William Rixon is a conservatoire-trained musician turned coffee micro brewer. He is the co-founder of Minor Figures, one of the most exciting players in the coffee and plant based space. In this episode we hear about how William came up with the idea for Minor Figures, including getting the product on the shelves of Sainsbury's within eight weeks of launch! We also talk about scaling a business in line with your ethics, product innovation, and creating a great team. We hope you enjoy! This podca...
Jan 07, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This week we catch up with TK Pillan, co-founder of Veggie Grill - the largest vegan and veggie restaurant in the US. TK is also managing partner of Powerplant Ventures. TK has been remarkably consistent over his career in the plant based space - he seems to have a knack for spotting trends early and making great calculated decisions. We chatted about his background as a technology entrepreneur, coming up with the idea for Veggie Grill and scaling it, as well as discussing fundraising and Powerp...
Dec 17, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This week we caught up with Julian Hearn, Co-Founder of Huel. In just 5 years Huel has grown one of the best known nutrition businesses in the world which is generating a 75 million turnover. In this episode we talk through how Julian found himself working as an entrepreneur, and where the idea for Huel and how he rapidly scaled the business. This is a must listen for any entrepreneurs concerned with building a brand that cuts through the noise. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited ...
Dec 10, 2020•56 min•Season 3Ep. 5
This week we're joined by two of the UK's best known plant based food personalities, Ben and Roxy, founders of So Vegan. Here at Vevolution we love the So Vegan recipe books and are always making their delicious food. In the conversation, we cover how they got their book deal, the creation of their thriving social media community, turning a passion project into a full time business and how to raise capital in ways other than through investment. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited b...
Dec 03, 2020•55 min•Season 3Ep. 1
We talk to Jodi Monelle, founder and CEO of LIVEKINDLY a community based media startup. LIVEKINDLY Media started at a very similar time to Vevolution so it's been amazing to see them grow alongside us. In this chat we cover Jodi's journey to finding her place in the vegan movement, and how best she could help the world, scaling a media brand, the mission behind LIVEKINDLY and the eventual acquisition of LIVEKINDLY Media. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-Child...
Dec 03, 2020•47 min•Season 3Ep. 3
This episode we are joined by Chris Kerr, managing director of New Crop Capital. Chris is also the co-founder of The Good Catch and their executive chairman. Chris has been called the 'godfather of vegan venture capital'. We touch on Chris's unconventional journey into the world of vegan venture capital via the Humane Society, as well as his founder-led approach to venture capital, how to get investment as an entrepreneur, and his ongoing development of The Good Catch range. This podcast is prod...
Dec 03, 2020•41 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode we're hearing from Barcelona, from Giuseppe Scionti, the founder of Nova Meats who are using ground breaking techniques to create 3D printed synthetic meat with the feel and taste of chicken or beef. Giuseppe was named One of the Smithsonian Institutes Nine Innovators to watch and he has a PhD in tissue engineering. The interview covers the origins of Nova Meat, navigating venture capital, the future of plant based food tech, and the importance of building a right team. This is a...
Dec 03, 2020•45 min•Season 3Ep. 4
This week we round up some of the best bits of Series 2 of the Plant Based Business Podcast brought to you by Vevolution! From Grace Beverley discussing creating profit within an ethical brand to Melissa Butler discussing racial discrimination in the investment space, plenty in this episode to inspire you to dip back into the series or to give you an introductory taste to the UK's leading plant based business focused podcast. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-Ch...
Aug 26, 2020•33 min•Season 2Ep. 20
This week we speak with the wonderful pair of BOSH founders, Henry Firth and Ian Theasby. In this episode, we discuss how they grew the BOSH brand around the world, how to focus on multiple projects and the entrepreunerial mindset. Plus, we also touch on their views on why you shouldn't always take investment, and the importance of collaboration in the plant based space. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-Child
Aug 19, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 19
In this episode Damien chats to John Lewis, known across the internet as The Badass Vegan. John has a deep rooted passion for entrepreneurship and wellbeing and has built a hugely successful career as an entrepreneur in the wellness space with his protein company VeganSmart and as a international speaker and producer and host of the highly anticipated documentary They’re Trying To Kill Us.
Aug 12, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Lisette Kreischer is a pioneer of veganism, environmentally conscious living and purpose driven businesses in the Netherlands. A high profile author, Lisette has published 10 books of plant-based food and herbal medicine with her new book Dog.Eat.Plant set to be released this October. Lisette is also the Co-Founder of iconic Dutch plant-based brand The Dutch WeedBurger. In this conversation with Damien Clarkson they explore the power of creativity in entrepreneurship and building a mission drive...
Aug 05, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 17
In this episode Damien sits down with Robbie Lockie, co-founder of Plant Based News. Robbie is a true master of all trades, he is a digital designer, a campaigner, a filmmaker, a writer and a podcaster. In this conversation we talk about the responsibility of running a media organisation, Robbie's business background, mission-led hiring, and how Robbie built Plant Based News so quickly. Please enjoy, like and review! This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-Child...
Jul 29, 2020•42 min•Season 2Ep. 16
This week Damien and Judy speak to Vevolution investor and co-founder of Natural Balance Foods, Jamie Combs. Natural Balance foods created Nakd and Trek bars, which have revolutionised the 'better for you' eating category in the UK. In this episode we discuss Jamie's story, including how he arrived from California with his brother back in the early noughties, the importance of getting your brand story right, and the role of mindset for entrepreneurs. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and ed...
Jul 22, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Melissa Butler was fresh out of college and working on Wall Street when she saw a gap in the market for an inclusive cosmetic brand that would be better for consumers and for the planet. This week Judy chats to Melissa about her business, The Lip Bar, how she scaled from her kitchen, and sought investment, and went onto appear on the US show Shark Tank. Judy and Melissa also cover the issue of diversity in the plant-based space, and racial injustice in the States, including Melissa's plans to en...
Jul 15, 2020•42 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this interview, we speak to Dale Vince, Founder, and CEO of Ecotricity and Owner and Chairman of the world's first vegan professional football club Forest Green Rovers about his extraordinary business journey and how he transformed the UK's energy market forever. We dig in deep on Dale's mission to revolutionise football and create a better, greener more vegan future for all. This podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-Child
Jul 15, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 13
This week Damien sits down with Miyoko Schinner, founder and CEO of Miyoko's Creamery, one of the US leading plant based companies. Miyoko has been in the entrepreneurial game a long time, having been a vegan for over 35 years. She speaks about the importance of resilience in the entrepreneurial world. And speaks about how she built one of the most iconic plant based brands sharing effective strategies for fundraising. She also talks about how she is fighting back against lobbying efforts of the...
Jul 01, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 12
This week Damien and Judy chat to Deepak and Emilie, founders of one of the UK's fastest growing startups Oddbox, a fruit and veg subscription box tackling the problem of food waste. In this episode Deepak and Emilie describe how the difference between food culture in India and the UK prompted them to ask questions about how we can create a more sustainable food system, ultimately leading to the creation of OddBox and the start of their mission to tackle the food waste pandemic. The Founders tal...
Jun 24, 2020•42 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This week Damien Clarkson sits down with Tammy Fry Director of Fry's Family Foods. Their journey is an incredible one which saw the Fry's family grow the business out of their home kitchen turning it into a global business feeding the world plant-based protein that today has over 60 products available in the market. In this discussion Tammy shares her passion and methods of advocating veganism, we touch on Tammy's international karate career and share the successes and pitfalls of bringing a pro...
Jun 17, 2020•41 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This week we head to Silicon Valley where Damien Clarkson speaks to David Breslauer Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Bolt Threads, an incredible company replicating the processes of the natural world to invent and scale plant-based textile innovations . David takes us on a journey with him from an ambitious post-grad thesis to becoming an entrepreneur collaborating with Stella McCartney, and how his leather grown from mushrooms could be part of the solution to the climate crisis. This ...
Jun 10, 2020•41 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This week we speak with our good friend Adam Biddle, Founder and CEO of GH05T. If you haven't heard of GH05T that is because their business strategy is to have no website, social media or online presence. This is despite the fact they create digital content for some of the world's biggest companies and highest profile celebrities. In this conversation we go deep on what makes for successful social media, talking about how to stay with your finger on the pulse of culture and stay relevant. This i...
Jun 03, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This week Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel talk with Simon Coley, co-founder of Karma Drinks. Simon talks about how they built the business, the Karma Cola foundation and the work they are doing in Sierra Leone, various ways of becoming accredited as an ethical company, and the importance of just getting started with an idea. We also cover the age-old tension between practical change and ethical principles, and best practice for finding the right people to work with. Summer's coming, so kick back ...
May 27, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This week Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel sit down with a true pioneer in the plant-based investment space Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni. Through his investment firms Vegan Capital, Dismatrix Group and as a partner in Blue Horizon’s group Sebastiano is involved with many of the world’s leading plant-based companies. In this discussion he talks about his commitment to activism and his investment career and talks in depth about the future of the plant-based economy and how startups can pitch effect...
May 20, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This week Damien and Judy sit down with serial entrepreneur Grace Beverley to discuss her journey disrupting the fast fashion and fitness industry with her three businesses, Tala, Shreddy and B_ND. In this exclusive interview we chat with Grace about her journey from Oxford University student to being listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30. We explore how she's on a mission to prove that ethical doesn't have to be small, sharing how she is creating sustainable products that are affordable. This podcas...
May 13, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Derek Sarno's arrival in the UK in 2017 was a catalyst for the plant-based foods category going mainstream. He pioneered the development of the Wicked Kitchen line with his brother Chad and has been on a mission to create great tasting plant-based food for the masses. As always Derek is on the cutting edge of innovation Good Catch, a plant-based fish company being led by his brother Chad. In this podcast we explore Derek's background, his time running a personal chef service, to how he came to l...
May 06, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode we sit down with plant-based pioneer Seth Tibbott, Founder and Chairman of Tofurky. Business success wasn't something that happened overnight for Seth, in-fact he spent over a decade in the business wilderness before the world started to come around to his fermented foods revolution. This episode is epic, Seth talks about some of the challenges he encountered in this plant-powered pioneer journey, the importance of resilience as startup founder and the importance of building an e...
May 06, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, Damien and Judy delve into the world of Livia's, an amazing company making gluten free plant-based desserts. Founder Olivia Wollenburg was on track to do paediatric neurology when she became increasingly frustrated that there were no decent pudding options for her dietary needs, and instead took the plunge straight from university into the world of plant based business! In this episode, we cover building a huge social media following, how to find a team who embody your passion a...
May 06, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 2
With three start ups under her belt, Fleur Emery has lived and breathed the startup life for over 15 years. She now coaches some of the UK's most exciting startup businesses and is fashioning a new career in the media. In today's episode, Damien asks her about why she decided not to go ahead with the launch of a potentially lucrative ready-meal business, and Fleur talks through her philosophy to life and well-being. Also, lots of concrete learnings in this episode about building positive relatio...
May 06, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 1
To celebrate the launch of Series 2 of the Plant Based Business Podcast we will be releasing 4 episodes and hosting a special live virtual event on Thursday 7th May. Plant Based Business podcast hosts Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel will interview some very special guest panellists about the future of the Plant Based Economy. Tickets for this special live event are free and available over on www.vevolution.co The Plant Based Business Podcast is produced by Vevolution and edited by Bridey Addison-...
Apr 30, 2020•1 min•Season 2Ep. 1
This week we have an absolute treasure trove of advice for you in our end of season highlights episode. We've handpicked a selection of the best parts of the series, ranging from Scott McCulloch from The Vegan Kind on what gave him the confidence to leave his job, to Pippa Murray from Pip & Nut on blending peanuts in her kitchen. Lots of fun in this episode, so sit back and enjoy. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series so please do get in touch at vevolution.co and feedback on our pos...
Apr 15, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Today Damien is chatting to Stephanie Peritore, founder of Mindful Bites and an Angel Investor. Stephanie shares how she went from working in finance to creating a plant based business designed to help change the world for the better. This episode covers how to find the right manufacturer (and why you should) when to compromise, and why a good relationship with your consumers will help in a hunt for new retailers. Lots to learn, we hope you enjoy! We'd love to hear what you think. Please share y...
Apr 08, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 23
