Founders with Nick

🟣 Join The Notice Club!: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FvGUgLQbnSgJciB7yJDqxX Charles McManus took the stage at our very first Founders With Nick LIVE event to tell a different kind of startup story. After decades in traditional finance, he stepped away to build ClearBank, the UK’s first new clearing bank in over 250 years. Not a flashy app or consumer brand, but the infrastructure beneath the surface that makes modern finance work.Charles shares how he transitioned from banking exec to founder, how he built trust in an industry where credibility is everything, and what it takes to scale quietly in a world that rewards noise.00:00 Introduction01:00 Kicking off the live event and introducing Charles McManus03:03 The unexpected lunch that sparked the ClearBank journey05:21 Selling the unsexy backbone of fintech via cloud-native APIs07:44 Navigating rulebook gaps to build the first new clearing bank11:25 Winning early clients by rejecting legacy attitudes13:13 The reality of hiring the wrong people early on15:41 Graduate schemes, early churn, and what made them proud17:40 Losing a year chasing big client revenue over product focus19:50 Holding the culture intact through growth and global scaling24:18 The hidden pressure of being responsible for other people’s money26:46 Refusing to chase growth at the cost of profitability27:59 Adapting leadership style and showing up authentically30:24 Lessons on transparency, risk, and building no-blame culture32:02 What real sacrifice looks like as a founder CEO33:33 Why it was all worth it despite what was lost36:11 The one thing holding the UK back in fintech innovation39:37 Lack of urgency around digital payments and stablecoins45:56 Why big banks keep failing on basic compliance54:27 Can fintechs survive without being eaten by incumbents?→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nickThe Notice Club: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FvGUgLQbnSgJciB7yJDqxX→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/→ Follow Charles:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-mcmanus-/

Callum Woodcock spent seven years dreaming about starting a company while working at JP Morgan.He had zero investor connections, was searching for a perfect co-founder who didn’t exist, and kept reading entrepreneurship books instead of actually getting started.In this episode of Founders With Nick, Callum reveals how he went from corporate paralysis to building a wine investment platform that’s solving problems the entire industry has ignored for decades, why most wine businesses accidentally become Ponzi schemes, and how his deepest insecurities became the driving force behind his success.00:00 Introduction02:00 Building in Barcelona and what this interview aims to uncover06:24 Bootstrapping versus venture capital and the emotional cost08:24 Breaking in without a network and the snowball effect of one contact12:52 Just ask for help and ditch the self-reliance myth18:12 How Cotri’s backing changed everything for credibility24:19 The legal structure that lets clients keep their tax perks25:33 Who WineFi is not for and why that matters29:04 Deep ownership, identity and how workaholism shows up35:49 Self-doubt, overthinking and who keeps him grounded46:55 A real misstep with a post and what he learned from it51:33 Finding community and levelling up through founder networks→ Follow Founders With NickInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/→ Follow CallumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumwoodcock/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winefi_official/?hl=enWineFi: https://winefi.co/

Otto and Claudia Boyer didn't set out to revolutionise London's café scene. What started as evening conversations over dinner became weekend pop-ups, then a bootstrap journey that would take them from making £15 at Brick Lane Market to opening permanent bars across London.In this episode of Founders With Nick, Otto and Claudia Boyer share the unglamorous reality of building from nothing, why they removed their best-selling coffee (and saw sales jump 80%), and how having twins somehow made them more ambitious, not less.🟣 We cover:☕ Why their first markets failed, and what this taught them🏪 The birthday phone call that landed them in Selfridges (completely unplanned)💰 How bootstrap pressure creates better decisions than VC money👶 Managing rapid growth while becoming parents to twins🤝 Working as married cofounders without destroying the relationship📈 The brutal focus that took them to multiple revenue streams & matcha masteryFor anyone building something from scratch, this is an honest look at what it takes to survive the early years, make hard decisions, and grow a business when quitting just isn't an option.01:00 Building Jenki from scratch with no funding or fanfare04:38 Early pop-ups, failed markets, and testing the concept09:01 Designing the first bar to pull customers in13:37 Creating four revenue streams beyond just the bars21:26 Navigating conflict and building healthy co-founder dynamics25:31 Scaling the team and defining new founder roles31:54 Understanding customer behaviour34:59 Getting better at saying no and trusting gut instinct36:25 The bleakest moment after launch and pushing through40:38 Struggling to feel successful while still chasing growth42:08 How having twins reshaped their ambition and perspective48:06 What makes Jenki truly different from the rest→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/→ Follow Jenki:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenkimatcha/?hl=enJenki: https://www.jenki.co.uk/

Lucy Baird didn’t leave her job with a clear plan. She left because she knew staying was no longer an option. What followed was the slow, quiet build of Studio LGB, an interior design practice rooted in clarity, trust, and work that speaks for itself. Less than two years in, her studio is already earning attention from the likes of Architectural Digest.In this episode of Founders With Nick, Lucy shares how she navigated those uncertain early months, how she won her first major clients without a portfolio, and what it really takes to go from employee to founder in a saturated industry.🟣 In this episode, we cover:🏙️ Starting a design studio with no cofounder, no funding, no backup📐 The slow, thoughtful way she landed her first big projects🧠 The mindset shift from employee to creative entrepreneur💬 Why client relationships are as much psychology as they are design⚖️ How she’s defining growth on her own termsFor anyone thinking of making the leap, or already mid-jump, this is a real look at what it means to create on your own terms.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:00 Leaving your job and sending that important email06:56 Building a network from scratch in New York09:46 Debunking misconceptions about interior design11:49 The brutal truth of project and client management16:24 How to accurately charge clients for work17:52 Signature style and what makes work stand out19:56 Art as the starting point for every room21:24 Struggling with numbers but learning to let support in23:59 Facing scepticism and proving yourself in a male-dominated industry28:31 Hot streaks, dry spells, and faking confidence online30:58 Advice for anyone stuck in a job they’ve outgrown33:11 Spaces as a glimpse into people’s personalities36:09 Old buildings, charm and the soul of a space37:14 Leaving a legacy through design and function→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/→ Follow Lucy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucycurates/Studio LGB: https://www.studiolgb.com/

When Alex Marks left her law career, she didn’t have a clear roadmap. Just a small payout, no restaurant experience, and a hunch that something better was on the other side of risk. That hunch became Sushi Counter.🟣 In the latest episode of Founders With Nick, we’re unpacking how she went from a law firm in Manhattan to running Sushi Counter, an Aussie-style grab-and-go sushi brand now expanding across NYC. We talk through the early chaos, the cost of people-pleasing, and the unexpected advantages of not knowing the rules. → Join us as we unpack:🍣 Why staying niche gave Sushi Counter its edge💼 How she walked away from law without a backup plan🧠 Leading without experience and learning to own the role📦 The importance of keeping operations scrappy and simple💬 What most founders get wrong about process and leadershipMessy, honest, and full of lessons for anyone building something from scratch.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:00 Leaving law behind to start a sushi business in New York07:33 Creating a simple spreadsheet to justify taking the leap10:08 Why sushi and why commit to New York, not Melbourne13:33 How being a people pleaser complicated early leadership17:59 Learning on the job and growing into being a boss22:53 Imposter syndrome and feeling like she got lucky30:34 Thriving in a scrappy, unstructured environment32:40 The Aussie-style sushi model and gap in the NYC market36:10 Why not knowing the rules made the model work better40:08 The long-term vision of expanding beyond New York43:43 The one legal thing she wishes she'd done from day one45:00 Common founder traits and what sets them apart→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/→ Follow Alex:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushicounternyc/?hl=enSushi Counter: https://sushicounternyc.com/

Sam Winsbury, founder of Kurogo, joins the show for a sharp, tactical conversation on building a personal brand that actually drives business, especially on LinkedIn. Forget vanity metrics or recycled advice; this is about creating content that positions you as the go-to in your niche, not just another voice in the feed.Sam's unpacking the systems behind building authority at scale, how founders should approach personal content differently, and why attention without conversion is a waste of time.🟣 In this episode, we’re diving deep into:💡 Why most LinkedIn content fails to build real trust🧠 The psychology behind content that converts🔧 How to systemise your personal brand without sounding robotic📈 Balancing growth, positioning, and monetisation as a founder🛠️ Creating leverage from content that compounds over timeThis is an episode worth tuning into if you’re serious about making your online presence drive real results.Timestamps:00:00 Introductions01:00 Starting a marketing agency straight after graduation04:00 Hustling for freelance gigs and the unexpected power of LinkedIn06:28 Overcoming fear and shame when you start posting online08:32 Insecurity and building conviction as a young founder10:30 Splitting the business into agency and education models14:44 Do you actually need a personal brand to succeed?16:41 The 30-day game plan to build your brand from scratch18:52 What part of Sam still feels unseen despite all the visibility20:00 Why 10% extra effort changes everything26:48 Fear of complacency and being driven by internal standards29:57 Grief, ambition, and the emotion behind building something alone30:41 Founder vs performer, how personal branding blurs the line33:17 Hiring globally and building a high-performing remote team36:00 Growing beyond LinkedIn, adding PR, speaking, and funnels39:21 Why most of LinkedIn content feels cringey and superficial42:14 Image plus text - what actually performs best right now44:27 Sam’s no-BS approach to routines→ Follow Founders With Nick:InstagramLinkedIn→ Nick LangridgeLinkedInLNGR→ Follow Sam:LinkedInInstagramWebsite

Starting a winery in a city with no vineyards is bold—but doing it as a trio of first-time founders takes a different level of trust and tension. In this episode, I’m joined by Ross McLauchlan and Matt Smith—two of the three minds behind The Austin Winery (Cooper in spirit)—to unpack what co-founding really looks like behind the scenes. From blurred roles and creative conflict to growing pains and long-haul alignment, they share how the partnership evolved, what nearly broke it, and what’s kept it strong over a decade of building. It’s a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to build something meaningful without burning out—or burning bridges.00:00 Introduction01:00 How wine became their cultural bridge06:08 Launching Austin's first urban winery08:42 The hidden challenges of wine production13:23 Reshaping Texas wine's reputation16:08 Making wine approachable for everyone20:13 What they'd do differently now23:15 Wisdom for aspiring wine entrepreneurs25:30 Staying passionate after a full decade27:32 The value in starting small28:43 Navigating decisions as cofounders33:04 Inside the winery's team culture35:18 Finding balance in workplace dynamics42:11 Breaking down wine business economics46:06 When politics disrupted their global plans50:05 The five-year vision ahead54:23 Stories behind their signature bottles57:50 Approaching each wine like an album release→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/→ Follow Austin Winery:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaustinwinery/?hl=enAustin Winery: https://www.theaustinwinery.com/

Founders With Nick is on the move—this week, we're in Austin, TX with Abel Olmos, founder of The Barbashop, to break down the truth behind building a brick-and-mortar brand from scratch. Far beyond clean fades and cool interiors, Abel reveals what it really takes to scale a people-first business in a saturated space.From team dynamics and toxic hires to co-founder trust and learning how to let go, this episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary challenges of early-stage leadership.Whether you're building a barbershop or a startup, the mindset shifts and management lessons here are universal. 00:00 Introduction of Abel Olmos 01:20 Who you must become for business growth 03:50 Finding purpose through early pivots 06:26 The magic of finding your cofounder 10:05 Building safety and reframing failure 13:06 Handling conflict without toxic culture 16:42 Knowing when to walk away 19:14 How culture naturally filters out toxicity 22:38 Bronx roots and adapting to New York 26:47 Breaking free from corporate identity boxes 28:43 Escape plan for corporate workers 35:40 Expanding through hospitality and vision 40:05 Playing your own game, not theirs 44:55 The moment everything had to change 49:23 Creating space for creativity at work 52:00 Being the boss you always needed→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/Website: https://www.lngr.co.uk/→ Follow Abel:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelolmos-pm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abelolmos/The Barbashop: https://www.thebarba.shop

Ross Neal—former professional rugby player turned performance consultant—brings a refreshingly honest take on ambition, burnout, and the myth of high-performance culture. We often assume elite athletes are relentlessly driven from day one, but Ross admits he coasted early, only stepping up when the risk of failure became real.In this episode, he reveals what finally lit the fire, why pressure is really about uncertainty, and how many “high performers” aren’t as disciplined as they claim. A sharp, grounded conversation for any founder or entrepreneur aiming for the next level.Episode timeline 0:00 Meeting Ross and his rugby beginnings 06:06 First pro contract and financial lessons 10:22 Finding your edge through desperation 14:02 Breaking into Wasps’ first team 20:49 Career highs, regrets and team culture 24:35 From rugby pitch to business world 31:26 Building high performance in companies 35:53 Creating meaningful workplace interactions 39:57 Smart hiring for entrepreneurs 42:49 Using your unique expertiseConnect → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram LinkedIn → Nick Langridge: LinkedIn LNGR → Follow Ross: LinkedIn Instagram

Everyone thinks starting a fashion brand is about aesthetics and creativity—but Ben Hurren knows it's about obsession, patience, and operational grit. After two decades leading menswear at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and REISS, Ben’s now building Vingt Quarte: a denim brand four years in the making, born from a gap he saw and couldn’t unsee.In this episode, Ben shares the reality of launching a fashion business with deep industry experience but zero startup experience. From botched factory relationships to production delays, he opens up about the lessons that almost broke the brand—and the moments that kept it alive. If you’ve ever dreamt of building a label from scratch, this one’s for you.Episode timeline 0:00 The journey into fashion 03:39 Learning from industry veterans 06:11 When e-commerce changed everything 11:18 Inside Selfridges’ buying strategies 17:34 How men and women shop differently 21:07 The vision behind Concept24 25:40 Taking the entrepreneurial leap 28:10 Vingt Quarte’s story and valuable failures 33:11 Building a team while keeping your vision 35:18 Planning for growth and eventual exit 38:37 Why fashion startups struggle to survive 42:48 The manufacturing challenge 44:18 Wisdom for fashion entrepreneurs 45:57 Building beyond the brandConnect → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram LinkedIn → Nick Langridge: LinkedIn LNGR → Follow Ben: LinkedIn Instagram