When Rachel Harris – better known as Accountant_she – realised the accounting industry didn’t reflect who she was, she didn’t shrink to fit it. She built something better.

From starting as a 17-year-old apprentice to founding striveX, Rachel has grown a 7-figure, bootstrapped accountancy firm while simultaneously turning her personal brand into a million-pound business.

In this episode, Rachel shares how she spotted a gap in professional services, used Instagram to scale in public, and built systems inspired by McDonald’s to create consistency, performance and profit. She talks candidly about hiring too early (and too cheaply), over-investing in team, and why feedback loops and data dashboards are non-negotiable if you want to scale properly.

We also dive into the power of financial education, building recurring revenue without giving away equity, monetising a personal brand beyond vanity metrics, and why being “good at numbers” can unlock real freedom and choice. Rachel opens up about bootstrapping everything, launching a new tech product for accountants, and her long-term mission to make financial literacy more visible – especially for young women who don’t see themselves reflected in traditional business stereotypes.

This episode is perfect for founders building service businesses, creators looking to monetise properly, or anyone who wants a transparent look at what scaling really involves behind the scenes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Aine Kilkenny and her co-founder Fiona couldn’t find a single tampon at home, they didn’t just complain – they created Riley, a 100% organic cotton period care brand now stocked in bathrooms and retailers across Europe.

In this episode, Aine shares how Riley grew from a kitchen table in West Cork to 400+ corporate clients, including Google and KPMG, replacing millions of single-use plastic period products with organic, biodegradable alternatives and expanding into the US. She talks candidly about shifting from DTC to a B2B-led model, crowdfunding on Seedrs, and why profit, sustainability and access all have to work together.

We also dive into the human side of scaling: building a team around integrity, kindness and respect; finding the right balance between remote work and office hubs; getting onboarding right in a fast-moving startup; and learning to celebrate milestones instead of just sprinting to the next problem.

Perfect for anyone interested in women’s health, sustainable consumer products, or what it really takes to build a purpose-driven brand in a crowded category.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all had those “should I actually do this?” moments, but not all of us follow through.

This is the story of someone who did.

A founder who, while sitting in a pub, took out a five-figure personal loan and decided to back himself. And years later, it paid off.

In this episode of Take the Plunge, Playter founder & CEO Jamie Beaumont talks through the real journey... the detours, the bad timing, the mistakes, and the moments that forced him to start again. From an HR tech startup wiped out by Covid to building a lending platform that helps thousands of small businesses manage cash flow, Jamie takes us inside:

- The pub-side NatWest loan that kicked everything off

- The failed HR platform that led to Playter

- The nerves behind sending Playter’s very first loan

- Rethinking invoice finance with Playter Pay & Playter Boost

- Why PPC and cold outbound didn’t work, and how brokers changed everything

- The messy reality of 24/7 founder life

- His “high-agency” hiring test (the escalator question)

- What it’s really like raising both equity and debt

If you’re building something, rebuilding something, or thinking about taking a leap, this conversation is full of grounded, honest lessons about resilience, distribution, and the people you surround yourself with.

About Playter

Playter helps UK SMEs manage cash flow by spreading key bills and accessing flexible funding through products like Playter Pay and Playter Boost.

About Take the Plunge

Take the Plunge is the podcast from Swoop where founders share what pushed them to stop what they were doing and build something new. From the first spark to the scaling phase, and everything messy in between.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ciaran chats with Darren O’Reilly, founder & CEO of WholeSupp, on his journey from rugby and corporate life to launching a whole-food meal shake brand built on science, transparency and taste. Darren shares the grind of finding manufacturers, bootstrapping for three years, and building a challenger brand in a crowded nutrition space. Expect insight on manufacturing, omnichannel growth, hiring, partnerships, cash flow and smart funding.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Problem → Product: After losing 23kg, Darren created a shake with 13 whole-food ingredients, co-developed with Dr. Brian Carson, using clinically backed doses.
• Trust & Quality: In a “Wild West” market, WholeSupp ensures transparency through informed-standard facilities and third-party testing.
• Taste Wins: 100+ sensory panels proved that nutrition only works if it tastes great.
• Data Focus: ~70% returning customers, 100+ monthly interviews, real-time insights and micro-influencer testing before paid growth.
• Omnichannel: Digital-first success now reinforced by Holland & Barrett rollout, sampling and staff training.
• Next Phase: Launching Ready-to-Drink (RTD) for on-the-go consumers.
• Lean Team: Keep fixed costs low, scale great people, and give ownership early.
• Funding Smart: Angels, grants, Enterprise Ireland and a fractional CFO—walked from early VC terms until metrics proved out.
• Email = Currency: Educational content (like VO₂ Max) outperforms hard-sell emails and drives loyalty.

🔥 Memorable Quotes

• “If your product doesn’t taste great, you’re in trouble.”
• “Email is currency. Educate first, sell second.”
• “We’re data nerds—every decision starts with behavior.”
• “Growth isn’t everything; live and breathe the numbers.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro & mission

01:05 – Rugby to corporate life to 23kg loss sparks the idea

02:30 – 13 whole-foods and allergen-friendly formula

03:40 – Fixing the “Wild West” of supplement labelling

06:20 – Manufacturing pain: MOQs, packaging swings, 3 years to market

08:40 – Bootstrapping reality & the Shopify myth

10:00 – Launching via social proof → paid ads

11:50 – Functional nutrition and category trends

12:40 – Convenience & RTD vision

13:40 – Taste testing and customer honesty

15:40 – Data engine: high retention & feedback

17:30 – New SKU ‘Elevate’: hydration + creatine

19:10 – Defining the “healthy, active” consumer

20:10 – Team culture, first-hire lesson, and advisors

22:20 – Low fixed, flexible cost model

24:50 – Omnichannel proof: H&B rollout & activations

26:40 – Partnerships: Rugby refs, breathwork, Nadia Power

29:10 – Milestone 430k+ meals; target 500k

30:30 – Funding & CFO Val: angels, grants, EI

32:00 – Tracking metrics via StoreHero + Triple Whale

34:00 – Profitability vs growth; knowing when to scale

36:20 – Raising smart, not fast; proof before capital

37:30 – Email education wins; 3-week reorder = 80% chance of third order

39:00 – Next goal: RTD #2 in UK

🔍 Keywords: WholeSupp, whole-food nutrition, RTD, DTC, omnichannel, third-party testing, customer research, micro-influencers, retention, Enterprise Ireland, angels, challenger brand, Holland & Barrett, functional nutrition, startup funding.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ciaran sits down with Lisa Boissel, CEO of Miss Jones Group, to uncover her bold journey from Dublin’s nightclub scene to owning and scaling one of the UK’s most influential networks for personal and executive assistants.

Lisa shares how she spotted a gap in the PA community, took the risk of acquiring Miss Jones during COVID, and leaned into tech and AI to modernise the business. From event planning stress to leadership growth, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, acquisitions, or community building.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Lisa transitioned from nightlife to entrepreneurship with no formal business background

• She saw an opportunity in the PA & EA space and turned it into a thriving network

• Acquiring Miss Jones during COVID was a high-stakes move rooted in conviction

• Technology and AI have become essential to business operations and customer service

• Community-building and strong relationships remain core to her event planning approach

• Lisa prioritizes hiring people who are eager to grow with the business

🔥 Memorable Quotes:

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro to Lisa’s Journey

01:25 – From Nightclubs to Business Ownership

05:44 – Spotting the Gap in the PA Market

07:28 – Growing the Miss Jones Network

09:48 – Using Tech to Scale

11:57 – The Challenges of Tech Development

17:48 – AI Integration for Customer Experience

19:25 – Buying Miss Jones During COVID

23:25 – Navigating Event Planning Stress

25:10 – Building a Strong Team

30:21 – Expanding into New Markets

32:47 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

34:28 – Lisa’s Vision for the Future

🔍 Keywords:

entrepreneurship, scaling a business, women in business, event planning, community building, PA network, acquisition, business technology, AI in business, startup growth, SME success

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a podcast for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who are thinking of taking the plunge! This week Ciaran and his guest of this episode, Russ Wakeham, the founder and CEO of Two Drifters Distillery – a premium British rum company with a unique, carbon-negative footprint. In this episode, they dive deep into Russ's journey in the spirits industry, where he shares his experience of building a sustainable brand from the ground up.

Two Drifters Distillery is not just known for its high-quality rum, but also for its commitment to sustainability, as the entire production process leaves a positive impact on the environment. Russ explains how they have combined their passion for great rum with innovative environmental practices to create a company that's both profitable and planet-friendly.

Website: (https://twodriftersrum.com/)

LinkedIn: [Russ Wakeham] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-wakeham-984a1938/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app)

Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/2DriftersRum/)

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/twodriftersrum/?hl=en)

Ready to start your own business? You can get a head start with support from Swoop! Learn more about Swoop here 👉 https://app.swoopfunding.com/stage

Follow Swoop on our social media platforms as well!

LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/swoopfunding/?viewAsMember=true)

Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/SwoopFunding)

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/swoopfunding/?hl=en)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Take The Plunge, a podcast for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs ready to take the plunge into the world of business! Join your host, Ciaran, as he dives into an inspiring conversation with this week’s guest, Ernesto Moreno—a powerhouse in the entrepreneurial world.

Ernesto's journey began in 2003 when he moved from Venezuela to the UK at just 23 years old with only £300 in his pocket. Fast forward two years, and he had already opened his first Subway restaurant with his business partners. This was just the beginning. Over the next few years, Ernesto expanded his Subway franchise to 15 restaurants across the South West of England, and his entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. He went on to co-found two more franchise businesses, CeX and Miniso, and co-create Arepa & Co, a Venezuelan-inspired restaurant chain in London, now boasting four thriving locations.

Today, Ernesto's ventures employ over 450 people across 32 stores and four distinct brands. In this episode, he shares the secrets behind his success, the challenges he overcame, and his vision for Arepa & Co as he works to make it a household name.

Beyond his active role in his businesses, Ernesto is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs launch and grow their own ventures. He is a seasoned business consultant and people development specialist, with over 22 years of experience working with top consulting firms like Atos Consulting and PwC. Ernesto also delivers Leadership Development and Management Training programs in partnership with edoMidas, a renowned management consultancy.

If you dream of taking the plunge yourself, you can get a good start with help from Swoop Funding!

Learn more about Swoop here 👉 https://app.swoopfunding.com/stage

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a podcast for business owners & aspiring business owners who are thinking of taking the plunge! This week Ciaran and his guest of this episode, female founder Lucy McCarraher discuss her journey in the publishing world. Lucy is the co-founder and CEO of the Book Magic AI book-writing app, co-founder of Rethink Press, and founder of the Business Book Awards. She is a Director of Dent Global and the Publish Mentor for the Key Person of Influence programme.

Author of 13 books, including "A Book of One’s Own" and "Bookbuilder," Lucy is the UK's leading business book mentor, having guided over a thousand entrepreneurs and experts in writing and publishing their books. She hosts the ABOO online support group for women authors and runs women's mastermind and fiction-writing programmes.

Lucy started her first publishing company at university and has since worked in publishing and media. She holds a postgraduate diploma in teaching Creative Writing and Literacy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.