In today’s episode, we’re joined by Tom and Chris Hannaway, brothers and Co-Founders of alcohol-free beer brand Infinite Session . With a passion for great tasting beer but a desire to incorporate some alcohol-free days into their lifestyle, Tom and Chris discovered a gap in the market for a vibrant and confident alcohol-free beer to enjoy during after-work drinks. Launched in 2018, Infinite Session beers are now stocked in leading UK retailers including Sainsbury’s and Whole Foods. The brand al...
Feb 08, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 14
In this episode, we hear from Melissa Gauge , founder of virtual assistance firm SpareMyTime . Melissa spent 15 years working in the City and, having two children to balance alongside work, soon found herself pulled in different directions with various professional and personal responsibilities. Determined to create a solution for other professionals in a similar position, Melissa founded SpareMyTime. Today, Melissa’s company provides busy entrepreneurs and executives with administration, bookke...
Jan 25, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this episode we hear from Hannah Aykroyd , Managing Director of the award-winning property advisory firm Aykroyd & Co . Hannah has many years’ experience advising high net worth private clients on prime London real estate transactions and now, four years into her own business, has clients ranging from private individuals, family offices, investors and developers, both domestic and international. Hannah shares with us her thoughts on the freedoms starting a company can afford, especially w...
Jan 09, 2022•20 min•Season 4Ep. 12
In this episode I chat to two entrepreneurs in the hospitality space, Duncan Stirling and Charlie Gilkes who founded Inception Group back in 2009. The company operates a group of unique bar, restaurant and club concepts in South West and central London. As a long-standing fan of Maggie ’s (as who doesn’t love a solid 80s soundtrack), I was really interested to learn how they’ve quickly built a multi-brand business but also how they weathered the unforeseen pandemic that potentially could have wi...
Dec 14, 2021•26 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In this episode we are joined by Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, Co-Founder & CEO of FLOWERBX and one of the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs. Following a career of almost 20 years working for designer Tom Ford, Whitney then identified a market gap within the luxury sector that she set out to fill. She established FLOWERBX in London in 2015 and today Whitney’s company is the leading luxury flower service, having had clients such as Dior and Louis Vuitton, and is currently expanding across the U...
Nov 30, 2021•26 min•Season 4Ep. 10
In this episode we hear from Rae , Founder of her eponymous brand Rae Feather, a personalised luxury accessories, homeware and versatile resort wear brand. Having founded her company in 2013 following a career in luxury travel marketing, Rae’s brand draws extensively on her passion for travel however it was the monogrammed straw basket with which the brand was propelled to notoriety on Instagram. Named in 2018 as one of the Walpole ‘Brands of Tomorrow’, Rae places great emphasis on sustainabilit...
Nov 16, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode we hear from Tom Mercer , Founder of MOMA Foods . Tom started his company in 2005 from a London railway arch, which remains its HQ to this day, with a mission of ‘making oats more awesome’. Disappointed by the lack of convenient and healthy breakfast choices for his morning commute he decided to solve this gap in the market and began selling oats from a makeshift stall in Waterloo station. Today, as one of the fastest-growing young food brands in the UK, MOMA now produces a range...
Nov 02, 2021•16 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode I’m joined by Olga Beck-Friis, Co-Founder and CEO of PocketLaw , a Swedish startup now launching in the UK to enable SMEs to take care of their own legal matters. Having co-founded PocketLaw with her oldest childhood friend, Kira Unger (CEO), Olga explains how she and Kira separate work from their personal friendship and how they manage this dynamic within a business environment. Olga also offers her insights into improving gender diversity within startups alongside her thoughts ...
Oct 19, 2021•15 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Today I am talking to Ben Ivey who, realising that successful people are not necessarily happy people, decided to work directly with entrepreneurs who might be feeling overwhelmed, in order to help them better manage their work-life balance, as well as succeed further in business. Ben has spoken at over 200 events internationally on how to embrace living entrepreneurially via his company, The Entrepreneur Lifestyle for which he is founder and CEO. Ben's advice: While it’s important to believe in...
Sep 21, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode we hear from Romanie Thomas who founded Juggle , the digital platform for companies to find, onboard, pay and manage experienced yet flexible professionals. Romanie kept coming up against the same problem in her industry. Witnessing the lack of flexible senior roles was preventing talented professionals from reentering the workforce, so she decided to leave her role in executive search to solve this problem and found Juggle. Four years on, her company makes it possible for compan...
Sep 07, 2021•16 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This week we hear from Helena Murphy , the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Raising Partners. After receiving poor financial advice and having to wind up her first business, Helena experienced stress which greatly impacted her physical health. Helena subsequently established Raising Partners to support other early-stage entrepreneurs in raising investment and avoid the pitfalls she had previously encountered. Working with companies in sectors ranging from technology to healthcare, and consumer...
Aug 24, 2021•25 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode we hear from Laura Tenison MBE, the Founder and CEO of JoJo Maman Bébé . As a Certified B Corporation, the company has committed itself to evaluate a “triple bottom line”, putting people and the planet above profit. Laura started her company in 1993 from her London flat-share, following on from an almost fatal accident whilst living in France. Having brought Breton-inspired clothing to the maternity market, today, JoJo Maman Bébé is widely considered the foremost maternity wear a...
Aug 04, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, we hear from Kenyan-born, Bristol-based Audrey Migot-Adholla who founded jewellery brand Yala Jewellery in 2017. Named after the village in Kenya where her grandmother lived, the brand focuses on creating as little impact on the planet as possible. I wanted to speak to Audrey about why the mission behind her brand is so important to her plus ask for advice on what new founders should consider when planning to do the right thing by the planet when starting a company with a view t...
Jul 27, 2021•19 min•Season 4Ep. 1
A lot of people in previous episodes have talked about how bringing talent into their businesses has been a game-changer, not only for revenue but for morale as well. In this mini-series I wanted to cover more practical advice, the ‘I don’t know what I don’t know’. In this episode, we hear from Will Davies , co-founder of HBD Partners as he not only works in recruitment but has also brought people into his business on PAYE. Will offers practical advice on how to tackle this very important area o...
Jul 13, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 6
When a founder is starting a business, they know that at some point they're going to have to tell other people what they’re doing and why, in order to reach their prospective clients and customers. Word of mouth is key. However, to reach further afield, marketing and communications will strengthen the launch, brand building and SEO. As part of the marketing mix, I find that PR is often considered but rarely embraced to its full potential - and often left to the last minute when it is too late. I...
Jun 29, 2021•18 min•Season 3Ep. 5
As this mini-series is a more practical ‘how to’ I wanted to speak to an experienced investor to help understand not only the jargon surrounding this area but key points to consider when seeking investment as a startup. In this episode we hear from Costas Kalisperas , founder of In Tune Executive Coaching . Costas is well placed to talk on this given his extensive and diverse advisory experience across law, investment banking, private equity as well as angel investing. He now helps executives re...
Jun 15, 2021•19 min•Season 3Ep. 4
As this mini-series is a more practical ‘how to’, I wanted to speak to someone who has a great deal of experience in creating an ethical and sustainable business. In this episode, we hear from artist jeweller Ute Decker who simultaneously started her eponymous brand creating unique and limited edition sculptural jewellery, while researching and sharing what she had discovered around creating an ethical company. This research culminated into a site now run by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths calle...
Jun 01, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Starting a company can be a daunting challenge and many people have a fear around 'I don't know what I don't know'. In this episode of the mini-series of HSTU we cover the legalities of starting a company with Helen Gerrard who left her career as a city lawyer for the French Alps where she now continues her legal work as a partner for Ignition , a law firm that specialises in supporting startups and their growth, and also co-founded SnowDrone with her husband. Helen shares advice on how and when...
May 18, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The one piece of advice every How To Start Up guest has shared unanimously is to find a good accountant. In this episode, we hear from Chartered Accountant Laurie Borlace on what founders should consider when starting a business from an accounting perspective and what to ask accountants when trying to find the right one for their business. Laurie qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and has over 12 years of experience. Full disclosure: Laurie is Fallow, Fi...
May 04, 2021•19 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode we hear from Liza Urla, business consultant, founder of jewellery destination GEMOLOGUE and author of the book GEMOLOGUE: Street Jewellery Styles & Styling Tips . Liza left her management consulting career to start her business in 2009 when she saw an opportunity for jewellery to be shared digitally and hasn’t looked back. Her current GEM business world includes GEM Kreatives, GEM Photo School and GEM Maison and the Financial Times, among other publications, has written about...
Apr 20, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode we hear from Brett Putter who believes that the culture of a company is crucial to its success. He calls it the missing link. Brett is an expert in this field and is consulted by global companies and leaders to help design, develop and build high-performing cultures. Brett shares advice on when to start working on your own company’s culture, why to consider building your company with a remote first mindset and why finding support and structure in the day to day is crucial. Brett ...
Apr 06, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode we hear from Martine Thomassen who through studying how to be an entrepreneur in her education years, gained the foundations to then launch her own business when she was ready. Having been a digital marketer as well as an artist, she has now launched her own coaching business specialising in helping female entrepreneurs overcome their limiting beliefs, which is just one area among many that she helps clients to conquer. Martine talks through the differences between mentors and co...
Mar 23, 2021•14 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode we hear from Lisa Song Sutton who is a successful entrepreneur, real estate investor, former Miss Nevada United States and former Congressional candidate for Nevada’s 4th District and has been named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum and a Top 10 Social Entrepreneur to Watch. Lisa shares advice on how to manage your time properly, how hard work can out way talent in the long run and why not to talk yourself out just doing it! Lisa’s advice: Instead of worrying about whet...
Mar 09, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode we hear from Amanda McKenna who, as a former co-founder and Board Director of two self-started digital agencies, shares how feeling like she didn't belong in entrepreneurship affected her confidence, how people who don't fit the entrepreneurial stereotype will experience this more acutely and ways we can all tackle this head on. In Amanda’s TED Talk she refers to the Allison Rose review and the extraordinary statistic that there are 1.1 million missing female-founded businesses i...
Feb 23, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode we hear from Dora Palfi, founder of Imagilabs , the all-female founded Stockholm-based startup that aims to make coding more accessible to teenage girls. Dora shares how being determined to solve a problem she had identified, ended up in her creating her business idea. She also shares strategies around how to measure your own success as it is important to get job satisfaction and validation for your work when you’re boss-less. Dora’s advice: Asking for help is a strength not a we...
Feb 09, 2021•18 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode we hear from Zoe Evans and Nick Rusling who have both started and run their own separate and successful companies, while also enjoying a happy 17 years of marriage and two young children. They share their perspectives on how they manage the stresses and strains of self-employment while supporting each other within the family too. Zoe runs Style PR focussing on brand amplification and storytelling. Nick runs the Human Race, the UK’s principal mass participation sports event organi...
Jan 26, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode we hear from writer, editor and brand consultant Robin Swithinbank . Robin has been an employee, an employer and is now a sole trader, so could be said to understand the world of work from all angles. He reminds us that work doesn’t and shouldn’t define us in however we chose to do it. Robin's advice includes: The entrepreneurial spirit can sometimes mean you’re impatient - before taking a decision, slow down and take that extra breath to think things through Recognise the tensio...
Jan 12, 2021•18 min•Season 2Ep. 1
From forming his own startup at 18 and most recently Co-Founding memmo , today’s guest. Gustav Lundberg Toresson, is a Forbes 30 Under 30 board member and a born entrepreneur. memmo is a platform where the likes of Sven-Göran Eriksson or Carole Baskin can record personalised video greetings for your own friends or family. With over 50,000 greetings to date, anything from proposals to pep-talks have already been shared. Gustav shares his enthusiasm for the idea that an entrepreneur can - from the...
Dec 29, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode we hear from Paul Weeden who is the first How To Start Up guest to have not only started a company (at the age of 24) but also to have successfully sold it too. Paul recognises that being your own boss is not as straightforward as it sounds: as it grows, so do your responsibilities. Having sold his business, he is now salaried again and is able to offer an interesting perspective on both employment options, especially amidst a pandemic which has changed employee freedoms forever....
Dec 22, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode we hear from Geoffrey Kent , who not only founded world renowned luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, but is also credited with creating experiential travel as a concept. I have long admired A&K for being leaders in sustainability across environmental, economic and social responsibilities. Geoffrey shares his stories and experiences as an entrepreneur of nearly 60 years’ experience, including a foray into space travel and why delivering a business, service or product ...
Dec 15, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 14
