Virgin StartUp Changemakers
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago -Hello and nice to see you again! You may have noticed we've changed things up a bit. Our MeetUps podcast is now Virgin StartUp Changemakers. The same inspirational founder interviews but now with added impact.
Visit VirginStartup.org for more.
Thanks to Virgin Money for making these podcasts available free for founders everywhere.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
Changemakers: Canopey
December 13, 2023 00:25 - 48 minutes - 534 MBThis week Host Natalie Pearce was joined by Hugo Douglas-Deane and Thomas Panton, co-founders of home of buying better, Canopey. The pair discussed how all of us can shop better, and what it takes to build a business taking on the likes of Amazon. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about how you can start-up and thrive. You can access Start Up Loan funding and free Business Advice to get your new business off the ground. Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events free for foun...
Changemakers: Ella Goldner, co-founder of Zinc VC
December 06, 2023 00:13 - 1 hour - 670 MBThis week's guest is Ella Goldner, co-founder of ZINC VC. ZINC VC changed the Venture Capital game when they launched their platform for purpose-first founders looking to partner with investors who shared their vision for a better world. Apologies for the sound quality in this episode, we had some tech problems on the night. We'll do better next time. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about how you can start-up and thrive. You can access Start Up Loan funding and free Business Advi...
Changemakers: Farah Kabir, co-founder of Hanx
November 29, 2023 00:04 - 1 hour - 683 MBThis week Natalie met the changemaker championing unapologetic sexual and intimate health for everyone. In 2017, best friends Farah Kabir and Dr Sarah Welsh were both equally frustrated with the limited variety and their experience in the condom and lube aisle. They created HANX with the purpose to start a sex-positive and sustainable brand with gynae-backed sexual wellness products everyone would love, with no harsh chemicals. Their attitude to challenge the status quo and misconception...
Changemakers: Alex Wright, co-foudner of DASH
November 22, 2023 00:38 - 58 minutes - 640 MBThis week Natalie interviews Alex Wright, the co-founder behind DASH, the drinks brand reducing waste and making delicious drinks at the same time. Apologies for the sound quality in this episode, we had some tech problems on the night. We'll do better next time. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about how you can start-up and thrive. Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events free for founders everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Changemakers: Dan Kieran
November 15, 2023 00:54 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBThis week Ben Keene interviews Dan Kieran, co-founder of Unbound and now author, most recently of Do Start - How to create and run a business (that doesn't run you). Apologies for the sound quality in this episode, we had some tech problems on the night. We'll do better next time. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about how you can start-up and thrive. Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events free for founders everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Changemakers: Cemal Ezel, founder of Change Please
November 08, 2023 14:00 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MB“Keep your change, I want change please” These words changed the life of Cemal Ezel, and consequently, thousands more. Former City trader Cemal founded Change Please to transform the lives of the homeless community by providing people experiencing homelessness a living wage job, housing, training and opportunities. Visit https://changeplease.org/ to find out more about the Change Please mission. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about how you can start-up and thrive. ...
In Conversation with Brixton Brewery
February 14, 2023 22:42 - 54 minutes - 74.4 MBCo-founder relationships can make or break a business. Whether it’s overcoming challenges or celebrating success together, the common goal to pursue your shared passion is what keeps founders going. At this special In Conversation With MeetUp, our host Ben Keene joins Brixton Brewery co-founders Mike Ross and Xochitl Benjamin to uncover how their chance encounter at the pub brewed up a successful business. The pair will discuss how having no experience in brewing beer or business didn’t s...
How to start and scale a food and drink brand
February 07, 2023 22:00 - 59 minutes - 81.9 MBThe food and drink industry is very crowded, so how do you get customers to reach for your products and get on the shelves in the first place? From rumbling up recipes to picking the perfect brand name, our panel of award-winning food and drink founders give you a taste on what life is really like starting and scaling up. In this MeetUp, our host Ben Keene has a feast of fantastic founder stories, insights and advice for up and coming startup leaders. Featuring: Fabian Clark, co-founder ...
In Conversation With Paynter Jacket Co.
February 01, 2023 06:25 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBMeet the founders behind a cult brand revolutionising the fashion industry, one garment at a time. Paynter Jackets began as an experiment over a long-distance relationship. The first jacket they ever produced sold out in 86 seconds, so as experiments go, this wasn't too bad. Becky Thomas and her husband Huw Thomas, created an innovative clothing brand by taking the traditional models of the fashion industry and turning them on their head. Today, if you want to get your hands on a Paynter ...
How to Build your Team and Culture
January 24, 2023 22:00 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBAs a founder, how do you stay true to your values and find partners and staff who share them? How do you help new team members create new working cultures which compliment yours? And what do you do when this goes wrong? Without its people, our businesses aren’t anything. As founders of new startups, you’re the beating heart and soul of your business, and how you build it will reflect your culture, values, practices and design. At our MeetUp we met 3 founders to talk about how they create...
In Conversation With Pip Murray from Pip & Nut
June 28, 2022 23:01 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBMulti-award winning founder, Pip Murray, joins Virgin StartUp for an evening of conversation to crack open the secret to creating a successful food brand. This is a recording of an interview which took place in March 2022. To get your ticket to our next MeetUp, visit virginstartup.org/events. We welcomed self-confessed ‘head squirrel’ Pip to our digital MeetUp stage to find out more about her mouthwatering nut butter brand, Pip & Nut, that has taken the UK shelves by storm. With a cra...
How to smash social media
June 22, 2022 04:36 - 1 hour - 99 MBHow can you make social media work for your startup? This is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in April 2022. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. – If you’re building a startup then you already know that your social media game needs to be on point. But in the days of 15 minute news cycles, influencers and saturated feeds, how can founders use social media in a way that works for them? To grow your brands, reach new customers and buil...
The Jump: Episode 6: Change Please
June 14, 2022 23:06 - 41 minutes - 460 MBWe're bringing you the final episode of our exclusive series, The Jump, available wherever you get your podcasts. The final episode of Series 1! Meet Cemal Ezel, the inspirational founder of Change Please, who went from City trader to changing the lives of homeless people one cup of coffee at a time. In this episode we find out what inspired Cemal to create change, and how he ended up sat next to George and Amal Clooney on Necker Island, being mentored by one Richard Branson. See virginst...
Introducing...The Jump - a brand new limited series from Virgin StartUp
April 20, 2022 23:23 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBWe interrupt your MeetUps so bring you an exciting new series from Virgin StartUp and give you exclusive access to the first episode. *click here to subscribe to the new feed to hear the rest of the series* Launching a travel startup just before Covid hits. Being inspired by your daughter to launch a business which ends up landing Beyonce as a client. Going from a kitchen table blog to a multimillion pound business. These are just some of the stories we've uncovered in our new startup podc...
How to start a business in 2022
March 09, 2022 01:24 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBHow to start a business in 2022 Will this be the year you startup? There has never been a better time to start a business. Amidst the challenges of the past 2 years, a record number of new startups have flourished. Virgin StartUp helped thousands to fund, start and grow the businesses they're passionate about - and now we want to help you. If you're thinking of starting or growing a business in 2022, then you won't want to miss our first MeetUp of the year. Start 2022 as you mean to go ...
In Conversation With Dan Murray-Serter
February 02, 2022 01:26 - 1 hour - 90.4 MBWe were thrilled to be joined at our December MeetUp for an in-depth and unfiltered conversation with Heights founder and podcasting legend, Dan Murray-Serter. Dan is a multi-award winning serial founder, who has talked openly about failure and overcoming mental health challenges, including suffering from depression, burnout, anxiety and insomnia. Dan co-founded braincare supplements company, Heights, and is the host of one of the UK's most popular podcasts, Secret Leaders. Thanks to our f...
Beyond Profit: How to Build Better Businesses
December 15, 2021 08:34 - 1 hour - 99.4 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in November 2021. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. -- To celebrate the launch of Virgin StartUp signing up to the Better Business Act, our November MeetUp focussed on how we can all build better businesses and have a positive impact on society and the environment. The drive towards more conscientious business has never been stronger, with consumers and investors looking for more purposeful b...
How to build a sustainable fashion brand
December 08, 2021 00:36 - 1 hour - 93.6 MBWith a shift in consumer attitude and a focus on sustainability, being a fashion brand today comes with new challenges and more scrutiny. In an industry known for using natural resources and encouraging waste and consumption, we pulled together founders who are leading the change in the industry and creating innovative, cleaner, greener and longer lasting solutions. Covering everything from production, supply chains and packaging, watch to find out how you can do it in your own startup to...
How to Start and Scale a Food and Drink Business
December 01, 2021 00:02 - 1 hour - 85.5 MBBen Branson, founder of trailblazing drinks brand Seedlip, leads the lineup of our MeetUp on how to start and scale a food and drink brand, supported by Virgin Money. Food and drink startups are becoming ever more popular. The appeal and relevance of great products in the foodie world means more and more founders are vying for consumer attention and supermarket shelf space. In a saturated market, how do you stand out? And if you manage to break through, how do you grow your business and op...
How to get results from social media
November 24, 2021 00:01 - 1 hour - 102 MBGet your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. Social media is no longer just a trend that founders have to follow, it’s a key marketing channel for any business. As a small and new startup, how do you stand out? And if you manage to build strong connections, how do you keep your content relevant and exciting to continue making customers happy and stay loyal to your brand? Our social media experts dive into their own experiences online and how they used their platfor...
How to tell your brand story and stand out from the crowd
November 17, 2021 00:45 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MBHow to put yourself at the heart of your brand. This is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in August 2020. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. It’s time to tell the story of narrative in business. Featuring James Hurst, Global Head of Creative at Pinterest, we want to help you tell your brand story. The brands you love all have a story behind them. Think of 16-year-old Richard Branson launching Student magazine, and every chapter that ...
Launching in Lockdown: How to start a business in 2021
November 10, 2021 00:05 - 57 minutes - 78.5 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in February 2021. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. In the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s a challenging time to start a business. But in challenging times, opportunities arise for founders wanting to make a difference. Opportunities to fix problems, innovate, adapt and grow. If you’re thinking of starting up, or are working hard to pivot your business, this MeetUp is for you. Our...
Mental health as a founder: the path forward
November 03, 2021 09:37 - 57 minutes - 79.5 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in November 2020. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. Being a startup founder can be vitalising, rewarding, and ultimately fulfilling - but the job comes with incredible responsibility, long hours, isolation and stress. We all need support in managing our mental wellbeing - and this starts with an honest conversation about it. At this MeetUp, our host, Virgin StartUp advisor and founder of Rebel...
What do we build next?
October 26, 2021 23:01 - 59 minutes - 81.1 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in September 2020. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. Starting a business means taking on risk and creating value – but the nature of this value - and crucially why we create it – is fundamentally changing. At this Virgin StartUp MeetUp, we explored the role that small business might play in the future. The world has seemingly changed overnight, encompassing all areas of how we do business, h...
Quitting the day job: how to be a full-time founder
October 19, 2021 23:18 - 55 minutes - 76.2 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in March 2021. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. Are you thinking of packing in the day job and going full-time on your startup? How do you know when the right time to go all-in is? It’s time to find out. Whilst there’s no ‘perfect time’ to quit the day job and go it alone, what are the options when your startup is gaining traction, and how do you find the confidence in yourself and your busi...
Is now a good time to start a business?
October 13, 2021 00:01 - 54 minutes - 74.7 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp which took place in June 2020. To get your ticket for our next MeetUp please visit virginstartup.org/events Since 2020, the world of business has been dealing with unprecedented levels of uncertainty. But does that mean we should wait until things feel more stable before getting a startup off the ground? This MeetUp explored what we can learn from businesses that started up in previous recessions, what new opportunities there might be now, a...
In Conversation with Susie Ma
October 06, 2021 22:59 - 55 minutes - 76.4 MBThis week Ben meets Tropic Skincare founder Susie Ma! Susie was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, and Tropic Skincare was one of the fastest growing UK companies in 2018. Find out how she got here, and her advice for founders just starting out. Virgin StartUp helps founders and future founders start and grow the businesses they’re passionate about. Our monthly MeetUp events are for founders to access invaluable advice and network with like-minded entrepreneurs. Find out more at virginstartup...
Changing business for good: how to have impact
September 21, 2021 14:10 - 56 minutes - 77.3 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in April 2021. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. Do you want to build a business that has impact? If so, you’ve landed on the right podcast. At this MeetUp, our host, Virgin StartUp advisor and founder of Rebel Book Club, Ben Keene, spoke to our expert panellists to uncover how you can build a business which can make a positive impact on society. Featuring: Emilie Vanpopheringhe, co-founder...
How to build an irresistible brand
September 21, 2021 14:10 - 59 minutes - 82.1 MBThis is a recording of the Virgin StartUp MeetUp that took place in May 2021. Get your tickets to our next MeetUp from virginstartup.org/events. For 50 years, Virgin has built business after business off the back of an irresistible brand - and at this MeetUp, we uncovered what it takes to build a brand that people love. Maybe you’re at the start of your founder journey and are seeking some inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. Or you know what you want, but aren’t sure how to get...
In Conversation With Simon Sinek
September 21, 2021 14:09 - 1 hour - 90 MBGlobal thought leader, unshakeable optimist, founder and best-selling author, Simon Sinek, joins Virgin StartUp for an evening of conversation. You’ll want to listen to the end for a surprise guest who joined us on stage! This is a recording of an interview which took place in September 2020. To get your ticket to our next MeetUp, visit virginstartup.org/events. In a rare and intimate setting, we welcomed Simon to our digital MeetUp stage to find out his ‘why’. 28 million people have tuned...