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An episode from our friends at Founders Uncut this week! We hope you enjoy... On the outside, it probably seemed that Tom was living his best life. The reality was very different. Tom grew Monzo from 0 to over 2,000 employees and was one of the youngest CEOs of a UK regulated bank ever. He raised over $500M on the Monzo journey and over 5 million people use the product they built at Monzo. Tom was also a co-founder of GoCardless. Today, Tom Blomfield is a prolific angel, and a visiting partner for YC. In this episode, you will hear more from Tom about: 1) The reality of the startup founder journey What did the end of the Monzo journey feel like for him? What does burnout feel like? Why doesn’t he think the word burnout is the right description? How do you maintain headspace as a founder? What could he have done to make the journey more sustainable? Would he still be running Monzo if he’d done those things? 2) How do you know your startup is living its values? How do you see/feel values in real life? What were some of Monzo’s core values? How did he as the CEO encourage and discourage certain behaviour when it was or wasn’t aligned with the values? 3) Tom’s Leadership Style and Lessons Why showing vulnerability is important in leadership Why crying or showing emotion as a leader is a strength not a weakness What’s the difference between leadership versus management? How do you know if your team is growing at the pace the company needs during startup hypergrowth scaling? What do you do when someone is not fitting in? 4) Fundraising and Who You Need by Your Side in the Startup Founding Journey What does it feel like to fundraise? Why you actually might want VC naysayers and doubters in your corner and not just venture capital cheerleaders. Check out more from him, including his famous fundraising guide, athttp://tomblomfield.com/ ( tomblomfield.com). This podcast was produced byhttps://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ ( Fascinate Productions) https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

After a successful career in digital media, Jacob Waern became the CEO and founder of eduMe, a groundbreaking platform offering mobile training for desk-less workforces. Tune in to listen to Jacob’s fascinating takes on the importance of staying present with your team and family, the transition from corporate CEO to startup founder and how quick decision-making and transparency are vital when taking a company through prolonged crises. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) Check out eduMe: https://www.edume.com/ (https://www.edume.com/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.spill.chat/ (Spill) - mental health support for employees via Slack https://www.withjuno.com/ (Juno) - workplace health and wellbeing programmes for employees A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“One of the biggest differentials in success is the combination of curiosity and mental toughness.” Welcome Piers Ridyard; the first crypto guest on Startup Dads. In today’s chat with Amrit, Piers talks about the importance of honouring your commitments as a CEO and a dad, the weight of your words and the power of separating your ideas from yourself. This episode gets pretty intellectual! Piers Ridyard is the CEO of https://www.radixdlt.com (RDX Works), the only decentralized network where developers will be able to build quickly without the constant threat of exploits and hacks, where every improvement will get rewarded, and where scale will never be a bottleneck. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) Book mentioned in today’s episode: Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead and Kevin Maney Philosophy for Life: And other dangerous situations by Jules Evans This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.mindstone.com (Mindstone) - Organize, share and take notes on web pages, PDFs, videos and podcastsso you can learn faster, remember more and get things done. Learn more about Mindstone and its CEO and Co-founder Joshua Wöhle on https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qhhHGb1Hg1840rruNQ8P7?si=2dbb1e3c074348bb (Startup Dads’ Episode 46)! A Fascinate Production.

“I genuinely believe that failure can become a superpower". Prior to founding Boost Technology, Mike was a co-founder and CEO of Zoona, one of Africa's earliest fintechs, having processed $2.5 billion of transactions, generated $26 million in income for 3,000 micro-entrepreneurs across Zambia and Malawi, and raised $35 million in investment. He is also the author of Failing to Win: Hard-Earned Lessons from a Purpose-Driven Start-Up. Raised in Calgary, he has lived in Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, and the UK. He has an amazing wife and two awesome kids, and loves to hike, run, mountain bike, and play guitar. In today’s chat with Amrit, Mike talks about building with the fewest right people you can, learning how to learn and the difference between conversations and meetings in a Zoom world. Mike Quinn is the co-founder and CEO of https://www.withboost.co (Boost Technology), a company that helps 10 million informal small businesses thrive in Africa’s digital economy, becoming an engine for job creation and growth. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) Book mentioned in today’s episode: Failing to Win: Hard-Earned Lessons from a Purpose-Driven Start-Up by Mike Quinn The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://azafinance.com (Aza Finance) - leading provider of cross-border payment solutions for businesses, lowering the cost and increasing the speed and reliability of transactions, through innovative infrastructure. A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“The definition of happiness is reality exceeding expectations.” A lover of numbers and people, Reshma Sohoni is continuously excited to see hard work and game changing connections come together. Her team helps push early stage founders through those difficult early days into being household names. In today’s chat with Amrit, Reshma talks about giving up the CEO title, the zero sum versus positive sum delegation, how success changes you and engineering a legacy for your business. Reshma Sohoni is the founding partner of https://seedcamp.com (Seedcamp), Europe's seed fund, investing early in world-class founders attacking large, global markets and solving real problems using technology. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.gardin.co.uk (Gardin) - Creating a real world operating system that will power the future of farming by helping food producers deliver superior yields A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

A guest that needs no introduction, Dan Murray-Serter! You may know him as host of Secret Leaders, the UK’s #1 Business Podcast, and co-founder of wellness company Heights. Alongside this he’s an angel investor, and he helps other founders succeed through his startup network Foundrs. In this episode, Dan explains how he discovered that feeding his brain with proper nutrition cured his chronic insomnia and paved the way for Heights. Amrit and Dan also explore how, not taking care of your own wellbeing, can affect your ability to be a good leader and father. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This weeks Startup Shout Outs: https://oatsu.co.uk/ (Oatsu) https://nixandkix.com/ (Nix and Kix) A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“Why am I so driven and ambitious? It’s because I’m in a job that I really love doing and I’ve got a big ambition for it.” Operating as a bellwether for motivation and business, Polly McMaster exhibits a refreshing hunger for novelty and diversity while displaying a relentless dedication to offering options to women that ensure confidence and gravitas in all aspects of their lifestyle. In today’s chat with Amrit, Polly McMaster talks about understanding yourself when making compromises as a startup parent, how life changes can build empathy and understanding of your customers, and the power of modulating pace between home and work life. Poly McMaster is the CEO and co-founder of https://thefoldlondon.com (The Fold), a company that designs, produces and retails fashionable clothes for women to wear to work. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.peaceandriot.co/ (Peace+Riot) - London’s Social Club with a difference A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“You think a lot about what happens if it goes badly, but no one tells you about what happens if it goes well.” Self-professed workaholic, Jimmy Williams has set out to build a team capable of turning the insurance industry on its head. He leads on strategy, people and investor relations, but loves rolling his sleeves up and diving into the business. In today’s chat with Amrit, Jimmy Williams talks about his views on remote work, the relationship with his co-founder and cultivating the right mindset. Jimmy is the co-founder and CEO of https://myurbanjungle.com (Urban Jungle), an insurance provider built on fairness and designed with customers in mind. You can easily get cover at a great price, which is designed for your lifestyle. Interesting mentions: https://www.korukids.co.uk (Koru Kids) - A company that provides childcare to help your family flourish, led by CEO Rachel Carrell, a former Startup Dads’ guest on https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YsNUqdnQWHoAbIry0cE3K?si=81717001168e406b (episode 8). Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://keynest.com (KeyNest) - KeyNest provides simple and secure key exchange solutions for Airbnb hosts, serviced apartment operators and estate agents. A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“You build much better relationships with people if you’re able to show a bit of vulnerability” . Proud to make a positive difference to the world we live in, Ruth Handcock is passionate about reducing the stress that people feel managing their finances by harnessing technology to improve access to financial services and financial advice. In today’s chat with Amrit, Ruth Handcock talks about work life blend vs work life balance, feedback loops and experimentation in startups and parenting and the power of consistency, and how to build transparency with vulnerability. Ruth Handcock is the CEO of https://octopusinvestments.com (Octopus Investments), a group of businesses investing in people, ideas and industries that change the world. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) Book mentioned in today’s episode: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://octopusmoneycoach.com (Octopus Money Coach) - MoneyCoach makes it easy to give every employee their own financial coach and a personal financial plan…while increasing usage of all the benefits you already offer. A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“We have really good quality time at the end of the day - that works for us as a family.” In today’s chat with Amrit, Sam and Sophie talk about how to make family time, romantic notions versus practical reality, juggling glass balls and plastic balls and creating a business in the image of your clients. Sam Gordon and Sophie Eden are the co-founders of https://www.gordoneden.co.uk (Gordon and Eden), an Executive Search and Interim Management firm that work closely with both early stage and corporate clients, helping startups to scale and transform established businesses with entrepreneurial talent. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.helloself.com (HelloSelf) - The AI lifecoach in your pocket... helping you be your best Self. https://www.kamiapp.com (Kami) - World’s #1 digital classroom tool creating flexible and collaborative learning environments for millions A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

“There's going to be an explosion of creativity now that the tools are available, the capital is increasingly available in various ways and I just call that the entrepreneurial age.” Globetrotter Gerard Grech, has been passionate about conceiving and building impactful products and services throughout his career. In this chat with Amrit, Gerard talks about the two biggest inhibitors of growth in startups, insights into different startup cultures from across the world, using your people teams to discover how your remote culture is evolving and the founder economy and the entrepreneurial age that we’re currently in. Gerard Grech is the founding chief executive of https://technation.io (Tech Nation), a platform that fuels the growth of game-changing founders, leaders and scaling companies so they can positively transform societies and economies. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://themodernmilkman.co.uk (The Modern Milkman) - Delivering fresh ways to reduce plastic waste before breakfast. https://cervest.earth (Cervest) - Empowering everyone to adapt with climate change. https://www.patch.work/ (Patch) - Work near home and enjoy flexibility, convenience and time for family and friends. A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.

Can you still succeed when profit isn’t your primary motivation? Today’s guest shows us that you can. In this episode she tells us how staying true to your purpose can do a whole lot of good for your bottom line, and in her case - a whole lot of good for the world. Tessa is the founder of Olio: the app that connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses, so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. In this conversation with Amrit they discuss how she built Olio from home whilst raising her children, how to use work from home as a superpower, and speaks passionately about the inequality that exists in Startup world; particularly in the world of venture capital. Keep up to date with everything Startup Dads related on Twitter - https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/ (https://twitter.com/startupdadspod/) This week’s Startup Shout Outs: https://www.thenuwardrobe.com/ https://thrift.plus/ https://sntech.co.uk/ A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production.