Founders Unplugged

Hosted by Greg McCallum

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Episodes

158

Latest episode

Jul 2025

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EN-US

About the show

Founders Unplugged is a web series capturing long-form conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world.

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60 recent

July 23, 2025Episode 9556 min

Nobody Talks About This Part of the Founder Journey w/ Shona Beats - Part Two

Nobody Talks About This Part of the Founder Journey | Shona Beats on Identity, Burnout & What Comes Next What happens after you step back? After the raise? After the exit? In Part Two of our conversation with Shona Beats — ex-Founding COO of Headspace and now a coach to high-growth founders — we explore the emotional cost of building a company… and what’s waiting on the other side. We talk about identity loss, burnout, ego, and why even the most successful founders can feel totally unprepared when the hustle stops. If you’ve ever asked “what now?” — this one’s for you. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro – The part of the journey no one talks about 01:10 Why stepping away is harder than people think 03:00 When success still feels empty 04:45 Coaching founders through identity collapse 06:30 Why founders struggle to rest, even after exit 08:15 Learning to detach self-worth from metrics 10:30 When ego gets in the way of growth 12:00 How to rebuild identity post-startup 13:50 The link between meaning, purpose and mental health 15:15 What real founder support looks like 17:00 Why founder journeys don’t have clean endings 18:45 Advice for anyone feeling stuck or lost 21:00 Final reflections – it’s okay not to know what’s next ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔗 Follow Shona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonamitchellbeats/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd

July 21, 2025Episode 9448 min

From Headspace to High-Growth Coaching: Shona Beats on Startup Chaos and Calm

From Headspace to High-Growth Coaching: Shona Beats on Startup Chaos and Calm In this episode of Founders Unplugged, we sit down with Shona Beats, ex-Founding COO of Headspace, to talk about what really happens behind the scenes of a rocketship startup — and what founders need but rarely get as they scale. Shona shares her journey from working with Andy Puddicombe in the earliest days of Headspace to mentoring some of the world’s most ambitious founders today. We explore burnout, founder identity, operational chaos, and the psychological cost of hypergrowth — plus what she’s learned from watching hundreds of founders go through it. This is one of those conversations that hits deep. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome & introduction 01:20 How Shona met Andy and got involved in Headspace 03:30 From events to startup: the messy early years 05:10 What early traction really looks like behind the scenes 07:00 Scaling without a blueprint — growing fast while staying grounded 09:45 The pressure of being a first-time operator in a high-profile brand 12:20 When mission and scale collide 14:15 Lessons from chaos: the skill of staying calm in uncertainty 16:05 Stepping away from Headspace and finding new identity 18:40 Moving into coaching — why founders needed more than just tactics 21:00 Common patterns in founder burnout and emotional overload 23:10 Reframing success and learning to pause 25:00 What Shona wishes every founder knew -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔗 Follow Shona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonamitchellbeats/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd

July 16, 2025Episode 9330 min

How Symvan Capital Scales Startups Without Losing the Human Touch

What does founder-friendly VC look like in practice? In Part 2 of our conversation with Kealan Doyle and Michael Theodosiou from Symvan Capital, we explore how they scale their portfolio without sacrificing personal support — and why their long-term, lifecycle approach to venture capital is built for both performance and relationships. We dig into exit strategy, failure rates, the broken early-stage funding landscape, and why hands-on VCs are rare but essential. Plus: 💬 Why most founders fail at sales (and what to do about it) 🔁 How to avoid hiring the wrong first salesperson 🏗️ The startup-to-film analogy that will reframe how you think about building 💸 How Symvan plans to scale without becoming just another big fund 📉 And why 80% failure rates at some funds are not just bad luck If you're raising at pre-seed or seed, managing an early-stage fund, or just trying to make sense of today’s VC market — this episode is a must-watch. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro – What’s next for Symvan Capital? 01:10 Growing their fund without losing quality 02:20 Plans for a new conventional (non-tax efficient) Series A fund 03:35 Exit strategies and tracking performance over hype 05:15 Why failure ≠ exit, and exits ≠ cash windfalls 06:45 Symvan’s lifecycle flywheel – proving the model works 08:10 Limiting portfolio failure through hands-on VC 09:45 Why most pre-seed and seed money is wasted 11:00 How they’ll scale while keeping support personalised 12:30 The real reason Symvan avoids big AUM models 13:45 Incentive misalignment in VC fee structures 15:15 The long game – why reputation and founder experience matter 16:30 How predatory term sheets and cold relationships harm early-stage founders 18:00 Founders talk – and bad actors get exposed 19:10 The “bubble years” and inflated valuations: lessons from the inside 20:25 Encouraging new portfolio companies to call existing ones 21:45 The dangers of raising at too high a valuation too early 23:10 What it really takes to work in VC today 25:00 Why “diversity of thought” beats traditional finance pedigrees 26:15 What VC analysts should really be learning 28:00 Final thoughts on founder support, pivoting, and resilience ------------------------------------------------------ 🔗 Follow Kealan Doyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kealandoyle/ 🔗 Follow Michael Theodosiou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-theodosiou-4a9280a3/ 🚀 Check out Symvan Capital: https://www.symvancapital.com/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd

July 14, 2025Episode 921 hr 20 min

Why Most VCs Don’t Actually Do Venture Capital | Symvan Capital on the State of Early-Stage Funding

What does hands-on VC actually look like? In this episode of Founders Unplugged, Greg sits down with Kealan Doyle and Michael Theodosiou from Symvan Capital, one of the UK’s most disciplined early-stage venture capital firms. Kealan and Michael share what really goes into building a successful VC firm — from avoiding “spray and pray” investing to supporting founders through the toughest stages of growth. They talk founder-led sales, the broken pre-seed market, the myth of the ‘gut feel’ VC, and why too many funds look the part but don’t do the work. If you're raising capital, running a startup, or building a fund, this episode is full of hard-earned insight you won’t get from the highlight reel. New episodes every week. Subscribe and hit the bell to stay plugged in. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and intros 01:30 Michael’s route from barrister to venture capital 03:35 How Kealan and Nick started Symvan Capital 05:05 The EIS market and why Symvan bet on high-risk, high-return 07:50 What drew Michael to startups and why VC felt like the perfect fit 09:55 How Symvan supports pre-revenue founders 12:00 Transitioning from investment banking to startups 13:30 Why most VCs aren't really “venture” capitalists 15:00 Rigour vs gut feel — the myth of the instinct-led investor 18:00 Is due diligence killing early-stage innovation? 21:45 Why Symvan’s DD process focuses more on founders than forecasts 23:00 Founders as evangelists — why most early salespeople fail 26:35 The case for hard skills in early-stage investing 29:00 Why technical founders often can’t sell — and how to fix it 32:45 Building a startup is more like making a film than you think 35:10 Sales MVPs and the myth of the perfect pitch 37:50 Can founders grow with their startup — or do they need to be replaced? 40:05 Why most first hires fail and how founders can avoid it 42:00 Communication, clarity, and the founder’s real job -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔗 Follow Kealan Doyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kealandoyle/ 🔗 Follow Michael Theodosiou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-theodosiou-4a9280a3/ 🚀 Check out Symvan Capital: https://www.symvancapital.com/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd

July 9, 2025Episode 9150 min

The Startup Hiring Mistakes That Cost You Your Best People w/ Alper Yurder - Part Two

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don’t do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ The Truth About Startup Hiring: What Founders Get Wrong w/ Alper Yurder – Part Two How do startups get hiring so wrong— so often ? In Part Two of this brutally honest conversation, Alper Yurder (founder of Forte, ex-Flowla) returns to explore why early-stage hiring fails, when AI hurts more than it helps, and what founders can do to build real sales leadership—without burning bridges. 🎧 In this episode: Why AI can't replace human nuance in sales coaching How over-automating demotivates reps What early-stage founders get wrong about hiring The danger of outsourcing core problems too soon Building GTM teams around learning, not just equity Pro bono work, fractional leaders & sustainable scaling The human cost of broken promises in startup culture This is a must-listen for any founder building a GTM engine, hiring their first sales lead, or trying to balance AI tools with real leadership. 🔗 Follow Alper Yurder LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/alper-yurder/ 🌐 Forte → https://www.fortegrowth.co/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca Spotify SEO Keywords: Alper Yurder, startup hiring mistakes, AI in sales coaching, early-stage sales teams, GTM leadership, fractional sales leader, sales playbooks, startup compensation, founder-led sales, outbound sales, startup culture challenges, Founders Unplugged podcast

July 7, 2025Episode 9056 min

How to Build Sales Systems That Actually Work w/ Alper Yurder - Part One

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don’t do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ How to Build Sales Systems That Actually Work w/ Alper Yurder – Part One What makes a sales system actually work for startups? In this episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Alper Yurder , co-founder of Flowland and go-to-market advisor, to unpack the mindset and mechanics behind successful early-stage sales. From the power of messaging to the common mistakes founders make in their first sales hires, Alper shares real, tactical advice from helping 100+ startups grow. 🎧 In this episode: The traits great salespeople and great founders share How to handle rejection and build resilience in sales Why founders must sell before building a sales team Outbound vs inbound: how they should work together What most startups misunderstand about bootstrapping vs funding The key role of feedback in both product and sales How to turn weekly learnings into a repeatable sales playbook Whether you're still founder-led or building your first team, this episode is packed with insights that will change how you approach growth. 🔗 Follow Alper Yurder LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/alper-yurder/ 🌐 Forte → https://www.fortegrowth.co/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca Spotify SEO Keywords: Alper Yurder, startup sales systems, early-stage sales strategy, founder-led sales, sales playbook, outbound sales, inbound sales, go-to-market advisor, sales messaging, sales resilience, bootstrapping vs VC, Flowland platform, Founders Unplugged podcast

July 2, 2025Episode 8958 min

The Final Chapter: Why Daniya Stewart Closed Her Food Startup - Part Two

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don’t do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ Making the Difficult Decision to Shut Down Your Business w/ Daniya Stewart – Part Two What does it really feel like to walk away from a business you built from scratch? In this powerful Part Two episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Daniya Stewart to unpack the emotional, strategic, and financial layers behind closing her food startup, PHOMO . From pitching at Selfridges to managing product recalls, Daniya shares an unfiltered look at the pressure to scale, the packaging challenges that became insurmountable, and why shutting down was ultimately the bravest—and most difficult—decision. 🎧 In this episode: Navigating the realities of retail, margins, and growth Why omnichannel and PR strategies only go so far How a perfect storm of challenges forced a tough call The emotional weight of letting go of your business How to talk about failure without shame What Daniya would (and wouldn’t) do again If you're in the thick of building—or deciding whether to stop—this is a must-listen. 🔗 Follow Daniya Stewart LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniyastewart/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca Spotify SEO Keywords: Daniya Stewart interview, shutting down a business, food startup journey, packaging failures, ambient product development, omnichannel strategy, founder honesty, emotional resilience, crowdfunding follow-up, PHOMO business story, Founders Unplugged podcast

July 2, 2025Episode 8849 min

From Banking to Food Startup: The Early Journey of a Founder w/ Daniya Stewart - Part One

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don’t do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ From Banking to Food Startup: The Early Journey of a Founder w/ Daniya Stewart – Part One What happens when a corporate career collides with a deep craving for Vietnamese food? In this episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Daniya Stewart , founder of the food startup PHOMO , to explore her journey from banking and project finance to building a Vietnamese food brand from scratch. From selling out in 90 minutes at a farmer’s market to navigating Seedrs crowdfunding and family life, Daniya shares a real, grounded view of what it takes to become a founder. 🎧 In this conversation: Launching a food startup with no prior experience How customer feedback shaped PHOMO’s early success The reality of crowdfunding and the investment journey Juggling parenting teenagers with entrepreneurial chaos The power of communication skills—in business and in family Lessons from closing the business and what came next This is an honest, inspiring conversation for founders, parents, and anyone navigating the unpredictable road of entrepreneurship. 🔗 Follow Daniya Stewart LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniyastewart/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca Spotify SEO Keywords: food startup journey, Daniya Stewart interview, Vietnamese food business, parenting and entrepreneurship, crowdfunding on Seedrs, women in entrepreneurship, startup investment, founder life, mental load of business, Phomo food brand, Founders Unplugged podcast

June 25, 2025Episode 871 hr 1 min

AI's Impact on Business and Humanity: A Conversation w/ Hector Hughes or Unplugged - Part Two

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don’t do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ Scaling a Wellness Brand in an AI-Dominated World w/ Hector Hughes of Unplugged – Part Two In this episode, Greg McCallum and Hector Hughes , co-founder of Unplugged , explore what it means to protect our mental health, creativity, and sense of connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI and always-on technology. They discuss Hector’s plan to double Unplugged’s off-grid cabin network, the growing demand for digital detox, and how AI may soon reshape everything from education to communication to how we define being human. 🎧 In this conversation: The operational challenges and wins of scaling Unplugged Why digital detoxing is gaining cultural relevance The future of AI and its impact on human interaction How AI could revolutionise education and communication The importance of relationships and compassion in modern life Why perception, nuance, and depth still matter Whether you're a founder, creator, or someone simply trying to stay grounded, this episode offers both practical wisdom and deep reflection. 🔗 Follow Hector Hughes LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-hughes-10082195/ 🌐 Explore Unplugged → https://unplugged.rest/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour commercial advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca Spotify SEO Keywords: digital detox, unplugged cabins, AI and mental health, wellness startups, startup growth, mental health for founders, Hector Hughes interview, technology and humanity, scaling wellness brands, Founders Unplugged podcast

June 23, 2025Episode 8654 min

The Founder's Mental Health Journey: Hector Hughes of Unplugged on Therapy, Business Growth and Digital Wellness - Part One

Sponsored by FounderCatalyst If you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ Building a Business That Encourages Digital Detox w/ Hector Hughes of Unplugged – Part One What if the key to building a successful brand… was encouraging people to do nothing ? In this episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Hector Hughes , co-founder of Unplugged , to unpack the story behind their fast-growing digital detox company—offering 3-day, off-grid cabin breaks without phones, Wi-Fi, or inboxes. But this is more than a startup story. They explore founder identity, mental health, the role of trauma in ambition, and why downtime might be the most underrated growth strategy for both founders and businesses. 🎧 In this conversation: How Unplugged scaled from idea to 62 cabins The role of consistent messaging in brand growth Why doing less leads to better decision-making Founders and emotional suppression: a quiet crisis Pain, therapy, and ambition—how they connect The hidden power of data-driven marketing and external expertise If you're building a mission-led brand or navigating your own founder burnout, this one is for you. 🔗 Follow Hector Hughes LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-hughes-10082195/ 🌐 Explore Unplugged → https://unplugged.rest/ 💬 Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum: https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=8d3797e4-e8fe-4037-9277-c941aa56a5ca