Founded & Grounded

Dave Mason has survived two crises most people never face: being held hostage in Beirut while reporting on a war zone, and every single client cancelling in one afternoon when COVID hit. In this episode, he traces a 30-year media career, from a maths-obsessed teacher's put-down and a bedroom full of taped radio charts, to founding the legendary Orchard FM, to financing a management buyout against his own pension. Then he rebuilt in 48 hours and spun out Splutter, a real-time social media crisis simulator now used in one of the world's largest financial-sector crisis exercises. Honest, raw, and full of hard-won lessons on resilience, AI, freelancing, and why your health is the real wealth.

A teaser for Season 5. We deep dive into the minds of early-stage founders, who are only a couple of steps ahead. Our unique podcast format, blending interviews with analysis, brings you closer to the action. Our hosts, Dr Becky Sage and Ollie Tiramuragan Collard unpack the business lessons for you. Join us as we tackle taboo topics and feature a diverse range of guests, with over 1 in 3 being female founders and 1 in 4 being from an ethnic minority background since the podcast was launched i...

Get a rare insight into one entrepreneur's remarkable journey to a $1.5B market cap. Discover John Williams's insider strategies and personal challenges as he co-founded and scaled Kudan from startup through to IPO. John's next chapter is building SCVC, a deep tech VC he and partner Harry Destecroix wished they had as founders. This episode is a must-listen for every entrepreneur and tech enthusiast. Key Takeaways- Insider IPO Strategies: from leading Kudan through to a historic IPO, Jo...

Entrepreneurship is a lot like dancing; both require resilience, adaptability, and the courage to step outside your comfort zone.Find out how one startup, SOS Dance Global, is combining these elements to reach the top of the industry. This is a story of empowerment, resilience, and defying the odds.Bonnie Parsons, shares her remarkable journey from professional dancer to pioneering entrepreneur, and how she's empowering a generation of women through the universal language of dance.Key Takeawa...

The innovator turning forgotten spaces into thriving community hubs. Meet Felix Atkin, founder of tech startup Sharsey - the Airbnb for community spaces. What stemmed from a personal problem of trying to book a local venue for his kids' birthday party has blossomed into a business that has already generated over £1million in bookings. Felix delves deep into his journey, unveils the strategic steps behind Sharesy's considered growth, and shares invaluable insights on coping with the demands ...

The former MD of Gary Vee's Vayner Media left everything behind to pursue his dream, and the results will leave you inspired. Tune into a thought-provoking journey with Eric Fulwiler, the visionary co-founder behind the growth marketing consultancy Rival. What was the tipping point that compelled him to take the plunge? In reality, there wasn't one...Eric pulls back the glitzy entrepreneurial curtain and reveals the unfiltered realities of day-to-day startup life. Key Takeaways- Define ...

We are currently facing a public health crisis. In this episode, you'll hear the story of Andy Welsh, the ambitious founder of SRSLY Low Carb. After a wake-up call, he left the corporate world to enter the challenging world of health-focused entrepreneurship. Picture this: You're trying to offer healthier food options in a market that is dominated by six conglomerates producing ultra-processed food. Quite a challenge, right? What's his secret weapon? It's listening to his cus...

The incredible journey of Hexa Finance is not just a tale of success; it's a true story of how being bold and true to yourself can pay dividends. From a simple idea in 2016 to launching amidst the global lockdown, co-founders Ben Davies and Stu Mason have navigated it all.They dive deep into their journey, sharing the sacrifices made, the critical role of timing, and the essence of trust and understanding in their partnership.Key takeaways- Back yourself and go for it, as you've started...