Founders Unplugged
by Greg McCallum
Founders Unplugged is a web series capturing long-form conversations with startup founders and entrepreneurs from all over the world.
Podcast episodes
Season 2
Sam Simpson Part 2 - Founder & CEO of FounderCatalyst
In part 2 of this episode of Founders Unplugged, we continue our conversation with Sam Simpson, an experienced angel investor and the founder and CEO of FounderCatalyst. FounderCatalyst is a comprehensive platform that helps startups raise funds efficiently, offering services such as free resources for founders, assistance with obtaining SEIS Advanced Assurance, legal funding round paperwork, and introductions to potential sources of funding. Key Topics Covered: - Understanding the different aspects of fundraising, including private equity, venture capital, mezzanine finance, and grants. Sam emphasizes that founders don't need to know everything about fundraising but should focus on the specific stage they are in. - The different game and knowledge required when dealing with venture capitalists, including the need for legal support. - Advice for founders to start locally and take the time to refine their investment strategy. Sam recommends accessing resources specific to the UK ecosystem and highlights the importance of learning from reputable sources. - The availability of resources for angel investors, including videos and written content. - The importance of diversification within angel investing and tips for managing risk. - A discussion on AI-enabled companies and the upcoming changes in the format of the "Founders Unplugged" sessions for the next season. Join us for an insightful discussion with Sam Simpson as we delve into the world of angel investing, fundraising strategies, and the unique services offered by FounderCatalyst. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsimpson1/ Check out FounderCatalyst here: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/ Want to know about me (The 🚫🐂💩 Advisor)? https://www.nobullshitadvisor.co.uk/ #foundersunplugged #foundersjourney #startupfounder #startupjourney #investment #angelinvestors #angelinvestor #investors #startupinvesting
S2 E41 Part 1 SEASON FINALE w/ Founder & CEO of FounderCatalyst, Sam Simpson
In part 1 of this episode of Founders Unplugged, host Greg McCallum sits down with Sam Simpson, an Angel Investor and the Founder & CEO of FounderCatalyst. FounderCatalyst is a comprehensive platform that helps startups raise funds efficiently, offering services like free resources, assistance with SEIS Advanced Assurance, legal paperwork, and introductions to potential investors. Sam shares his fascinating journey from a tech background to becoming an entrepreneur, angel investor, and ultimately founding FounderCatalyst. The discussion covers:Sam's early career in technology and his experience of unexpectedly losing his job, led him to start his own company. His transition into angel investing and the realization that the startup ecosystem had significant flaws that needed addressing. The founding story of FounderCatalyst and its mission to streamline the fundraising process for startups. Insights into the unique aspects of FounderCatalyst, such as its affordable fee structure and its commitment to making introductions in a compliant manner. The importance of continuous learning and the need for the startup ecosystem to adapt and improve over time. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Sam's entrepreneurial journey and learn about the innovative services offered by FounderCatalyst to help founders navigate the fundraising landscape more effectively. Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsimpson1/ Check out FounderCatalyst here: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/ Want to know about me (The 🚫🐂💩 Advisor)? https://www.nobullshitadvisor.co.uk/ #foundersunplugged #foundersjourney #startupfounder #startupjourney #investment
S2 E40 Co-founder & CEO of ThirdRetail; Athar Ali
*************************************************************************** Created in partnership with: https://orama.tv/ Create branded Podcasts & Videos that resonate deeper. email george@orama.tv and quote "Founders Unplugged" for 50% off your first professionally produced episode! *************************************************************************** In this episode of Founders Unplugged, I had the pleasure of speaking with Athar Ali, the Co-founder and CEO of ThirdRetail, an innovative startup aiming to create an affordable omnichannel offline experience for direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. Athar Ali is a first-time immigrant in the UK, originally from India, who pursued his MBA studies in retail, where he identified the need for a symbiotic relationship between online and offline retail. In this insightful conversation, we covered the following key topics: Athar's journey as an international student and entrepreneur, including the challenges he faced in obtaining the necessary visas and work rights before building ThirdRetail. The business model of ThirdRetail, which involves a marketplace where D2C brands can rent shelf space in physical stores, as well as software solutions to connect with the back-end of e-commerce platforms like Shopify. The importance of building a strong network and resources as a founder, and how Athar leveraged platforms like LinkedIn to connect with advisors and other entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem. The dynamics of co-founding a startup, with Athar's co-founder bringing expertise in real estate, retail distribution, and sales, complementing Athar's background in economics, product management, and generative AI. The fundraising journey and the progress made so far, including securing their first paying customer and generating initial revenue. Insights into the retail industry, such as the concept of profit per square foot and the need for a symbiotic relationship between online and offline channels. Connect with Athar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectwithathar/ Check out ThirdRetail here: https://thirdretail.com/ Want to know about me and ThinkWork? https://www.thinkwork.info/ #foundersunplugged #foundersjourney #startupfounder #startupjourney #investment
S2 E39 Founder & CEO of Visual Hive; Bogdan Maran
In this episode of Founders Unplugged, host Greg Mccallum sits down with Bogdan Maran, a former photographer turned data scientist and founder of Visual Hive. Visual Hive is a company that focuses on monetizing visual content through behavioural triggers, using AI and algorithms to automate the process of editorializing content for personalized recommendations. Topics Covered:Bogdan's journey from photography to startups, and how he accidentally got into the startup world The concept of editorializing content and using AI/algorithms for personalized recommendations The importance of understanding the audience and contextualizing content The role of creativity and imagination in innovation, especially with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT Parallels between Bogdan's journey with Visual Hive and Greg's own startup journey Discussions around being a founder, building a team, and the challenges of startups *************************************************************************** Created in partnership with: https://orama.tv/ Create branded Podcasts & Videos that resonate deeper. email george@orama.tv and quote "Founders Unplugged" for 50% off your first professionally produced episode! Connect with Bogdan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanmaran/ Check out Visual Hive here: https://www.visualhive.co/ Want to know about me and ThinkWork? https://www.thinkwork.info/ #foundersunplugged #foundersjourney #startupfounder #startupjourney #investment
S2 E38 Founder & CEO of Developa; Beth Nevins
In this episode of Founders Unplugged, I sit down with Beth Nevins, founder of developer.io - a people and talent consultancy that supports founders in early-stage startups from seed to Series C. Developa.io provides three core services: Candidate sourcing and retained executive searches to help startups find the right talent. People design projects, strategy development, performance management, and reward structuring - particularly relevant for companies post-Series A. Coaching and mentoring programs tailored for first-time founders navigating the Series B journey. In this insightful conversation, Beth shares her journey from recruitment to the startup world, and the challenges founders face at different stages. We cover a range of topics, including: Hiring the right talent at the seed stage when founders often don't know what they need Designing organizational structures and defining roles as the company scales The importance of communication, culture, and data-driven decision-making for sustainable growth Managing performance expectations and enabling career growth within high-growth environments Coaching advice for first-time founders facing unfamiliar situations and tough decisions Whether you're a founder building your team or looking to join a startup, this episode offers valuable insights from Beth's wealth of experience in the startup ecosystem. Tune in for an engaging discussion on people, talent, and what it really takes to scale a successful venture. Connect with Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethdevelopa/ Check out Developa here: https://datagems.ai/ Want to know about me and ThinkWork? https://www.thinkwork.info/ #foundersunplugged #foundersjourney #startupfounder #startupjourney #investment