Going solo shouldn’t mean going it alone. Investrio (co-founded by Joyce Medeiros and Laura) is building the financial infrastructure for solopreneurs — creators, freelancers, consultants, and company-of-one founders. Think AI-powered bookkeeping, clean, clear reports, invoicing, and access to funding (grants, SBA options, more) — all in one place and designed for how solo businesses actually run.

Joyce shares her journey from Goldman trader → startup operator → financial coach → founder, why legacy tools like Xero/QuickBooks feel built for “finance teams” not one-person businesses, and how Investrio helps you see income, expenses, cash flow, and tax-ready reports without drowning in spreadsheets. We dig into the common money mistakes (ignoring retirement, mixing personal/business, no cash-flow view), why community matters when you’re building solo, and what’s coming next — from smarter automation to broader capital access.

If you’re a solopreneur who wants a clearer handle on bookkeeping, taxes, and funding (so you can get back to the work you love), this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Built for one: Investrio provides financial infrastructure for solopreneurs — not adapted “enterprise” software.

• All-in-one visibility: Connect accounts, let AI clean and categorise your books (currently ~94% accuracy), then track income, expenses, and cash flow at a glance.

• Get paid, properly: Invoicing with Stripe/PayPal/Venmo support + clean reports for tax time.

• Access to capital: A curated grant finder (with Investrio’s own weekly grant) and pathways to loans; long-term vision to help underwrite solos for mortgages, car loans, and small-biz credit using real business data.

• Designed by insiders: Joyce, Laura, and their engineer Sean all ran solo businesses — the product reflects real-world pain points.

• Community = unfair advantage: Events, WhatsApp groups, and ongoing user feedback shape the roadmap.

• Mindset shift: Treat everything as an experiment — test, learn, iterate.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 — Building financial infrastructure for solopreneurs

00:52 — What Investrio is (and who it’s for)

02:10 — “Tinder for co-founders”: how Joyce & Laura met

03:26 — From trading & a successful exit to financial coaching

05:06 — Why focus on the solopreneur (42M Americans)

06:59 — Leaving a salary: the first financial hurdles

09:45 — Product philosophy: your financial bestie

15:50 — How it works: connect, clean up, see the numbers

17:45 — Funding hub: grants now, broader capital later

18:24 — Automation under the hood (~94% classification accuracy)

22:13 — Demand from bookkeepers & accountants; B2B interest

24:38 — Roadmap: smarter AI, more funding, potential underwriting

26:37 — Community meetups & WhatsApp; why support matters

29:34 — Advice for solos: test like a scientist

31:05 — Where to try Investrio

32:12 — Startup shout-out: Latte (college mentorship)

Links & Resources:

• Investrio — App Store | Website | Instagram | TikTok | Threads

• Connect with Joyce Medeiros — LinkedIn

• Discover Startups — TikTok | YouTube | Instagram | Newsletter

For anyone who’s ever woken up battling the dreaded hangover, Reclaim might be the drink you’ve been waiting for. Created by Todd Bruce, a former super-yacht crew member turned entrepreneur, Reclaim is a functional recovery drink designed to help people bounce back using natural, science-backed ingredients — without caffeine or synthetic additives.

After years working in hospitality and seeing how drinking culture fits into busy professional lives, Todd set out to create a product that actually helps you recover, not just mask the symptoms. In this episode, he shares his startup journey — from life at sea to founding a health and wellness brand — and what he’s learned about turning frustration into innovation.

We cover:

• • The gap in the drinks market that inspired Reclaim.
  • How hangovers are Taboo in the workplace.

• Why hangover recovery is about replenishment.

• The power of functional mushrooms, adaptogens, and natural vitamins.

• How to balance taste with nutrition (and why Reclaim is flat, not fizzy).

• The challenges of breaking into the functional beverage industry without experience.

• Todd’s long-term goal to make Reclaim.

Whether you’re into wellness, entrepreneurship, or just want a smarter way to recover after a big night, this episode is packed with honesty, energy, and practical insight into what it takes to build a startup from scratch.

Key Takeaways:

• From super-yachts to startups: Todd left his career at sea to build a drink that solves a problem he knows well.

• The hangover problem: Most recovery routines are scattered — Reclaim offers an all-in-one natural solution.

• Four functions in one: Detoxifying, energising, replenishing, and hydrating ingredients work together to help your body recover.

• Functional mushrooms: Each can contains 3,000 mg of lion’s mane and cordyceps for focus and clean energy.

• No caffeine, no crash: Ginseng and L-theanine provide calm alertness without jitters.

• Transparent dosing: Every ingredient and vitamin dose is listed clearly on the can.

• Taste that delivers: Based on ginger and coconut water, Reclaim balances health with flavour.

• Next-gen wellness: Designed for professionals who work hard, play hard, and want products that actually help them feel better.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction to Reclaim & its purpose

03:33 — Todd’s journey from super-yachts to startup life

07:16 — Identifying the hangover problem

09:52 — Functional ingredients & formulation

17:21 — The science of recovery

20:00 — Balancing flavour, health & transparency

26:57 — Building a business around a personal need

27:03 — Future plans: new flavours & hotel expansion

29:15 — Supporting other startups (Gut Buds)

Links & Resources:

• Reclaim — Website | Instagram | TikTok

• Connect with Todd Bruce — LinkedIn

• Discover Startups — ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Newsletter

Disclaimer:

This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It does not provide medical or nutritional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making health-related decisions.

For most people in their 20s and 30s, wills feel like something to worry about later. Complicated. Expensive. Not urgent. But when her cousin died unexpectedly, leaving a fiancée and child without legal protection, Sophia Maslin saw first-hand how unprepared many of us are for the unexpected.

That moment inspired Morby, a death tech startup that makes will writing simple, affordable, and accessible for young people. With a background in both the modelling industry and law, Sophia took an unconventional path into legal tech innovation, determined to build a platform that speaks to a generation often left out of the estate planning conversation.

In this episode of Discover Startups, Sophia shares the story behind Morby, why so many people avoid wills, and how her team are reshaping estate planning for modern life.

We cover:

• Why young people are put off by wills — and why the real barrier isn’t fear of death, but not knowing where to start.

• The reality of the UK’s intestacy rules — and what actually happens if you die without a will.

• The life events that usually prompt people to take out their first will, from buying a home to having a child.

• How Morby simplifies the process with a guided journey that strips out legal jargon.

• Why wills aren’t just about money — they also capture funeral wishes, pet care, and personal requests.

• Morby’s competitive pricing — £80 for a single will, £20 for a letter of wishes, and unlimited edits for £10/year with Morby Plus.

• What’s next: a digital vault for documents and passwords, an estate readiness score, and an AI assistant to guide users through every step.

This is a conversation about innovation in one of life’s most overlooked areas. If you’ve ever thought “I’ll sort it later,” this episode shows why now is the time to start.

Key Takeaways

• From tragedy to startup: How Sophia turned personal loss into the spark for Morby.

• Why wills matter early: The consequences of dying without one under UK intestacy rules.

• Estate planning for everyone: Why you don’t need to be wealthy to need a will.

• Morby’s approach: A jargon-free, mobile-first way to create a will in minutes.

• Beyond money: Wills can include wishes about funerals, pets, and personal details.

• Accessible pricing: Transparent, affordable options designed for younger generations.

• Future of death tech: Digital vaults, AI assistants, and tools to keep life admin in order.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 — Turning tragedy into innovation

02:50 — From modelling to death tech

05:52 — Why young people avoid wills

09:10 — What happens if you die without a will

11:52 — How Morby makes will writing simple

14:55 — Features and innovations (digital vault + AI)

18:00 — Partnerships and business opportunities

20:47 — Pricing and accessibility of Morby

24:02 — Startup shoutout: HNTR app

Links & Resources

• Morby — Website | TikTok | Instagram

• Discover Startups — TikTok | YouTube | Instagram | Newsletter

  
  

  Disclaimer:

  This episode is for informational and storytelling purposes only. It does not provide legal advice, and nothing discussed should be relied upon as such.

What if instant soup could actually be good for you? That’s the question Bella Acland set out to answer when she launched Soul Kitchen, a food startup reimagining a cupboard staple with healthy, clean-label recipes made from real ingredients.

Tired of the same old options on supermarket shelves, Bella wanted to prove that convenience food doesn’t have to mean compromise. With real vegetables in every sachet, Soul Kitchen is showing that fast food can also be fresh, flavourful, and nourishing.

In this conversation, Bella shares how her love for food turned into a business idea, the inspiration behind Soul Kitchen, and what she’s learned about creating products that fit into busy lives while still delivering on taste and nutrition. We also talk about why soup has been left behind in the world of food innovation, how consumers are becoming more conscious about what goes into their meals, and what’s next for Soul Kitchen — including exciting new flavours and functional recipes.

If you’re passionate about healthy eating, trying new brands, or discovering startups with fresh ideas, you’ll love Bella’s story.

Where to find Soul Kitchen:

• ⁠Website⁠
• ⁠TikTok⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠

Promotion:

UK listeners can get 15% off their first order of Soul Kitchen, when they order via their website using the code DISCOVER15 at checkout.

Key Takeaways:

• How Soul Kitchen is bringing healthy eating to the instant soup aisle.
• Why the soup market has been slow to change — and how new brands are shaking it up.
• The role of real vegetables and simple ingredients in building trust with consumers.
• Why more people are looking for convenient food that’s also nutritious.
• What’s next for Soul Kitchen as it grows and develops new flavours.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Soul Kitchen & Bella Acland

00:48 – Bella’s journey into food and the idea behind Soul Kitchen

03:37 – Why soup has been overlooked in food innovation

08:02 – Understanding processed foods and what goes into our meals

11:53 – Ingredient sourcing and recipe development

14:06 – What makes Soul Kitchen different

19:06 – New flavours and future product ideas

21:57 – Where to find Soul Kitchen & why community support matters

26:39 – Closing reflections

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Keywords:

Soul Kitchen, instant soup, healthy eating, clean label, convenience food, food innovation, real ingredients, vegetables, startup story, challenger brand, new food brands, UK food startups, Bella Acland, UK startup, business ideas , startups, entrepreneur

Every big brand you know started as a small one no one was talking about.

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Each week, we share short, sharp stories about founders solving real problems with better products— the brands you’ll wish you’d heard about sooner.

Whether you’re a curious shopper, a trend-spotting investor, or a retailer on the hunt for your next big find — this show is your shortcut to the good stuff.

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