Riding Unicorns

In this episode, we're joined by Deepka Rana, Principal at leading venture fund Northzone, early backers of Klarna, Truelayer, Spotify, iZettle, Kahoot, and Personio. Deepka shares her journey from physics at Imperial and investment banking to investing in some of Europe's most exciting startups.We unpack:

In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Carles Reina, Go-to-Market Lead at ElevenLabs, an AI Audio research and deployment company that tripled it's valuation to $3.3BN in January, after confirming a new $180M funding round. From starting out as a banker in Barcelona to scaling Uber's first European team, and now investing in over 70 startups, Carles shares the hard-won lessons that drive startup success.We dive into:

In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Romain Sestier and Guillaume Lebedel, the co-founders of StackOne, a rapidly growing startup that's building the universal integration layer for modern SaaS and AI products. Hot off the back of their $20M Series A led by GV, the duo joins us to share their journey, insights, and lessons from the trenches.Romain and Guillaume have known each other for over a decade, having worked together across multiple companies before launching StackOne. Their deep co-founder chemistry and clarity of vision have helped them move fast and build credibility with customers and investors alike.We dive into:

Recorded live at the Capsule Scale-Up 50 event in London on 30th April 2025, this episode features a standout panel discussion moderated by our co-host James Pringle.The Scale-Up 50 is Capsule's flagship celebration of the UK's fastest-growing, most exciting scale-ups, recognising the founders, leaders, and investors driving the next generation of breakout success stories. Supported by Cooper Parry and HSBC Innovation Banking, the event brings together top-tier talent from across the startup ecosystem for a day of insight, inspiration, and connection.The panels features leaders from category-defining startups. Aidan Rushby (CEO, Carmoola), Tamara Orlova (CFO, Flo Health Inc.), Alexandra French (CEO, Xampla), Nikola Mrkšić (CEO, PolyAI) - these founders share their journeys in achieving product-market fit and building strong team cultures. In this episode, you will:

In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle is joined by Raffi Salama, Co-Founder & CEO of Passionfruit, a fast-growing marketing OS used by the world's most ambitious brands to orchestrate campaigns across resourcing, planning, execution, and tracking.Raffi shares his journey from launching David Beckham's Inter Miami football club to scaling Passionfruit across London, Lisbon, and now New York. What started as a freelance marketplace has evolved into a full-stack platform for marketing teams in the AI era, already used by the likes of PepsiCo, L'Oreal, Motorway, and Klaviyo.We explore:

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode we're joined by Mike Jones, Managing Partner at Science Inc., a trailblazing venture studio behind breakout brands like Dollar Shave Club, Liquid Death, and DogVacay (merged with Rover).Mike is one of LA's most prolific entrepreneurs and investors. From turning around MySpace to co-founding and investing in over 150 companies, his career is filled with pivotal lessons on operating, scaling, and backing iconic consumer brands.We dive deep into:

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we're joined by legendary repeat founder Dylan Collins, known for building and exiting three companies—including SuperAwesome, acquired by Epic Games.Dylan takes us on a fascinating journey from founding middleware for Call of Duty at university, to building tools that made the internet safer for kids, and now backing the next generation of Gen Z and Gen Alpha startups through his investment company, LFG Holdings.We dive deep into: 

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle and Hector Mason are joined by Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Financial—a thesis-driven venture capital firm investing in B2B FinTech and enterprise technology companies that are redefining the future of financial services.With offices in London, New York, and Singapore, Illuminate is deeply embedded in the global financial ecosystem. Its strategic LPs—ranging from major banks to market infrastructure providers—offer more than just capital; they provide meaningful insight, early validation, and go-to-market support for portfolio companies. For more, visit www.illuminatefinancial.com.Mark takes us through his remarkable three-decade journey in financial markets—from trader at Deutsche Bank, to entrepreneur, to operator, and now VC. He shares how these experiences shaped the Illuminate model and its unique position at the intersection of venture and financial institutions.We dive into:

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.This episode sees James Pringle and Hector Mason sit down with Staffan Helgesson, General Partner of Creandum. Creandum is one of Europe's top early stage investors focused on Seed and Series A across a range of sectors from fintech to SaaS to devtools to climate tech, consumer tech and, of course, AI. Breakthrough companies that Creandum backed early include Spotify, Depop, iZettle, Klarna, Bolt and Trade Republic. n this wide-ranging conversation, Staffan shares the incredible story of Creandum's origin, starting in the Nordics over 20 years ago, and how it became one of Europe's most successful and respected venture franchises. From early challenges to establishing a long-term vision, we explore what it takes to build an enduring VC brand.In this episode:

Subscribe to our newsletter here. Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.Joseph Pizzolato is the Founder & General Partner at Defiant VC, a newly launched venture fund bringing a tech-first approach to investing.Joseph shares his journey from engineering to venture capital, his experiences at Vitruvian Partners and Felix Capital, and what led him to take the leap and launch Defiant. He explains how the fund is using data-driven insights, deep thematic research, and proprietary software to build a new model for venture investing.We also discuss:The future of venture capital and why it needs to evolveThe role of proprietary technology in sourcing, selecting, and supporting startupsHow to structure a portfolio thoughtfully and avoid ‘groupthink' in VCJoseph's views on AI investing and why it may be overhypedLessons from raising a first-time fund in one of the toughest VC marketsThis is a must-listen for VCs, LPs, and founders interested in the future of venture capital and how emerging funds can differentiate in a crowded market.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Aidan Rushby, Founder & CEO of Carmoola, a fintech company reinventing the way people buy used cars through a seamless, mobile-first car finance experience.Aidan shares his journey from running a property rental marketplace to identifying a massive opportunity in car finance, how he validated his business model before launching, and the lessons he learned from raising over £250m in debt and equity funding.We also dive into:How Carmoola is leveraging automation and behavioral economics to create a superior lending experienceThe challenges of building a high-growth, capital-intensive fintechWhat it takes to scale a fully automated lending platformThe importance of validating key business assumptions before committingThe future of car finance and Carmoola's expansion plansThis is an insightful conversation for fintech founders, investors, and anyone interested in disrupting traditional industries with technology.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Mike Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover's corporate venture capital arm.Mike shares his journey from a career in finance to leading one of the most active CVCs in the UK. He provides unique insights into the role of corporate venture capital in driving strategic innovation, supporting startups, and helping transform legacy industries like automotive.In this episode, we cover:The vision behind InMotion Ventures and its focus on climate, industrial, and enterprise techBalancing strategic goals with financial returns as a CVCHow InMotion Ventures partners with startups to accelerate innovation at Jaguar Land RoverThe evolving landscape of driverless cars and the future of autonomous vehiclesThe importance of longevity and integration for CVC successMike also offers a fascinating perspective on the value of collaboration between CVCs and startups, as well as what it takes to build a sustainable and impactful venture arm.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.This week on Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Adam Norris, Founder & CEO of Pure Electric, one of the leading premium electric scooter brands. Adam is also well known for playing a key role in managing the career of his son, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 driver.From building the UK's largest pension business at Hargreaves Lansdown to investing in 30+ startups through Horatio Investments, Adam has a fascinating entrepreneurial journey that has spanned multiple industries. Now, he's on a mission to revolutionise urban mobility with Pure Electric, creating world-class electric scooters designed for global markets.In this episode, we discuss:

Stefano Vaccino is the Founder and CEO of Yapily, a leading open banking infrastructure provider.Stefano shares his unique journey from a career in nanotransistor research and investment banking to discovering his passion for technology and founding Yapily. We explore how open banking regulations like PSD2 inspired him to create a mission-driven company and the challenges he faced as a solo founder building one of the leading players in this competitive space.In this episode, we discuss:Stefano's career transition from corporate life at Goldman Sachs to becoming a tech founderKey insights on when to take the entrepreneurial leap and how to manage the risksThe evolution of open banking, its global potential, and the massive opportunities it unlocks in payments, lending, and identity verificationLessons on building credibility as a solo founder, raising funding from top VCs and fintech leaders, and navigating a competitive landscapeThe importance of resilience, family support, and maintaining balance as a founderStefano's insights into open banking's future and the role Yapily plays in transforming financial services are invaluable for founders, operators, and anyone curious about fintech innovation.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Mandeep Singh is an angel investor and co-founder and former CEO of Trouva, a marketplace for independent boutiques that was acquired by Made.com.Mandeep takes us through his journey from founding Trouva, navigating its growth, and the eventual exit, to his current role as an active angel investor with a portfolio of over 80 companies.In this episode, we dive into:The story behind Trouva's evolution, including the pivots and lessons learned from building both B2B and consumer propositionsThe challenges of building a marketplace, balancing stakeholders, and achieving product-market fitReflections on fundraising, scaling, and navigating acquisitionsMandeep's approach to angel investing, what he looks for in founders, and his perspective on valuation at the earliest stagesLessons on resilience, grit, and determination, drawn from his entrepreneurial journeyMandeep also shares unique insights into the European startup ecosystem, including the challenges of scaling marketplaces and the capital landscape for ambitious founders.Whether you're a founder, investor, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of startup life, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Tim Chong is the Co-Founder and CEO of Yonder, a modern lifestyle rewards credit card designed for young city adventurers.Tim shares his journey from growing up in Australia and a career in consulting to working at ClearScore and ultimately founding Yonder. We delve into the evolution of the Yonder product and brand, from solving credit challenges for expats to becoming a lifestyle companion for urban explorers.In this episode, we explore:The pivotal insights that shaped Yonder's unique proposition and its focus on restaurant and travel rewardsLessons on customer discovery, why it's crucial for founders, and how to execute it effectivelyBuilding a high-frequency, habit-forming product that becomes a primary card for usersThe importance of organisational design, culture, and language in scaling startupsInsights into raising funding through challenging market conditions and the importance of patience in building a generational companyTim also reflects on his role as a first-time founder, the art of adapting as a CEO, and why building great companies takes time, vision, and conviction.Whether you're a founder, operator, or just curious about building products and brands, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

This week on Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Romina Savova, Founder & CEO of PensionBee, the platform transforming how people manage their pensions. With over 260,000 customers and £5.5 billion in assets under management, PensionBee has become a household name in the UK. Romina shares the journey of building a public company that empowers consumers to take control of their retirement savings.In this episode, we explore: 

This week on Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Dom Hallas, Executive Director at the Startup Coalition, the policy voice for UK tech startups and scaleups. Dom brings a wealth of insight into the intersection of tech, venture, and public policy, offering a fascinating look into the state of the UK ecosystem during a time of governmental and economic change.Dom discusses the Startup Coalition's mission to advocate for startups and investors by addressing key challenges such as access to talent, funding, and regulatory clarity. He also shares valuable perspectives on how policy can shape the future of startups across areas like AI, climate tech, and FinTech.In this episode, we explore: 

Ron Levin is the Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, the most active venture capital firm in the US. Hector spoke to Ron to discuss his journey from entrepreneur to investor and his insights on scaling ventures and building impactful companies.Ron shares his fascinating career story, from organising trading card shows as a teenager to founding the travel-tech unicorn TravelPerk and eventually joining Alumni Ventures, where he leads their dedicated Seed Fund. The conversation dives into:Ron's unique career trajectory, blending tech, travel, and entrepreneurshipFounding TravelPerk and the lessons learned from pivoting earlyAlumni Ventures' innovative model and how they empower founders while co-investingThe importance of serendipity, curiosity, and acting on opportunities in building a careerHis philosophy on investing for impact and solving big societal problemsThis episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice for founders, investors, and anyone interested in venture capital and entrepreneurship.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Martin Sokk is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lightyear. He joined Hector to discuss his journey from product management at Wise (formerly TransferWise) to building a company revolutionising retail investing in Europe.Martin shares how his product-driven mindset and relentless curiosity have shaped his career, offering insights into creating 10x products, scaling startups, and understanding customer needs through direct engagement. The conversation also dives into:Lightyear's mission to transform Europe's outdated and costly investing infrastructureThe challenges and opportunities of building a pan-European fintech solutionLessons learned from Wise and the importance of fostering entrepreneurial talentThe role of resilience in navigating crises and maintaining focus on long-term goalsMartin's story is packed with actionable advice and inspiration for founders, operators, and anyone passionate about fintech innovation.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James is joined by Matt Chandler, Principal at Octopus Ventures, one of Europe's leading early-stage venture capital firms. Known for his focus on consumer tech, Matt shares his journey from aspiring oil painter to venture capitalist, weaving creativity into every step of his career.Matt discusses the unique dynamics at Octopus Ventures, including their thematic investment approach and their mission to back transformative startups across sectors like gaming, consumer AI, and niche communities. He provides fascinating insights into the "practicalities of change," lessons learned from his entrepreneurial past, and how to maintain focus on core customers during periods of growth.The conversation dives into Octopus's recent investments, including their backing of Onibi, a groundbreaking MMO gaming platform introducing innovative physics to user-generated worlds. Matt also explores overlooked themes in venture capital, including loneliness, consumer AI, and the evolving world of niche communities.This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders and investors alike. Tune in to hear how Octopus Ventures is championing underdog consumer startups and how Matt's creative approach is shaping the future of venture capital.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Sasha Kaletsky, Managing Partner at Creator Ventures, joins James Pringle on Riding Unicorns to discuss his journey into venture capital, the evolution of Creator Ventures, and the unique insights creators bring to consumer internet investing.In this episode, Sasha dives into:The transition from an investment club to a $20M fundBacking transformative startups like beehiiv, Praktika.ai, & ElevenLabsLeveraging creator expertise to navigate social media strategies and consumer trendsThe importance of team and market defensibility in early-stage investingSasha also shares his views on running a nimble, founder-led fund, scaling sustainably, and the future of AI-driven consumer products.This is a must-listen for anyone interested in consumer-focused venture capital and the intersection of creators and startups.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, joins James Pringle and Hector Mason on Riding Unicorns to delve into the fascinating intersection of behavioural science, marketing, and business strategy. With a career dedicated to understanding human decision-making, Rory shares his unique perspective on how psychological insights can unlock growth and create competitive advantages in today's business landscape.In this episode, Rory explores why even the most brilliant ideas can fail without the right marketing approach and how concepts like the Netflix subscription model and the reliability of brands like McDonald's and Five Guys build customer trust through consistency. He introduces the concept of “inshittification” — when successful companies lose their way by prioritising profits over user experience — and critiques the tech industry's obsession with automation at the expense of user needs.Rory's thought-provoking insights touch on everything from counterintuitive customer behaviour and the hidden power of psychological hacks to why founders need to consider both product and distribution as essential locks to unlocking success. This episode offers practical takeaways for founders, VCs, and creatives on how to better align products with consumer psychology and navigate today's competitive market.Listen now for Rory Sutherland's refreshing take on behavioural science and its unexpected impact on business growth.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media to never miss an episode!

Vidu Shanmugarajah is a Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), where he invests in transformative tech companies across Europe. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, Vidu joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share his journey from corporate law to venture capital, highlighting how his unique background has shaped his approach to investing.Vidu discusses his atypical career path, starting as an M&A lawyer before transitioning to private equity and eventually venturing into tech as an entrepreneur and investor. He sheds light on GV's distinct model as an independent venture firm backed by Alphabet, explaining how it leverages Alphabet's resources while maintaining a startup-focused ethos. Throughout the conversation, Vidu offers insights into his investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of identifying standout founders, the growing role of AI, and the value of diversity in venture capital.This episode provides a compelling look into the mindset of a successful VC, the nuances of investing in tech, and the evolving landscape of European startups. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just curious about the venture capital world, you won't want to miss Vidu's insights on building and scaling impactful tech companies.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes!

Edwina Johnson is the General Manager of MoneyGram Online International, responsible for overseeing the company's digital consumer business outside of North America. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, Edwina joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to talk about her diverse career, ranging from working with startups to corporate roles, as well as her experience as an angel investor and startup advisor.Edwina shares her unique journey, beginning in digital media and advertising, co-founding an ad tech startup, and eventually moving into fintech, where she played a pivotal role at Startup Bootcamp and Alloy. She discusses the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a fast-growing startup to a well-established institution like MoneyGram, shedding light on the major shifts needed for traditional businesses to stay competitive in a digital age.Throughout the conversation, Edwina emphasises the importance of supporting underrepresented founders and shares insights from her own angel investing criteria, which focuses on B2B fintech, regtech, and SAS businesses led by founders from underestimated backgrounds. She also highlights the need for diversity in tech, particularly in the fintech space, and the barriers still present in early-stage investment networks.This episode offers valuable lessons in career adaptability, building diverse teams, and fostering innovation across sectors. If you're interested in the intersection of fintech, startup culture, and angel investing, you won't want to miss this episode.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow *The Riding Unicorns* podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media for more exciting episodes!

Paul Yacoubian is the Founder and CEO of Copy.ai, a company revolutionising the way businesses create marketing and sales copy by automating workflows with AI. Founded in 2020, Copy.ai initially helped distribute the value of GPT-3, but has since expanded to build an enterprise product streamlining go-to-market efforts for companies globally. In this episode, Paul joins hosts James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss his journey from an accounting and hedge fund career to becoming a leading AI entrepreneur.They dive deep into Paul's entrepreneurial roots, the early days of Copy.ai, and how his experience working with venture-backed companies influenced his approach to building scalable solutions. Paul also shares insights on the evolving role of AI, how large language models are reshaping business processes, and why he believes in the future of automated business operations.The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities in the AI space, the importance of talent density in startups, and how companies can leverage AI to drive growth. Paul's passion for innovation shines through, offering founders, VCs, and anyone interested in the tech space valuable takeaways about building, scaling, and navigating the future of AI-driven companies.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media to never miss an episode!

Charles Wells is the Founder and CEO of HelloSelf, a technology business focused on personalised psychological advice aimed at self-betterment. In this episode, Charlie joins hosts James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss his eclectic career in marketing, charity, angel investing, and entrepreneurship, as well as the story behind HelloSelf. The business provides personalised online therapy designed to help people feel better, faster and stay better, longer, and Charlie shares how his near-death experience inspired him to dive into the brain tech space and focus on mental health.Throughout the conversation, Charlie discusses his mapping of the emerging neurotechnology space, breaking it down into chemicals, hardware, and software categories. He also talks about the massive potential of AI in understanding our brains, while highlighting the importance of therapy that empowers individuals to become their own therapists.Charlie's extraordinary journey, which includes surviving a category five brain haemorrhage and undergoing extensive neuro-rehabilitation, has profoundly shaped his outlook on life and business. His commitment to brain health and earth health drives his work, and his story offers valuable lessons about resilience, focus, and the power of incremental self-improvement.Curious about how HelloSelf could help you? HelloSelf are offering taster sessions with psychologists to give you a personalised glimpse into their services. Whether you're considering therapy for yourself or want to learn more about their approach to mental wellbeing, these no-obligation sessions are designed to help you take the first step toward feeling better, faster. Learn more and book your session here.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media for more episodes!

Simon Mellin is the Founder and CEO of The Modern Milkman. ​Their business started as a local milkround inspired by David Attenborough's Blue Planet and the need to reduce plastic waste. In the space of a few short years, they've grown from four friends and a truck to a vast network of milkmen and women working tirelessly to reduce consumer waste. Their mobile tech supports their 'eco-warriors on earlies' by connecting them to their customers via online ordering and driver apps, facilitating convenient doorstep deliveries. The tech also connects them to their network of independent dairies, farmers and suppliers who are mutually committed to sustainable produce and plastic-free packaging. Their mission is to revolutionise consumer habits by delivering fresh ways to return and reuse packaging, shop ethically and feel good about convenience.Simon joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss key lessons from moving from farmer to founder, the idea behind The Modern Milkman, business expansion to the US, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

David Jarvis is the Co-Founder and CEO of Griffin. ​Griffin puts the bank in Banking as a Service. They combine the secure, regulated infrastructure of a bank with the speed and power of modern software into one powerful full-stack BaaS platform. Their goal is to empower companies to embed banking into their products quickly and safely. With purpose-built APIs and an all-access developer sandbox, they're helping customers build and launch payment platforms, financial wellness apps, client account products, business loans, and more.David joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss the founding principles of Griffin, company culture and management, the future of embedded finance, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Mike Soutar worked in the media and entertainment industry since the mid-1980s, starting as a magazine journalist and editor before becoming a Publisher and Managing Director working across print, digital, and broadcast platforms in the UK and America. In 2000 Mike joined the Board of Britain's largest magazine publisher, IPC, and was part of the Board team which sold that business to Time Warner. In 2006 Mike co-founded Shortlist Media, one of the fastest-growing media companies of the early 2000s. As CEO he led the business from a 5-strong start-up to an award-winning enterprise employing 180 staff, with operations in the UK and Europe, across print, digital and events. He led the ultimate successful sale of the business to legendary Scottish publishers DC Thomson, the company he joined from school as a trainee journalist aged 17.Mike joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss the winning formula for a successful media brand, what he enjoys about being a CEO, the future of media, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

George Henry is a General Partner at LocalGlobe. LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm that focuses on seed and impact investments. They have seeded impactful founders since 1999 at places like Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Wise, and Zoopla. They invest in startups selling to consumers, small businesses, and enterprises. They are lean, data-driven, and move fast in decision-making. They offer highly structured, collaborative support to investee companies, and have an excellent track record in getting their startups to a Series A raising (almost 90% vs less than 40% EU average).George joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss founder evaluation, the 4 investment themes they're excited about, what the next 10 years potentially hold for VC, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Richard Anton is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Oxx. Oxx partners with the most promising European B2B software companies at the scale-up stage. As a specialist SaaS investor, Oxx provides each entrepreneur with a support system of unique specialist expertise and network, and a culture of unfaltering partnership and absolute conviction. The firm's strategy is built around the concept of “Go-To-Market Fit”, developing a structure for thinking about how to build a repeatable, sustainable growth engine that accelerates and propels the growth of SaaS companies. Richard joins James Pringle to discuss Oxx's investment strategy, what needs to change about ventures in the UK, investing in AI and cybersecurity, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Tim Creswick is the CEO and Founder of Vorboss. Vorboss is a dedicated fibre network and internet service purpose-built for the needs of London's most demanding businesses. They are the only internet service provider that offers 10Gbps as a minimum—meaning that their network can cope with the demands of the most data-hungry businesses for the next decade and beyond.Tim joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss infrastructure operations, significant business pivots, network security, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Oana Andreea Jinga is a CCO and Co-founder of Dexory. They develop robotics and AI logistics solutions to drive better business decisions. Through their DexoryView platform, they automate data collection and build real-time fed digital twin technology that unlocks insights across all levels of warehouse operations.Oana joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss what problem Dexory solves, leaving Google to start Dexory, her view on humanoid robots, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Gareth Jefferies is a Partner at RTP Global, a global, early-stage venture capital firm, backing ambitious founders who are reshaping the world with technology. Their track record speaks for itself; over 110 investments worldwide, with one in 10 becoming multi-billion dollar companies including Datadog, DeliveryHero, and Cred. Gareth joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share the skills to hone as a VC, common profiles of companies that became unicorns, intuition in investing, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Akshat Goenka is a Partner at Moonfire. Enabling European entrepreneurs to dream big and execute fully on their bold ideas at the very earliest stages of their journeys is Moonfire's passion and cause. Moonfire can help entrepreneurs at the very start of their journeys to create the right foundations to drive growth exponentially. Moonfire lights a fire within seed stage investing in Europe to help entrepreneurs grow their boundless ambition and burning creativity. In partnering with Moonfire, companies benefit from Mattias Ljungman's extensive experience including 13 years as a Co-Founder of Atomico with investments in like Supercell, viagogo, Klarna and Rovio. Moonfire focuses on reimagining finance & money, realising the future of work, new frontiers in gaming and transforming healthcare.Akshat joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss Moonfire's data-driven approach, Moonfire's ambition, the future of capital allocation, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Sam Ettelaie is the Co-Founder and CIO at Thema, Europe's strategic LP for emerging fund managers. They act as a strategic cornerstone limited partner, writing first tickets of up to £5m, offering operational and regulatory support. Sam joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss building long-term defensibility, knowledge vs operational edge,  Fund of Funds investing, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Callum Taylor is the Head of ITV AdVentures Ignite, they are here to help startup and scaleup brands begin an ongoing journey into the exciting world of TV - not as simply a media owner, but as a business partner. Hosting some of the nation's favorite shows and offering unrivaled reach, advertising on ITV will supercharge your brand's growth - unlocking new customers in the only medium that can give you the scale and gravitas to tell your brand's story with impact. They'll use their expertise to help you identify the right media strategy, target audience, and creative messaging to help you maximize the outcome of your TV campaigns.Callum joins James Pringle to share about the Ignite Program, what media for equity is, new standards in the TV industry, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Johannes Weber is the Founding Partner at Ananda Impact Ventures, the leading impact venture capital fund with a pan-European investment remit, managing ca. €200 million in four Core Impact Funds, with backing from notable institutional and private investors. They back technology businesses committed to having a positive impact that answers the most pressing social and ecological challenges of our time, in a way that is both scalable and sustainable. The active portfolio includes NatureMetrics (biodiversity monitoring & assessment), Close Loop Medicine (personalized medicine), OroraTech (wildfire detection & monitoring from space), and IESO Digital Health (online psychotherapy). Johannes joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to speak about the super skill a VC should have, founder's health, founder alignment, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Meri Beckwith is a Co-Founder at Lindus Health. Their mission is to accelerate clinical trials, so patients can benefit from new treatments sooner. They are an anti-CRO running radically faster, more reliable clinical trials for life science pioneers. They do this thanks to a commercial model that aligns incentives (fixed-priced quotes per study, with milestone-based payments), marrying a world-class clinical operations team with their unique software platform, and access to 30 million Electronic Health Records. They handle the end-to-end execution of clinical studies, including design, patient recruitment, clinical data capture, monitoring, and project management. Meri joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share what anti-CRO means, how the traditional CRO model is broken, factors behind Lindus Health's success, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Chrys Chrysanthou and Leila Zegna are General Partners at Kindred Capital. At Kindred, they align their ambitions and achievements with their portfolio - in structure and in spirit. Every entrepreneur they invest in becomes a co-owner of the fund and they call it ‘equitable venture'. They invest early and work with their community of founders and advisers to help founders get further, faster from the very beginning.Chrys and Leila join James Pringle and Hector Mason to share what it is like to be Kindred, relationships vs intellectual horsepower,  the need for humbleness in Venture & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Suranga Chandratillake is a General Partner at Balderton Capital;  a multistage venture firm with more than two decades of experience supporting Europe's best founders from Seed to IPO. They have both early and growth funds and invest across the technology sector. Suranga joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share strategies for creating new processes, the importance of establishing good relationships with investors, the Balderton Founder Wellbeing & Performance Platform, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Dinika Mahtani is a Partner at Cherry Ventures; an early-stage venture capital firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies such as Zalando and Spotify. The firm backs Europe's boldest founders, usually as their first institutional investor, and supports them in everything from their go-to-market strategy and the scaling of their businesses.Dinika joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share  share her career in banking and then at Uber, angel investing, Cherry Ventures' secret sauce to success, & so much more.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Amon Ghaiumy is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ophelos; a fintech startup with unique technology that uses machine learning and behavioural science to get people debt-free and organisations paid back.Amon joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss how he started Ophelos, the existing debt collection industry situation, the founder experience in the UK Tech ecosystem, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

James Evans is the Co-Founder and CEO of CommandBar; an AI-powered user assistance platform that makes your product easier to use. Activate and retain more users to grow faster.James joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss how to determine product-market fit, CommandBar's hiring philosophy, their fundraising strategy, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Christian Gabriel is the Co-Founder and former CEO of Capdesk (acquired by Carta), a platform that helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Their mission is to unlock the power of equity ownership for more people in more places. Carta is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 5,000 investment funds, and half a million employees for cap table management, compensation management, liquidity venture capital solutions, and more.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

David Bateman is a Managing Partner at Claret Capital Partners. The Claret team has been active in the technology financing markets for over 20 years and provides debt solutions to help entrepreneurs and private equity investors grow their companies while minimizing dilution. Since 2013 Claret has backed over 140 European SMEs from a wide range of geographies across Europe.David joins James Pringle to talk about the company profile they prefer to back, what success looks like for a venture fund, the biggest misconception about venture debt, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Agate Freimane is a General Partner at Norrsken VC, an Article 9, or "dark green," investment fund. They operate as a pure impact fund, exclusively investing in companies that have a sustainable objective for the product or service they develop. They provide extensive support to their portfolio companies, assisting them in implementing impact workshops and training programs. This enables them to measure their company's impact incrementally over time and establish long-term ESG goals.Agate joins James Pringle to discuss important founder traits, what sets Norrsken VC apart from other VCs, the person who made an impact on her career, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Christian Noske is a Partner at NGP Capital. They back early-stage B2B companies from Series A onwards in Europe, the US, Israel, and China within enterprise software, industrial tech, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. Their current portfolio includes Coda, DataLoop, Clue, Nova Labs, Scandit, Shippeo, & SecurityScorecard, while their exits include Deliveroo, Xiaomi, Moovit, Kaltura, and many more.Christian joins James Pringle to talk about investment process fundamentals, market changes, company expectations for Series A funding, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

This episode is with Raphael Thiolon (Managing Director) and Lopo Champalimaud (Co-Founder & Managing Partner at V3 Ventures) at Verlinvest, an international, family-backed evergreen investment company. They partner with visionary entrepreneurs who are driving consumer revolutions and building the next generation of category-defining brands that will positively impact the consumer sector for years to come. Raph and Lopo join James Pringle and Hector Mason to talk about the story behind Verlinvest, why they are focused on the consumer space,  how different investor perspectives help with company building, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!

Audrey Handem is a VC at Speedinvest; one of Europe's most active early-stage investors with more than €1 billion AuM and 40+ investors based in Berlin, London, Munich, Paris, and Vienna.Founder success is Speedinvest's top priority, so they don't just send some money and "check in" at board meetings. Their mission is to empower founders with game-changing support through every stage of their journey. Audrey joins James Pringle to discuss the mistakes founders make in fundraising, what she looks for in investments now, what sets SpeedInvest apart from other VCs, & so much more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date!