Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Be Inspired

In the latest episode of Be Inspired, Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy discusses how they are leveraging technology to drive down the cost of green energy through Kraken, their cloud-based technology for utilities.  Greg also explains how their business model differs from those of traditional energy providers, the importance of data and their goal to drastically increase the number of UK homes equipped with low carbon energy technologies.

What are the demand drivers for infrastructure investment right now? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Duncan Ball, CEO of BBGI Global Infrastructure discusses the projects they are involved in from roads to healthcare, and the steps they are taking to embrace ESG and empower staff. Duncan also discusses why listing on the London Stock Exchange was the right fit for BBGI and their investors, and the benefits of internal management for the business.

How can smartphones bridge the gap in financial inclusion? In the latest episode of Be Inspired, Jesse Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of M-KOPA explains how their business model financing smartphones and facilitating digital micropayments to underbanked customers across Africa works, their impressive growth, and how they are building deeper financial relationships with their customers. Jesse also talks about the moment in his early career in the not-for-profit sector that inspired him to start the business and why access to smartphones has such an immediate financial impact on their customers.

In what ways can businesses leverage AI technology to support their customers’ needs? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Jacyn Heavens, CEO & Founder of Epos Now, sits down with us to discuss how they bring technology to merchants, allowing them to successfully operate their businesses. Jacyn talks about utilising cloud and AI technology, the process of scaling their business to the US, Europe and LatAM, and how they achieved exponential growth without raising external capital. 

Having seen the investment banking and finance world from the inside as well as the pharmaceutical industry, James Harrison, Founder and Group CEO of Cycle Pharmaceuticals joins Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange to discuss how CyclePharmaceuticals is improving the quality of life for patients with rare diseases around the world. James explains how their business model aims to provide life-long treatment to patients, how they are approaching acquisitions and measuring success, and how they are providing free medication to patients in the developing world.

In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Andy Osmant, CEO of Cambridge Mechatronics explains the countless use cases for the company’s shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, from smart phone cameras to insulin pumps, and how they decided which markets to target. Andy also delves into their experience changing business models to also sell semiconductors, and how being part of the Cambridge ecosystem has supported the growth of the business. 

What does great customer service truly look like? In this episode, John Roberts, Founder and CEO of AO World, talks about creating a customer centric ecosystem and how his company values work towards this goal. John also discusses how he approaches mistakes and decision making, as well as why he is such a big advocate and investor in young people.

How can you keep your entrepreneurial fire burning? In this episode, Julia Hoggett, CEO the London Stock Exchange joins Rishi Khosla, CEO and co-founder of OakNorth to discuss his career journey, from building a data and analytics company to OakNorth, a UK bank for scaling businesses. Rishi also delves into the value that growth companies bring, how he has maintained his entrepreneurial drive and measuring OakNorth’s impact.

How do you build culture while scaling a fast-growing business, and what potential does this unlock? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Julia Hoggett, CEO the London Stock Exchange talks to Matthew Scullion, CEO of Matillion tells us how the company grew to its current size, how they identified this gap in data engineering that Matillion now solves and the advantages of establishing company values early on. Matthew also discusses why he is so passionate about CMIT and creating the perfect playbook for UK capital markets.

How should you approach funding to kickstart your company’s success? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Oluwaseyi Sosanya, CEO & Founder, Gravity Sketch gives advice to founders fundraising for the first time and discusses how they successfully closed a series A funding round as well as his experience setting up business in the UK as an American CEO.

In this episode, Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, interviews Paragraf’s CEO Dr Simon Thomas and visits one of their labs to see in person how the future of microchip technology is being developed. Simon explains how their graphene-based electronic devices could advance technology and open up emerging markets, as well as discussing Paragraf’s journey towards commercialisation and his long-term vision for the company.

What are the benefits and risks involved with stepping into the US market? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Jay Patel, General Manager at Cisco and former CEO at IMImobile answers this question and talks about the company’s journey from IPO to acquisition. Jay also explains how IMImobile pivoted alongside the changing technology market and the actions he took after listing on the London Stock Exchange to further grow the company.

Founded 25 years ago, Eurowag, a pan-European integrated payments and mobility platform, is a great example of a resilient business. But how did they achieve this and how did going public help the business prosper? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, Martin Vohánka, CEO & Founder of Eurowag joins us to answer these questions and delves into his experience running the business as both a private and public company.

Services that can help fulfil mandatory regulation requirements are increasingly important for businesses. In this episode, Alex Dacre, CEO and Founder of Marlowe plc, a leading provider of regulatory compliance services, discusses how the company achieved market-beating organic growth and what attracted him to the compliance market. Alex also talks about Marlowe’s extensive experience with acquisitions and the importance of a detailed integration plan. 

In a captivating conversation to mark its third birthday, Philip Belamant CEO & Co-Founder of Zilch sat down with Julia Hoggett, CEO of London Stock Exchange Plc to share both his, and the business’, remarkable journey to date, as well as a teaser of what’s ahead. 

Zilch's innovative approach to consumer credit caught our attention: from revolutionising consumer credit, to creating an ad-subsidised, counter-cyclical business model that Zilch coins, the ‘Googlisation of Payments’  – this is one you won’t want to miss. 

With the rise of digital financial services, from online banking to digital wallets, providing financial access is an ongoing and pressing goal in Africa. As the CEO of the second largest telecommunications company in Africa, Segun Ogunsanya, CEO & Managing Director at Airtel Africa PLC speaks to LSEG’s Abi Ajayi about the current digital revolution in Africa and how Airtel is impacting businesses and communities through their work to enable financial inclusion across the continent. Segun also discusses his experience listing on the London Stock Exchange and how the process enabled Airtel to showcase Africa’s abundant potential on the world stage.

In this episode of the Be Inspired series, LSEG’s Florence Keelson-Anfu talks to Martijn de Wever, CEO and Founder of Floww, about how their long-term strategic partnership with the London Stock Exchange has helped shape their business and how it will change the private market space. Using his experience as both an investor and a founder, Martijn also shares what he thinks the pain points are in the fundraising process and explains how Floww is helping solve these problems founders are facing.

With the heightened focus on ESG for publicly listed companies in the last couple of years, how have ESG-focused investment companies reacted to this change? In this episode of the Be Inspired series, LSEG’s Akhil Suresh talks to Stephen Lilley, Founding Partner of Schroders Greencoat. Stephen discusses how Greencoat Capital, which manages Greencoat UK Wind, the largest listed green infrastructure fund on our markets, operates as a listed business.

Describing listing as a balance sheet, Stephen explains how listing enabled the company to delink buying assets from raising money through short-term revolving credit facilities, where new assets can be bought when the time is right, and money is then raised separately. He also details their listing journey from the mistakes they made in the first attempt to the steps they took to eventually succeed.

Finding a consumer-satisfying and sustainable alternative to animal agriculture seems like a huge task. Companies in the field of cellular agriculture have taken this task head on and are on track to commercialise this sector, not only with the production of meat but also seafood, dairy, eggs, leather, coffee, cotton and cocoa. But what exactly is cellular agriculture and how does it work?   

In this episode of the Be Inspired series, LSEG’s Joanna Trup talks to Antony Chow, Co-Founder of Agronomics, about why the investment company chose to focus on this sector and why their decision to set up as public was a success.

In this episode of the Be Inspired series, LSEG’s Katya Gorbatiouk meets with Jeremy Rogers, Big Society Capital’s Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of Schroders BSC Social Impact Trust.

In their fascinating exchange, Jeremy discusses how the close relationship with Schroders and recent IPO has enabled Big Society Capital to scale by reaching a wide range of investors who are driven by social impact as much as positive returns. Given Jeremy’s deep capital markets experience and passion for tackling social issues, there’s a lot to be inspired by.

LSEG’s Marcus Stuttard speaks to Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO and Co-Founder of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, about the UK-based biotech company’s route to market and the benefits that has bought them, from credibility amongst global investors to attracting top talent.

As the discussion uncovers, what really sets the business apart is their extraordinary clinical research and scalable technology solutions. Dr Sanghera also explains how Oxford Nanopore has created a revolutionary DNA & RNA sequencing device which will bring huge benefits to humanity in early disease and cancer diagnosis.  The very definition of an inspiring company.

LSEG’s Neil Shah speaks to David Braben OBE, Frontier Development’s President and Founder, to discuss the videogame developer’s extraordinary rise from a Cambridge back-bedroom in 1982 to the world-leading studio it is today, developing titles including Elite, Formula 1 and Jurassic World.

With Frontier’s share price rising almost 10-fold since its hotly anticipated IPO in 2014, David speaks candidly about the challenges he has faced running both a private and a public business and his optimistic outlook for the company’s future. In addition to its shareholder friendly policies, David also emphasizes how important engaging and listening to their customers is for Frontier and coupled with their passion for product makes the business an inspiring place to work.

SEG’s Joanna Trup speaks to Mark Smithson, Mark’s Electricals Chief Executive Officer, to discuss the white goods company’s impressive growth and successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange.

Having built the business to over £500 million in revenue, Mark shares his insights in taking the company from a small oven renewal service in his Dad’s garage to becoming one the UK’s largest next-day delivery suppliers for white goods.

With further discussion around how the successful IPO has transformed Mark’s Electricals, the conversation also highlights how it overcame some of the common obstacles that other entrepreneurs may face along the way.

LSEG’s Jennifer Thain speaks to Brusk Korkmaz, Hercules’ Chief Executive Officer, to discuss the labour service company’s ascent towards a successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange.  

Having floated in early 2022 with a market cap of nearly £30 million, Brusk shares some fascinating insights from his 14-year journey from humble beginnings working from his parents spare room, to exciting future growth plans that the capital raised via a public listing has enabled. 

Description: LSEG’s Jennifer Thain speaks to Tim Barker, Kooth’s Chief Executive Officer, to discuss how the digital mental health platform’s impressive growth in providing access to early help and intervention for treating mental illness. 

As the first company of its kind to list in London, the conversation highlights the company’s focus on sustainable growth, transparency and accountability as key being key to a successful IPO, and why empowering patients with choice and digital access to professional therapies is seen as the answer to unlocking a potential $6 trillion industry opportunity by 2030. 

To watch the interviews from the series head to lsegissuerservices.com/spark

LSEG’s Rhiannon Main speaks to Bob Rauker, Belluscura’s Chief Executive Officer, to discuss how the MedTech company’s impressive growth in treating COPD and lung diseases with its next-generation oxygen enrichment technologies. 

Having seen an oversubscribed IPO in 2021, the conversation highlights the company’s journey since its formation; from the first product launch, to FDA approval, continuing innovation, and how listing on AIM enabled a successful raise and has unlocked new growth potential. 

To watch more from this series, head to lsegissuerservices.com/spark

LSEG’s Tim Davis speaks to Nadeem Raza, Mircolise’s Chief Executive Officer, to discuss the fleet management company’s impressive growth in providing award-winning transport telematics and technology solutions. 

Having raised more than £61 million in equity with their 2021 IPO, Nadeem shares his experience in taking the company from a 400% organic growth rate to realising the next acceleration opportunity through acquisitions enabled through the successful listing. 

 With further insights into the roadmap for the transport industry and its green transition, the conversation concludes with a look towards future innovation and impact in fleet management hardware and software. 

 To watch more interviews head to lsegissuerservices.com/spark

On 23 September 2021, the UK Government’s £10bn inaugural green gilt was listed on the Sustainable Bond Market of the London Stock Exchange. Since its launch, more than £18bn has been raised from green gilts. Discover how the funds have supported real projects, contributed to innovation and job creation across the UK’s green economy and helped to secure the country’s net zero future.

In this episode, Aude Rajonson, Head of Fixed Income Origination, London Stock Exchange Group and David Katimbo-Mugwanya CFA, Senior Fund Manager, Edentree Investment Management, sit down to discuss the global macro economy from the perspective of the US market. They look at how the difference between the US and European economic landscapes and the opportunities available for both issuers and investors.

From insulating the Nile delta from extreme weather vulnerability to creating adaptive climate strategies in Fiji’s volcanic islands, emerging markets are increasingly leveraging green debt instruments to fight against climate change. Shrey Kohli, Head of Debt Capital Markets at London Stock Exchange Group and Fiona Stewart, Global Lead for Insurance and Pensions at the World Bank Group, discuss the importance of supporting emerging markets pioneers to reach their transition goals and mitigate climate risk.