Strategy: Why Most Companies Fail to Implement AI | Rujuta Singh
Startup and Scaleup leadership today increasingly intersects with AI transformation, digital strategy, and operational change. In this episode, Rujuta Singh explains how enterprises should actually approach AI adoption, data strategy, and process automation without wasting millions on tools that don’t solve the real problem. With more than 20 years of experience in data and digital transformation, working with Fortune 500 organizations, Rujuta shares why most companies misunderstand AI, and how leaders can implement it correctly through clear business strategy, fast prototyping, and measurable outcomes.
This episode is a practical masterclass in AI strategy, digital transformation leadership, and enterprise innovation.
Hosted by Mario Rivas
About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.
New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.
00:00 Why Companies Misunderstand AI Transformation
02:00 Are Companies Automating Broken Processes With AI?
04:30 Data Quality vs Business Processes in AI Adoption
07:00 The Biggest Mistake Leaders Make With AI
09:00 How to Allocate a $1M AI Transformation Budget
12:00 Measuring ROI in AI and Digital Transformation
16:00 Why Enterprise Transformations Take Years
21:00 Why Only 5% of Companies Are AI Ready
🔗 Follow & Subscribe
https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/
https://www.tiktok.com/@startupscaleuppeople
https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlU
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416
https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/
startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech, AI transformation strategy, enterprise AI adoption, AI implementation for companies, digital transformation leadership, AI strategy consulting, enterprise AI transformation, AI automation business processes, AI ROI strategy, AI adoption enterprise, digital transformation enterprise, AI governance, enterprise automation strategy
#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신
...more
39min

FAQs about Startup Scaleup People:

How many episodes does Startup Scaleup People have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.