Tech Story

In this episode, Shensi Ding, co-founder of Merge, a unified API for integrations, shares the story behind the company and how they offer developers a way to integrate various services through their APIs. Shensi also discusses the intentional growth strategy of the company, emphasising the importance of hiring efficiently and ensuring each new hire is a strategic fit. Tune in to hear more about Merge's journey and their approach to scaling their team.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:01:56] Get expertise in finance early on.

[00:04:27] Energising vs. Dreaming.

[00:09:27] Seeing team members' growth.

[00:11:13] Hiring based on potential.

[00:13:15] The adventure of creating a new business.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/the-importance-of-learning-how-to-sell-in-tech-startups

In this episode, Ana M. Olmos López the founder of Inversa, shares the story behind Inversa and how they saw a need for SMEs to have access to short-term financing and for small investors to have more investment options. Inversa is a company that offers invoice trading and liquidity for SMEs and investors. Anna discusses how they created a platform to connect SMEs and investors, turning their funny idea into a functional and technological reality. Tune in to hear all about Anna's journey as a founder and the impact Inversa is making in the finance industry.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:01:26] SMEs and small investors.

[00:05:23] Solving SMEs' real problem.

[00:09:23] Creating healthy competition.

[00:15:24] Favourite tech product.

[00:19:03] A marketplace and hard work.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/revolutionising-invoice-trading-for-smes

In this episode, Ash Rama, the VP of People at Mention Me, shares his varied career journey, starting in sales and eventually transitioning into leadership development and coaching. Ash discusses his passion for helping others unlock their potential and how they found themselves in the people space. Mention Me is a mindset company that helps brands acquire more customers through referrals. Tune in to hear Ash's insights on the intersection of tech and people.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:02:39] Mental barriers in sales.

[00:03:21] Mental barriers and potential.

[00:07:01] Niche advertising for diversity.

[00:11:19] Embracing cultural change.

[00:14:15] Values and organisational identity.

[00:17:47] Asking questions for powerful discussions.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/scaling-culture-and-attracting-diverse-talent

In this episode, Ben Towers, the founder of Happl, an employee benefits and engagement platform for startups, shares his journey from starting a website building company in his bedroom to selling it at the age of 18 and then starting Happl. He discusses his passion for entrepreneurship and the drive to disrupt. Ben also shares the motivation behind starting Happl, which was to provide better access to support for mental health. Watch this episode to hear more about Ben's inspiring story and his vision for Happl.

The key moments in this episode are:

[00:01:22] Disruption of entrepreneurship.

[00:03:19] Employee benefits in startups.

[00:07:01] Building a different style of business.

[00:09:43] Legal challenges and contracts.

[00:13:22] Reading contracts and legal advice.

[00:15:55] Horrible contracts and business protections.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/from-website-builder-to-founder-of-happl

In this episode, Nick Cuomo, co-founder and CEO of Allstar, shares his background as a former professional gamer and how creating and sharing video content propelled his career. He highlights the importance of video content in gaming and its role as a social tool. Nick's experience in design, marketing, and technology led him to start All-Star in 2019, with the goal of making it easier for gamers to share their gameplay. Tune in to learn more about Nick's journey and the mission of All-Star.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:01:31] The importance of video content.

[00:04:23] Mark Cuban's investment journey.

[00:08:49] Starting a business challenges.

[00:11:36] The future of gaming.

[00:14:25] E-sports and pro gaming.

[00:18:16] Startup programs and free trials.

[00:22:54] Closing a deal is fun.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/from-pro-gamer-to-ceo

n this episode, Tom Lavery, the founder and CEO of Jiminny, a sales intelligence platform, shares his journey of starting the company and discusses how Jiminny helps businesses improve performance and increase conversion rates by analysing important data from video, voice, and email. He also talks about the company's expansion from the US to the UK and the challenges and opportunities it presented. Learn about Tom's story and the impact of conversation intelligence in the tech industry.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:03:25] Contribution to the economy.

[00:04:30] Spending time together.

[00:09:44] The importance of getting things done.

[00:11:15] Finding your fit in startups.

[00:15:10] Finding early adopters.

[00:18:30] Pushing yourself for success.

[00:21:22] Removing barriers for user interaction.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/challenges-of-running-sales-teams-and-starting-a-company

In this episode, Carl Pihl, founder of Ticketing Hub, an easy-to-use platform for operators to create and sell ticket inventory through multiple distribution channels. Ticketing Hub is referred to as the "Shopify for tickets". Carl shares his background as a serial entrepreneur and discusses how he identified a problem in the ticketing space, leading him to start Ticketing Hub. They also delve into the specific focus of Ticketing Hub on tours and activities, with notable clients including the largest food tour and VR company in the world. The episode concludes with Carl reflecting on his early start as an entrepreneur and how it has shaped his journey to building Ticketing Hub.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:02:19] Becoming an entrepreneur early.

[00:05:40] Favourite entrepreneurial moments.

[00:07:32] How hard and lonely entrepreneurship is.

[00:11:30] SEO and AI advancements.

[00:13:12] Leveraging technology for smaller operators.

[00:16:44] Giving time back to clients.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/how-ai-is-changing-the-tech-industry

In this episode, Erin Wolfe, co-founder of the Curve Club, a private members club exclusively for founders, shares her background, including her experience working at big tech companies in the Bay Area. Erin talks about what inspired her to start the Curve Club in London. She discusses the importance of creating a physical space for founders to connect and share ideas. The Curve Club is located in Old Street.

The key moments in this episode are:

[00:01:50] Creating a profitable members club.

[00:03:15] The plan for the club.

[00:07:11] Branding challenges and misconceptions.

[00:10:17] Female founders in a male-dominated industry.

[00:13:09] Favourite tech product.

[00:15:03] Building a supportive founder community.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/insights-into-a-private-members-club-for-founders

In this episode, Barada Sahu, CEO of Mason, an AI shopping copilot for commerce, shares his background, including his experience in building products for global teams and working on the Citibank mobile app. He also talks about his previous startup and the acquisition by the Flipkart Group. Tune in to learn more about Barada's journey and the story behind Mason.

The key moments in this podcast are:

[00:02:34] Scaling up businesses for brands.

[00:06:11] Life-changing impact on businesses.

[00:08:28] Learning essential founder skills.

[00:11:23] Understanding and communicating solutions.

[00:15:09] Building for pro users.

[00:19:03] The importance of why.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/advice-from-a-tech-leader

In this episode, Dee Janssens, the VP of people at Wheely, a luxury ride-hailing app, shares her experiences working in the tech space for the past 12 years, including her time at Netflix and Uber. She discusses how she found her passion for the people element of a company and how working in the tech industry allowed her to be innovative and make a meaningful impact. Watch this episode to learn about Dee's journey and insights into the tech and people space.

They key moments in this episode are:

[00:01:11] Finding fulfilment in tech.

[00:06:25] People roles and AI.

[00:08:02] Legal employment legislation.

[00:13:30] Working for a large corporation.

[00:16:06] Retaining people leaders in startups.

[00:20:13] Punishing the whole for one.

[00:25:33] Scaling company culture.

[00:28:12] Finding your niche in work.

Read the full transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/the-importance-of-people-in-tech

In this episode, Paul Ford, the founder and CEO of Acin, shares his background, starting from his military career to becoming a chief operating officer in banks. He also discusses how he identified the opportunity to start his own business and the journey that led to the creation of Acin. Acin is a platform that helps financial institutions digitise their operational risk.

The key moments in this podcast are:

00:02:06 Changing the business model.

00:04:15 A proud and favourite moment.

00:08:03 The importance of people.

00:11:30 Letting go and empowerment.

00:14:20 Constantly changing startup environment.

00:18:23 Efficiency vs. Risk in Contracts.

00:21:42 Delightful conversation with guest.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/embracing-change-and-transition-in-the-tech-industry

In this episode, Harry Thompson, chief of staff at Flow Engineering, shares his background as a mechanical engineer and how he transitioned into an operations role. He explains that Flow aims to address the lack of collaboration tools for hardware engineering, as existing tools are designed for software teams. Flow Engineering is like GitHub for hardware. The company wants to provide dedicated tools for hardware engineers to work more efficiently and effectively.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:19 Collaboration tools lacking in hardware.

00:08:01 Embrace vulnerability for growth.

00:10:29 Importance of culture and diversity.

00:16:27 Speak to customers for insights.

00:26:03 Success is measured by impact.

00:27:29 Emphasise execution over excessive planning.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/revolutionising-the-hardware-industry

In this episode, Jed Brecher, founder of Muay Thai Wellness, shares his background growing up which shaped his passion for mental and physical health. He also discusses his early interest in entrepreneurship and his love for Muay Thai. Muay Thai Wellness helps companies introduce Muay Thai to their employees, unlocking benefits such as team building, bonding, mental health, and a happier workforce. Listen in to hear Jed's inspiring journey and the importance of combining physical and emotional well-being in the workplace.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:38 The dream of Muay Thai Wellness.

00:06:43 Muay Thai cocktails.

00:10:52 High intensity kickboxing experience.

00:12:31 Connection in fitness classes.

00:19:13 Sharing the lows as founders.

00:22:03 Favourite tech products.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/unlocking-the-benefits-of-muay-thai-in-the-workplace

In this episode, Peter Monteza, founder of MyARC, shares how his platform solves the problem of limited earning potential for creators by enabling them to train thousands of people at once. He also dives into his personal journey from childhood obesity to becoming a national level athlete, which inspired him to create a platform that makes personalised fitness training more accessible and affordable. Tune in to hear how MyArc is revolutionising the fitness industry.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:09 From obesity to national athlete.

00:05:10 Group chat anxiety.

00:08:21 Seeing creators flourish financially.

00:09:35 Building for depth, not breadth.

00:13:00 Wearables and fitness metrics.

00:16:13 Having documents in one place.

00:19:22 Team dynamics and success.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/taking-content-creators-from-minimum-wage-to-six-figures

In this episode, Charles interviews Felix Atkin, the founder and CEO of Sharesy. Sharesy is a venue-hiring platform that allows users to hire spaces for their communities. Felix shares his background in the tech industry, including working at big corporations like BT and smaller startups. He also talks about the challenges of starting a business during lockdown and the need to put smart people around you. Felix discusses his favourite moments and the learning he has gained from running his own business.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:03:29 Take time to celebrate wins.

00:08:25 Focus on community space rentals.

00:13:06 Investing in legal early pays off.

00:18:11 Simplify legal language for clarity.

00:24:09 Empower venues with legal coverage.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/starting-a-business-during-lockdown

In this episode, David Evans, co-founder of Oii.ai, shares his background and how his experience in supply chain planning led him to start a company that leverages science and AI to optimise supply chain planning. He discusses the critical importance of setting up planning systems correctly and the complexity of doing so. David also talks about the challenges his company faces in the market and how they are working to overcome them.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:55 Planning is critical.

00:07:47 Supply chain failures.

00:08:46 Overriding planning systems.

00:13:49 Supply chain maintenance.

00:18:30 Creative aspect of entrepreneurship.

00:20:05 Sales and recruitment mistakes.

00:24:45 Stochastic planning system.

00:28:02 Investing in legal early.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/the-future-of-supply-chain-planning

In this episode, Holly Clarke, the Chief of Staff at Peak, an AI platform for technical and commercial teams, shares about Peak's AI platform, applications, and services that help businesses grow their revenues, profits, and efficiency. She also talks about her journey at Peak, from an AI consultant to the leader of the global consulting team and eventually becoming the Chief of Staff. Holly shares her favourite moment at Peak, which was the Altitude X global conference that brought together industry and tech leaders interested in AI.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:02:39 Chat GPT and AI.

00:06:00 AI's importance in business.

00:07:11 AI and market education.

00:10:48 Maintaining a positive culture.

00:14:20 Bottom-up and top-down approach.

00:21:00 The Great CEO Within.

00:21:51 Boosting productivity with energy-giving tasks.

Read the transcript https://techstory.fm/episodes/chat-gpt-and-the-future-of-ai

In this episode, Brian Mullins, CEO of Mind Foundry, a spin out from the University of Oxford developing AI for high stakes applications shares his background and the importance of responsible AI implementation in critical areas such as insurance. He also talks about his favourite moments as a CEO and the importance of helping people reach their potential. Tune in for an insightful conversation on AI and entrepreneurship.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:23 AI for high stakes applications.

00:04:18 Using AI responsibly.

00:08:31 Product philosophy and process.

00:13:00 AI and high stakes applications.

00:17:21 Responsible use of AI.

00:21:21 Trade unions in specific industries.

00:28:25 AR and immersive storytelling.

00:29:26 Wearable projectors and interfaces.

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/lessons-learned-on-the-road-to-becoming-a-ceo

In this episode, Oliver Kicks, Principal at Concept Ventures, the largest pre-seed fund in the UK, shares his background and the story of the fund. Concept Ventures is a £54 million pre-seed dedicated vehicle, mainly focused on founder domain expertise or founder market fit.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:39 Working in the start-up and tech ecosystem

00:05:09 Diversifying investment portfolios

00:07:25 Start-up investment criteria

00:11:17 Investing outside of London

00:15:19 Investing: What he wishes he knew

00:19:27 Momentum and pace of execution

00:22:06 Managing relationships with founders

00:27:39 Hiring talent is a balancing act

00:30:08 Growing a Reddit community

00:33:05 UK startup ecosystem exploration

00:37:40 No-code app builder

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/insights-from-a-ps54m-fund-pre-seed-investor

In this episode, Rutger Bruining, founder and CEO of StoryTerrace, shares his inspiration for starting the company. He talks about how his grandfather's stories inspired him to start StoryTerrace, which matches clients with freelance writers to create biographies in book format. Rutger also shares his experience of being on Dragons' Den and how it helped his business gain exposure.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:28 - The importance of capturing stories

00:05:21 - Dragons' Den

00:09:06 - Company growth

00:13:22 - Legal contracts

00:15:22 - Understanding the importance of your story

00:16:34 - Managing a remote company with different jurisdictions

00:17:49 - The importance of concise and simple contract language

00:18:33 - The benefits of simple language in contract writing

00:20:24 - Final thoughts

Read the transcript: https://techstory.fm/episodes/preserving-you-familys-legacy-through-the-power-of-storytelling