The Accidental Startup Podcast

Ben Hofmeister has a fabulous name and big ambitions to take a slice of the burgeoning CBD oil market in the UK. Still in its infancy, the market is valued in the hundreds of millions of pounds and the space is filling up fast. But how do you cut through when you can't market or advertise properly. Ben tells us about his company, Kokora, and about how he's taken his time to refine his product and use the experience gained from his other business to get a foothold. You can find out more about Kokora at www.kokora-cbd.com. Follow the Accidental Startup on Twitter - @accidentalstart The Accidental Start up is an EatSleep Media production

How do you create your brand? How do you find your own distinctive voice in a packed market place? At Hensol Castle Distillery they're crafting gin and a brand which taps into the local history and its links to an age old spirit. We're taken on a tour of their gin school, and what an education it turned out to be! Find out more about Hensol Castle Distillery here. Follow the Accidental Startup podcast on Twitter at @Accidentalstart_ The Accidental Startup is an EatSleep Media production.

What is a high street if it isn't urban? Is it marketing nonsense or a new way of looking at an old problem? How do we save our high streets? Simon Baston from Loft Co has an ambitious plan to start from scratch praising a new experience for visitors with local independent businesses. We take a tour of the Goodsheds in Barry, talking to Simon about his vision, the founders of the ultra successful cosmetics accessories company, Spectrum Collections, a former head teacher turned owner of Academy coffee and the brains behind street food specialists Meat and Greek. Is this new 'urban' high street going to ignite the public's imagination or burn on the grill of an uncertain economy. The Accidental Startup is an EatSleepMedia production. The music in this episode can be found on Artlist.

What is a disruptor? How does it start? And, how do you carry on disrupting? Jamie Graham and Dai Lewis from Who Knows Wins don't like to use the term disruptor. They also don't like being called a gambling app. But they will accept being called a betting app. What's the difference? Herein lies the story of a reluctant disruptor. Follow the Accidental Startup podcast on Twitter: @AccidentalStart Find out more about Who Knows Wins. The Accidental Startup is an EatSleep Media production. Hosted by Anchor. Music from Artlist.

Accidental Startup host Alex Feeney is talking to Louise Wright, founder of Woodee, which uses local crafts to make beautiful, bespoke products. Summer garden shows are her main revenue stream but with Coronavirus and lockdown leaving all these plans in tatters, what has Woodee been doing to explore new avenues and revenue sources? You can follow the Accidental Startup on Twitter - @accidentalstart. The Accidental Startup is an EatSleep Media production.

Everyone’s got a podcast right now. And if they haven’t, they’re really thinking about it. Some will be rubbish! Here are some tips we’ve learned which, hopefully, will mean yours isn’t one of those!

Coronavirus has had an unprecedented impact across the world, taking lives and tearing families apart. It’s also had a huge impact on the global economy, from the huge multi nationals down to SMEs and startups. There are things you just can’t do anymore. So what do you do? Hunker down and wait for it to blow over? Give up? Or, try to look at your business in a completely different light? Siwan Rees is an Entrepreneurship Development Manager for Natwest in Wales, it’s her job to help startups grow and take on the world. She’s also been named among the top 35 business women under 35 in Wales as well.

How do you still do business when there is very little business to business with? How are you supposed to get through the Coronavirus crisis with a business (and your health) in tact? For the health side of it seek the latest government advice, stay home and stay safe. For the business side we talk to Siwan Rees, Entrepreneurship Development Manager at Natwest, about what businesses have been doing to pivot, level up or simply support their own local communities.

In this edition we speak to Jordan Guard and Reece Land, joint founders of The Women's Sports Alliance, an exclusive club to sport women competing at elite level in all sport. They came up with the idea and opened for business in just two weeks. Talk about taking an idea and running with it! If you want to know more about The Women's Sports Alliance you can visit their website here - https://the-wsa.co.uk  You can contact us via @accidentalstart on Twitter, or by emailing [email protected] The Accidental Startup podcast is an EatSleep Media production.

What could a recruitment company and nursery possibly have in common and what could they learn from each other? But Guy Last and his brother Arron, co-founder of Enya's Childcare, are sharing experiences, lessons and ideas which show that whatever ever business you are running, there is something you can take from every other sector. The Accidental Startup is an EatSleep Media production Hosted by Anchor Music from Artlist