Not My First Guess

Hosted by Hattie Willis

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Feb 2025

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Candid lessons from fellow founders, investors and innovation experts; to help you test, launch and scale your idea faster.

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February 25, 2025Episode 91 hr 0 min

Building a Business From Joy Not Fear: Featuring Thea Brook

Join me, Hattie Willis, as I chat with the incredible Thea Brook, a seasoned entrepreneur and CFO-turned-founder, about her remarkable journey from finance to founding her own businesses. We dive into Thea's unconventional background, from training as a dancer to opening a dance school at 20, and how she eventually found her way into finance and entrepreneurship. Thea shares valuable insights on mental health, personal branding, and her approach to social media as a founder. Get ready for a candid and inspiring conversation that will leave you feeling motivated to take control of your own entrepreneurial journey! Timestamps:05:00 - Thea's unusual background and how it influenced her entrepreneurial path12:30 - The importance of talking to yourself kindly and reframing your self-talk20:00 - How Thea transitioned from finance to entrepreneurship and found her calling30:00 - Thea's approach to personal branding and social media as a founderLinks:Thea’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/theabrookThea’s website: https://www.theabrook.com/

February 11, 2025Episode 855 min

The Power of Calling it Quits: When to Step Away: Featuring Joy Mpofu and Cameron Orcutt

Ever felt the pressure to keep your startup afloat, even when it's not working out? In this episode, we dive into the tough topic of shutting down your business with Joy Mpofu and Cameron Orcutt, two founders who have been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale. They share their honest experiences of closing their companies, and how they supported each other through the process. We explore the stigma of failure in the UK, the importance of having a support system, and the lessons learned from their startup journeys.Join us as we shortcut our learnings as founders together! 🚀Links:Joy’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joy-mpofu-394a1655Cameron’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cameronorcutt

January 28, 2025Episode 753 min

How to Find the Right Funding For You: Featuring Daniel Sawko

Are you tired of the painful process of finding investors for your startup? Today, I'm joined by Daniel Sawko, co-founder of ShipShapeVC, who's on a mission to make fundraising easier for founders. In this episode, Daniel shares his journey from consulting to entrepreneurship, and how he's helping founders navigate the complex world of investments. We dive into the importance of empathy in sales strategy, how to reduce the time to accessing capital, and the reasons why founders should focus on building meaningful relationships with investors.If you're struggling to find the right investors for your startup, or simply want to learn more about the world of fundraising, this episode is a must-listen.Key Timestamps:[02:15] Daniel's journey from consulting to entrepreneurship[10:30] The importance of empathy in sales strategy[16:45] How ShipShapeVC helps founders find the right investors[25:00] The benefits of having a sales strategy that includes SMEsLinks:Daniel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsawko/?originalSubdomain=ukShipShape.vc website: https://www.shipshape.vc/

January 14, 2025Episode 658 min

Growth vs Scale: Building Teams That Last: Featuring Neda Sahebelm

Join us as we dive into the inspiring story of Neda, founder of Keshty, as she shares her journey of overcoming rejection, building a successful business, and investing in others. From her experiences as an only child to navigating the world of entrepreneurship, Neda opens up about the lessons she's learned along the way. Don't miss this episode as we explore the importance of org design, rejecting transactional relationships, and building a strong support network. Neda shares her story of starting Keshty, a business that was built on her mission to make a difference. She talks about the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them. She also shares her insights on the importance of hiring and how it can make or break a business. Plus, she opens up about her experiences with rejection and how she's learned to see it as a redirection. Don't miss this inspiring and informative episode!Links:Neda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedasahebelm/?originalSubdomain=ukKeshty Website: https://www.keshty.com/about

December 10, 2024Episode 51 hr 4 min

Innovators not Imposters: Featuring Cecil Adjalo

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Cecil Adjalo, founder of Foundervine, one of the UK's largest and most vibrant accelerators, having designed a high-impact training program that provides ambitious entrepreneurs with the skills, tools, and support they need to confidently scale their ventures. Cecil has a passion for operational efficiency, automation, and creating data-driven organisations which led him into the field of Data and Analytics. He began his career by troubleshooting issues with hospital database software and later transitioned to management consulting, start-up creation, business intelligence, and strategy, with his passion for data and analytics ultimately leading him to where he is now.In this episode, we cover:The importance of focusing on a big vision and not being afraid to think bigHow to overcome imposter syndromeThe challenges of pitching to VCs and the importance of showing tractionThe role of affinity bias in the startup space and how to overcome itThe power of community building and creating a supportive ecosystem for underrepresented foundersLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adjalo/?originalSubdomain=ukFoundervine: https://www.foundervine.com/#Startup Experimentation playlist: https://bit.ly/3D9k67j

November 26, 2024Episode 455 min

Designing for Neuro Inclusivity: Practical Tips for Founders with Autism and ADHD: Featuring Sascha Evans

Did you know that 20% of your employees, customers, and friends are likely to be neurodivergent? In today's episode, we're diving into the importance of neuro inclusivity in entrepreneurship, with Sasha Evans, a brilliant entrepreneur and expert in experience design and neurodiversity.Join me, Hattie Willis, as I chat with Sasha about her journey into entrepreneurship, from theatre to startups, and how she's helping founders design for neuro inclusivity. We'll cover practical tips for founders with autism, ADHD, and beyond, as well as how neurotypical founders can create more inclusive experiences for their customers and stakeholders. Plus, we'll explore Sasha's brilliant series on LinkedIn, where she answers your burning questions about neurodiversity.Links:Sascha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saschaevans/?originalSubdomain=ukUncommon company: https://www.bemoreuncommon.com/Zinc incubator: https://www.zinc.vc/

November 12, 2024Episode 354 min

Building Bridges: Supporting Founders and Breaking Myths: Featuring Marcus Exall

Joining us this episode is Marcus Exall, serial founder, angel investor, and investor in residence at Virgin Startup. In this episode, Marcus shares his journey from building and exiting a digital advertising company to supporting countless founders along the way. We dive into his early days as an entrepreneur, from running a paper round as a kid to selling tickets at a nightclub, and how those experiences shaped his approach to business. Plus, we debunk some common myths around investment and entrepreneurship, and discuss the importance of freedom and failure in the startup journey. Don't miss this episode packed with insights and laughs!Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusexall/Monese: https://monese.com/gb/en/Up and to the Right: https://www.u2r.co/

October 29, 2024Episode 21 hr 1 min

Pitch Perfect: Unlocking Your Inner Storyteller: Featuring Pascalle Bergmans

Storytelling is one of the most underrated founder skills! It’s critical for motivating your team, selling to customers, and of course, raising investment. It can also position you as a thought leader, which yes, helps all those things too. But it’s one of the things that trips sooo many founders up.From pitches that make it obvious they were created to follow a formula, to LinkedIn posts that show zero personality, to team talks that end with glazed eyes, it’s so easy to get it wrong. So in this episode, we're thrilled to have a very special guest who knows a thing or two about captivating an audience.Joining us is Pascalle Bergmans, the multi-talented founder of PresenTales, a Pitch Training company which empowers senior leaders and executives to deliver their stories with impact and passion. With an impressive background performing on the West End in musicals like Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Robin Hood, Pascalle is no stranger to the art of engaging storytelling and owning a stage.In this episode, we dive deep into Pascalle's wealth of knowledge and experience. We'll explore:Lessons from the West-End that you need in your startup storytellingPractical tips for overcoming stage fright and delivering presentations with confidenceWhat authenticity and vulnerability in leadership communication really meansGrowing through LinkedIn Content marketing and how to get over the “Cringe” that holds us back from getting startedLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalle-bergmans/?originalSubdomain=ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_presentales_/PresenTales Website: https://www.presentales.com/

October 15, 2024Episode 150 min

Toks on Tech Stacks: Building a Following Alongside Your Product: Featuring Ghita El Haitmy

Have you ever wondered how to stay on top of the hottest new tech tools and trends as a founder? Curious how you can leverage platforms like TikTok and Instagram to market your B2B startup in a fun, engaging way?Get ready to learn because in this episode I'm joined by Ghita El Haitmy, the smart and sassy founder of Tech Bible, which empowers professionals to gain a competitive edge by keeping them up-to-date on the latest tech through bite-sized social media content. Ghita has an amazing entrepreneurial journey to share. Ghita started out working in a corporate role but always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Her first startup was an AR app for the blind and visually impaired. When that wound down, she realized there was a huge need for someone to test and recommend the best new software tools for businesses. So Tech Bible was born, helping busy professionals cut through the noise and discover the tools and trends to boost their productivity. Ghita has grown a big following by making fun, relatable videos on TikTok and Instagram sharing her tech tips.In our chat, Ghita and I dive into:Her winding path to finding her calling as a founder and content creatorHow she's making a "unsexy" space engaging and growing a community on TikTokHer hard-won lessons on hiring, delegating, and avoiding burnout as a solo founderGhita's top tips for making content that educates while still being entertaining and relatableHow to find great mentors by leading with valueWhy focus and trusting your own vision is crucial as an early-stage founderStay tuned for an illuminating conversation packed with tactical advice and plenty of laughs along the way!Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghita-el-haitmy-a9ab7767/?originalSubdomain=ukInstagram: @techbible.aiTech Bible Website: https://www.techbible.ai/My Finder App: https://www.myfinder.uk/

July 15, 2024Episode 531 hr 0 min

From Pitch to Payday, The Hidden Costs of Fundraising: Featuring Sam Simpson

Have you ever found yourself drowning in fundraising legals and language? This is the interview you’ve been waiting for… In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Sam Simpson, Co-founder of FounderCatalyst, who's on a mission to simplify and accelerate the early-stage investment legal journey. Sam's not just talking the talk; he's walked the walk, having co-founded and exited several tech start-ups, including the 17th fastest growing company in Europe in 2017. Oh, and did we mention he took that company from £0 to £27m in less than 4 years? But Sam's not just a founder; he's also an active angel investor with 32 investments under his belt in just 6 years. Plus, he's a sought-after board advisor. In other words, when it comes to navigating the minefield of fundraising and investment, Sam’s who you want to learn from.In this episode we discuss:Simplifying the early-stage investment legal journeyInsider tips on SEIS/EIS and equity investmentStrategies for finding the right investors for your startupLessons learned from co-founding and exiting successful tech start-upsHow to think about valuing your early stage startupWhat Sam looks for as an angel and what really puts him off even a seemingly “great” dealSo, whether you're a first-time founder trying to wrap your head around the legal jargon or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to optimise your fundraising game, this episode is packed with actionable advice and hard-won wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the people I trust most in this ecosystem!Links:All about valuation: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/all-about-funding-round-valuation-2Toxic Term sheets: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/avoiding-toxic-term-sheets-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-ask-answeredUnderstanding how an angel thinks: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/understanding-how-angel-investors-think-2The end of an angel investment: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/the-end-of-an-angel-investment-from-the-magic-to-tragic-2Founder Catalyst: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/companySam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsimpson1/?originalSubdomain=uk