From mission-critical systems at Ford to scaling AI-powered identity verification at Onfido, Lyubomira Dimitrova has helped lead one of Europe’s largest tech exits.

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we speak with Lyubomira Dimitrova, co-founder, fractional CPTO, and former SVP of Engineering at Onfido, a RegTech company acquired for $650M.

She reflects on her transition from enterprise to startup, scaling a team through hypergrowth, and building a new AI venture.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this episode explores building psychological safety, technical debt, scaling leadership, and why not all models (like the Spotify one) fit every company.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 From Ford to Founders: Lyubomira’s Global Journey

03:50 Lessons from Mission-Critical Enterprise IT

06:30 Joining Onfido: From Process Gaps to Hypergrowth

11:00 Scaling to $100M ARR and a $650M Exit

15:00 Technical Debt, Product Risk & Communication2

0:00 Building AI Ops & Cross-Functional Teams

25:00 Psychological Safety vs. Pressure to Perform

30:00 CTO + CPO Roles & Starting a New AI Venture

💬 Key Highlights

▸ Led Onfido’s technical teams through $100M+ ARR & $650M acquisition

▸ Former enterprise leader at Ford, now co-founder in RegTech AI

▸ Expert in scaling systems, eliminating tech debt & aligning GTM

▸ Advocates for women in leadership and product-tech hybrids

▸ Now building again in stealth-mode with focus on financial services

👥 Who Should ListenTech founders • Enterprise engineers • Product/Eng leaders • RegTech and AI builders • Fractional CPTOs • Women in Tech

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast📌 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/📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, fintech, RegTech, AI, CPTO, product strategy, women in tech

#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

From COO of PolyAI to investor at Point72, Yan Zhang reveals what it really takes to scale AI startups globally — and why he’s building again.

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Yan Zhang, former Chief Operating Officer at PolyAI, now an angel investor, mentor at Cambridge Founders and Deep Tech Labs, and Principal at Point72 Ventures.

Yan unpacks how PolyAI scaled voice AI across 20+ countries and how he now supports founders with funding and operational insight.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas this conversation explores scaling enterprise AI, operating under constraints, go-to-market in the U.S. vs Europe, sales hiring, founder resilience, and why Yan still wants to build.

📢 About Startup Scaleup People
Real stories from startup, scaleup, and enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.
New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters
00:00 Yan’s Global Career Journey
04:00 Corporate Development, Random House & China Expansion
08:00 Joining PolyAI & Focus on Voice Modality
11:00 Understanding Constraints and Business Strategy
15:00 Scaling to $50M ARR & Global Teams
20:00 Sales Hiring Challenges & Expansion into the U.S.
24:00 From Operator to Investor: 400+ AI Startups Reviewed
28:00 What He’ll Build Next & Advice for Founders

💬 Key Highlights
▸ COO at PolyAI: Scaled enterprise AI voice to $50M revenue
▸ Led expansion into 20+ countries and U.S. GTM
▸ Principal at Point72 Ventures, investing in applied AI startups
▸ 15+ angel investments across Europe & Silicon Valley
▸ Mentor at Cambridge Founders & Deep Tech Labs
▸ Practical insights on sales hiring, constraints, resilience, and exits

👥 Who Should Listen
AI founders, B2B operators, enterprise sales leaders, investors, and founders scaling internationally.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlU
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416
LinkedIn (Community): https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/
LinkedIn (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/
Website: https://www.squarecircle.me

🏷️
startupleadership, businessgrowth, scaleups, enterprise, venturecapital, startup, founderstories, innovation, businesspodcast, leadership, startupstrategy, funding, exits, techfounders, saas, ai, investing, resilience

How do you lead product through hypergrowth, scale to IPO, and now advise the next generation of startups? In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Adriana Landaverde, a seasoned Chief Product Officer with 3 successful exits, including Trulia (IPO) and Nutmeg (acquired by JPMorgan).

From El Salvador to Silicon Valley to London, Adriana shares what it takes to scale product teams, build retention strategies, and become a trusted advisor to early-stage founders.

📢 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, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Intro & Adriana's Background

02:00 What IPO Teaches You That Books Don’t

07:00 From El Salvador to Stanford to Silicon Valley

10:30 Trulia, Nutmeg & Product Leadership Across Stages

14:00 Balancing Customer Needs with Strategy

17:00 Aligning Sales, Product & Go-To-Market Teams

22:00 Nutmeg Launch Failure: Lessons in Execution

26:00 What Makes a Good Founder-Advisor Fit?

33:00 Clarity, Team Roles & Strategy for Scaling Startups

💬 Key Highlights

▸ Led product at Trulia (IPO $450M+), Nutmeg (acquired by JPMorgan), JamesEdition and more

▸ Scaled B2B & B2C product orgs across UK, US & EU

▸ Deep insights on retention, churn, and cross-functional product teams

▸ Advisor to Series A/B startups as fractional CPO

▸ Built product strategy with customer empathy + commercial focus

▸ Evangelist for sales + product collaboration

👥 Who Should Listen

Product leaders • Founders • CPOs • B2B/B2C Operators • Fractionals • Investors • Go-to-market teams

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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 strategy, enterprise leadership, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, fintech, product leadership, retention, advisor

#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

How do you build a global, high-impact healthtech business bootstrapped and profitable from day one?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we speak with Jonathan Larbey, CEO & Founder of T-Pro, an AI-powered clinical documentation platform trusted by over 130,000 clinicians globally.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas this conversation dives into building a healthcare SaaS business from zero to $30M ARR through acquisitions, product innovation, global expansion, and governance.

Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.

New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Jonathan’s Journey: From Rugby to Tech CEO
04:00 Solving Clinical Documentation at Scale
08:00 Global Expansion: UK, ANZ, India & More
12:00 Impact on Clinicians & Healthcare Systems
17:00 Reaching $30M ARR with Strategic Acquisitions
23:00 Governance, Boards & Private Equity Partners
29:00 Lessons in Due Diligence & Integration
36:00 Founder Advice & Leadership Lessons

💬 Key Highlights

▸ 130K+ active users, tens of millions of documents processed annually
▸ Bootstrapped and profitable from the start — now private equity-backed
▸ Strategic acquisitions in Ireland, UK, Australia, India & New Zealand
▸ Built M&A playbook and acquisition runway for future growth
▸ Solving clinician burnout & documentation inefficiencies with AI
▸ Active board with PE firm Livingbridge and top-tier chair
▸ Insights on scaling in highly regulated global markets

👥 Who Should Listen

Healthtech founders • SaaS leaders • PE-backed executives • Board directors • Clinicians • Global operators • Investors

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/
📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast
📌 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/
📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 Keywords

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, healthtech, SaaS, M&A, private equity, clinician productivity

#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

What does it take to scale a regulated fintech across eight countries and build toward a $1B valuation — profitably?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we talk to Benjamin Wong, CEO & co-founder of Transwap, a cross-border payments and FX platform licensed in 6+ countries, supporting 24 currencies and over 180 markets.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this conversation covers embedded finance, building payment infrastructure, managing a global team, profitability vs. valuation, and what it really takes to become a unicorn.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Intro & Founding Transwap

04:00 The 3 Pain Points Solved by Transwap

08:00 Resilience, Mistakes & Lessons from 3 Startups

12:00 Building a Global Org with Local Compliance

17:00 Embedded Payments & Real-Time Infrastructure

22:00 Fraud Prevention, Speed & Stablecoin Plans

26:00 Fundraising, IPO Strategy & Unicorn Path

31:00 Advice for Founders & Entrepreneurial Mindset

💬 Key Highlights▸ Operating in 180+ countries with embedded payment rails▸ Built a profitable fintech with 100+ employees, 24-currency business accounts▸ Connecting 11,000+ banks and enabling peer-to-peer + fiat payments▸ Preparing for IPO with strong board & regulatory focus▸ Insights on fintech compliance, founder mindset & hiring globally

👥 Who Should ListenFintech founders • Global operators • Scaleup teams • Banking & payment leaders • Board advisors • Investors

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, fintech, payments, cross-border, compliance

🏷️ 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

Can science help women extend their reproductive window to menopause and reduce IVF failure?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we speak with Jordan Abdi, physician-founder and CEO of U-Ploid, a biotech startup aiming to dramatically improve egg quality for older mothers and revolutionize fertility treatment.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this conversation explores fertility innovation, biotech funding, reproductive stigma, and how Jordan’s team is working to redefine what’s possible in maternal health.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Intro & Jordan's Medical & Biotech Journey

05:00 How U-Ploid Is Tackling IVF Failure & Egg Quality

10:00 The IVF Market, Unmet Needs, and Awareness Gaps

15:00 Biotech Risks, Safety, and Clinical Milestones

20:00 Stigma, Male Fertility & Fertility Education

25:00 Building U-Ploid: Board, Fundraising & Strategy

30:00 Navigating Regulation & Global Clinical Pathways

35:00 Lessons for Biotech Founders & Hope for the Future

💬 Key Highlights▸ CEO of U-Ploid, a biotech startup tackling maternal age-related infertility▸ Lead product Livanta shows 84% reduction in egg chromosome errors in lab studies▸ IVF failure rate is 70%; most caused by egg quality decline▸ Vision to extend fertility window up to menopause with advanced therapeutics▸ Funded, with global board and clinical trial preparation underway

👥 Who Should ListenCouples • IVF patients • Biotech founders • Women's health leaders • Fertility doctors • Healthcare investors

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, biotech, fertility, IVF, women's health

🏷️ 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

What does it take to build Latin America's modern venture capital landscape from scratch?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we talk to Andres Meirovich, Managing Partner at Genesis Ventures, who has helped grow one of Chile’s most influential VC funds from $24M to $600M—with a bold vision to scale toward $2B–$3B.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this conversation explores Andres' unique journey building venture capital in Latin America, the global capital flows shaping the region, and why LATAM might be the next great tech corridor.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:38 Andres' Origins and First Fund in Chile

04:25 MIT, Scaling Globally, and Raising $600M09:00 Investing in LATAM Through Chile

13:58 LATAM + Europe VC Collaboration Outlook

17:01 Smart Capital Strategy & LATAM Expansion24:00 Board Roles: Funding, Clients, Tough Calls

30:00 Lessons in Trust, Team, and Transparency

36:11 Family, Balance & The Long Game

💬 Key Highlights▸ Built Genesis Ventures from $24M to $600M—now scaling to $2B+▸ Opened LATAM's first UK-backed VC fund, inspired by Singapore's model▸ Funded 50+ startups, from cleantech to fintech to digital innovation▸ Advises boards across LATAM, Europe & the US▸ Advocates for transparency, founder partnership, and long-term vision

👥 Who Should ListenFounders • Investors • LPs • Board advisors • Policy makers • LATAM growth leaders

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, fintech, AI

🏷️ 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

What does it take to build one of the UK’s most regulated, capital-intensive fintech startups from scratch?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with David Jarvis, founder and CEO of Griffin — the UK’s first full-stack banking-as-a-service platform, purpose-built for fintechs and embedded finance platforms. With over $100M raised, Griffin is redefining the future of fintech infrastructure.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this conversation explores what it really takes to build a licensed bank from the ground up, scale responsibly, manage investor expectations, and lead with resilience through uncertainty and crisis.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Intro & David’s Background

02:00 Entrepreneurial Spirit & Energy Drink Hustle

05:00 From Airbnb & Silicon Valley to Fintech

08:00 Building Griffin: Pain Points & Regulatory Opportunity

13:35 Surviving SVB, Crisis Planning & Execution

18:47 Product-Market Fit, Backlog & Growth in 2025

27:05 Managing Board Dynamics & Scaling a Bank

34:00 Founder Leadership, Lessons & Advice

💬 Key Highlights▸ Raised $100M+ to launch a licensed UK bank for fintechs▸ Scaled Griffin from 3 to 80+ people▸ Pivoted during Brexit & SVB’s collapse▸ Managed investor politics and difficult down rounds▸ Leadership evolution: from servant style to founder mode

👥 Who Should Listen

Fintech founders • Regtech leaders • Scaleup execs • Board advisors • VC partners • Banking innovators

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, 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

What does it take to build a global telecom company, raise $100M+, and transition from CEO to board leadership?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Percy Grundy — Bolivian-born tech founder, board director, and investor — to explore his journey from developer to executive, including leading FlowLive, a global telecom platform now backed by over $100M in funding.

🎧 Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this episode dives deep into telecom innovation, scaling across continents, board dynamics, investor politics, and the leadership shifts required to go from startup to enterprise.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Percy’s Background

01:40 From Bolivia to London: Early Journey

05:00 Starting FlowLive: Building from Zero

08:00 Raising $100M: Rounds & Pivots

11:00 Transitioning from CEO to Board

14:00 Navigating Investor Dynamics

20:00 Global Telecom Footprint & Tech Strategy

25:00 Leadership, Delegation, and Advice for Founders

33:00 Learning, Speed, and What’s Next

💬 Key Highlights

▸ From self-taught coding in Bolivia to building international telcos▸ Founded FlowLive and raised $100M+ across Series A-C rounds▸ Pivoted into global IoT telecom infrastructure▸ Transitioned to board role after 9 years as CEO▸ Launched new AI telecom venture while continuing as board director

👥 Who Should ListenFounders • Investors • Board members • Scaleup operators • Telecom leaders • AI entrepreneurs

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📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, 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

What does it take to grow a company from scratch to 500 people across Europe during a pandemic?

In this powerful episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Simona Todoroska, Managing Director of IWConnect Netherlands, who shares her remarkable story of entrepreneurship, leadership, and resilience.

🎙️ Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Shown, this conversation explores how Simona launched and scaled a tech consultancy during COVID with no outside investment — and built a thriving, culture-first team of 500 in under five years.From 16-hour days to managing high-performing teams across borders, she opens up about leading by example, data-driven scaling, and the future of AI in enterprise transformation.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction

01:15 Simona's Entrepreneurial Spark

03:30 From Tech Lead to CEO

06:00 Launching in a New Country During COVID

09:00 Building Trust, Teams, and Culture from Scratch

13:00 When to Scale and How to Delegate17:30 The Power of Data and Readiness for AI

24:00 Leading with Empathy, Grit, and Strategy

32:30 Lessons, Books, and Wisdom from the Journey

💬 Key Highlights▸ Built a 500-person business in 5 years with no outside funding▸ Scaled operations during the pandemic across the Netherlands and Europe▸ Transitioned from coder to visionary CEO▸ Emphasizes AI readiness through data foundations▸ Advocates for leadership through example and emotional connection

👥 Who Should ListenTech founders • Executives • Business leaders • Investors • Board advisors • Fractionals • HR & culture professionals

🔗 Follow & Subscribe

📌 https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/

📌 https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast

📌 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/

📌 https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 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, board of directors, 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