Founded & Grounded

7 billion views and counting: the growth secrets of Sidemen's creative mastermind, Jordan Schwarzenberger. Managing one of the world’s biggest creator collectives is no small feat. We dive deep with the man behind Arcade Media and the Sidemen’s explosive rise, blending sharp self-awareness, cultural intuition, and a bold approach to building in public. The creator economy is dead. Jordan reveals why relying on brand deals is outdated and how the Sidemen have built entire business models through strategic partnerships and leveraging their audience. This is a masterclass in staying relevant, building with intention, and growing without losing who you are.Key takeaways🔥 Know yourself to grow yourself. Jordan believes brutal self-awareness and personal branding are essential. When you understand who you truly are and fully embrace it, you unlock clarity, confidence, and business momentum. 📹 Don’t just create. Document. It’s not just about creating content. Jordan shows how documenting your journey with purpose builds trust, drives growth, and keeps your brand aligned with your goals.🤝 You can’t win alone.  Strategic partnerships are the key ingredient to scale. Find operators who complement your strengths and share your vision.Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websitehttps://foundedandgrounded.com/episodes/lqtT800N1V6Hit play and discover how to build something that actually lasts.

What separates a great podcast from the noise? We uncover the secrets of podcasting success with Gareth Evans, founder of 18Sixty, an agency that helps brands connect with their audience through high-quality audio storytelling.From working with Virgin/Absolute Radio and BBC Radio to launching his own agency, Gareth shares his journey through the evolution of podcasting, revealing what it takes to create audio content that really holds the audience's attention. Key TakeawaysKnowing your audience: The key to a successful podcast lies in deeply understanding your listeners and crafting content that serves their needsFinding Balance: Effective time management, habit stacking, and prioritisation are essential for navigating business demands while maintaining a fulfilling personal life.Business growth strategies:  Differentiating yourself, leveraging word-of-mouth, and building strong connections are crucial for scaling your business. Whether you're an early-stage founder, an aspiring podcaster, or just curious about the future of branded podcasts, this episode is packed with practical insights and behind-the-scenes wisdom. Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websitehttps://foundedandgrounded.com/episodes/j54mNsooOdH 

From $0 to $400 Million Valuation: The Incredible Journey of Tim Fung and Airtasker. From humble beginnings to a marketplace giant. But Tim's journey is much more than just success.Through resilience, identifying mutual benefit, and embracing change, he has created a company that has changed the future of work.Tim delves into his upbringing, the inception of Airtasker, and the company's funding journey, offering valuable advice for new founders. Explore the balance between transparency and forward planning, Tim's IPO experience, and the transition from blitzscaling to a lean approach. Learn about the significance of humility, team support, and managing expectations. We conclude the episode by discussing the future of work, embracing AI, and societal changes.Key TakeawaysHigh expectations can undermine resilience, so maintaining realistic goals can help sustain long-term motivation and perseverance.Aligning business strategies and goals among all stakeholders ensures smoother operations and mutual benefits, making it easier to achieve sustainable growth.Adapting to market conditions and being open to changing strategies, even if it means shifting from aggressive expansion to a leaner approach, is crucial for long-term success.Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websitehttps://foundedandgrounded.com/episodes/z0Sw0OlIhm1

What do Stephen Hawking, AR glasses, and open-source design have in common?Join us as we chat with Bobak Tavangar, co-founder of Brilliant Labs, about his remarkable journey and insights into innovation.From leadership lessons to fundraising advice, this episode is packed with valuable gems for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts.Bobak discusses his career, including a memorable encounter with Stephen Hawking and the role of open-source design in innovation. He explores the challenges of AR adoption, company culture, and hardware startups, offering leadership lessons on humility and communication. Hear Bobak's advice on fundraising, cofounder dynamics, and balancing startup life. Finally, we end with reflections on AI's future, data privacy, and the influence of faith in entrepreneurship.Key Takeaways- AI and AR technologies have the potential to revolutionise memory augmentation, providing perfect recall and proactive insights based on an individual's life experiences.- Building a successful global team requires extreme specificity and over-communication to avoid costly miscommunications, especially in hardware development.- Achieving a balance between openness and data privacy is crucial for tech companies to build trust and positively influence industry standards.Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat nowhttps://foundedandgrounded.com/episodes/X7Y6MMrIIzw 

From academia to entrepreneurship: The remarkable story of Nick Tune and the secrets to converting research into commercial success, with his spinout company Optimise AI. Gain valuable insights on the mindset shifts necessary for transitioning from corporate to startup life, the importance of support networks, and how to embrace failures. Uncover the economic impact of Nick's spinout company Optimise AI, their differentiators in the market, and his valuable advice on team growth and work-life balance for early-stage founders.Key Takeaways- Balancing financial management and growth is crucial for startup survival, requiring careful attention to both spending and cash runway.- Utilising fractional experts can provide startups with strategic and operational support without the high costs of full-time roles.- A strong support system and maintaining personal well-being are essential for founders to sustain their passion and resilience in the face of entrepreneurial challenges.Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat nowhttps://foundedandgrounded.com/episodes/hLPd1Wv9x0T

From performing magic for prime ministers and billionaires to gracing stages on shows like Britain's Got Talent. Alfie Whattam shares his unorthodox journey from entertainment to launching his own recruitment startup, Alfa Technology. Alfa builds software engineering teams for businesses operating in cutting-edge technologies like AI and Web3.   Uncover Alfie's game-changing insights on cultivating a bulletproof mindset, building effective content strategies, and disrupting outdated industries ripe for innovation. The recruitment industry is broken. Hear how Alfie is challenging the status quo, taking on the incumbent ‘dinosaurs’, questioning unethical practices, and doing things differently.  Alfie's insights delve into pressing issues, like the ethical implications of AI, and the exponential speed of development, which could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. Alfie emphasises the need for genuine community-driven approaches in recruitment. Key takeaways- How to build a winning Content Strategy – Alfie shares his blueprint so you can drive inbound demand for your business. He stresses the importance of consistency and a clear strategy to make content work effectively for your goals. - Delegation and Automation - Alfie emphasises the significance of delegating tasks, systematising, and automating to avoid burnout and maximise productivity. - The potential and dangers of AI and Web3 technologies. Hear the immense potential for transforming entire industries and creating new business opportunities. But the rapid evolution also poses ethical and existential questions that we exploreHave questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our website Text us your feedback and feature on the showSupport the showProudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:NPSA.gov.uk/innovation Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:hexafinance.co.uk/contact Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now

How this entrepreneur overcame ADHD and dyslexia and used these diagnoses as his superpower to build two businesses worth millions.  Hear the inspiring story of Roei Samuel, who discusses the importance of self-belief, transparency, and resilience in entrepreneurship. Roei got an exit with his first business, Real Sport, and has gone on to build the UK's fastest-growing startup community in Connectd. The platform has shaken the early-stage investment landscape by utilising data to ensure transparency, trust, and better connectivity in the investment process. By the end of the episode, you'll be encouraged to think bigger, embrace bold decisions, and navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with more confidence and resilience. Key Takeaways- How to create an unstoppable mindset - Roei shares how he has created an intoxicating self-belief to overcome challenges and remove crippling self-doubt.- Develop self-awareness and play to your strengths - How to become more self-aware and focus on your personal strengths. Embrace who you are and prioritise self-care to achieve long-term success and happiness.- Create a big vision - Roei is on a mission to democratise the investment landscape and empower entrepreneurs worldwide. Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websiteText us your feedback and feature on the showSupport the showProudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:NPSA.gov.uk/innovation Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:hexafinance.co.uk/contact Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now

Meet the power couple who quit their jobs and made Dragons' Den history, by giving away 5% of their business for £5.  Introducing Charlene Mitchell-Hood and Simon Hood, the founders of Sooper Books. Hear their incredible journey, which started as a simple idea to aid their daughter’s bedtime routine, which quickly turned into the world's number one bedtime story streaming service and saw all five Dragons invest.  Their journey will inspire you and arm you with valuable insights for your own startup. Don't miss this masterclass on how you can turn your passion into a category-defining leader.Sooper Books is a storybook streaming service offering hundreds of world-class stories and audiobooks to millions of families around the world, completely free of charge.Key Takeaways- Value of relationships over money. Learn why and how they prioritised connections over cash, which has opened doors and fostered significant growth for Sooper Books. This illustrates that sometimes, who you know is as important as what you know.- Authenticity in pitching and brand building. Learn how their genuine approach in the Dragon's Den and beyond has not only differentiated them from competitors but also helped build a brand that's beloved by families worldwide.- Balancing business and personal life. Discover the delicate art of managing a business with your spouse, the importance of delegation, having clear boundaries in place and the pivotal role of learning from failures to ensure both business and personal growth.Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websiteText us your feedback and feature on the showSupport the showProudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:NPSA.gov.uk/innovation Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:hexafinance.co.uk/contact Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now

A teaser for Season 5. We deep dive into the minds of early-stage founders, who are only a couple of steps ahead. Our unique podcast format, blending interviews with analysis, brings you closer to the action. Our hosts, Dr Becky Sage and Ollie Tiramuragan Collard unpack the business lessons for you. Join us as we tackle taboo topics and feature a diverse range of guests, with over 1 in 3 being female founders and 1 in 4 being from an ethnic minority background since the podcast was launched in 2019. We delve into Ashleigh Tennent's journey in the coaching industry. We also hear about Andy Welsh's financial struggles. Eric Fulwiler shares his career journey, marketing insights, and experiences with Gary Vaynerchuk. Have questions about our podcasts? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websiteText us your feedback and feature on the showSupport the showProudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:NPSA.gov.uk/innovation Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:hexafinance.co.uk/contact Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now

The untold story of how one woman's mental health crisis led her to create a revolutionary mindset company for women. Meet Kim Palmer founder of Clementine, a company on a mission to free women from unhelpful thoughts, feelings & expectations. Kim's very personal crisis led her to champion mental well-being and create a movement for women. Clementine is reimagining mental health and paving the way for digital therapeutics. Kim risked it all as the main breadwinner, giving up her well-paid job in strategy to follow her dreams.  Key Takeaways- Expansion and growth: Explore Clementine's strategic shift from an App to a mindset company - Founder well-being: Kim discusses the critical role of self-care, the power of trusting one's intuition, and maintaining emotional well-being amid the demands of startup life - The Importance of Customer Discovery: How to effectively use customer insights to validate your business model, fuel growth and build an engaged community Have questions about this episode? Ask our hosts, chat now via our websiteText us your feedback and feature on the showSupport the showProudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:NPSA.gov.uk/innovation Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:hexafinance.co.uk/contact Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now