SuperConnector Show | Business Interviews & Founder Stories

In this interview with Jyoti Kishnani (Organisation & Delivery Effectiveness - Advisory, Resolved Group), Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week) shares how he has used his events to help connect, support, promote & champion business startups & scaleups in the North East of England & Teesside (& across the UK) for over 10yrs (since 2016). He also shares his thoughts on the value & importance of human connection & networks in this increasingly AI-powered world & how his experience as a DJ, producer, club night promoter & label owner in the 1990s & early 2000s still influences his approach to events & business to this day.

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Mental ill health costs the UK economy £300 billion annually, highlighting a massive, critical need for corporate & public sector wellbeing services. After winning Big Brother 2005, Anthony Hutton has gone on to become Founder & CEO of the Never Throw In The Towel Project - a grassroots initiative focused on tackling male suicide & encouraging open conversations around men’s mental health via the barber's chair & in workplace or outdoor environments! Find out more in this interview with Paul Lancaster that was originally broadcast live on Monday 20th April 2026 & Follow Anthony on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-hutton-9b5440102/ ⭐️

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

It's often said that 'the pen is mightier than the sword' but is your writing as clear & sharp as it could be to have the most impact? If you need to collate information from multiple sources & share it with others in a usable format, the words you choose to include & exclude are so important! Good writing also leads to increased understanding (for yourself & for others) & so shouldn't just be abdicated to an AI tool. If you'd like to know more, watch this LinkedIn Live / SuperConnector Show podcast interview with Dr Susan Mandala (Independent Writing & Language Consultant & Founder, Writing Works Consulting) that was originally broadcast live at 11am (UK time) on Monday 13th April. You may also like to Follow / connect with Susan on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mandala-phd-6a94b7290 visit her website www.writingworksconsulting.co.uk, check out her blog 'Literature Reviews: A Blog for the Exasperated' at https://litreviewsfortheexasperated.blogspot.com & book onto one of her upcoming events at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/susan-mandala-113624989001

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Do you run an ecommerce or subscription-based business that is struggling to grow? Most businesses look at subscriptions as a secondary action to one-time acquisition with discounts & gifts as the main tools for keeping customers on for as long as possible. But by using data insights to understand what & how people buy, what they're looking for & how your product or service answers that, you can unlock significant subscription growth! Find out how in this conversation between Matthew (Matt) Holman (Founder, Subscription Prescription & Creator, Commerce Catalyst) & Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week). If you'd like to know more about Matt & his work, Follow him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/holman-matthew then check out https://thesubscriptiondoc.com & https://ccatalyst.co websites.

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Do you believe our high streets matter? And that our villages, towns & cities are better places to live if they have thriving local, independent businesses? If so, you will enjoy listening to this conversation between Andy Bartlett (Founder & CEO, Roam + Co-Chair, First Connections) & Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week).

If you're a local, independent business owner that wants to raise your profile & drive footfall to your establishment or a member of the public that wants to explore independent businesses in a local area, visit https://roam-local.co.uk where you can download the mobile app for Apple & Android devices.

You can also learn more about the First Connections networking events & NE High Street Heroes Awards at https://first-connections.sintra.site

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Are you using Pinterest to promote your business, products or services? Or do you need help with your SEO to become more visible online? Philadelphia-based Julia Bocchese is a Strategic SEO, Pinterest & AI Search Consultant for Small Businesses (especiially Creative & Holistic Businesses) who shares practical & actionable advice on how to rank higher & reach your target customers or clients in this interview with Paul Lancaster (Founder & Event Producer, PLATFORM | UK Startup & Scaleup Week). If you'd like to learn more from Julia, visit https://juliareneeconsulting.com

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

New York-based Victor Varnado’s journey as a legally blind, neurodivergent creator & his work at Supreme Robot continues to spark a lot of conversation, especially as he’s bringing AI into education for students who think differently.

He’s the mind behind the Writing Coach & the new BrightWrite initiative with Rising Tide Educators & was recently recognised for his efforts to make creative tools more inclusive.

On top of that, Victor’s background spans writing for Marvel & New Yorker cartoons, as well as producing for big comedy names. His perspective combines humor & practical tech solutions that get people creating.

With over 25,000 creators & fans engaged in the community he’s built, find out more in this interview that was originally broadcast at 1pm (UK time) on Monday 23 March.

You can learn more about Victor's work at https://supremerobot.com & play the Worldwide Tic-Tac-Toe Championship (& other games) for free at https://play.highscoregamearcade.com

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Do you feel like you're capable of more while staying stuck in the same patterns, not from laziness - from noise? Complexity, the overwhelm of too many systems & not enough simplicity? Mike Bell's 'Reset Journal' is the result of stripping everything back to what actually works: six minutes of deliberate alignment, a proven daily structure & the understanding that you don’t unlock your potential all at once. You unlock it daily. Find out more at https://resetjournals.com & https://www.unlockkeypotential.com ⭐️

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

Everyone is talking about AI but how many business leaders really know when & how to use it effectively (if at all)? Aidan Dunphy has over 20yrs of expertise in strategy, AI & tech product management & co-founded Frntir.ai with Cyril Le Roux to address a critical gap in the market: small & medium-sized businesses rushing into AI adoption without clear strategy! They help companies with 50-500 employees automate workflows safely & build toward trusted AI agents & Synths, not bots. Find out more by watching this interview (originally broadcast on Monday 9 March 2026). You can also learn more about how Aidan & Cyril can help your business & download a free 'Practical Guide to Agentic AI' at https://frntir.ai ⭐️

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com

What is Digital Transformation? And how can you use technology to create value, save time, waste less money & grow your business / organisation without negatively impacting your people? listen to this interview with Kirsten Edmondson who has held senior technology leadership roles for organisations including the BBC, 3 Mobile, Orange, Formica, Newcastle University, BGL Group, De La Rue & AXA Insurance in the North East of England, across the UK & overseas too!

In addition to being Host of the SuperConnector Show podcast, Paul Lancaster is Founder, Event Producer and Host of the popular, monthly PLATFORM events and 5-day UK Startup and Scaleup Week festivals. He is also Coach and Mentor for busy entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who want to focus and be more productive. Find out more at https://platformevents.ai & https://ukstartupweek.com