Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Founders with Nick
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Build a Profitable Personal Brand in Just 90 Days | Sam Winsbury | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:51:44 | |
Sam Winsbury, founder of Kurogo, joins the show for a sharp, tactical conversation on building a personal brand that actually drives business, especially on LinkedIn. Forget vanity metrics or recycled advice; this is about creating content that positions you as the go-to in your niche, not just another voice in the feed. Sam's unpacking the systems behind building authority at scale, how founders should approach personal content differently, and why attention without conversion is a waste of time. 🟣 In this episode, we’re diving deep into: 💡 Why most LinkedIn content fails to build real trust 🧠 The psychology behind content that converts 🔧 How to systemise your personal brand without sounding robotic 📈 Balancing growth, positioning, and monetisation as a founder 🛠️ Creating leverage from content that compounds over time This is an episode worth tuning into if you’re serious about making your online presence drive real results. Timestamps: 00:00 Introductions 01:00 Starting a marketing agency straight after graduation 04:00 Hustling for freelance gigs and the unexpected power of LinkedIn 06:28 Overcoming fear and shame when you start posting online 08:32 Insecurity and building conviction as a young founder 10:30 Splitting the business into agency and education models 14:44 Do you actually need a personal brand to succeed? 16:41 The 30-day game plan to build your brand from scratch 18:52 What part of Sam still feels unseen despite all the visibility 20:00 Why 10% extra effort changes everything 26:48 Fear of complacency and being driven by internal standards 29:57 Grief, ambition, and the emotion behind building something alone 30:41 Founder vs performer, how personal branding blurs the line 33:17 Hiring globally and building a high-performing remote team 36:00 Growing beyond LinkedIn, adding PR, speaking, and funnels 39:21 Why most of LinkedIn content feels cringey and superficial 42:14 Image plus text - what actually performs best right now 44:27 Sam’s no-BS approach to routines → Follow Founders With Nick: → Nick Langridge LNGR → Follow Sam: Website | |||
| Why a Co-founder Might Just Save Your Startup Business | 01 Jun 2025 | 01:02:49 | |
Starting a winery in a city with no vineyards is bold—but doing it as a trio of first-time founders takes a different level of trust and tension. In this episode, I’m joined by Ross McLauchlan and Matt Smith—two of the three minds behind The Austin Winery (Cooper in spirit)—to unpack what co-founding really looks like behind the scenes. From blurred roles and creative conflict to growing pains and long-haul alignment, they share how the partnership evolved, what nearly broke it, and what’s kept it strong over a decade of building. It’s a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to build something meaningful without burning out—or burning bridges. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 How wine became their cultural bridge 06:08 Launching Austin's first urban winery 08:42 The hidden challenges of wine production 13:23 Reshaping Texas wine's reputation 16:08 Making wine approachable for everyone 20:13 What they'd do differently now 23:15 Wisdom for aspiring wine entrepreneurs 25:30 Staying passionate after a full decade 27:32 The value in starting small 28:43 Navigating decisions as cofounders 33:04 Inside the winery's team culture 35:18 Finding balance in workplace dynamics 42:11 Breaking down wine business economics 46:06 When politics disrupted their global plans 50:05 The five-year vision ahead 54:23 Stories behind their signature bottles 57:50 Approaching each wine like an album release → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick → Nick Langridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/ LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/ → Follow Austin Winery: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaustinwinery/?hl=en Austin Winery: https://www.theaustinwinery.com/ | |||
| The Savourists LTD. | 20 Jan 2025 | 00:44:09 | |
On this episode of Founders With Nick, I am joined by Harry Turpin of The Savourists Ltd. Harry is trying to conquer the healthy snack isle and disrupt and entire industry. He speaks about how he got into the snack game, what he thinks of the consumer and how his business is going to be the go to brand of healthy snacking. Enjoy the show! | |||
| ShipShape.vc | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:57:06 | |
Founders with Nick | Episode 2: Navigating the VC Landscape with Daniel Sawko In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Sawko, the founder of Ship Shape VC, to explore his journey from the world of finance to launching a platform that simplifies venture capital fundraising for startups. He is a hugely likeable individual, who is intelligent, driven and focused to ensure ShipShape is authority in search engines for the VC world and beyond. Whether you're a startup founder or just curious about the inner workings of the VC ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable advice and perspectives. | |||
| Generation Z-oplo | 05 Jan 2025 | 00:58:21 | |
Founders with Nick - Episode 1: Tom Cullen, Founder of Zoplo In the debut episode of Founders with Nick, we sit down with Tom Cullen, the visionary founder of Zoplo, the largest Gen Z polling app in the world. Tom takes us on an inspiring journey, from his humble beginnings growing up on a council estate to his academic pursuits at Newcastle University. We delve into his early career experiences at EY and Barclays, where he honed his skills in sales and thrived in fast-paced environments. These pivotal moments paved the way for the creation of Zoplo, a groundbreaking app that is set to revolutionise the polling industry. Join us as Tom shares his origin story, the challenges he faced, and his aspirations for Zoplo to become the next big thing in the world of polling. | |||
| Watch This if You're Looking to Quit Your Job & Start a Business | 18 May 2025 | 00:55:55 | |
Founders With Nick is on the move—this week, we're in Austin, TX with Abel Olmos, founder of The Barbashop, to break down the truth behind building a brick-and-mortar brand from scratch. Far beyond clean fades and cool interiors, Abel reveals what it really takes to scale a people-first business in a saturated space. From team dynamics and toxic hires to co-founder trust and learning how to let go, this episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary challenges of early-stage leadership. Whether you're building a barbershop or a startup, the mindset shifts and management lessons here are universal.
→ Follow Founders With Nick: → Nick Langridge → Follow Abel: | |||
| Raw Advice for Starting Your Own Business From Scratch (4 Lessons) | 05 May 2025 | 00:44:29 | |
Ross Neal—former professional rugby player turned performance consultant—brings a refreshingly honest take on ambition, burnout, and the myth of high-performance culture. We often assume elite athletes are relentlessly driven from day one, but Ross admits he coasted early, only stepping up when the risk of failure became real. In this episode, he reveals what finally lit the fire, why pressure is really about uncertainty, and how many “high performers” aren’t as disciplined as they claim. A sharp, grounded conversation for any founder or entrepreneur aiming for the next level. Episode timeline
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| I Quit My 9-5 & Built a Business From Scratch: Here's What I Learned | 20 Apr 2025 | 00:50:20 | |
Everyone thinks starting a fashion brand is about aesthetics and creativity—but Ben Hurren knows it's about obsession, patience, and operational grit. After two decades leading menswear at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and REISS, Ben’s now building Vingt Quarte: a denim brand four years in the making, born from a gap he saw and couldn’t unsee. In this episode, Ben shares the reality of launching a fashion business with deep industry experience but zero startup experience. From botched factory relationships to production delays, he opens up about the lessons that almost broke the brand—and the moments that kept it alive. If you’ve ever dreamt of building a label from scratch, this one’s for you. Episode timeline
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| Building a Successful Startup Business from Scratch (zero experience needed) | 06 Apr 2025 | 00:50:16 | |
Starting a business with no experience sounds like a risk—but for this week’s guests Nicklas Vang & Leopold Henriksen, it became their greatest advantage. With no background in supplements, the co-founders of SUPPLME questioned everything the industry took for granted—from outdated pill formats to poor absorption rates.In this episode, they share how a lockdown routine in Copenhagen sparked the idea of a supplement company, the reality of bootstrapping while working full-time, and how they turned scientific curiosity into a fully-fledged supplement brand. From failed manufacturers to bluffing their way into pitch meetings, Nicklas and Leopold prove that with enough grit, energy, and belief, you don’t need industry expertise to build something that matters.0:00 Paddle board conversations that sparked a business04:43 When casual ideas turn serious06:13 Balancing day jobs with startup dreams07:30 Securing crucial government funding08:28 Taking the leap to full-time founders09:44 The supplement industry's dirty secrets11:09 Finding their place in a crowded market13:36 Understanding their ideal customer15:45 Startup life in Denmark18:51 Navigating co-founder relationships21:31 Early sales lessons and B2B focus23:48 Building the first team and community26:00 Breaking down the science behind their product29:35 Learning from early mistakes33:56 Why DTC failed and finding their path36:38 Landing their first major clients39:52 Creative ways to get meetings43:20 The high-pressure first big delivery44:11 The Antler experience and pitch insights45:55 Growing into confident founders48:08 Key takeaways from their journey49:10 Co-founding versus going solo→ Follow Founders With Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick→ Nick LangridgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/ | |||
| Ross Neal | 14 Mar 2025 | 00:43:42 | |
🎙️ Founders with Nick – Episode with Ross Neal In this episode, I sit down with Ross Neal, ex-professional rugby player turned high-performance coach. We dive into his journey—starting rugby at a young age, the struggles of not fully applying himself, and the challenges of breaking into the first team. Ross shares his insights on what separates top performers, the mindset shifts that changed his career, and how he’s now helping others unlock their potential through his coaching business. A must-listen for anyone interested in resilience, growth, and high performance. | |||
| Joey Speed | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:53:33 | |
Summary In this episode of Founders with Nick, Joey Speed, a seven-time founder, shares his journey from a supportive childhood to navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. He discusses his early influences, the lessons learned from his first business failures, and the transition into the recruitment industry. Joey emphasises the importance of mentorship in sales and the unique challenges faced in recruitment. He also reflects on his transformative experience living in Colombia and his current ventures, including a new SaaS business aimed at helping entrepreneurs. The conversation concludes with insights on the future of AI and its impact on human interaction. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:36 Childhood Influences and Family Dynamics 03:27 University Experience and Early Entrepreneurship 06:28 First Business Venture and Lessons Learned 09:30 Transition to Recruitment and Sales Insights 12:26 Mentorship and Personal Growth 15:13 Building Trust in Sales 18:32 Quitting the Job and Starting a Business 21:30 Respect Among Entrepreneurs 23:40 The Slimy Side of Recruitment 27:53 Incentives and Their Impact on Recruitment 29:40 Rapid Growth and Market Timing 32:19 Burnout and Mental Health Awareness 36:24 Discovering Colombia: A New Chapter 39:56 Building a New Future: Entrepreneurial Ventures | |||
| Hartex - Feels Good | 19 Feb 2025 | 00:52:47 | |
Summary In this engaging conversation, Harry from Hartex shares his journey from a vintage shop owner in London to understanding his neurodivergence. He discusses the challenges of running a business, the importance of community, and his aspirations for the future. Harry reflects on his educational experiences, the evolution of the vintage market, and the cultural landscape of London, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Chapters 00:00 Harry's Background and the Evolution of Hartex 06:28 Navigating Education and Neurodivergence 12:40 Challenges of Running a Vintage Shop in London 23:29 Transitioning from Vinegar Yard to Gabriel's Wharf 28:29 Lessons from Legal Challenges 31:58 The Role of Family Support 35:36 Navigating Business Challenges 42:37 Advice for Aspiring Vintage Shop Owners 47:34 Cultural Reflections and Community Engagement | |||
| Boicevox | 10 Feb 2025 | 01:02:13 | |
Episode 4 - Alexander MacDonald - Co Founder Alex is building the first SDR cold calling A.I appointment setting business for the financial services industry. We dive into how he came up with the idea, his past and why building a business is not for everyone. | |||
| Brutal Reasons Why Most Businesses Fail (Avoid These Mistakes) | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:58:46 | |
Callum Woodcock spent seven years dreaming about starting a company while working at JP Morgan. He had zero investor connections, was searching for a perfect co-founder who didn’t exist, and kept reading entrepreneurship books instead of actually getting started. In this episode of Founders With Nick, Callum reveals how he went from corporate paralysis to building a wine investment platform that’s solving problems the entire industry has ignored for decades, why most wine businesses accidentally become Ponzi schemes, and how his deepest insecurities became the driving force behind his success. 00:00 Introduction → Follow Founders With Nick → Nick Langridge → Follow Callum | |||
| EXCLUSIVE: JENKI - The Matcha Brand Taking Over London | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:51:35 | |
Otto and Claudia Boyer didn't set out to revolutionise London's café scene. What started as evening conversations over dinner became weekend pop-ups, then a bootstrap journey that would take them from making £15 at Brick Lane Market to opening permanent bars across London. In this episode of Founders With Nick, Otto and Claudia Boyer share the unglamorous reality of building from nothing, why they removed their best-selling coffee (and saw sales jump 80%), and how having twins somehow made them more ambitious, not less. 🟣 We cover: ☕ Why their first markets failed, and what this taught them 🏪 The birthday phone call that landed them in Selfridges (completely unplanned) 💰 How bootstrap pressure creates better decisions than VC money 👶 Managing rapid growth while becoming parents to twins 🤝 Working as married cofounders without destroying the relationship 📈 The brutal focus that took them to multiple revenue streams & matcha mastery For anyone building something from scratch, this is an honest look at what it takes to survive the early years, make hard decisions, and grow a business when quitting just isn't an option. 01:00 Building Jenki from scratch with no funding or fanfare 04:38 Early pop-ups, failed markets, and testing the concept 09:01 Designing the first bar to pull customers in 13:37 Creating four revenue streams beyond just the bars 21:26 Navigating conflict and building healthy co-founder dynamics 25:31 Scaling the team and defining new founder roles 31:54 Understanding customer behaviour 34:59 Getting better at saying no and trusting gut instinct 36:25 The bleakest moment after launch and pushing through 40:38 Struggling to feel successful while still chasing growth 42:08 How having twins reshaped their ambition and perspective 48:06 What makes Jenki truly different from the rest → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick → Nick Langridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/ → Follow Jenki: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenkimatcha/?hl=en Jenki: https://www.jenki.co.uk/ | |||
| How I Built a Creative Business From Scratch (With Zero Experience) | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:42:18 | |
Lucy Baird didn’t leave her job with a clear plan. She left because she knew staying was no longer an option. What followed was the slow, quiet build of Studio LGB, an interior design practice rooted in clarity, trust, and work that speaks for itself. Less than two years in, her studio is already earning attention from the likes of Architectural Digest. In this episode of Founders With Nick, Lucy shares how she navigated those uncertain early months, how she won her first major clients without a portfolio, and what it really takes to go from employee to founder in a saturated industry. 🟣 In this episode, we cover: 🏙️ Starting a design studio with no cofounder, no funding, no backup 📐 The slow, thoughtful way she landed her first big projects 🧠 The mindset shift from employee to creative entrepreneur 💬 Why client relationships are as much psychology as they are design ⚖️ How she’s defining growth on her own terms For anyone thinking of making the leap, or already mid-jump, this is a real look at what it means to create on your own terms. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Leaving your job and sending that important email 06:56 Building a network from scratch in New York 09:46 Debunking misconceptions about interior design 11:49 The brutal truth of project and client management 16:24 How to accurately charge clients for work 17:52 Signature style and what makes work stand out 19:56 Art as the starting point for every room 21:24 Struggling with numbers but learning to let support in 23:59 Facing scepticism and proving yourself in a male-dominated industry 28:31 Hot streaks, dry spells, and faking confidence online 30:58 Advice for anyone stuck in a job they’ve outgrown 33:11 Spaces as a glimpse into people’s personalities 36:09 Old buildings, charm and the soul of a space 37:14 Leaving a legacy through design and function → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick → Nick Langridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/ LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/ → Follow Lucy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucycurates/ Studio LGB: https://www.studiolgb.com/ | |||
| Watch This if You’re Thinking About Quitting Your 9-5 to Start a Business | Alex Marks | 29 Jun 2025 | 00:46:25 | |
When Alex Marks left her law career, she didn’t have a clear roadmap. Just a small payout, no restaurant experience, and a hunch that something better was on the other side of risk. That hunch became Sushi Counter. 🟣 In the latest episode of Founders With Nick, we’re unpacking how she went from a law firm in Manhattan to running Sushi Counter, an Aussie-style grab-and-go sushi brand now expanding across NYC. We talk through the early chaos, the cost of people-pleasing, and the unexpected advantages of not knowing the rules. → Join us as we unpack: 🍣 Why staying niche gave Sushi Counter its edge 💼 How she walked away from law without a backup plan 🧠 Leading without experience and learning to own the role 📦 The importance of keeping operations scrappy and simple 💬 What most founders get wrong about process and leadership Messy, honest, and full of lessons for anyone building something from scratch. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Leaving law behind to start a sushi business in New York 07:33 Creating a simple spreadsheet to justify taking the leap 10:08 Why sushi and why commit to New York, not Melbourne 13:33 How being a people pleaser complicated early leadership 17:59 Learning on the job and growing into being a boss 22:53 Imposter syndrome and feeling like she got lucky 30:34 Thriving in a scrappy, unstructured environment 32:40 The Aussie-style sushi model and gap in the NYC market 36:10 Why not knowing the rules made the model work better 40:08 The long-term vision of expanding beyond New York 43:43 The one legal thing she wishes she'd done from day one 45:00 Common founder traits and what sets them apart → Follow Founders With Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick → Nick Langridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/ LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/ → Follow Alex: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushicounternyc/?hl=en Sushi Counter: https://sushicounternyc.com/ | |||