The Founders Lounge

Hosted by Matic Jesenovec

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Jul 2024

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Imagine you are friends with some of the UK’s best entrepreneurs. Now imagine you can grab a drink with each of them and casually chat about business ideas, motivations, tactics, strategies and success habits. That’s what The Founders Lounge is all about. It provides real insights into the real day-to-day lives of real founders, CEOs and other business professionals every week. Hosted by Matic Jesenovec.

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60 recent

July 11, 20241 hr 6 min

Multi-million pound exit, property investing and building an AI startup - Sam Oliver | E89

Sam Oliver started his entrepreneurial journey when he was just 22, founding Eydin Property, a property investment company. He then pivoted to tech, creating LeadPro, a successful property marketing software that he took from zero to a multi-million pound cash exit. Now, Sam is diving into the world of AI with his new startup, OpenFi, which is revolutionizing sales processes using conversational AI. We talk about: - Starting a property investment business at a young age - Key lessons from his first failed startup - How Sam leveraged property investments to build wealth - How to compete against VC-backed startups - The ups and downs of building and selling LeadPro - Lessons learned from nearly going bust during COVID - The power of negotiation in securing a favorable exit - Post-exit identity crisis: to retire or to start a new business? - The value of niche markets and the dangers of limited scalability - The importance of market validation and how to do it - The potential of AI in transforming industries - Overcoming fear and assessing risk in business Links: - Sam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam0liver/ - OpenFi: https://www.openfi.tech/ - Advance To Go book by Sam Oliver: https://www.advancetogo.com/ - The Lean Startup by Eric Ries: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lean-Startup-Innovation-Successful-Businesses/dp/0670921602 - The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mom-Test-customers-business-everyone/dp/1492180742 - Oversubscribed by Daniel Priestley: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oversubscribed-How-People-Lining-Business/dp/0857086197 - On Identity by Amin Maalouf: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Identity-Amin-Maalouf/dp/1860467296 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me. --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 🎙️Hosted by Matic Jesenovec Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJOr get in touch via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maticjesenovec

May 16, 20241 hr 8 min

My Success System: How I Sold My Agency for 7 Figures and Started an AI Startup - Jodie Cook | E88

Jodie Cook started a digital agency at age 22, fresh out of university. Over 10 years, she built her agency into a successful lifestyle business before selling it for 7 figures using her proven "success system" blueprint. Then she soon started Coachvox, and startup that helps coaches make an AI clone of themselves. Jodie chronicled her entrepreneurial journey in her book Ten Year Career which received praise from prolific entrepreneur Derek Sivers, who stated "every future millionaire needs this wise perspective." We talk about: - Starting an agency at age 22 fresh out of university - Jodie’s "success system" for achieving any goal in life - How Jodie developed her incredibly clear thinking - The 3 phases of building a sellable agency - How Coachvox is changing the game for coaches and creators - Behind the scenes of an AI startup - Extreme people get extreme results - Go where the money is - Win the mental game - Balancing time using a "Profession, Obsession, Decompression" framework - Eliminating decision fatigue with the "perfect repeatable day" Links - Coachvox: https://coachvox.ai/ - Jodie’s book: https://www.jodiecook.com/ten-year-career/ - Jodie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-cook/- Jodie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodie_cook 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me. --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 🎙️Hosted by Matic Jesenovec Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJOr get in touch via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maticjesenovec

April 18, 20241 hr 11 min

Being Bipolar and Building Tech Companies - James Roycroft-Davis | E87

James Roycroft-Davis is a serial tech entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and investor. He has founded multiple companies, including his latest startup Baseline which aims to support people with bipolar disorder through an app-based platform. We talk about: - Losing a job and starting a business - First startup: Productizing his mom - Running a business with spouse or family member - Challenges of building a tech startup - Why 72% of entrepreneurs suffer from some mental health condition - Bipolar disorder and its impact on building companies - Vision behind his mental health startup Baseline - Building an MVP for a tech startup - Insights on the current fundraising landscape - Investing experience, getting in on Discord pre-IPO - Fitting wellness routines into a busy schedule - Microdosing psychedelics among founders Links - James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrd2024/ - Baseline: https://www.joinbaseline.co/ 🌟 APPLY FOR A COO ROLE AT JUDGE.ME This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). They’re looking for a COO to lead the entire day-to-day and drive commercial planning towards their goal of $50M ARR and a FTSE250 listing by 2030. Could this be you? Full role profile here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13AotWhuLfCyXn4l0pzZLwaCe2AuAnsjG/view?usp=drive_link --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 🎙️Hosted by Matic Jesenovec Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJOr get in touch via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maticjesenovec

April 11, 20241 hr 9 min

I Bought a Side-hustle and Grew It to a 7 Figure Business With Remote Employees - Noel Andrews | E86

Noel Andrews is the CEO of JobRack, a company that helps businesses hire remote employees in Eastern Europe and South Africa. He bought the business when it was very small and has grown it to a 7-figure company. Noel is also exceptionally good at building relationships, surrounding himself with interesting people and organizing all sorts of fun activities with other entrepreneurs. We talk about: - Buying vs starting a business - Transition from a corporate job to entrepreneurship - Challenges in scaling a job board - Building a remote team - Hiring freelancers vs full-time remote employees - Strategies to build a strong remote company culture - Networking and building relationships - Tips and techniques for having meaningful conversations - How to ask thought-provoking questions - How to create memorable moments for clients and team members Links Noel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelandrews/ JobRack: https://jobrack.eu/ The Power of Moments: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Moments-Certain-Experiences-Extraordinary/dp/0593079264 🌟 APPLY FOR A COO ROLE AT JUDGE.ME This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). They’re looking for a COO to lead the entire day-to-day and drive commercial planning towards their goal of $50M ARR and a FTSE250 listing by 2030. Could this be you? Full role profile here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13AotWhuLfCyXn4l0pzZLwaCe2AuAnsjG/view?usp=drive_link --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 🎙️Hosted by Matic Jesenovec Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ Or get in touch via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maticjesenovec

April 4, 20241 hr 5 min

How I Built a $6M ARR SaaS with 80+ Employees in Just 4 Years - Roei Samuel | E85

Roei Samuel is a serial entrepreneur who started one of the world's most successful eSports platforms at just 22 years old, growing it to over 8 million monthly users before selling the business for millions. He then founded Connectd, a platform connecting startups with investors and advisors, which he scaled to $6 million in annual recurring revenue and 80+ employees in just a few years. We talk about: - Starting one of the world's most successful eSports platforms at 22 - Growing to 8+ million monthly unique users - On breaking the rules to achieve success - Selling the first business for millions - Starting Connectd, a platform to connect startups with investors and advisors - How to build your first product quickly with a low budget - Growing to $6m ARR and 80+ team members - The most important thing when hiring - Lessons from an immigrant mom - Benefits of ADHD for entrepreneurs - Best productivity tactics Links - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roei-samuel/ - https://www.connectd.com/ - https://course.breadcrumb.vc/ 🌟 APPLY FOR A COO ROLE AT JUDGE.ME This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). They’re looking for a COO to lead the entire day-to-day and drive commercial planning towards their goal of $50M ARR and a FTSE250 listing by 2030. Could this be you? Full role profile here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13AotWhuLfCyXn4l0pzZLwaCe2AuAnsjG/view?usp=drive_link --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge

March 23, 20241 hr 10 min

7-Figure Agency Founder: Starting and Scaling an Agency in The Age of AI - Loukas Hambi | E84

Loukas Hambi is the founder of two multi 7-figure agencies. The first one, Hambi Media, was recently sold to Soar With Us. And his second agency, For You Advertising, became the fastest-growing TikTok agency. He’s helped 150+ DTC brands scale to 7 and 8 figures and spent over £150M on creative. He also started a few of his own DTC brands. We talk about: - Lessons learned from the legendary Felix Dennis - Starting, growing and selling an agency - Is agency a good or a bad business - Loukas’ strategy for growing an agency to 7 figures fast - How AI is changing the agency and DTC landscape - How Loukas is implementing AI across his businesses - Best AI tools to use in advertising - How to build trust with customers in the age of AI - The importance of balance for personal performance - How to hire A-players - The #1 book that transformed Loukas’ business - One skill that's been the most beneficial for business success - What separates OK founders from GREAT founders Links - Loukas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loukas-hambi-388067152/ - Loukas on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LoukasHambi - Hambi Media: https://www.hambimedia.com/ - For You Advertising: https://www.foryouadvertising.com/ - How To Get Rich by Felix Dennis: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Get-Rich-Felix-Dennis/dp/009192166X/ - Chartr trends newsletter: https://www.chartr.co/ 🌟 APPLY FOR A COO ROLE AT JUDGE.ME This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). They’re looking for a COO to lead the entire day-to-day and drive commercial planning towards their goal of $50M ARR and a FTSE250 listing by 2030. Could this be you? Full role profile here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13AotWhuLfCyXn4l0pzZLwaCe2AuAnsjG/view?usp=drive_link --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge

February 29, 202449 min

Discussing AI Business Opportunities with a YCombinator Founder - Peter Nixey | E83

Peter Nixey is a serial entrepreneur who started working with AI way before it was cool. His first startup, Clickpass, was in one of the first 5 YCombinator cohorts (together with Dropbox and Disqus). He’s currently running Intentional, a task/time management software company. He’s also starting an AI focused venture studio. We talk about: - The experience of being among the first Y Combinator startups - Working with Paul Graham, the “godfather” of startups - Some of the best founders are very clear thinkers - Lessons on innovation from starting multiple startups - Current state of AI and its potential - AI opportunities and ideas to pursue - The importance of managing your time, not your tasks Links - Follow Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternixey/ - Peter’s website: https://nixey.ai - Manage your time, not your tasks: https://intentional.io/ 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge

February 22, 20241 hr 3 min

Exited 2 Companies by 29, Now He Invests in Startups and Charters Superyachts - Richard Hadler | E82

Richard Hadler is a 2x exited founder. He sold a B2B marketing agency and a D2C ready-to-drink cocktail brand. He’s a director at Odin and a Co-Founder of Founders Capital where he’s now focused on investing in startups. We talk about: - Turning around a struggling publishing business at a young age - Scaling an agency business to 80+ employees - How to build a highly profitable agency - Starting a cocktail business during the pandemic - Founders Capital and investing in startups - Traits of successful founders - Why charter a superyacht in Croatia - Modelling Alex Hormozi - Insights into Rich's approach to investing - What separates great founders from ok founders Links - Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hadler-677abab9/ - Founders Capital: https://www.founders-capital.com/ - Tough Calls by Allan Leighton: https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Calls-Making-Decisions-Challenging/dp/1847940544 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me. --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge

February 15, 202452 min

How I Sold a Browser Plugin For 7 Figures in 2 Years (Dragons' Den's Best Pitch) - Jonny Plein | E81

Jonny Plein sold his first company, Pouch, for 7 figures after just 2 years. But he’s gone through all the worst entrepreneurial ups and downs throughout this journey. They got 5 out of 5 offers on Dragons’ Den, grew 10x overnight, then had to fire the whole team. Now he raised £2M for his next startup, YASO, helping brands enter the $1.7tn Chinese ecommerce market using social commerce. We talk about: - Where the idea for Pouch came from - Innovative ideas are over-rated - How to build the first product - Having the best pitch on Dragons’ Den - From the highest highs to the lowest lows - Negotiating a 7 figure exit - Raising £2m funding with no revenue and no product - Entering China - the largest market in the world - How to pre-sell your product 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge

February 8, 20241 hr 24 min

How This $300M Founder Sold His Luxury Lifestyle Startup to a Bank - Alex Macdonald | E80

Alex Macdonald is a Co-Founder of Velocity Black, which was acquired by Capital One for a reported $297M. Now he’s a Co-Founder and CEO of Sequel - an investment platform for the world’s best athletes. He’s also an angel investor in 40+ companies. We talk about: - One of Alex’s first jobs: buying distressed companies for $0 - How Alex got the idea for Velocity Black - What it takes to build a company worth $100s of millions - Growth strategy of one of the fastest-growing startups in Europe - How to achieve a successful exit - Is it easier to start a hard company? - Dinner with the Pope, meeting Taylor Swift, missions to the space station - Building an investment platform for the world’s best athletes - Acquiring ultra-successful individuals as customers - Alex’s comprehensive methodology for hiring A-players - How to foster high performance in the company - Working hard vs work-life balance - The importance of focus - The #1 book that changed Alex’s life - A powerful (selfish) principle Alex lives by Links: - Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexfmac/ - Alex on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexfmac - Alex’s newsletter: https://alexfmac.substack.com/ - Velocity Black: https://velocity.black/ - Sequel: https://www.joinsequel.co/ - Alchemy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alchemy-Science-Conceiving-Effective-Logical/dp/006238841X 🌟 WORK FOR AN INSPIRING UK STARTUP: The best way to learn about business is by working for a successful company with an ambitious founder. This episode is brought to you by Judge.me - the #1 e-commerce product reviews solution, founded by PJ Cellis (Episode 54). If you’re looking for a job in an inspiring, profitable, and fast-growing UK-based startup, check out https://careers.judge.me --- 📣 Please subscribe & share if you liked the episode ❤ 🚀 Follow me for business ideas & insights: https://twitter.com/MaticJ 🦄 Join my UK product founders community: http://joinpmf.com 💰 Looking for funding? Get a VC intro: http://vc.foundrs.vip 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFoundersLounge