Join us for an inspiring episode of The Start-Up Diaries as we sit down with Richard Potter, co-founder and CEO of Peak. 🤖 Building a Global AI Leader: Richard Potter on Peak's Mission and GrowthRichard shares his incredible journey from the world of semiconductors to leading a cutting-edge AI platform that helps global brands optimise key business decisions. Discover how Richard’s passion for data, his early coding experiences, and his unique approach to democratising AI have shaped Peak into the AI powerhouse it is today.In this episode, we dive into the challenges of scaling a tech business in Manchester, navigating the evolving AI landscape, and how Peak is pioneering AI applications that are transforming industries. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, or AI professional, this episode offers valuable insights into building a purpose-driven business in one of the most exciting sectors of our time.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.

💪 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?Discover how Mike Skaife, Head of Engineering at Ultimate Performance, is revolutionising the fitness industry with cutting-edge tech strategies and leadership.🎙️ 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗯 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗮𝗶𝗳𝗲 @ 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.Join us as Mike shares his unique journey from Jaguar Land Rover to leading tech innovation at Ultimate Performance. Learn about the challenges of transitioning from a large team to a more intimate setup, how he’s mentoring the next generation of engineers, and the strategies he’s employing to integrate tech into a global fitness powerhouse with 21 locations across 9 countries.***Mike is a DevOps expert and a skilled leader in aligning technical strategy with business objectives. He has played a crucial role in scaling JLR's digital hub from zero to nearly 100 engineers across development, testing, security, and more.In this episode, we delve into Mike's unique journey, transitioning from a large team at Jaguar Land Rover to leading a smaller, dynamic team at Ultimate Performance. We explore the challenges he faced in his first 90 days, his approach to leadership, and how he navigates the complexities of integrating technology into a global fitness business. Mike also shares insights on the importance of handling failures, building trust within senior management, and the exciting future plans for Ultimate Performance.Whether you're interested in tech, fitness, or leadership, there's something for everyone in this conversation. Stay tuned as we uncover the story behind Mike Skaife and his vision for Ultimate Performance!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.

💡 Ready to elevate your leadership?Not your typical Chief People Officer, JooBee Yeow is a trained Systems Engineer with a PhD in Leadership Development. Throughout her extensive career, she's worked with 2, 20 and 200-year-old companies with revenues ranging from 10m, 100m to £1 billion.JooBee’s primary focus is guiding founders and start-up leaders to transition from the 'STARTing to Build' phase to 'BUILDing to Scale' – all while achieving organisational growth rate of 15% YoY, 15% QoQ and even 15% MoM.The creator of the ‘Scaling Start-Ups’ blog series and newsletter, as well as the ‘Learngility Open Source,’ JooBee believes in the accessibility of knowledge. As such, she contributes extensively to the start-up community’s collective knowledge base via Sifted, Notion Capital, Atomico, Balderton, Forestay and Offbeat among many other publications, communities and VCs.Discover how JooBee is empowering leaders to break through growth barriers and accelerate performance.🎙️ Leadership 101: JooBee Yeow on scaling teams and effective feedback loopsJoin us as JooBee dives into her extensive experience in organisational psychology and business strategy. We explore how she helps leaders navigate the complexities of scaling teams from 200 to 500, the critical role of 360-degree feedback loops, and the meta-competencies essential for sustainable leadership. JooBee also shares her expertise on fostering a culture of continuous learning, handling leadership challenges, and leveraging limited resources for maximum impact.Whether you’re leading a start-up, managing a growing team, or striving to enhance your leadership skills, this episode offers invaluable insights and actionable advice.Tune in to learn from JooBee Yeow’s proven strategies and elevate your leadership game!Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from the Tech Recruitment Specialists powering The Start-Up Diaries - B

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.💡📚The annual Technology Hiring Report by Burns Sheehan is now LIVE! Packed with salary benchmarks, market trends, founder advice, investment insights and more... Get your copy here.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, 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.💡📚The annual Technology Hiring Report by Burns Sheehan is now LIVE! Packed with salary benchmarks, market trends, founder advice, investment insights and more... Get your copy here.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.

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 😉 Fund raising challenges as a female entrepreneur; Ann joins the '2% club', the 2% of female entrepreneurs who successfully secure VC investment Developing a public and private sector productThe importance of marketing in a tech-startup Advice for foundersFollow 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 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.

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.

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:🔹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: From developer to CTO, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.🧠 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀:Key changes Justin identifies and implements in a tech organization.🌏 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀: Challenges and strategies, including establishing a tech team in Serbia.🙌 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Effective communication across teams and playing to strengths.🤝 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀: Insights and valuable experiences.💡 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: Understanding and addressing data scale issues.🚨 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: How AI and machine learning combat fraud, particularly authorized push payment (APP) fraud, and their impact on financial services.🏔 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Tips on clear communication and business-focused solutions.In this episode, Justin will share insights and learnings from his career journey, discuss the latest tech trends, and offer valuable advice for those looking to scale their tech teams and infrastructures.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, or find more free content from

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.

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.Follow The Start-Up Diaries Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram

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.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 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.