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In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Paul Patras, co-founder of Net AI, a University of Edinburgh spin-out transforming how telecom networks manage energy and capacity. What started as deep academic research has evolved into a commercial AI engine helping telecom providers reduce energy costs by up to 35% - potentially saving tens of millions annually - without compromising service quality. This is a fascinating conversation about the realities of moving from research to revenue, the mindset shift required, and the challenges of scaling a highly technical innovation into a viable business. One of the standout insights from this conversation is this: the shift from something interesting to something essential is what makes a business scalable. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Paul.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Paul can be found here: https://netai.tech/ [email protected]

This episode is AI generated In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts edition, Kevin and Louise revisit two powerful conversations exploring one of the biggest constraints in scaling a business: people. Drawing insights from Mike Moorhouse and Anita Čavrag, this episode unpacks how leadership, culture, and self-awareness shape your ability to grow beyond the founder-led phase. This episode was produced with the aid of AI to help bring together key insights and actionable takeaways.   🔍 What You'll Learn 1. Why People Are the Real Bottleneck Both guests highlight that while strategy and finance can be structured, execution depends entirely on people. Mike focuses on aligning business strategy with human capability Anita focuses on eliminating disengagement and building thriving cultures   2. The Trap of the "Hero Founder" Early-stage hustle doesn't scale. Founders often stay stuck in control mode Micromanagement and fear of failure limit growth What got you here will not get you to the next stage Standout insight: 👉 "Your job isn't to be right. Your job is to move people."   3. Leadership vs Management You can manage processes and tools You must lead people through inspiration and trust Traditional hierarchies often create dependency and disengagement. Modern teams need autonomy and ownership.   4. Building Psychological Safety If you suddenly ask your team for ideas and get silence, that's normal. People are conditioned not to challenge authority. To unlock contribution: Invite disagreement explicitly Ask your team to challenge your thinking Create structured ways to critique ideas   5. Practical Tools to Unlock Better Thinking "Kill the company" exercise to stress-test strategy Encourage teams to think like competitors Use frameworks and checklists to avoid emotional decision-making   6. The Role of Ego in Scaling Ego blocks learning and adaptability. Great leaders: Admit when they are wrong Change direction quickly Focus on outcomes, not being right   7. Self-Awareness is the Foundation If performance or culture is off, look in the mirror first. Leadership is a learnable skill, not an innate trait.   8. AI vs Human Thinking A powerful contrast: Mike warns against outsourcing thinking to AI Anita leans into human connection and simplicity The risk: 👉 Losing "organisational knowledge" and becoming indistinguishable from competitors   💡 The One Key Thing Scaling your business means scaling your leadership capacity first.   🔥 Key Takeaway Quote "Your job isn't to be right. Your job is to move people."   📌 About Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. 👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk  

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Michael Moorhouse, a leadership expert and advisor who works with scaleup businesses to align their strategy, systems, and people for high performance. In this episode, Michael shares practical frameworks to help you break through one of the biggest scaling barriers — founder dependency. We explore how to move from building a team of helpers to developing real leaders, how to make better decisions under pressure using simple but powerful frameworks, and why over-reliance on AI could actually be weakening your competitive edge. One standout insight from the conversation is this: your job as a leader isn't to be right — it's to move people. That shift alone can completely change how your business grows. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Michael.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Michael can be found here: https://moorhousegroup.com/   Resources: The Expectation Effect by David Robson - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-expectation-effect-how-your-mindset-can-transform-your-life-david-robson/6418446?ean=9781838853303&next=t Simply Put by Ben Guttmann - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/simply-put-why-clear-messages-win-and-how-to-design-them-ben-guttmann/7509635?ean=9781523004683&next=t   Tools from Michael: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Tool This tool provides a simple, practical way to improve decision quality by bringing structure to how you think. It helps clarify what decision is actually being made, separates facts from assumptions, and walks through options and tradeoffs so you can move forward with greater clarity and intention. To request the tool, visit the website contact form and enter "Tools" in the subject line.  Operating Conditions Tool This tool helps identify the underlying conditions influencing performance, including cognitive load, clarity, environment, and stress. It surfaces where friction is present and where conditions are either supporting or undermining effective execution, so you can make targeted adjustments that actually improve how work gets done.  To request the tools, visit the website contact form (https://moorhousegroup.com/contact)  and enter "Tools" in the message body.  Note: We will send them the tools, but they will not be added to any marketing lists. When we send the email out, within the body of the email there will be an option to subscribe, but that will be their choice.  

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Anita Čavrag, a leadership expert who specialises in helping founders overcome burnout and build high-performing, engaged teams. In this episode, Anita shares practical frameworks to help you make the critical shift from operator to leader — and why failing to do so is one of the biggest hidden barriers to scaling a business. We also explore how burnout at the top impacts the entire organisation, and what you can do to create psychological safety so your team can truly perform. One standout insight from the conversation is this: leadership isn't about doing more — it's about becoming someone your business no longer depends on. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Anita.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Anita can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-cavrag-career-coach/ https://www.fireflycareer.com/ Downloadable Resource - https://www.fireflycareer.com/5-deadly-habits   Resources: The Inventing Organisations by Frederic Lalouix - https://www.reinventingorganizations.com/-

What's really stopping your business from scaling; poor decisions or poor execution? In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin and Louise distil expert insights from two leading advisors working at the heart of scaleup challenges. Drawing on conversations with Lis Hubert and Diane Mentzer, this episode brings together practical frameworks to help founders cut through overwhelm, make better decisions, and build the operational capability required to execute effectively. This episode is produced with the aid of AI to help surface the most valuable insights and make them easier to apply.   💡 Practical Insights for ScaleUp Leaders 1. Busyness Is a Decision Problem Feeling constantly busy is often a symptom of unclear priorities. Lis Hubert highlights that overwhelm comes from failing to decide: What matters most What gets deprioritised Framework: "Now, Next, Later" Evaluate initiatives based on: Business impact Customer impact Available resources This creates clarity and removes emotional bias from decision-making.   2. Stop Doing Everything; Start Making Trade-Offs Scaling requires saying no. A key discipline for founders is moving ideas into the "Later" category with confidence; without guilt or second-guessing. Practical tip: Set milestones early to avoid the sunk cost trap. If something isn't working, stop.   3. Execution Breaks When Operations Lag Behind Growth Diane Mentzer's race car analogy is clear: A powerful engine with weak tyres will crash. In business terms: Sales and marketing = engine Operations = tyres If your delivery can't keep up with growth, scaling will fail.   4. You Don't Need More Ideas; You Need Better Alignment Many founders operate as "idea generators", constantly introducing new initiatives. The challenge isn't creativity; it's execution. Solution: Build operational leadership (COO / integrator role) Create structure and follow-through Align vision with delivery   5. The CEO–COO Relationship Is a Scaling Multiplier Misalignment between leadership roles creates friction, confusion, and cost. Key principles: CEOs focus on vision and direction COOs focus on execution and delivery Practical communication framework: Start with the outcome Summarise key points Provide detail only when needed   6. Miscommunication Is Costing You More Than You Think Leadership misalignment isn't just frustrating; it's expensive. Poor communication can result in: Lost productivity Rework Delayed decisions In some cases, this equates to weeks of lost payroll each year.   7. Delegation Requires Letting Go Properly Delegation fails when responsibility is handed over without authority. A powerful framework discussed: Write down your fears. Then share them with your leadership team. This creates: Clear expectations Defined boundaries True ownership   🎯 Standout Message Scaling isn't about doing more; it's about deciding better and executing through others.   🎯 The One Key Thing If you don't choose what to stop, your business will choose for you; through overwhelm.   ⚡ Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk   NOTE: This episode is AI generated

Welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Lis Hubert, founder of CX by Design, who helps leaders make smarter, more intentional decisions using customer evidence. Now, if you've ever felt like you and your team are incredibly busy but not actually moving forward, this episode is going to hit home. Lis shares how that busyness is often a symptom of decisions not being made, and how introducing customer insight into the process can completely change the outcome. We break the conversation into three parts. First, we explore Lis's business, her model, and where she is on her scaleup journey. Second, we dive into the real challenges of scaling and her perspective on decision-making, including her thoughts on the ScaleUp Challenges Report. And third, we wrap up with some quickfire questions. One standout message from this episode is this: busyness is often just a sign that we haven't made the hard decisions yet. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Lis.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Lis can be found here: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lishubert/   Resources: Now-Next-Later Framework - https://cxby.design/category/blog/now-next-later-framework-prioritize-goals/ Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? by Ben Hunt-Davis - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster-olympic-winning-strategies-for-everyday-success-second-edition-ben-hunt-davis/8decd943d78e6f35?ean=9781838592967&next=t The Prediction Machine by A. Agrawal -  https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prediction-machines-the-simple-economics-of-artificial-intelligence-a-agrawal/3557233?ean=9781633695672&next=t The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-48-laws-of-power-robert-greene/7310383?ean=9781861972781&next=t Claude - https://claude.ai/ Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/app ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/ Fathom Notetaker - https://www.fathom.ai/

Welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Diane Mentzer, an expert in the CEO–COO dynamic and how leadership teams can unlock the next stage of growth. If you've ever felt like your business has hit a ceiling; where growth slows, complexity increases, and everything still seems to depend on you; then this episode is for you. Diane shares practical insights on when to bring in a COO, how to make that relationship work, and why letting go of execution is often the key to unlocking scale. One of the standout ideas from this conversation is simple but powerful: hiring a COO without truly empowering them isn't delegation; it's just expensive frustration. Diane has provided a toolkit for managing the COO-CEO relationship – you can download it using the link in the shownotes If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts - and why not give us a follow. You can also nominate a guest for ScaleUp Radio if you know someone with an interesting ScaleUp story – you can find how in the shownotes. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Diane. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]   Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Diane can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-integrates/ [email protected] Toolkit - www.dianeintegrates.com/toolkit   Resources: Just Listen by Mark Goulston - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/just-listen-discover-the-secret-to-getting-through-to-absolutely-anyone-m-d-goulston-mark/5800738?ean=9780814436479&next=t Own The Room by Jake Stahl - https://www.waterstones.com/book/own-the-room/jake-stahl/9781968318253 90.IO - https://app.ninety.io/login?redirectUrl=%2F Rocket Fuel app - https://rocketfuel.inc/ Mem.ai - https://get.mem.ai/

What can we learn from our latest 90 days of ScaleUp journeys? In this special ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt step back and reflect on the standout lessons from an incredible line-up of founders, CEOs, and investors interviewed in Q1 2026. From simplifying strategy to navigating resilience, embracing AI disruption, and building high-performing teams, this episode distils three months of conversations into a powerful, practical masterclass for scaling businesses. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure what to prioritise next, this episode will help you refocus on what actually drives growth.   🔑 Key Themes & Insights 1. Simplicity Scales. Complexity Kills Progress. A recurring theme across multiple guests was the danger of overcomplicating business. Doing more does not equal progress Clarity beats activity 90-day planning creates focus and momentum As highlighted in the discussion, many founders confuse busyness with effectiveness. The real shift comes from simplifying strategy and focusing on what truly moves the needle.   2. The Execution Gap: Why Most Plans Stall Even with the right strategy, execution often fails. Key blockers: Procrastination Information overload Lack of clarity on outcomes A simple but powerful approach emerged: Define what success looks like (personally and in business) Take one meaningful action immediately   3. Resilience is Non-Negotiable The reality of scaling is far tougher than most expect. Standout lessons: Persistence in B2B sales can take months or even years Setbacks are inevitable The ability to keep going is a competitive advantage From extreme operational challenges to relentless sales cycles, resilience repeatedly showed up as a defining trait of successful founders.   4. People Drive Performance (But Are Often Ignored) Despite being critical to growth, people metrics are rarely tracked. Insights: Culture and engagement directly impact profitability Scaling requires intentional team design Hiring vs outsourcing is a key strategic decision Businesses that align people, purpose, and profit outperform those that don't.   5. Technology is Reshaping Entire Industries Several guests highlighted how digital transformation and AI are disrupting traditional models. Key takeaways: Markets with friction create opportunity AI is changing how customers find and choose businesses "Information gain" is now critical for visibility If your business isn't evolving with technology, it risks becoming invisible.   6. Know Your Edge or Get Lost in the Noise A strong, defensible position in the market is essential. A weak or unclear USP is a major growth blocker Deep customer understanding beats broad targeting Predictability and cash flow matter to investors   💡 Standout Message "If you aren't saying something genuinely new, you're invisible."   🎯 The One Key Thing The one key thing is this: scaling successfully isn't about doing more; it's about focusing on fewer things that truly matter and executing them consistently.   🔄 Why This Episode Matters This Q1 review is more than a recap. It's a blueprint. It brings together: Strategy clarity Execution discipline Founder mindset Real-world scaling lessons If you recognise any of these challenges in your own business, this is your signal to pause, simplify, and refocus.   📣 Explore More If any of these stories resonate, go back and listen to the full interviews on ScaleUp Radio.   ⚙️ Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. 👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk   🎧 Listen & Subscribe Make sure you don't miss future episodes of ScaleUp Radio by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by Hannah Lanel, founder of The Fore; a business on a mission to disrupt the diet and fitness industry by focusing on long-term, sustainable wellbeing rather than quick fixes. In this conversation, we explore three key areas. First, Hannah shares how The Fore works as a holistic wellness platform and how the business model is evolving as it scales. Second, we dig into the real challenges of scaling up; from surviving co-founder exits to navigating controversial decisions during lockdown. And third, we finish with some quickfire questions to uncover Hannah's personal insights on leadership and growth. One standout message from this episode is simple but powerful: "Eat what you love, do what you love; and make it sustainable." If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts; and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Hannah.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Hannah can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlanel/ https://www.instagram.com/thefore_london/ https://www.the-fore.co.uk/   Resources: Simon Sinek - https://simonsinek.com/ Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/building-a-storybrand-clarify-your-message-so-customers-will-listen-donald-miller/4099240?ean=9781400201839&next=t The One Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-1-page-marketing-plan-get-new-customers-make-more-money-and-stand-out-from-the-crowd-allan-dib/4613623?ean=9781989025017&next=t How I Built This podcast - https://wondery.com/shows/how-i-built-this/ IdeasFest - https://ideas-fest.com/ Quickbooks - https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ Canva - https://www.canva.com/

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode we are doing something slightly different. This episode was recorded live during one of our ScaleUp Club sessions, where we bring together founders and leadership teams to explore the real challenges of scaling a business. The session included our regular AI Pulse update, a live Q&A discussion, and a returning guest to the podcast, Victor Carpio, founder of Inventor SmartCare and creator of the Dental Wand. Victor shared how a sudden 10x surge in demand after appearing on Dragon's Den forced the business to rethink its operational foundations, and how they are now expanding across Europe with a far more focused strategy. One standout message from the conversation was this: Focus is the ultimate scaling tool. Victor talked about filtering every opportunity and partnership against clear strategic priorities so the business avoids distraction while scaling. You will also hear how AI is acting as a human multiplier for small teams, including a system producing content for eleven channels in just two hours per week. And our ScaleUp Club theme this month is The Checklist Advantage; how simple checklists can free up leadership bandwidth for higher value work. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk. Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Victor.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Victor can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-carpio-404914125/ [email protected]

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt dive into two seemingly contrasting, but ultimately aligned, scaling philosophies from recent guests Jeremy Middleton and John Hibbs. On the surface, one is a data-driven investor focused on predictable growth and cash flow. The other is a people-first founder measuring culture, wellbeing, and connection. But the real insight? 👉 You cannot scale what you do not measure. This episode unpacks why both financial discipline and people metrics are essential if you want to build a resilient, scalable business.   What You'll Learn 📈 Predictability Drives Scalable Growth Proven business models beat risky innovation when scaling Repeatability is the foundation of sustainable expansion You don't need to win everyone, just your target market 💰 Cash Flow is King (and Needs Managing Properly) Many founders underestimate the importance of a Finance Director Revenue alone is meaningless without clear financial visibility Poor data leads to poor decisions, and often hidden losses 👥 People Metrics Are the Missing KPI Only 4% of businesses track people-related metrics in their top KPIs Culture, engagement, and psychological safety are leading indicators Disengaged teams cost far more than most realise 🔁 Alignment is the Real Growth Lever Successful businesses align founders, teams, and investors Motivation, retention, and shared purpose drive long-term success Both guests highlight that people, not product, are the differentiator   Standout Moment "You cannot scale what you do not measure."   The One Key Thing… 👉 The one key thing is this: scaling successfully requires balancing financial discipline with people insight, ignore either, and growth will eventually stall.   Why This Matters for ScaleUps Too many businesses lean too far in one direction: All numbers, no culture → burnout and churn All culture, no numbers → no profit and no sustainability The real opportunity lies in integrating both.   Referenced Guests & Episodes Jeremy Middleton – Investor and Co-founder of HomeServe John Hibbs – CEO & Co-founder of Coefficient (Be sure to listen to their full episodes for deeper insights.)   About Smart90 If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. 👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk  

Hi there and welcome back to another edition of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast brought to you by Smart90, inspired by the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System and designed to make navigating our ScaleUp journeys that little bit easier by learning from others' experiences. I'm Kevin Brent and in today's episode I'm joined by John Hibbs, founder of Coefficient, a platform designed to help leaders measure the human side of their business — things like culture, psychological safety and engagement. In this conversation John explains why so many businesses track revenue and profit but struggle to measure the people factors that actually drive those results. Through anonymous staff surveys and intelligent analysis, Coefficient helps leaders surface the data behind culture so they can act on it. Our discussion follows the usual ScaleUp Radio structure. First we explore John's business, his model and where Coefficient is on its scaleup journey. Second we dive into the challenges of scaling businesses and John's perspective on the ScaleUp Challenges Report. And third we finish with a few quickfire questions. One standout message from this episode is simple but powerful: ""If you believe people are the biggest challenge in business, then measuring people should be a leadership priority." John also shares his philosophy of "The Monergy Flow" — where profit is reinvested into people, creating a positive cycle of happier staff, families and communities. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with John.   Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   John can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hibbs-coefficient/   Resources: Article on Monergy Flow - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/john-hibbs-coefficient_in-almost-every-organization-ive-worked-activity-7366126031436480512-dFE4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA8oKXoBUnKwlYzREAmibfWMBm02qwtKAtg American Icon by Bryce Mulally - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/american-icon-alan-mulally-and-the-fight-to-save-ford-motor-company-bryce-g-hoffman/2062710?ean=9780307886064&next=t Start With Why by Simon Sinek - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/start-with-why-15th-anniversary-edition-how-great-leaders-inspire-everyone-to-take-action-simon-sinek/7820616?ean=9781405977593&next=t Briskine (Chrome plugin) - https://www.briskine.com/ Thunderbird - https://www.thunderbird.net/en-GB/

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Jeremy Middleton. Jeremy is best known as one of the early backers of HomeServe, a business that grew from a struggling plumbing service into a FTSE-100 company before its eventual acquisition. Today he leads Middleton Enterprises, investing in profitable founder-led businesses and helping them scale from around £500k profit to £5m and beyond. This episode explores the real lessons behind scaling successfully: pivoting business models, building predictable revenue, hiring the right people and making smart funding decisions. As always, our discussion breaks down into three parts. First, we explore Jeremy's journey with HomeServe and the lessons from building and scaling the business. Second, we dig into the real challenges founders face when scaling including hiring the right people, building predictable revenue and why one of the most important early hires is a strong Finance Director. And third, we finish with some quickfire questions to wrap things up. One standout message from the discussion is this: a small share of a big business is far better than a big share of a small one. If you're tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you. It's a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters. Try it free at Smart90.co.uk. Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Jeremy. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Jeremy can be found here: https://middletonenterprises.com/   Resources: What's Your Dream by Simon Squibb - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-your-dream-the-workbook-simon-squibb/6813f9e8fe08fb8b?ean=9780241798140&next=t Be Useful: 7 Rules For Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/be-useful-seven-tools-for-life-arnold-schwarzenegger/236bd6af36cfed17?ean=9781529146554&next=t

In this special ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt distil some of the most powerful insights from three recent interviews with founders working at the cutting edge of marketing, AI, and business growth. Featuring lessons from Andreas Voniatis, Benjie Hughes, and Serge Nguele, the discussion explores what really drives successful scaleups and where many businesses go wrong when trying to grow. While each founder operates in a different space, a common theme runs through all three conversations: clarity of strategy beats blind activity every time. From diagnosing marketing problems properly, to understanding the future of AI search, to building systems that allow founders to step back from the day-to-day, this episode is packed with practical insights for anyone navigating the scaleup journey. This episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts is produced with the aid of AI to help capture and share the key insights from our founder conversations.   In this episode we explore 1. Why marketing without strategy wastes money Serge Nguele, founder of Your PPC Doctor, brings a medical mindset to digital marketing. His core philosophy is simple but powerful: "We can't prescribe what we didn't diagnose." Too many businesses assume the answer to poor results is simply spending more on advertising. But without diagnosing the underlying strategy, messaging, and positioning, more budget just amplifies the problem. Serge focuses first on understanding the full marketing picture before recommending any spend.   2. The power of a clear and focused message Benjie Hughes, founder of Hopeless Marketing, believes many businesses fail to scale because they try to say too many things at once. He describes the difference as being: "An ice pick versus a snowshoe." The ice pick breaks through the noise with a sharp message about one thing that matters. The snowshoe spreads the message across too many ideas and fails to create traction. For scaleups especially, clarity becomes essential because the founder can no longer be the only person explaining the business. The team needs a simple, repeatable story.   3. Why AI search will change how customers find you Andreas Voniatis, founder of Artios, has been building machine learning models since before the recent AI boom. His view is that traditional SEO is rapidly changing. Instead of competing for the classic "ten blue links", businesses now need to create content with genuine "information gain". In other words, AI systems reward insights that bring new thinking or original data, not recycled content. As Andreas puts it, asking AI to generate content that another AI will rank is like asking it to "drink its own sweat." Businesses that win in this new world will be those producing genuine insights.   4. The personal realities of the founder journey Beyond the tactics and technology, the episode also explores the personal challenges founders face. Serge shared how trying to wear every hat in the business pushed him close to burnout. His recovery involved asking for help, building healthier routines, and embracing a mindset he calls the Three Nos: No excuses No complaint No self-pity It's a reminder that founder wellbeing and business performance are closely linked.   5. Building a business that can scale beyond the founder Benjie also shared a powerful lesson from a previous business he scaled to 250 events per year. His approach centred on what he calls the Trifecta of Scalability: Teachable Valuable Repeatable By systemising how the business delivered value, he was able to empower others to deliver the experience while stepping away from daily operations. This is the classic shift many founders must make: from doing the work to building the system that does the work.   Key takeaway The one key thing: Scaling a business requires clarity. Whether it's marketing strategy, your core message, or the systems behind delivery, growth happens when founders move from activity to intentional design.   Standout quote "We can't prescribe what we didn't diagnose."   Smart90 Lite – Help Us Test It Quick heads-up — we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's built to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals in just a few minutes a day. It's free while we're in testing, and your feedback will directly shape the final version. You can request access by emailing: [email protected]   Listen to ScaleUp Radio If these insights resonate, make sure you check out the full interviews with Andreas Voniatis, Benjie Hughes and Serge Nguele. And don't miss future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also nominate a guest if you know someone with a great scaleup story.

What happens when a former medical student applies diagnostic thinking to marketing? In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Serge Nguile, founder of Your PPC Doctor, a PPC and digital strategy agency built around one powerful idea: diagnose before you prescribe. Serge shares his fascinating journey from medical studies in Ukraine to becoming a PPC Director, and ultimately launching his own agency after redundancy. He also opens up about founder burnout, mindset shifts, and why purpose now sits at the heart of his business model. As always, our discussion is structured in three parts. First, we unpack the business, the model and where it sits on its ScaleUp journey. Second, we explore Serge's views on the challenges of scaling, including his own experience of burnout. And third, we close with some quickfire questions. Quick heads-up — we're looking for a handful of founders to test our new AI-powered Smart90 Lite app. It's designed to help you stay accountable and actually deliver on your goals in just a few minutes a day. It's free during testing and your feedback will shape the final version. Just email [email protected] to get access. Make sure you don't miss any future episodes by subscribing to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts and why not give us a follow. For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Serge. Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for. If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here: https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin You can get in touch with Kevin here: [email protected]     Kevin's Book Is Here! Drawing on BizSmart's own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up. More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/   Serge can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serge-nguele/ https://www.yourppcdoctor.com/   Resources: Search Engine Journal - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/think-like-a-monk-the-secret-of-how-to-harness-the-power-of-positivity-and-be-happy-now-jay-shetty/7738991?ean=9780008746018&next=t Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/think-and-grow-rich-the-original-classic-hill/2073500?ean=9781906465599&next=t ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/ Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/