Consuming Consciously with Olivia Parkes

In this episode of Ideas to Impact, Charlotte sits down with Craig and Geoff, the co-founders of WITR (WITR – “Who’s In The Room”), a simple but powerful networking tool designed to make in-person events less awkward and more intentional. They talk about how an introvert’s frustration at traditional networking sparked the idea, how WITR helps attendees see who’s in the room and why they’re there, and how the product has evolved with live events, GDPR and AI in mind. The conversation also dives into the realities of being a founder, the importance of community and encouragement, and how a trip to Silicon Valley reshaped their mindset around scale, failure, and ambition. Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Ideas to Impact & guest introductions(00:01:50) - Origin story – networking pain points and the first Witter prototype(00:04:02) - How WITR works for attendees and event organisers(00:10:12) - Building a SaaS: focus, pricing and partnerships(00:15:11) - The founder journey – resilience, community and encouragement(00:23:22) - Silicon Valley mindset – risk, failure and thinking bigger(00:34:45) - Tech trends, AI matchmaking and the future of WITR(00:41:43) - User-led growth, affiliates and privacy-first networking(00:48:00) - Advice for founders and how to get started with WITR

In this episode of Ideas to Impact, host Hannah speaks with Olivia Parkes, founder and CEO of Persi, a B2B personalisation tool for e-commerce retailers. Olivia shares how Persi is redefining the online shopping experience by recommending products based on what customers already own — not just what they’ve clicked. Together, they discuss the journey of turning an idea into a funded business, tackling imposter syndrome in tech, and the future of personalised and sustainable fashion. Chapters (00:00:00) - What Persi is and how it works(00:05:00) - The problem with current e-commerce personalisation(00:07:00) - Building trust and protecting customer data(00:08:30) - How Persi’s recommendations stand apart from typical “you may also like” systems(00:10:00) - The challenges of scaling and maintaining trend accuracy(00:17:00) - Transitioning from marketing to tech founder(00:20:00) - Finding a CTO and overcoming imposter syndrome(00:28:00) - Mentorship and resilience through failure(00:37:00) - The story behind raising £665,000 and using LinkedIn for fundraising(00:44:00) - Encouraging female angel investors and building community(00:47:00) - Lessons for founders: transparency, persistence, and community

In this episode of Ideas to Impact, Ruth speaks with Maxwell Scott-Slade, founder of GLITCHERS, a games studio building health-focused games in partnership with scientists. Maxwell shares how his journey from entertainment games to neuroscience collaborations shaped Glitchers’ mission to become the “Fitbit for your brain.” He discusses projects on Alzheimer’s, mental health, and environmental issues, alongside the challenges of scaling, securing funding, and growing internationally. Chapters (00:00:00) - The vision: “Fitbit for your brain”(00:01:02) - From indie games to science collaborations(00:02:11) - Making The Great Sperm Race for Channel 4(00:05:48) - Brother’s diagnosis reshapes mission and purpose(00:09:46) - Expanding beyond Alzheimer’s to wider brain health(00:13:11) - Collaborations with UCL, CNRS, and other researchers(00:14:03) - Environmental simulation games with real ecological data(00:16:27) - Techscaler support and lessons from Japan trip(00:21:59) - Winning £75,000 through Scottish Edge(00:23:34) - Preparing for TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco(00:27:16) - Relaunching Sea Hero Quest with new features(00:31:12) - Reflections on global growth and future ambitions

In this inspiring episode of Ideas to Impact, Sally chats with Natalie Garry, founder of DanceSing, a digital wellness platform transforming care for older adults through music and movement. From ballet beginnings to Silicon Valley breakthroughs, Natalie shares her remarkable journey as a founder, mother, and wellness advocate scaling an award-winning business across the UK and US. DanceSing works in partnership with the University of Stirling, the Scottish Government, and NHS healthcare professionals to co-create programs that directly support the wellbeing of older adults and care staff alike. Chapters (00:02:25) - From ballet to business(00:05:50) - Pivoted online in four hours(00:07:55) - Why care homes became the focus(00:10:02) - Measurable impact on health outcomes(00:15:23) - University and government research partnerships(00:20:00) - Validating results with health data(00:23:01) - Realisations from Silicon Valley trip(00:28:06) - Securing first US clients via LinkedIn(00:30:19) - Building a team for US expansion(00:34:56) - Clarifying mission and growth strategy(00:36:18) - Making aging joyful and engaging(00:47:02) - How to connect with DanceSing

In this episode of the Ideas to Impact podcast, host Shona sits down with Andrew McGinley, an Entrepreneur in Residence at CodeBase and former founder of Care Sourcer. They explore Andrew’s journey from building a family-run care business to launching a tech-enabled care marketplace, scaling with millions in investment, navigating acquisition, and now helping other Scottish startups grow globally. They also dive into Scotland’s startup ecosystem, the evolving landscape with AI, and Andrew’s upcoming venture in the golf space. Chapters (00:00:55) - Andrew’s current role at CodeBase(00:03:35) - Starting Care Sourcer(00:06:00) - Selling the concept before building the tech(00:09:14) - Raising a large seed round(00:14:19) - Growing to a team of 12-15(00:20:00) - Challenges of selling into regulated sectors like the NHS(00:25:11) - COVID-19’s impact(00:28:21) - Acquisition process and brand transition(00:34:08) - Andrew’s biggest lessons(00:38:10) - Why Scotland’s ecosystem is thriving(00:43:48) - What’s next: launching Hosel(00:47:06) - How to get in touch with Andrew

In the third episode of the Ideas to Impact, we sit down with Mohamed "Mo" Zamzam, co-founder of Neuron, an AI-powered startup transforming how businesses adopt agentic systems. Mo shares the highs and lows of launching Neuron, the importance of co-founder alignment, customer-led product development, and lessons from navigating the funding world. Whether you're an aspiring founder or just AI-curious, this episode is a masterclass in resilient entrepreneurship. Mo offers practical advice on choosing the right co-founder, validating ideas through real customer conversations, and raising VC funding without losing focus on your long-term vision. This is a brutally honest, inspiring, and highly actionable conversation for founders at all stages. Chapters (00:00:00) - Mo introduces himself and Neuron's mission(00:03:40) - Finding a co-founder(00:14:40) - Neuron’s first concept(00:20:25) - The “sell before you build” philosophy(00:29:00) - Scaling without losing sight of the customer(00:34:00) - The founder’s lifestyle cost(00:49:00) - Raising funding: bootstrapping vs VC(00:56:00) - Moving into the US VC ecosystem(01:01:00) - Building long-term investor trust(01:08:00) - What’s next for Neuron

In this episode, we sit down with Rory Buchanan, co-founder of Ask Vinny, to explore how he’s transforming property management through AI and automation. What began as a simple WhatsApp service has evolved into a smart, scalable platform that’s reshaping the rental experience for landlords and tenants alike. We dive into the power of customer feedback, the realities of pivoting in sales strategy, and why relentless user focus and rapid prototyping are central to his approach. Chapters (00:00:00) - Episode Introduction(00:06:44) - Lessons in Startup Success(00:12:14) - Embracing Risk and Taking Action(00:16:09) - Co-Founding Dynamics and Relationship Growth(00:26:03) - Sales Strategy and Customer Growth(00:33:47) - Navigating Early-Stage Startup Fundraising(00:40:27) - Tracking Product Progress and User Engagement(00:54:47) - AI Tools & Prototyping(01:04:06) - Work-Life Balance(01:17:10) - Future Vision(01:31:08) - Advice for Founders

In the episode, listeners explore the journey of Eilidh Mutch, the founder of Your Spin. The episode highlights her innovative use of gamification to revitalise the pub experience post-COVID, enhancing social interactions and re-engaging consumers. Eilidh shares her path from university to becoming a hospitality industry trailblazer, overcoming resistance with persistence and strategic partnerships with brands like Heineken and BrewDog. The discussion also contrasts entrepreneurial attitudes in the UK and the US, emphasizing the importance of embracing failure and maintaining transparency with investors. Eilidh introduces "Last Orders," a new interactive game fostering connections among venues and patrons, and highlights support programmes like Techscaler, CodeBase and Scottish EDGE. The episode offers inspiration and practical advice for aspiring innovators, showcasing the dynamic potential of hospitality tech and the significance of building genuine industry connections.