BusinessCloud is the place where founders come to connect, learn and grow. Subscribe: businesscloud.co.uk/newslett…
Joined August 2013
- Tweets 33,294
- Following 3,901
- Followers 7,512
- Likes 12,879
16,356 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
May 26
“Whatever you want to raise, raise more.”
Jen Atkinson, founder of Travel Seen, says: "If you think you need to ask for £5 million, go and ask for £10m."
Watch the full episode of The Naked Founder:
youtube.com/watch?v=t5QUA8s8…
56
Is Cubbi proving Dragon @toukersuleyman wrong?
Tanyka Davson says he gave her and sister Olivia a hard time in the Den.
He said they should not be leaving their jobs - but they have done just that!
Longer interview:
youtu.be/ujkNBeXBF98?si=vc3Y…
107
Why do techies love martial arts?
Uptic co-founder Paul Bates says there is a misconception that they are the preserve of ‘people fighting outside pubs’.
He has noticed a lot of people in IT taking up Brazilian jiu jitsu in particular.
Longer interview:
youtu.be/dCt5v6m6jc0?si=ZpHi…
65
“David Bowie understood my autism.”
James Downes saw the king of alter egos on the final tour before he killed Ziggy Stardust.
The House of Insurtech founder struggled with undiagnosed autism growing up and found a kindred spirit.
Longer interview:
youtu.be/hfcQNETgX9k?si=vNvx…
116
Why is @Metallica no good when you’re working?
James Gupta, founder and CEO of @synap, is a huge #metal fan.
Yet when he wants to get his brain into a rhythm, he can’t blast out Enter Sandman - and instead opts for #techno.
Longer interview:
youtu.be/2yYnON4ck8U?si=aN7_…
26
May 28
Should founders listen to themselves - or others?
Jen Atkinson is the founder of Travel Seen, which has grown to almost £60m turnover.
Watch the full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=t5QUA8s8…
40
May 21
When a humanoid robot faces you down…
What do you say?
Jonathan Symcox came across one at @Dell Technologies World in Las Vegas this week.
His interaction? “Hello, little guy…”
61
May 21
“Founders should be single - or marry well.”
Matthew Scullion has built @matillion into a unicorn business.
So what does it take to reach those heights?
Watch the full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=vGBW4t3M…
35
May 19
“You can't half do it. You've got to be all in. It's a totally all-consuming thing.”
Matthew Scullion has been building @matillion for 15 years - yet he feels he’s only halfway through the first move on the chessboard.
Watch the full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=vGBW4t3M…
34
May 14
“My mum would lend someone £10 - then the electricity would go off.”
Russell Teale, founder of @vivifyvenues , pays tribute to his late mum Janice - a single parent who worked two jobs and rehomed stray cats.
Watch The Naked Founder episode in full:
youtu.be/myAwsqTSHBg
2
2
99
May 12
"I thought I was having a heart attack."
Russell Teale was feeling the pressure at a previous business - and it all came to a head one day.
It turned out to be a panic attack - and Russell is now enjoying huge success with @vivifyvenues .
Full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=myAwsqTS…
1
2
83
"I’m the CEO because I don’t like being told what to do."
Michelle Laithwaite is building @fuelhubuk with her husband.
James may be an ex-rugby league player - but there was only one winner when it came to the CEO role.
Watch the episode in full:
youtube.com/watch?v=gmTgv9B4…
46
"I didn’t even know how to send emails correctly."
James Laithwaite was rugby league’s unluckiest player after suffering four leg breaks & a broken neck.
After setting up @fuelhubuk with now-wife Michelle, he was starting from scratch.
Full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=gmTgv9B4…
90
Apr 30
"If you go on this journey, you’re crazy."
Jonathan Fitchew is scaling his second successful business in @ApprentifyUK.
So what is the message he would send to his younger self?
Watch the episode in full:
youtube.com/watch?v=sMNKxs7I…
22
Apr 28
“We shared a bed on business trips.”
Jonathan Fitchew & business partner Andy Sawer - both happily married - were close.
Andy lost a battle with brain cancer in 2021. Jonathan, now building @ApprentifyUK, still thinks of him every day.
Full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=sMNKxs7I…
1
61
Apr 24
‘I was literally sat at the radiator rocking.’
On New Year’s Eve 2010, Holly Moore felt terror; suffered from cold sweats; & felt she couldn’t go on.
The next day she phoned The Priory & said: "You need to admit me because I cannot carry on like this.”
youtube.com/watch?v=V1YnAm20…
78
Apr 21
OCD can hit when you’re really happy or stressed.
Holly Moore has built a multi-million-pound business while battling crippling OCD.
Newly married Holly tells The Naked Founder pod she has to be especially mindful amid major life events.
Full episode:
youtube.com/watch?v=V1YnAm20…
80
Apr 16
‘The Entrepreneur’s Playbook is complete bollocks.’
James Cole debunks the myth that new founders should work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week.
The @panachecruises founder says a business should be built on great foundations.
Watch the episode in full:
youtube.com/watch?v=M0VlK6mT…
33
Apr 14
Why did this founder down half a bottle of whisky on Christmas Day?
James Cole says anxiety, pressure & terror as he built his first business led him down the dark path.
He tells The Naked Founder “it seemed like the only option”.
Watch episode in full:
youtube.com/watch?v=M0VlK6mT…
78
Apr 10
"Taking the scraps as a mum is a bit s***."
A mother always puts herself last - or “takes the burnt food”, as Hayley Roberts put it.
The founder of Distology says she wanted to find something for herself as well as her kids.
Watch the episode in full:
youtube.com/watch?v=_hQepsgV…
1
1
71