Tales in Tech: Start-Up Diaries

Join us for an inspiring episode of The Start-Up Diaries as we sit down with Richard Potter, co-founder and CEO of Peak.

In this episode, Livvie Holt sits down with Stephen Bell, Group Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, and Frankie Woodhead, Group Chief Product Officer, from the Bank of London. A unicorn status attained at time of launch, and second clearing bank to launch in the UK in 250 years; The business has taken the fintech sector by storm, landing into the top 10 of the nation's most valuable FinTechs in 2021 – trailblazing since. The Bank of London is different. They don't lend, invest, or leverage your deposits like other banks do, so  they're not impacted by traditional ‘bank-runs'. They simply hold all deposits in full and unencumbered at the Bank of England, always keeping them fully available upon demand - 'safer banking for business Britain, the way it should be.'We delve into the bank's unique vision and strategy that disrupts traditional banking by focusing solely on payment settlement, clearing, and agency banking without lending or investing. Stephen and Frankie share insights into the challenges and triumphs of launching and growing a startup in the highly regulated banking sector. They highlight the importance of inclusivity being a the heart of the business, resilience, and a customer-centric approach in driving their success.  Tune in to hear about their journeys, the innovative solutions they bring to the table, and their advice for other disruptors in the industry.  Whether you're a startup enthusiast or a banking professional, this episode offers valuable lessons on navigating and succeeding in disrupting a traditional market, with purpose.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Join us for an insightful episode as Chris McGowan sits down with Ben Booth to explore the remarkable evolution of MaxContact. Ben shares his compelling journey from working in a family-run business to leading major transformations, including innovative product development and strategic rebranding efforts. This episode offers an in-depth look at the critical importance of leveraging data, scaling operations while maintaining a robust company culture, and navigating intricate business transitions such as management buyouts and succession planning.Discover how MaxContact has adapted to the rapidly evolving tech landscape, the strategies they've employed for market adaptation, and the lessons learned along the way. Ben shares his passions for building strong professional relationships and nurturing internal talent to become the best in the market. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights and practical strategies to help you thrive in the fast-paced tech industry.Key takeaways:Ben's transformative journey at MaxContactLeveraging data and maintaining culture during growthNavigating management buyouts and succession planningImplementing structural changes like rebranding and product sourcingEffective strategies for market adaptation and business growthPreparing for business exits and securing private equity investmentBuilding strong relationships and seeking expert guidanceFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with tech leader, Alidad Moghaddam, CEO of Blue Light Card, in an episode of tech growth mastery. From Navigating MoneySuperMarkets Acquisition, to scaling Trainline 400%, Alidad shares his remarkable journey and multicultural upbringing to leading a mission-driven organization that supports NHS workers, emergency services, social care, and armed forces personnel, Blue Light Card. Discover his experiences at American Express, Bain & Company, MoneySuperMarket, and Trainline, and how they shaped his approach to growth and innovation in the technology market.Key Takeaways:Alidad's multicultural background and its influence on his careerTransition from American Express to the tech sector during a pivotal time of technological developments (smart phones). Challenges and learnings from the 2008 financial crisisKey strategies for driving growth and innovation in tech businessesThe mission and impact of Blue Light Card on everyday heroesThe importance of IQ and EQ in leadership Insights on building and maintaining company culture in hyper-growth environmentsThe importance of being customer-centric and agile in businessVision for the future at Blue Light CardFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode, Ben Whately, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Memrise, shares his journey from experimenting with neural networks to founding an innovative language learning platform. Memrise is a platform that leverages memory techniques, deep understanding of neuroscience and novel approaches to second language acquisition to make learning a language dramatically easier and faster.Ben discusses:The challenges of disrupting the Ed-Tech marketThe role of AI in education, and the growth of Memrise to 80 million users. The psychological theories driving Memrise.His personal focus on angel investing in sustainability and climate tech startups Practical advice for founders on navigating the startup ecosystem, understanding customer needs, and staying adaptable.Mental frameworks to adopt for agility in business development and growth (anti-fragile mentalities).How people from non traditional backgrounds can still flourish and have great success in the technology sector.What type of founder Ben looks to invest in.Counteracting innate bias to try to change the investment landscape and build a better technology ecosystem for the future.And much, much more...Tune in for insights on education, psychology, technology, and sustainable innovation.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Phil Goffin, CEO and co-founder of ZILO, shares his journey from early computing enthusiast to innovating in the fin-tech space, currently through leading a pioneering software company, ZILO.ZILO, founded in 2020, aims to revolutionise the asset and wealth management industry with innovative software solutions. Phil explains the company's mission to modernise systems managing over $60 trillion in assets, which were previously based on outdated pre-internet technology. They're on a mission to be a global software giant.ZILO has a strong focus on artificial intelligence, with 20% of their engineers dedicated to AI development; Phil discusses the challenges of AI adoption in the finance sector, AI's developments and how we protect and evolve the talent in the tech market, and how ZILO have a 1/1000 success rate in joining their world class teams.Having secured £25 million in funding earlier this year (totalling circa £50 million of funding), Phil also sheds light on the challenges of the fundraising journey and advice for other entrepreneurs.Phil also reflects on how his ADHD has influenced his creative problem-solving and offers his own experience on how he has been managing this, reframing it as his super-power over a limitation.Beyond ZILO, Phil has founded multiple successful businesses, including Calastone, which was sold for £350 million.He shares lessons learned from these ventures, emphasising the importance of passion over just profit and offers final advice for integrating AI into business from the ground up, rather than as an afterthought.This episode provides a wealth of insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts alike.

Send us a Text Message.Ann O'Neill walks us through her brilliant career and how it's lead her to build a UK leading female health product focused on the menopause, Adora Digital Health. Ann's diverse career started in sales & marketing over in radio. Having previously worked on the UK's biggest ever radio broadcast deals including Live8 with Bob Geldof, and worked with market leading broadcasters such as Viacom, MTV, and Global Media (then Capital Radio) to name a few. After taking a career break to raise her children, Ann experience first hand how women desperately needed (and continue to need) more support in the workplace when dealing perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause symptoms. She took the matter into her own hands, and made the leap into entrepeneurialism. Ann has founded a start-up that is an expert-led, AI health and wellbeing platform for menopause, provided by employers in the workplace, and is leading the way in this area of the FemTech sector.You'll hear more on: How it's possible to get into the AI healthtech sector when not having a healthcare, tech or AI background

Send us a Text Message.In this episode we have Sadra Hosseini, the CEO and co-founder of Ryft, a payment platform business taking the fintech sector by storm, Helping software businesses become payments businesses by monetising transactions.Sadra's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring, and today we'll dive into how he's transforming the landscape of digital payments. The episode covers: Funding and Strategy - Ryft raised 2 million in seed funding and received an Innovate UK grant, and are currently raising series A.Hollistic Hiring - Sadra hires based on cultural fit and drive rather than just skills and explains why.Partnerships -  Mentions one of their most proud partners, American Express, and how they developed this partnership.Angel Investing - Sadra personally angel invests in fintech businesses on the UK scene! Advice for first time founders from a third time founder!And much, much more.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Send us a Text Message.On today's episode, we have Jason Iliffe, CEO and Co-Founder at CLIQ!CLIQ is a community & social networking app aimed a connecting like-minded individuals together to join interest-based clubs and events; Connecting communities online and more importantly, offline. Jason is a tech entrepreneur who started by coding his first marketplace website — an online beauty marketplace for freelance beauty professionals, AMB, was the UK's fastest-growing platform and voted the number one beauty/tech business start-up in 2021. AMB's success led to its acquisition by Revolution Beauty PLC, which lead to the creation of MY REV which was a SaaS/marketplace platform. The second time founder delves into how he exited his first business, and walks us through a 'start-up 101' of the practical processes he faced and overcome in the process of building a successful tech driven business. Jason reflects on fundraising challenges first time around, alongside navigating difficult conversations on investment with his co-founder and partner Nicola Gunby. Jason highlights the valuable and powerful combination of having a technical and non technical co-foundership, and talks to us about how they're pursuing the mission of reaching and impacting 1 billion lives for the better.  Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode we have Justin Taylor, CTO of the mobile banking solution, Suits Me.Suits Me is the hassle free alternative to traditional banking for both personal and corporate pre-paid e-money account cards, aiding ease of access to a payment card for people employees on temporary contracts, and workers from overseas, who might otherwise struggle to secure a high street financial account. They're taking the Fin Tech market by storm with their app based service, recently winning SME News' 'Most Innovative Banking Service 2023' Award.Justin is a highly experienced technologist with a rich background in building and scaling tech teams and infrastructures. With a degree in Computer Science and AI from Aberystwyth University, and since has spent his career moving up the ranks in the tech industry, from Senior Support Engineer to CTO. Key takeaways:

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we're talking to Adam Warburton, Chief Product Officer, and Philippa Peasland from Vypr, the UK's leading product intelligence and performance accelerator. Vypr connects products to consumers by testing elements of product propositions with thousands of consumers via smartphone.Adam, with 12 years in product management, started at O2 in customer service and led teams at Asda, Walmart, and Travelex before joining Vypr. Pippa, head of product and delivery at Vypr, transitioned from marketing to product management through her experience with the Government Digital Service (GDS).They discuss their move from established corporations to the startup environment, highlighting the challenges and rewards of agile methodologies and scaling teams. They delve into Vypr's mission to revolutionise product development through consumer insights and behavioural science.Adam and Pippa reveal how they build high-performance product teams and what they look for in candidates. They offer advice on transitioning from large organisations to startups, emphasising the importance of business sustainability, flexibility, and resilience.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Rob Bowley, Fractional CPTO at his own consultancy Pragmatic Partners, and Fractional CTO / CPTO for multiple tech start-ups such as Eco Surv, Enthuse, Doc Abode and Financielle, among many other mentorships and advisory positions. A seasoned tech leader, Rob shares his journey from a self-taught software engineer during the dot-com boom to a leadership consultant. His career has spanned various roles, from hands-on engineering at early internet companies like Lycos to strategic positions at large organisations like the Co-op and Money Supermarket.Rob discusses transitioning to consultancy to leverage his experience in helping startups and scale-ups refine their technology strategies. He highlights:The shared challenges across company sizesThe importance of agile methodologies The role of Northstar metrics in aligning business strategiesEffective leadershipThe nuances of software development crucial for foundersand more.The conversation also covers Rob's involvement in mentoring and supporting the tech startup ecosystem in Manchester and through programs like the Baltic Ventures scheme in Liverpool. He provides insights into effective leadership and emphasises his commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the tech community in the north of England.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

With 160 million children in child labour globally, a number that is increasing, Eleanor has a visionary approach to tackling the issue; using data and AI to power the Child Labour Index, a solution to enable investors to identify child labour risk in their portfolio companies and engage effectively. HACE's Child Labour Index is an AI-powered specialised ESG rating, scoring companies and portfolios in relation to three performance indicators in the specific area of child labour.Eleanor was named as the ‘Woman of the Year: 2022' at the FDM's everywoman in Tech Award for her tireless work in advocating for adequate representation of women in the Tech and AI field.Eleanor's mission: Data Changing Child Labour is to eradicate child labour in company supply chains. She has 13 years of experience in the field, with extensive commodity-specific work in the cotton, fishing and ready-made garment industries. Eleanor has contributed to international UN literature surrounding child labour including Delta 8.7's ‘Markets' Policy Guides and the recent Code 8.7 Symposium. She also sits on the UN's UK Global Compact Child Labour Working Group.HACE is supported by the likes of KPNG, NatWest, Innovate UK and more, with data points across 55,000 publicly listed companies. This episode covers: How Eleanor has harnessed AI to scale her business working on a Child Labour IndexTechnology's role in Social Justice Diversity in Tech and The Need for Diversity at Build StageHACE's Funding Journey, and the Female Founder JourneyPurpose in BusinessFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In today's live recording from the buzzing seminar suite of Queen Mary University London, as part of their vibrant International Women's Day celebrations, we bring you a visionary of university life and co-founder of the 'Youni' app — Georgia Gibson.Georgia, Co-Founder, Chief creative director + commnity builder at Youni, is not just shaping the way students socialise; she's architecting a digital community.With Youni's innovative app, the once fragmented world of university societies, social events, and meet-ups come together into a vibrant hub of real-time connectivity. It's the pulse of campus life, right in your pocket.As a distinguished member of the prestigious Sigma Squared Society, Georgia stands among the globe's brightest young minds who dare to tackle the world's grand challenges. Her mission? To weave the digital with the physical, fostering a tapestry of genuine connections in an often isolated digital age for university students across the UK.Covering community marketing, female foundership, community building and building a start-up, join the movement, and discover how Georgia and her team at Youni are not just chasing innovation — they're leading it.The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

This episode dives into the entrepreneurial journey of Eddy Herman, the co-founder and CTO of Slip—a digital receipt and retail technology company aimed at transforming the retail landscape. Eddy's from Manchester with a background in electronic engineering and with experience at leading companies like Darktrace and The Hut Group, Eddy shares his transition from corporate security to launching his own startup.Key Takeaways: Turning an Idea into Reality: Learn about the conceptualisation of Slip, from an idea about enhancing digital receipts to a functioning business that aims to revolutionise retail tech.Challenges of Starting Up: Eddy shares the challenges and exhilarations of moving from a secure job to the unpredictable world of startups, including the hurdles of fundraising during different economic climates.Company Culture and Management: Insight into creating a company culture and management style that fosters innovation and flexibility, highlighting the practical challenges and solutions in implementing policies like unlimited holidays, commonly seen in the start-up world.Future of Retail and Digital Receipts: Eddie discusses the potential impact of Slip on the retail industry and consumer behaviour, emphasising the importance of customer and data management.Eddy's journey is a testament to the risks and rewards of leaving a stable career to pursue a startup dream, offering valuable lessons on resilience and strategic thinking, and demonstrates how technological innovations can disrupt traditional industries.Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or someone interested in the dynamics of starting and running a business, this episode is for you.The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024. Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses. Get your free ticket here.Inspiring ComputingThe Inspiring Computing podcast is where computing meets the real world. This podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this podcast episode, guest Charlotte Ashton, shares her insights and advice into the investment landscape and financial industry particularly focusing on strategic finance and private equity. Charlotte has built her expertise as a board advisor, business coach and investor over a 20+ year career in the corporate finance and private equity sectors.Her business, Implicit, empowers founders of privately owned businesses to gain freedom and successfully crystallise wealth through proactive succession and sale planning, and provides independent, founder-focused education, coaching and peer-to-peer support she was unable to source in her role as Head of Origination at a £1bn AUM mid-market fund.The episode covers: Founder Focus: Understand the importance of maintaining control as a founder, aligning business strategies with personal goals, and the critical aspects of exit planning.Common Pitfalls: Discover the typical traps business owners fall into during the sale process and how to navigate negotiations with investors for successful outcomes.Exit Strategies: Gain knowledge on various exit strategies, their implications, and how to choose the best path for your business.Choosing Advisors: The significance of selecting the right advisors to support your journey and the benefits of engaging in peer groups for additional support.and more!The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses. Get your free ticket here.All Business. No Boundaries.Welcome to All Business. No Boundaries., a collection of supply chain stories by DHL...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode we have two investment managers from Mercia Ventures, Adam Lovell (Series A Investor) and Kiran Mehta (Seed Investor).Mercia Ventures are Venture capital investment for ambitious businesses. They invest into vibrant early-stage and scale up businesses across the UK.They talk about their roles and experiences in investing, particularly in the fields of software, deep tech, and life sciences. Adam and Kiran share insights into Mercia Ventures' approach to investment, detailing their focus on seed and Series A stages and what they typically look for in companies at these stages.They also touch upon the importance of team structures, go-to-market strategies, and the challenges startups face in securing investment. The conversation reveals their advice for entrepreneurs seeking investment, emphasising realism, passion for the problem being solved, and the significance of aligning with the right investors.This episode provides a comprehensive overview of venture capital investment from the perspective of seasoned investors.The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Dr Natalie Getreu and the Hertility Team are revolutionising the female health landscape, providing personalised reproductive health solutions tailored to each woman's unique needs, from menstruation to menopause, offering customised testing and services based on individual circumstances through their letterbox home test kits and trailblazing research teams.Hertility collaborates with companies like Channel Four and Edelman to provide reproductive health benefits for employees, including testing, services, and education, as well as providing the invaluable service direct to consumers.Australian born Dr Natalie Getreu talks through her personal journey of how she got to developing this product and service, highlighting the importance of supporting women of all ages in the workplace through valuable and impactful modern-day benefits such as Hertility, as well as unpacking the journey for her customers. A business with both a B2B and D2C offering, Natalie unpacks the challenges faced on the development of her businesses from inception to launch, including:Raising capital for a female oriented product in a male dominated investment worldThe hurdles in developing a medical device Why tracking female reproductive organs and hormones is just as important as tracking any other aspect of your health The importance of diversity in your teamHow to balance holding onto what you love doing as a Founder vs other business demandsWork life balanceThe culture shift in businesses slowly addressing the taboo subject of appropriately supporting women in the workplace The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode, Josh Garnham of Packfleet recounts his journey of building a B-Corp tackling sustainable delivery services from the ground up with his fellow co-founders.Packfleet was founded in 2021 by a trio of former Monzo employees that include the neobank's former VP of Design Hugo Cornejo, VP of marketing and communications Tristan Thomas and engineering manager Josh Garnham. From dropping out of the renowned Cambridge university to launching his net-positive logistics firm, Joshua reccounts how his skills and product development approach have been influenced by roles at tech giants Monzo and Apple. Together with co-founders, motivated by delivery frustrations, they aim to improve service for all stakeholders, prioritising ethics and sustainability. Targeting expansion beyond London's M25, Packfleet's commitment to B-Corp principles reflects its focus on ethical practices and corporate culture. Joshua stresses the value of small beginnings, collaboration, and shared values in entrepreneurial ventures, underlining Packfleet's dedication to innovative, sustainable logistics and a positive workplace culture. Some Key Takeaway's: Entrepreneurial Journey and Team Building: Listeners will learn about Josh Garnham's transition from academia to the tech industry, his experiences at Monzo and Apple, and the dynamics of co-founding Packfleet with a strong team ethos.Tech-Driven Logistics Innovation: The episode delves into how Packfleet leverages technology to revolutionise the logistics and delivery industry, emphasising their unique approach to improving delivery success rates and customer satisfaction.Sustainability in Business Operations: Insight into Packfleet's commitment to being a B Corp, focusing on sustainable practices, ethical employment, and their vision for environmentally conscious logistics.Company Culture and Employee Well-being: The discussion highlights the importance of cultivating a positive, empathetic work environment, illustrating how Packfleet prioritizes its team's welfare and fosters a culture of inclusivity and collaboration to the highest levels.Strategic Growth and Industry Impact: An exploration of Packfleet's business model, growth strategy within and beyond the M25, and their broader vision to influence the e-commerce and logistics sectors positively.The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of innovation and financial health. Join us as we delve into the story of Ophelos, a startup born at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded by Amon Ghaiumy and his co-founders, Ophelos leverages cutting-edge technology to address the back end of financial services, focusing on debt management and consumer empowerment.Ophelos are a new kind of debt collection agency - one with a social purpose and mission. Learn how they've harnessed AI to transform debt collection into a supportive and efficient process, and discover their journey through acquisition and beyond, all while maintaining a commitment to positive impact and technological advancement. In September 2023, Ophelos announced  has agreed to join forces with Intrum, the market leader in Credit Management Services in Europe.The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

Featuring our first 'expert topic' episode whereby we invite experts from the sectors we specialise in to share their insights and experiences. In this episode we shine a spotlight on the Cyber Security field. Miguel Clarke, a former FBI agent and a current cybersecurity and GRC evangelist at Armor Defense, a cloud-first cybersecurity company, shares insights from his fascinating career journey, starting from his unexpected entry into the FBI following a casual comment at a party, to his current role in cybersecurity at Armor.Miguel highlights the shift in the cybersecurity industry towards resilience, emphasizing preparation and response to incidents over mere prevention. He recounts his experiences and challenges faced during his time with the FBI, including the intense process of becoming an agent and handling significant crises like the September 11 attacks and the Columbia space shuttle disaster.The discussion also covers Miguel's transition to the private sector, where he applies his unique perspective on problem-solving and leadership developed in the FBI. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive and well-informed to combat cybersecurity threats effectively, particularly against sophisticated tactics like business email compromise.Miguel delves into his journey overcoming public speaking fears, becoming an international keynote speaker, and his approach to leadership and personal development.He concludes by highlighting key values that small to medium-sized businesses should be focused on to build and retain top-tier teams. The episode offers valuable insights into resilience in cybersecurity, the nuances of leadership, and the importance of personal growth and adaptability in one's career… and you won't want to miss it. The Start-Up Podcast Diaries Season 9 is proudly partnered with UK Cyber Week 2024.  Taking place on 17th-18th April 2024 at Olympia London,  join 3000+ cyber tech professionals, to explore the latest developments and equip attendees with the knowledge to protect their businesses.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

The Start-Up Diaries Podcast Season 9… is officially on its way!

Join us as Nevine Coutry, Founder and CEO of Playdate unravels the true trials and tribulations behind the creation of the UK's very first dating app designed for single parents!Paired with an in-app baby-sitting service, Navine's product 'Playdate' creates a perfect solution to an ongoing hurdle in many single parents lives, which is meeting 'the right person, and in the same breath, having access to dependable child-care options which would enable single parents to date. Nevine shares the compelling story behind Playdate, from its inception rooted in her personal journey as a single parent facing the dating world's challenges, to its development into a thriving platform that fills a significant gap in the market.With twists and turns along the way, including devastating cyber scam attempts, and building a technical app based product without a technological background - learn how Nevine doubled down on her strengths in marketing and her personal network to build out her product and team - including creating an incredible branding opportunity alongside ITV's 'My Mum,Your Dad' series hosted by Davina McCall. 

Join us as Tim Chong, Co-founder and CEO of Yonder, talks through the creation of a revolutionary lifestyle credit card designed for the modern city dweller. Discover how Yonder is breaking barriers by offering credit based on cash flow, not just credit history. Dive into Tim's journey from his tech beginnings to the M-Pesa projects in Kenya, which inspired a credit solution that's breathing new life into a dormant market with rewards that go beyond transactions.In this episode, you'll hear how Tim tackled the challenges of fundraising during economic downturns and built a powerhouse team that truly represents Yonder's core values. He shares insights on the importance of continuous learning and striking the right balance between celebrating wins, savouring the moment, and continuously striving for excellence.We cover:The ins and outs of launching a fintech game-changerCultivating a strong, principled company cultureThe distinction between a 'kind' not 'nice' company environmentNavigating the rollercoaster of startup lifeThe critical impact of attention to detail - the magic, and graft, of the 0.01%How Yonder's mission goes beyond shaking up the market to genuinely seeking to enrich daily lifeTune in to get inspired by a story of innovation, tenacity, and the quest to make a meaningful difference in the fintech world with Yonder.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

For the dog lovers, this one's for you. This man has found a way to *potentially* expand your dogs life by 32 months with his innovative product, Tuggs.In today's episode we have Harry Bremner, Founder of Tuggs. Tuggs is an award-winning pet wellness startup creating freshly-prepared dog food in a sustainable way.  But there's a twist - their secret super power is insects, providing a sustainable edge to their product whilst not compromising on protein or minerals.In this episode, Harry talks about his entrepreneurial journey of founding multiple business, including a student storage service, an events company, and a digital marketing agency, before creating Tuggs. We dive into his interest for sustainable food sources and his research into entomophagy (insects as a food source), after learning about the EU regulations allowing insects to be used in aqua feed in 2017 – demonstrating how understanding changing regulatory landscapes can spark innovation. The environmental impacts from the pet food industry is astounding and Harry's episode makes for a really interesting listen; He elaborates as to why insects as a protein source are sustainable, requiring significantly less land, water and emit few carbon emissions compared to the meat used from traditional livestock and the process of making kibble. Tuggs have proved that personalisation and attention to sustainability can be significant differentiators in a crowded market, offering a unique selling proposition.Harry shares insights on fundraising and the importance of warm introductions in the venture capital world, which Chris McGowan at Burns Sheehan has actively contributed to. He also discusses the challenges of finding a manufacturing partner and advises on being conservative with launch timelines.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode of the Startup Diaries co-host Livvie Holt sits down with Rajiv Tanna, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Birdie, a global home healthcare technology company.Birdie is a technology partner for homecare, with mobile and desktop software for managing care delivery, rostering and invoicing.Rajiv shares Birdie's mission to revolutionise the ageing journey for care recipients and their families by navigating the UK's underfunded social care system through innovative software solutions.Discussing his background in banking and technology, Raj reflects on his journey from early aspirations to build a business to leading a company aimed at making significant impacts in healthcare. He delves into the importance of customer-centric product development, the challenges of managing a fast-growing team, and Birdie's commitment to transparency and social enterprise values.As Birdie expands internationally and explores generative AI to enhance patient care, Raj imparts wisdom on the balance between personal life and the demands of nurturing a startup with a profound social mission.5 key takeaways: Align with Your Why: Choose or create a business venture that resonates deeply with your personal values and life goals, as this alignment will be a source of strength and perseverance.Embrace Customer Feedback: Develop products that are deeply informed by customer insights and feedback, ensuring that the customer's voice directly influences the evolution of your offerings.Cultivate a Strong Culture: As your business scales, actively shape and nurture your company culture to ensure that it supports your mission and empowers your employees.Balance and Well-being: Incorporate practices that promote personal well-being and work-life balance, recognizing that long-term success is built on a foundation of sustainable work habits.Consider Your Role: Reflect on whether founding a startup is the best route for you, or if you could make a significant impact by joining forces with an existing mission-driven organization.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode, we're excited to welcome Mike Jones, the CTO of loveholidays. loveholidays are not only the fastest growing travel agent in the UK, but also one of the UK's fastest growing businesses in the last five years (2019). They're on a mission to open up the world to everyone. They offer unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value, and are harnessing tech to be the go to platform in the holiday industry.Mike talks about his transformative role at the renowned price comparison site Uswitch,  where he helped scale the company significantly - exemplifying his expertise in growing startups. At loveholidays, Mike uses his experience to drive innovation. We talk about the impact of partnering with Google to catapult loveholidays operational reach, improving technology infrastructure, and harnessing AI  to enhance customer service.Mike talks on resilience, strategy and creating a supportive business culture and shares insights on the challenges of taking loveholidays global. Mike's the man to listen to on what to consider when scaling a business, and he delves into the dynamics of startup growth, technologies role in scaling, and the personal philosophies guiding his successful career to date.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode we have Ben Leonard, a three-time founder/ co-founder and entrepreneur with a journey packed full of success. Ben built up his sports equipment business, Beast Gear to be a 7 figure business and exited the ‘holy grail' exit of 3 years. He then co-founded Ecom brokers, in the midst of going solo as an e-commerce consultant (Ben Leonard Pro), and writing his book 'Quit Stalling and Build Your Brand, You Don't Need an MBA to Crush It in Ecommerce', which offers insights and guidance for aspiring e-commerce entrepreneurs.Beast Gear offer a total fitness solution for all of your gyms needs including providing equipment and design.Ben shares top tier advice on business strategy, how he pushed his multi-million pound mindset, importance of quality in e-commerce, and building your brand and follower network, and more.Ben also expands on his talk delivered recently when supporting the renowned Steven Bartlett, host and founder of Diary of a CEO podcast.This episode is for anyone looking for insights into:

In this episode, we're joined by Joshua Spriggs, Founder and CEO of Enferm, and is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and personal development. Packed with real-world lessons on leadership, personal growth, cultural adaptability, and the art of building a successful tech-driven business amidst evolving market demands.Enferm helps secure nursing shifts for nurses that want more control over where and when they work. They are an NHS and Health board trusted shift provider, revolutionising the way nurses access and assess the work available to their specialisms. But it didn't start out that way - Joshua has evolved enferm from what was a recruitment provider for the health care services, into the innovative product, creating an ecosystem to empower nurses.In this episodes you'll come away with insight into:✔ 'The Power of the Pivot': Enferm's journey from a recruitment agency to a technology-focused company highlights the importance of adaptability in business pathways.

In this episode, we're joined by key members of the eComplete team - Anna Graham, Managing Director and Les Yates, Strategy Director. They bring a wealth of experience to the conversation, honed by their individual paths in e-commerce and startup environments. eComplete is a talent led and data-driven eCommerce growth partner and capital investor. They scale eCommerce businesses through the power of data, talent and global infrastructure. Leveraging their in-house data platform they identify and implement rapid growth strategies, providing partners with access to scale and talent which is typically afforded to eCommerce giants. Their in house private equity arm, eComplete Capital, also provides investment in high growth potential eCommerce brands.In this session, you'll learn about the dramatic impact eComplete can make on a business's growth journey, their distinct approach to private equity investments, and the importance of building the right team from the start. They extensively discuss their unique offerings such as data and insights, global infrastructure, and specialized talent provision. Tune in for their insights on managing challenges, understanding customers, and keeping a healthy company culture.  In this episode, you'll walk away with key insights into: ·      The importance of data and insights in business growth and profitability.·      The significance of having a skilled and specialized in-house team for successful business operations.·      The necessity of understanding your target audience for a sustainable growth strategy.·      How a business can save significantly by optimizing their supply chain.·      The value of maintaining a positive company culture and hiring the right people as the business scales.Not to be missed by anyone thinking about scaling a business in the e-commerce industry.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this short mini-clip we welcome new London co-host, Livvie Holt to The Start-Up Diaries.We feature a short 2023 'wrapped' of the podcast this year, shouting out a handful of our most listened to episodes and most importantly thanking all of our listeners, and guests, for supporting the podcast in it's third year.This year we tripled our listenership - and it's all thanks to our dedicated listeners - so a tremendous thank you from everyone here at The Start-Up Diaries.The Start-Up Diaries is powered by Burns Sheehan, a leading tech recruitment specialist who provide market leading reports and insights to the tech community. Visit our website to find The Start-Up Diaries Hub, and more information on Burns Sheehan. We will take a one week break of episodes this week and you can expect to find your usual Tuesday morning commute filled with our latest episode from the 2nd January 2024.Wishing you all a happy and healthy festive period,Chris and Liv @ The Start-Up DiariesFollow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode, we chat with Phil Denton, CEO and founder of Evaluate-Ed - a school improvement solution that streamlines self-evaluation and school improvement planning through the software.Phil made a career transition from being a head teacher to becoming an entrepreneur in the ed-tech start-up world. He shares insights about his journey, including how he got the taste for the ed-tech business world whilst writing a book alongside Tranmere Rovers football manager, Micky Mellon, called ‘The First 100 Days' - which takes anecdotes from Premier League managers about being successful over your first 100 days and how we can apply this in a role and beyond. He discusses the challenges he faced and the key learnings he gained along the way in starting a business in the ed-tech field. We also dive into the Evaluate-Ed product and its benefits for schools, as well as the vision for the future of the business.Topics covered:Career Shifts and Making it Happen for YouBook Project Insights: Strategic People Management and Purpose Driven MissionsCore Values Driving Business VenturesVision for GrowthLeadership LessonsThe Importance of Your NetworkEntrepreneurial AdviceTune in for an inspiring conversation about the intersection of education and entrepreneurship.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this insightful episode of Startup Diaries, we welcome Daniel Yubi, CEO and (co)-founder of Payable - a successful fintech platform that helps businesses manage their financial transactions more efficiently.Daniel offers a deep dive into his journey, from his diverse career path that led him from being a lawyer in Mexico, to building a huge Youtube following, to becoming a tech entrepreneur in London, to starting his own co-founded business - Payable. Before Daniel founded Payable, he spent 10+ years building platform products for leading fintech brands such as Klarna, Revolut, and Mollie at Checkout.com. Throughout the conversation, Daniel and host Chris McGowan, Managing Director of  the North @ Burns Sheehan discuss:- The challenges of starting a business- Landing $6 million in funding- The importance of cultivating the right team- How vital it is to be passionate about your work- Building a successful YouTube Channel - Advice to entrepeneurs...Daniel shares intriguing stories and practical advice, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, fintech or those just eager to learn from someone else's hugely successful journey.Psst.. Listen until the end to find out his 3 top tips for budding entrepreneurs or those looking to scale their business.Powered by Burns Sheehan, the Tech Recruitment Specialists across London and Manchester.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode we have George Lineker, the Co-Founder of YourBusinessNumber a service that provides users with a second virtual UK mobile number, enabling them to use both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on the same phone.George is widely known as the son of the famous Gary Lineker OBE , the English sports broadcaster and former professional footballer. But in this episode, we delve into how George has carved his own way as a start-up entrepreneur, and his most recent co-foundership at YourBusinessNumber.In this episode, we explore: Challenges and Opportunities in Market AwarenessWhy George chose Entrepreneurialism over FootballLearnings from Past Failed Business VenturesWhy he Chose to Create his Own BusinessesThe Importance of the Right PartnershipOutsourcing Marketing and Why it can be the Right Choice Early On or Throughout your JourneyFollow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupdiariespodcast/Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this episode we have Mat Ilic, the Co-Founder and CEO at Greenworkx - a new climate EdTech startup tackling the green skills emergency, and are building the net-zero workforce. Their mission is simple, to get 10 million people into green jobs in 10 years, through building an app to be the talent portal for green jobs with green job discovery, opportunity-matching, and social community.Did you know, that to deliver net-zero, over 30 million more  green workers are needed globally by 2030? Greenworkx are actively working towards meeting that need, by harnessing manual trades and introducing green skills.Matt draws from his government, policy and social impact expertise to walk us through how Greenworkx came to fruition.In this episode…Intro to Mat's background; Having advised both ex-PM's Borris Johnson and Teresa May  on all matters justice and home affairs, get insider insights into Matt's interesting background including advising parliament.Why Greenworkx is both a passion and business for Matt and fellow co-founders.Green infrastructure and workforce development.Product development and challenges around this.How the pandemic impacted the labour market.Leadership, and the personal development required to get you where you want to be.Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupdiariespodcast/Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - Burns Sheehan.

In this session, we get the low down from Darren Westall, CEO and Co-Founder of Paiger. Paiger helps recruiters build personal brands, identify new business opportunities, attract candidates, and have better conversations.Paiger was born when co-founders Darren and Rohit Kapoor noticed a shift in the way people prospected, communicated & built their businesses.Much like the beginnings of any start-up, the business started at home - or more accurately, in Darren's shed! Fast forward to today and Paiger supports businesses in multiple countries, and has won multiple awards.In this episode, we cover:The Importance of Technical Skills in Tech Start-UpBusiness Development: Darrens ability to build and adapt the Pager platform himself, responding quickly to customer feedback, was a key factor in the success of his business.Personal Branding and Utilising LinkedIn for Business Growth: Darren shares how building a strong online presence helped him connect with his target audience and grow his business without relying on traditional sales methods.The Role of Sales and Product in Business Strategy: Darren's experience shows that understanding the differences between being sales-led and product-led in business; These dynamics are crucial for business expansion and adapting to new markets.Challenges of Fundraising and Bootstrapping: Darren shares insights from his experience with bootstrapping Pager and later going through Series A funding.Leadership and Team Management: Darren discusses his journey from a developer to a CTO, and managing a large team at a young age and what helped him develop along the way.Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupdiariespodcast/Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

In this session, we feature Harry Hubble, Founder of Pally. Pally connects social messaging, planning, and relationship management to help you build stronger relationships, supercharged by AI. In this episode, we introduce a remarkable guest, a 25-year-old London-based founder with a unique journey. He skipped the traditional academic route, diving into the professional world at just 14 and establishing their first company at 15 years old.What's truly exceptional is their mastery of the business language, finance. By 20, he became the world's youngest chartered management accountant, and by 22, they held the prestigious position of Chief Financial Officer in a 200-person company.Harry is part of Sigma Squared Society, a global community of 900+ of the most ambitious, young entrepreneurs who are on a mission to push boundaries, transcend industries and develop cutting-edge innovations to foster change.But the journey continues. In the past 18 months, they embarked on a new adventure with Pally, a social product reimagining how we connect. Pally isn't your ordinary messaging app; it's a social operating system that enriches relationships and fosters long-lasting plans. Today, we explore Harry's inspiring journey, from seizing opportunities to understanding the power of persistence and belief.He's on a mission to transform social connection with one another through the power of intuitive tech, which adds value and meaning for it's user - instead of feeding into the modern ‘scroll culture'. Join us for an incredible episode, as we delve into this extraordinary journey of redefining social connectivity. Themes covered:Product Development,  Profitability, Hiring, People and Culture, Advice.Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestartupdiariespodcast/Follow our page on Linkedin: https://shorturl.at/qSW56Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Tomorrow's Journey is an award-winning platform that helps fleet operators launch pay per use mobility businesses in rapid time.In this episode, Co-Founder and CEO Chris Kirby talks through his jump from the corporate world to founding a start-up and shares his views on the glamorisation of tech entrepreneurship and how it actually compares to his experience as a technical founder. Chris shares how he initially built the business in a way that doesn't rely on VC funding, but why now they are ready to seek investment. And finally, Chris discusses his experience adjusting to the role of a founder and he has had to adapt to not having that ‘boss' figure above him. It truly covers all things start-ups: from investment journeys, to team building, to the dark days, and the 'pick me up' pitches. Questions asked:1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind Tomorrow's Journey2. Going from a corporate job with plenty of experience, leaping in to the uncertainties of a start-up, what made you take that plunge?3. Something that you mentioned, and a topic that we like to demystify a lot on this show, is that of the glamorisation of tech entrepreneurship. What are your views on this how does it compare to your actual experience as a technical founder?4. You mentioned that initially you built the business in a way that didn't rely on VC funding, but are now doing a round of fundraising. What changed and why did you decide to look for investment?5. What has your experience with VC investment been like?6. When we were putting this episode, you mentioned that one of the toughest parts has been coping as a Founder when things don't necessarily go to plan, and not having that ‘boss' above you that you can turn to. How have you dealt with this and what advice would you share with other founders going through a similar experience?7. How has this impacted how you've built your culture and the team around you?8. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?9. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking start their own business or to join a start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

In this episode we have Zally, a Manchester-based deep tech company on a mission to confirm you are you, continuously. They offer e-commerce stores a simple and secure way to authenticate visitors, resulting in happy customers, higher conversions and increased revenue. Overall, they're on a mission to abolish passwords.In this episode, CEO of Zally, Patrick Smith, talks to us about the mission of building the password free society, finding the right place for you in the journey of growing businesses, disruptive marketing, personal balance, and finding the verticals to scale businesses using digital marketing.In this episode we explore:1. Intro to Patrick and Zally2. Have you always had an entrepreneurial drive from a young age?3. You've exited businesses in the past, can you talk us through the experience of exiting a business you've built? 4. After leaving your Digital Agency you then invested a significant amount of money into a research project – what drove this? Was this the start of Zally?5. You're building a B2B & B2C business – can you talk us through what this means?6. Culturally you are trying to bring a digital agency feel to a tech business, how are you doing this?7. Diversity is key on the agenda to your recent growth phase, how are you approaching this? What are the benefits for you as a business?8. You used the phrase that you want to “make Manchester proud”, what do you mean by this and why is Manchester your “home”?9. What is the biggest challenge in your career to date?10. What is the one bit of advice you would give to someone starting their own business?11. Finally – we know you are starting your own podcast, can you give us some information about this?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

In this session we have Active Profile, an integrated Marketing and PR agency like no other, who also run the well known 'Tech Climbers' initiative, of which Burns Sheehan partner with.In this episode we  delve into Tech Climbers, the exciting initiative, which supports scaling tech businesses in the Liverpool, Yorkshire regions swell as launching more recently in Manchester. Tech climbers showcase scalable, innovative, product-led technology businesses. As the flagship for tech in the north, tech climbers provide a platform through events and their publicised Tech Climbers list, they're are on mission to shine a light on the trailblazing businesses within the tech community and raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities within the local regions.In this episode, we have Anna Heyes - CEO, of Active profile and Frankie Hutton, who is the client operations and growth manager at Active Profile as well as Project Lead for Tech Climbers. With both of them being PR and marketing experts, we wanted to pick their brains on the advice they give their clients particularly in the start-up space. We think it's a brilliant episode, we hope you enjoy it!In this episode, we explore:Can you give us an intro to yourselves and the story behind Active Profile and what inspired you to launch Tech Climbers?Why did you choose the Manchester tech scene this year & why are initiatives like these so important?For future applications - what makes an ideal business for the list and why should someone apply?Let's dive into the list, who's made it onto this years'?Are there any brands that you are particularly excited about this year, any real ones to watch?Moving to Active Profile - While prepping for this episode you mentioned brand and demand and the importance of balancing the two in start-ups. Can you tell the listeners what you meant by that?You're all about supporting the Northern Tech start-up scene, for those listening what are the key mistakes you see businesses making with their marketing and PR?What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to launch their own start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Red Flag alert are the UK's leading provider of business data intelligence and analytics to predict growth, global compliance risk and insolvency, based in Manchester. In this episode, Richard West talks to us about working his way up in Red Flag alert from sales operations to Managing Director and share holder, how he helped build a start-up from a PLC to a powerhouse with the mission of becoming the UK leader in business data analytics. Richard gives insights from being the youngest regional director at 22 years old, and his career path started selling forklifts. He shares how to pick the right funding (of which Red Flag have secured 4.5 million£ investment from Foresight and Uncapped) how to scale effectively, and what the backbone of their success is.Questions asked:Do you want to start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey with Red Flag A!ert?In our planning call you mentioned not going to uni and moving down under to become youngest regional director at 22, what made you decide to take this plunge and not take a possibly easier route of joining your dad's business?Coming from a heavy sales background, how do you think this has impacted you launching Red Flag A!ert?Can you talk us through your investment story and your experience behind your decisions to take investment when you did?You mentioned when getting investment, it's important to pick the fund don't let the fund pick you, how did you decide you'd picked the right funding and if you were to go back and do it again, would you have done anything differently?How did you handle the transition from pre to post investment and what did the 100 days post investment look like for you and red flag alert?Can you tell us a bit about your initial go to market strategy & how you managed to take your product out to companies similar to the one you've just come out from?So 24 months ago you only had 11 employees, and now you've just launched your 4th salesforce, how did you go about scaling your business and sustaining the growth?When expanding, how did you go about attracting decent talent to join your team with a relatively small budget?What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking start their own business or to join a start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Slinger is a job platform offering fun and fair hospitality shifts to side-hustlers, students and hospitality professionals around the UK. In this episode, Founder & CEO Theo Lee Houston talks us through how he has built  business entirely self utilising his network, already acquiring over 5000 workers and 600 businesses as users of the app. Theo shares his thoughts on the power of the ‘network effect' and how using this concept he plans to build the app as a recruitment tool. Theo shares his experience as a non-technical solo founder, and how receiving the Google Black Founder's Fund has impacted his vision for the business going forward. Finally, Theo shares his experience fundraising in a market downturn and building out his entire team in just one month, as well as wrapping up with his experience with mentoring and why he believes its so crucial in driving careers. Questions asked: 1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind Slinger2. You mentioned when we were putting the episode together that you built the business entirely self utilising your network, and from this you've already acquired 5000 workers and 600 businesses as users of the app. Can you talk us through how you did that?3. Building on this idea of the ‘networking effect', you also mentioned that more recently you've taken on a slightly new concept for the app, based on the solid network of users you've got - both in terms of workers and businesses. Can you explain how the idea of utilising the app as a recruitment tool came about and what the vision is going forward?4. What has your experience been like as a solo, non-technical founder? How have you navigated that?5. You've recently received the Google Black Founders Fund. Can you talk us through what that has meant for you as a business and how it's impacted the vision going forward?6. You're also about to close on your fist round of investment. What has that fundraising journey been like, particularly in a market downturn? 7. You also mentioned that in the last month you've built out your whole team. What does that mean for you as a founder in terms of your role and day to day responsibilities and how did you adjust to the culture change of such rapid expansion? 8. You're very passionate about mentoring and personally dedicate a significant amount of time out of your schedule to mentoring others. Why is mentoring so important to you and what do you think other founders and entrepreneurs can get from doing it?9. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?10. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business or join a start-up? Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

MyoMaster is a sports tech company created by athletes and is the only recovery brand in the world in which every single product created is rigorously tested by their community of elite athletes and physiotherapists.In this episode, Co-Founder & CEO Lottie Whyte talk us through the story behind MyoMaster, how she envisions the industry to evolve and how MyoMaster will stay ahead of the competition. Lottie discusses how she has personally scaled herself a leader and first-time Founder, and how she went about building an e-commerce business as a non-technical founder. Finally, Lottie shares how and why she's intentionally kept her team incredibly lean and talks us the impact of having just received investment from the Google Black Founder's Fund. Questions asked: 1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind MyoMaster2. You mentioned that injury is the 2nd biggest issue putting pressure on the NHS. With the scale of the problem that you are aiming to solve being so vast, how do you envision the industry to evolve, and how do you aim to stay ahead of the competition?3. You've always been a part of scaling businesses, but this is your first time as a founder. How have you had to scale yourself up a leader and are they any particular challenges that you've had to overcome?4. As a non-technical founder, how did you go about building an e-commerce business?5. When we were putting this episode together you mentioned that you've intentionally kept your team very lean, with there being 2 of you full time. Can you talk us through why you've decided to build your team this way?6. You've just received investment from the Google Black Founders' Fund. Can you talk us through the impact that his has had on the vision for the business? 7. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?8. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Piper is the manager enablement platform that is committed to empowering anyone to be a great manager. Piper combines state of the art technology with expert led coaching to create the next generation of managers.In this episode, Founder Sathya Smith shares her story from spending 11 years rising through the ranks at Google, and what is was like to leave that journey, to ‘reluctantly' becoming a founder when faced with other opportunities such as the VC world…Sathya then dives into why she decided to solve the problem of management training and development before finally sharing her experience with managers and role models earlier in her career, as well as now as a female solo founder. Questions asked:1. Intro to Sathya and Piper HQ2. You spent 11 years rising through the ranks at Google, what was it like when you left? What did you have to learn?3. When you talk through your journey to entrepreneurship it sounds like you were a “reluctant founder”, you hit a crossroads where you could have been a VC, work in a startup OR become a founder. What led to you setting up Piper?4. Why have you tried to solve management training and development?5. Can you talk me through how the product manages generational differences?6. How have you built a category defining product?7. I'd love to understand what your managers and role models were like in your career? (leading into – being a female founder, you're now the role model , can you tell me about how you approach this to inspire others?)8. What is the biggest challenge in your career to date? (Sales/Marketing and Solo Foundership?)9. What one bit of advice would you give to someone starting their own business tomorrow?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Sharesy is a venue hire platform for local communities where venues can finally take control of their earning potential, hiring out their spaces with a hassle-free solution. In this episode, Founder & CEO Felix Atkin, who talks us through his journey from working in the corporate world for the likes of PlayStation and BT to why he founded his own business during the first COVID lockdown.Felix discusses his experience with Angel investors and shares his advice for those looking to approach investors. He then dives into how he has been able to grow the number of venues using the platform, with a small marketing spend. Finally, Felix speaks very only about being a ‘high functioning anxious person' and how he has learnt to manage stress and anxiety as a Founder. Questions asked:1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind Sharesy's Journey2. Going from a corporate job working for enterprises like BT & PlayStation, to launching a social enterprise during the first lockdown, what made you take that plunge?3. You mentioned that initially you built the business using angel investors. What has your experience with angel investment been like? & do you have any advice for start-ups on approaching angels & preparing investor and forecast decks?5. You mentioned deciding to grow your venues on the platform vs the users booking the venues. What was the decision process behind this and how have you gone about doing this with a small marketing spend?6. When we were planning for this episode, you spoke quite openly about being a ‘high functioning anxious person' and the importance of mental health. How have you learned to manage your anxiety, what would you say has helped you most when dealing with the stress of managing a start-up?7. You mentioned having to take a step back from your business to help support your son, how did you ensure you had the right team in place to maintain your business?8. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?9. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking start their own business or to join a start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Bubble is the UK's #1 trusted family support platform and childcare app connecting parents with babysitters and nannies their friends already know, use and trust. In this episode, we have Sarah Hesz, Chief Commercial Officer of Bubble discussing the story behind Bubble and her background in parent tech, and the challenges around building a product in such a high trust area. Aș a parent herself, Sarah talks through how as a parent herself she balanced the responsibilities of being a founder with motherhood, and her experience fundraising whilst pregnant. Finally, she talks us through Bubble's exciting new partnership with Uber, how it came about and the idea behind it.Questions asked:1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind Bubble 2. Obviously, this is a high trust area, how do you gain that trust from users?3. As a parent yourself, how have you balanced the responsibilities of being a founder with motherhood?4. You've been pregnant and fundraised at the same time, what was that experience like? 5. What has your fundraising experience in the parent tech space been like?6. You've just a launched a partnership with Uber, can you tell us a bit about this and the idea behind it?7. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?8. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to start a start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

ufurnish is search and comparison website for home furniture and furnishings that brings 110+ furniture retailers and all of their products into one place.In this episode, we have Co-Founder & CEO Deirdre Mc Gettrick, who talks us through what made her take the plunge and leave a six-figure salary in banking to start her own business. She talks us through the interesting dynamic of co-founding a business with her then boyfriend now husband, and how they've raised over £5 million from individuals, rather than institutions. Finally, Deidre talks through some of the challenges she's faced when it comes to hiring and how she ensures that her team cares as much about the product as she does.Questions asked:1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind ufurnish.com.2. What made you take the plunge and leave a six-figure salary in banking to start your own business?3. What is it like co-founding a business your boyfriend, now husband? What do you think is the key to a successful co-founder dynamic?4. You've raised over £5 million from individuals, rather than institutions. Could you talk us through why you decided to go down this route and what your experience has been like?5. You've partnered with some exciting and successful businesses, how have you managed to build up your partnerships?6. You mentioned that one of your biggest pain points along the journey has been hiring - can you talk us through some of the challenges you've experienced and how you've overcome them? 7. How have you ensured that your team cares as much about the business as you do?8. What's next for the business and your customers?9. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?10. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

Numan provides healthcare for men to treat common health conditions through personalised plans. They offer integrated care - including diagnostics, medication & supplements, 1-1 clinical care, and digital programs - in one digital platform, to help patients take control of their health.In this episode, CTO Jamie Smith Webb discusses how Numan transitioned from an e-commerce business, into a service, diving into the technical challenges behind it.Jamie talks through the challenges around digitising the health sector, particularly around regulations and innovation. Jamie then touches on how the nature of the product has impacted the diversity of their employees, and their plans for growth in the near future. Finally, Chris asks Jamie about his impressive career to date, as he talks through how he adapted to progressing through the various levels of leadership, including the jump to managing managers. Questions asked:1. Tell us a bit about yourself and the story behind Numan2. You mentioned that the business transitioned from being an e-commerce business into a service - how did you do this and were there any key challenges?3. It sounds like you'll be growing the company again, with possible more rounds of funding, what challenges do you see ahead to achieve that growth?  If you do go raise more funds, how much do you think it will differ from previous rounds?4. With the product being specifically for men's health, has this had an effect on how diverse the business is?5. Being in HealthTech, what are the key challenges to overcome when it comes to digitising the health sector? (Discussion around regulation & innovation, technical strategy)6. You've had a very impressive career to date, can you talk us through how you adapted to progressing through the various levels of leadership, particularly when it comes to managing managers?7. What has been the biggest challenge in your career to date?8. What is the best investment you've made in your career to date?  (Discussion around coaching and mentoring)9. And finally, what one piece of advice would you give to someone joining a start-up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!

AppLearn is a leading digital adoption platform vendor that helps enterprises improve the data quality and productivity of their key internal systems.In this episode, Andrew Avanessian, CEO of AppLearn, talks through the incredible business they've built, from how they chose their core values, to being voted the 5th best tech business to work for and rank in the "Best Companies" list, and what they did to achieve this. Andrew then dives into how they have broken down silos within the business to get different departments to work closely together, and the impact this has had on the product.Finally, Andrew talks through changing from a service business to a SaaS product, as well as touching on their US investment and the key to targeting the US market. Questions asked:1. Intro to Andrew and Applearn2. Applearn isn't the first tech scale-up you've worked for, you previously worked for Avecto (now Beyond Trust) what did you bring with you to Applearn that you learnt at Avecto?3. You were recently voted as the 5th best tech business to work for and rank in the "Best Companies" list. What have you done to achieve this? What does it mean to you as CEO?4. What are the core values that sit at the heart of Applearn? Why did you pick them?5. One of the things we discussed when putting the podcast together was breaking down silos within the business and getting different departments to work closely with each other - what have you achieved in doing this?6. You've turned Applearn from a Services business to SaaS, can you talk us through this? What were the challenges on the way?7. Your main investors sit in the US, why did you go to the USA for this?8. What was the experience like in raising investment over in the US?9. One of the key markets that you've sold to in your career is the US. Can you tell us a bit about targeting US businesses?10. What's the biggest challenge in your career to date?11. What's the one bit of advice you would give to someone moving to join a start up?Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn or learn more about Burns Sheehan. Subscribe and leave a review!