Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Unemeployables Podcast

Nick Hird, co-founder of Vidrate, joins us to share how an idea that 30 manufacturers said was impossible became one of the UK's fastest-growing hydration brands.Vidrate started with a simple problem. Nick wanted to drink more water, but everything designed to make water more appealing was either packed with sugar, artificial ingredients or offered little functional benefit.So he set out to create something different: a low-calorie, zero-sugar hydration product made with natural ingredients, electrolytes and vitamins. Around 30 factories told him it couldn't be done. So Nick started experimenting with ingredients himself in his kitchen. And that was only the beginning.In the early years, Nick worked up to six jobs, built Vidrate for an hour each night and slept in his van before meetings because he couldn't afford hotels. When he first won Holland & Barrett, he paid £3 for a gym pass just so he could shower before the meeting.Today, Vidrate has grown from £1.8m to £5.7m revenue in a year, with Nick expecting the business to more than double again. The company has built its own fulfilment operation, remained heavily DTC-focused and expanded from its Yorkshire base into international markets.In this episode:◼️ Why 30 factories told Nick his product couldn't be made◼️ Creating the original Vidrate formula in his kitchen◼️ Working six jobs while building the business at night◼️ Sleeping in a van before winning major retail listings◼️ The personal tragedy that gave Nick the push to finally go all in◼️ Bootstrapping from Yorkshire and turning down VC investment◼️ Growing revenue from £1.8m to £5.7m in just one year◼️ Why every DTC order still receives a handwritten note◼️ Funding retail growth with £1.3m owed to the business at one point◼️ Building a team that treats the company's money like their own◼️ The guilt of building a fast-growth business whilst raising a family◼️ International expansion and where ViDrate goes next◼️ Why hiring great people and getting out of their way has changed the businessBehind all the growth is a founder still driving the same old van, obsessing over spreadsheets and struggling to celebrate the wins before chasing the next target.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite & Lovey!00:00 - Meet Vidrate & Britain's Most Unemployable Founder04:50 - Why Nick Created Vidrate10:15 - 30 Factories Said It Was Impossible

Riya Patel, co-founder of All The Aunties, joins us to share how an overlooked ingredient became one of the UK's fastest-growing challenger food brands.After growing up eating homemade paneer, Riya couldn't understand why such a versatile, high-protein ingredient was hidden away on supermarket shelves. Instead of accepting it... She decided to build the brand she wished already existed.In just a year, All The Aunties has gone from an idea to securing listings in some big places, while helping bring paneer into the mainstream.In this episode:◼️ Why paneer deserved a better brand◼️ Growing up in a British Indian family and finding inspiration close to home◼️ How LinkedIn helped secure supermarket listings before launch◼️ The story behind the name "All The Aunties"◼️ Building a founder-led brand around family and authenticity◼️ Scaling from hundreds to tens of thousands of units in just one year◼️ Why running a lean team has been a competitive advantage◼️ Working alongside her brother-in-law as co-founder◼️ What's next for All The Aunties as they expand into new categoriesToday, All The Aunties is doing far more than selling paneer.It's changing the way people think about Indian ingredients, celebrating family recipes, and proving that some of the biggest business opportunities come from products hiding in plain sight.If you're building a challenger brand, launching into retail, or trying to create a category of your own, this episode is packed with practical lessons and honest founder advice.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Building Britain's Fastest Growing Paneer Brand03:40 - The Lightbulb Moment Behind All The Aunties08:30 - Cambridge, Family & Becoming an Entrepreneur14:30 - The Story Behind the Name17:20 - How LinkedIn Landed Tesco Before Launch24:30 - Scaling From Hundreds to 40,000 Units29:30 - Working With Family as Co-Founders32:00 - Leaving the Civil Service Behind34:00 - What's Next for All The Aunties41:30 - Founder Lessons & Building a Category

Frankie Thorogood, founder of Pott'd, joins us to share how a simple pottery kit created during lockdown became one of the UK's fastest-growing founder-led businesses. But this isn't really a conversation about pottery it's about building products people genuinely love.After successfully exiting his first business, Frankie started Pott'd. What began as a creative way to spend less time on screens quickly became a brand helping thousands of people reconnect through creativity.Along the way, he developed a refreshingly honest philosophy on entrepreneurship, one that challenges much of the advice you'll find online.In this episode:◼️ Why Pott'd was designed for adults, not children◼️ Building a fast-growth business after a successful exit◼️ The surprising reason second businesses are often easier than the first◼️ Why most founders focus on marketing before fixing their product◼️ The one simple secret to building a successful DTC brand◼️ Why Frankie believes LinkedIn is full of "wafflepreneurs"◼️ Learning to delegate after years of burnout◼️ Growing a business without raising investment◼️ Why creativity is becoming more valuable in a digital world◼️ What success really looks like after you've already made moneyFrom selling football snoods with just £100 to building multiple successful businesses, Frankie shares the lessons he's learned over more than a decade of entrepreneurship.If you're building a consumer brand, thinking about starting a business, or simply want a refreshing take on entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest opinions and plenty of laughs.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!00:00 - Why Pott'd Was Built for Adults07:40 - Wanting to Be Rich Since Childhood13:00 - Why Frankie Never Wanted a Corporate Job18:00 - Wafflepreneurs, LinkedIn & Finding an Enemy22:00 - Selling His First Business & Starting Again31:00 - The One Secret to Building a Great DTC Brand34:30 - Delegating, Scaling & Growing Faster the Second Time39:00 - Why Frankie Never Raised Investment45:00 - Hiring Great People & Building the Right Team53:00 - Product, Branding & What Actually Matters56:00 - Coaster Questions01:00:00 - The Future of Pott'd

Stephanie Olubajo, founder of Meji Foods, joins us to share how a side hustle built alongside a corporate career became one of the UK's most exciting challenger food brands. Growing up, Stephanie loved West African food but struggled to find convenient, authentic options on supermarket shelves.Instead of accepting it... She decided to create one herself.What followed was years of late-night research, product development, and countless setbacks, all while working full-time in management consulting.In this episode:◼️ Why the lack of West African food in supermarkets inspired Meji Foods◼️ Building a food business while working in management consulting◼️ Creating Britain's first instant Jollof Rice brand◼️ The relentless research that led to finding the right manufacturing partner◼️ How one LinkedIn message secured a meeting with Sainsbury's◼️ Getting made redundant just as the business started to take off◼️ Why going viral helped Meji Foods scale nationwide◼️ Building resilience through stock shortages, legal challenges and rapid growth◼️ The realities of launching a completely new food category◼️ Why representation matters in the UK's food industryToday, Meji Foods is stocked in Sainsbury's stores across the UK and is introducing thousands of people to authentic West African flavours in just 90 seconds.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Bringing West African Food to Supermarket Shelves04:30 - Growing Up Between Two Cultures10:30 - Climbing the Corporate Ladder18:30 - Realising She Was Unemployable20:00 - Creating Britain's First Instant Jollof Rice27:00 - Getting Made Redundant at the Perfect Time33:00 - The LinkedIn Message That Landed Sainsbury's39:00 - Scaling a Brand Through Retail46:00 - The Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship52:15 - Coaster Questions

Luke and Marcus, the founders of Lucky Egg, join us after being named the UK's fastest growing founder-led company to share how they built one of Britain's biggest consumer product success stories.From greeting cards to party games, their journey spans 17 years of entrepreneurship, countless failures and an obsession with creating products people genuinely want to share. Their first ten games flopped.Today, Lucky Egg products are sold around the world, translated into more than 30 languages and viewed billions of times across social media.In this episode we cover:◼️ Becoming the UK's fastest growing founder-led company with over 500% CAGR◼️ Why their first 10 games completely failed before finding a winner◼️ Building three businesses over a 17-year entrepreneurial journey◼️ Growing without venture capital by backing themselves every step of the way◼️ Designing products specifically to go viral on social media◼️ The thinking behind generating over a billion social media views ◼️ How they build a team of entrepreneurial people who take ownership◼️ Why persistence beats chasing the perfect idea◼️ The mistakes that nearly ended their previous business◼️ Why creating happiness is the common thread behind every business they've builtLucky Egg isn't just selling board games.They're creating products that bring families and friends back together, while building a business designed for the modern social media era.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Becoming the UK's Fastest Growing Founder-Led Company05:30 - Three Businesses, One Entrepreneurial Journey08:00 - 10 Failed Games Before One Success13:30 - Designing Products to Go Viral20:00 - Building Without Investors25:00 - Scaling a High-Performance Team29:00 - The Mistakes That Nearly Ended Everything35:00 - Why Their Journey Was Never Conventional43:30 - Creating Products That Bring People Together55:30 - Last Orders

Rohini and Arjun, the mother-and-son founders of Free Soul, join us to share how a simple kitchen table conversation became one of the UK's fastest-growing wellness brands.Free Soul didn't start with a business plan. It started with a problem.After struggling to find nutrition products that genuinely supported women's health through every stage of life, Rohini realised the market was built around what women should look like, rather than how they should feel. Together with her son Arjun, they set out to change that.In this episode we cover:◼️ Why Free Soul was built to solve a genuine gap in women's wellness◼️ Building a business as a mother and son◼️ Growing to a £50M+ run-rate with a team of over 50 people◼️ Funding the early days through a decorating business while building Free Soul at the same time◼️ Why they've chosen to stay independent instead of chasing venture capital◼️ Building one of the UK's biggest direct-to-consumer wellness brands◼️ Creating a community before creating products◼️ The importance of listening to customers every single day◼️ Growing through purpose rather than profit alone◼️ How they built a company culture centred around kindness, trust and shared valuesToday, Free Soul is stocked by retailers including Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Holland & Barrett, while serving a huge online community of women across the UK. But despite the growth, the mission hasn't changed. To build the one-stop shop for women's wellness.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!

Alison and Mike Battle, founders of Lapland, join us to share the extraordinary story behind Britain’s most magical Christmas experience, and why they risked everything to reinvent Father Christmas for a new generation.It didn’t start as a business idea. It started as frustration.After years of taking their four sons to disappointing Christmas grottos and Father Christmas experiences, Alison, a primary school teacher, became convinced children deserve something better.Together with Mike, who left a successful career in the City, they set out to create an immersive world where every detail, every story and every interaction helped children truly believe.Twenty years later, Lapland welcomes hundreds of thousands of families, employs more than 4,000 people during the Christmas season, and has become one of the UK’s most celebrated live experiences.In this episode:◼️ Why a disappointing Father Christmas experience inspired an entirely new business◼️ Leaving careers in teaching and finance to build Lapland from scratch◼️ Creating a world where every detail exists to protect childhood belief◼️ Surviving administration, copycats and the 2008 financial crisis◼️ Why taking responsibility changed the future of the business◼️ Building one of the world’s largest immersive live experiences◼️ Creating books, podcasts and original characters beyond the live event◼️ Why they’ve never taken outside investment◼️ The importance of purpose over profit◼️ How Lapland is giving thousands of children another year of Christmas magic through the Lapland FoundationLapland isn’t simply about Christmas. It’s about protecting childhood. Creating lifelong family memories, and proving that when purpose comes first, extraordinary businesses can follow.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!00:00 – The Moment That Changed EverythingHow one disappointing Father Christmas experience sparked the idea for Lapland and why Alison asked, “Why doesn’t somebody do something about it?”06:30 – Leaving Everything BehindWalking away from teaching and finance to build a completely different kind of Christmas experience, despite everyone thinking they’d lost the plot.15:00 – Building a World Around BeliefWhy every detail matters, creating unforgettable childhood memories, and the philosophy behind the Lapland experience.24:30 – When It All Nearly Fell ApartThe early failures, administration, taking responsibility, and rebuilding the business stronger than ever.35:30 – Why They’ve Never Taken InvestmentStaying independent, protecting the vision, reinvesting everything, and why purpose always comes before profit.45:00 – More Than Just a BusinessThe Lapland Foundation, Superstar Days, supporting children with additional needs, and why childhood is at the heart of every decision.54:00 – Building Lapland as Husband & WifeHow Alison and Mike balance creativity and commercial decisions, and why their partnership has become the business’s greatest strength.01:01:00 – Creating the Lapland CultureHiring thousands of seasonal staff, maintaining the magic, and getting everyone to believe in the mission.01:07:00 – Making Memories That Last a LifetimeMike’s unforgettable induction speech, honouring childhood, and why every Christmas creates memories that last forever.01:10:00 – Final ReflectionsThe biggest lessons from two founders who built one of Britain’s most magical businesses.

Pip Murray, founder of Pip & Nut, joins us to share how a simple idea inspired by marathon training became Britain’s number one nut butter brand. What began with a £5,000 loan from her parents and a blender in a North London kitchen has grown into a business generating more than £40 million in annual revenue, stocked by every major UK retailer. It’s a masterclass in building a brand, staying patient, making better products, and proving that execution will always beat ideas.In this episode:◼️ Starting Pip & Nut with a £5,000 family loan◼️ Building Britain’s number one nut butter brand◼️ Why execution matters more than having a great idea◼️ Growing to £40M+ revenue after raising only £4M◼️ Why founders shouldn’t obsess over investment headlines◼️ The biggest product mistake that nearly derailed the business◼️ How to protect your brand as your team grows◼️ Remaining CEO while scaling beyond £40 million◼️ Choosing investors who back your long-term vision◼️ Why purpose, culture and creativity drive sustainable growthFrom early failures and difficult fundraising rounds to becoming the market leader, Pip shares the lessons she’s learned over more than a decade of building one of Britain’s best-loved food brands.If you’re building a consumer brand, raising investment, or simply trying to create something people genuinely love, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest founder stories.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – From Marathon Runner to Pip & NutHow a love of running and food sparked the idea for Britain’s number one nut butter brand05:30 – Building a Brand From ScratchLaunching with a £5,000 family loan, creating the first recipes and why execution beats ideas 10:30 – Putting Your Name on the ProductThe story behind Pip & Nut, building trust with consumers and the power of founder-led brands14:20 – Becoming Britain’s Number One Nut Butter BrandCreating healthier products, challenging the category and staying hungry after reaching the top19:30 – Scaling Without Losing Your IdentityGrowing the team, protecting the brand, building culture and avoiding creative drift23:00 – Raising Just £4M to Build a £40M+ BusinessChoosing the right investors, staying in control and why growth matters more than fundraising headlines 27:45 – The Biggest Business MistakeThe failed product launch that cost hundreds of thousands and the importance of focusing on your core business32:20 – Learning to Lead as CEOOvercoming self-doubt, growing with the business and why Pip nearly hired someone to replace herself35:30 – Building a Brand People LoveCreating distinctive brands, obsessing over quality and why purpose drives long-term success40:50 – Last OrdersFundraising failures, biggest lessons, founder advice and the realities of entrepreneurship

Lucy MacLeod, founder of Hair Syrup, joins us to share the remarkable story of how a homemade hair oil mixed in her parents’ conservatory became one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands. What started as a personal mission to repair years of damaged hair quickly became something much bigger.Lucy never planned to start a business. She simply created a product that worked, shared her own hair transformation on TikTok, and woke up to hundreds of thousands of people asking if they could buy it. The rest is history.In this episode:◼️ Repairing years of damaged hair with homemade natural oils◼️ Going viral on TikTok before founder-led brands became the norm◼️ Building Hair Syrup from a single table in her parents’ conservatory◼️ Growing a multi-million-pound business while studying at the University of Warwick◼️ Why being rejected on Dragon’s Den became the best thing that ever happened to the brand◼️ Building one of the UK’s biggest beauty communities through social media◼️ Turning criticism into one of the most successful marketing campaigns in the company’s history◼️ Bootstrapping a business without investors or a blueprint◼️ Why authenticity beats strategy on social media◼️ Learning to embrace criticism and lead with confidenceToday, Hair Syrup sells a bottle every few seconds, is stocked by major retailers across the UK, and has become one of the country’s most recognisable beauty brands.But behind the awards, viral videos and rapid growth is a founder who simply wanted to solve her own problem first.And in doing so… Ended up solving it for millions of other people.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!

Stu McDonald, founder of ManiLife, joins us to share how a chance trip to Argentina led to one of the UK’s most loved food brands. What started with a bedroom full of peanuts and a delayed accounting job offer quickly became a mission to reinvent peanut butter.After discovering a family-run peanut farm in Argentina, Stu returned to the UK convinced there was a better way to make peanut butter. One problem... His production partner pulled out the day the first shipment of peanuts arrived. So he rented a rugby club kitchen, recruited friends, and started making jars by hand.In this episode we cover:◼️ Turning down a career in accounting to start a peanut butter company◼️ Finding the Argentine family that still supplies ManiLife’s peanuts today◼️ Building a brand from a bedroom full of peanuts◼️ Landing Waitrose and scaling into the UK’s biggest retailers◼️ Growing from £1M to £4M during lockdown◼️ The burnout that nearly broke him◼️ Why founders should operate from love, not obligation◼️ Building a manufacturing business from the ground up◼️ Raising money without traditional institutional investors◼️ The biggest mistakes, failures and lessons along the way◼️ Why great products create communities, not just customersToday, ManiLife is stocked in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and thousands of independent stores across the UK.But for Stu, the mission has always been bigger than peanut butter. It’s about bringing people together, building something meaningful, and creating products that people genuinely love.As he puts it: “If it wasn’t for peanut butter, I would be single, childless, and probably still an accountant.”Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – Why Peanut Butter Changed My LifeFrom accountant to entrepreneur, and how a trip to Argentina changed everything03:00 – The Bedroom Full of PeanutsMeeting the peanut farmers, bringing peanuts back to the UK, and making ManiLife by hand in a rugby club kitchen 07:45 – Landing Waitrose & Scaling the BrandThe Gusto breakthrough, meeting his future wife through ManiLife, and growing from a startup into a national brand 11:00 – Growing Too Fast & Founder BurnoutCOVID growth, scaling from £1M to £4M, panic attacks, and the dangers of operating through obligation instead of love 16:30 – The Mindset Shift That Changed EverythingHow Stu rebuilt his role, found his energy again, and learned to focus on what only a founder can do18:30 – Building Their Own FactoryWhy ManiLife took manufacturing in-house and the advantages of controlling the entire process 22:00 – Getting Into Retail & Building a CategoryWinning supermarket listings, category storytelling, and how to make products fly off the shelves25:00 – Becoming the UK’s Number One Peanut Butter BrandThe long-term vision, international expansion, and why ManiLife believes it has the best product in the market28:00 – Raising Investment Without Losing ControlCrowdfunding, angel investors, and avoiding the pitfalls of traditional institutional funding31:30 – The White Peanut Butter DisasterThe biggest mistake in ManiLife history and what happened when unroasted peanut butter hit the shelves 35:00 – Building Demand, Community & Brand LoveCreating loyal customers, working with chefs, and turning consumers into advocates40:00 – Why Independent Retailers MatterThe importance of local shops, community, and building emotional connections with customers42:00 – Final Reflections & Founder LessonsThe highs, the lows, and why entrepreneurship is both the best and worst thing you’ll ever do

Varun, co-founder of Magic AI, joins The Unemployables to share the story behind building the world’s first AI personal trainer and why nearly 150 investors rejected the idea before it became a multi-million-pound business. After transforming his own health, Varun realised personal training hadn’t evolved in decades. That insight led him to build Magic AI, an intelligent fitness mirror that analyses your form, tracks your progress and uses AI to deliver personalised coaching from home. But the journey was anything but straightforward.From running out of cash and pitching investor after investor, to scaling into the US and navigating one of the toughest funding markets in recent history, Varun shares the reality of building a disruptive technology company from scratch. In this episode:◼️ The idea behind the world’s first AI personal trainer◼️ Losing 30% body fat and discovering an outdated industry◼️ Why 150 investors rejected Magic AI◼️ The importance of grit over talent◼️ Raising millions in one of the toughest funding climates◼️ Scaling a hardware business with AI at its core◼️ Why founder intuition matters more than expert advice◼️ Expanding into the US and doubling revenue◼️ Building a lean team in the age of AI◼️ The future of fitness, health monitoring and artificial intelligenceThis conversation is about resilience, innovation and trusting your instincts when nobody else believes in your vision.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – From Overweight to EntrepreneurHow Varun’s own fitness transformation inspired the idea for Magic AI05:20 – Building the World’s First AI Personal TrainerLeaving corporate life, spotting a gap in the market and creating a completely new category08:30 – Raising £5M After 150 RejectionsWhy grit matters more than talent and the lessons learned from constant rejection13:00 – Trusting Your Instinct as a FounderInvestors, intuition and why expert advice isn’t always right17:30 – The Reality of Building a Tech StartupScaling a lean team, hiring experienced people and dealing with daily chaos20:00 – The Future of AI & Personal HealthHow Magic AI uses computer vision and where the technology is heading next24:00 – Expanding Into the USDoubling revenue, launching overseas and building a global business27:30 – Founder Mindset & LeadershipDelegation, trusting your team and growing into the CEO role29:30 – The Biggest Mistakes Along the WayBroken products, supply chain disasters and learning the hard way32:15 – Last OrdersWork-life balance, sacrifices, advice for founders and why intuition beats everything

James Noble, founder of MyFirst, joins us to share the incredible story of building one of the UK’s fastest-growing insurance businesses from absolutely nothing. Starting with just £10,000 from investors he met while caddying at Wentworth Golf Club, James left behind a career in professional golf to tackle one of the biggest frustrations facing young drivers: understanding insurance.What followed was a decade of relentless growth, setbacks, reinvestment and an obsession with building something truly category-defining.Today, MyFirst is on track to write tens of millions in insurance premiums each year, employs almost 90 people and has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in the country. In this episode:◼️ Going from golf caddy to founder◼️ Raising the first £10,000 from Wentworth members◼️ Why focusing on one niche changed everything◼️ Building a culture where work feels like spending time with friends◼️ How COVID almost destroyed the business overnight◼️ Turning a £10,000 investment into an £800,000 exit for early backers◼️ Learning from Gymshark co-founder Lewis Morgan◼️ Why James turned down investment and acquisition offers◼️ The danger of chasing money instead of mission◼️ What it really takes to build a business that dominates its marketIf you’re building a business, hiring a team or trying to create something that lasts, there’s a huge amount to take from James’ journey.

Frankie Bridge and Leah Meredith, founders of Faves, join us to share how they turned an engaged audience into one of the UK’s fastest-growing fashion, beauty and lifestyle communities.This isn’t just a social media success story.It’s a story about belonging.After years of working in industries where people often felt judged, excluded, or not “cool enough” to be part of the conversation, Frankie and Leah wanted to build something different. Something more welcoming. Something more inclusive. Something that made people feel like they belonged.In this episode we cover:◼️ The origins of Faves and how the idea first came about◼️ Turning an engaged audience into a thriving community◼️ Building a business alongside one of the UK’s most recognisable public figures◼️ The reality of dealing with criticism online◼️ Why social media can impact confidence, no matter who you are◼️ Creating spaces where people feel welcomed and included◼️ Building a business with your best friend◼️ Managing disagreements while protecting the friendship◼️ Why authenticity matters more than perfection◼️ The importance of putting yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable◼️ Building genuine community in a world obsessed with vanity metrics⸻Faves was built on a simple belief:You don’t need millions of followers to create something meaningful.

George Taylor, founder of FRIVE, joins us to share how he went from addiction and chaos in East London… to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing healthy food brands.This isn’t just a meal prep business. It’s a company built around a much bigger mission: Fixing Britain’s relationship with food.At 23, George was at rock bottom.Struggling with addiction, lacking direction, and spiralling without purpose, he found himself searching for something bigger. A boxing bootcamp in Ibiza changed everything. That experience introduced him to nutrition, mindfulness and discipline… and ultimately led to the idea that became FRIVE.In this episode we cover:◼️ Growing up in East London and wanting more from life◼️ Addiction, ADHD and destructive behaviour without purpose◼️ Discovering the power of food and nutrition◼️ Building Lions Prep before rebranding into FRIVE◼️ Why George believes “food should be medicine”◼️ The truth about ultra-processed food in the UK◼️ Scaling to £75M revenue with 500 employees ◼️ Why the rebrand nearly broke the business◼️ Bootstrapping growth without major outside capital◼️ Hiring leaders for high-performance cultures◼️ The pressure and sacrifice behind fast growth◼️ Why content is now the centre of modern business growthToday, FRIVE delivers millions of healthy meals across the UK, with a mission far bigger than meal prep.George wants to build a bridge between British agriculture and British people through healthier eating.

Eoin Keenan, founder of Goodrays, joins us to share how a personal struggle with anxiety led to the creation of one of the UK’s fastest-growing functional drinks brands.After discovering CBD during his time studying, Eoin became obsessed with understanding the science, policy, and potential behind it.That journey took him across the US and Canada, living out of the back of a Jeep, learning directly from hemp farmers and helping shape the early CBD industry in the UK. In this episode we cover:◼️ Using CBD to help manage anxiety and sleep issues◼️ Travelling across America learning the hemp industry from the ground up◼️ Why Goodrays was built to challenge the stigma around wellbeing◼️ Launching a completely new drinks category in the UK◼️ Getting listed in Tesco and Waitrose early on◼️ Growing into every major supermarket in the UK◼️ Raising £5M and scaling towards £20M+ sales◼️ The changing relationship people have with alcohol and health◼️ Why consumers are becoming obsessed with ingredients and wellbeing◼️ Massive founder mistakes, including printing 100,000 unusable cans◼️ The relentless reality of building a consumer brandToday, Goodrays is stocked nationwide and sits at the centre of one of the fastest-growing categories in food and drink.Chapters00:00 – Intro & Meet Goodrays01:35 – Anxiety, Sleep & Discovering CBD03:00 – Studying Drug Policy at University04:00 – Moving to the US & Living Out of a Jeep05:50 – Learning Hemp Cultivation & Supply Chains07:00 – Finding Purpose at 2408:30 – Legalising CBD in the UK09:40 – Why Goodrays Was Created11:40 – Creating the First Goodrays Drinks13:20 – Getting Into Retail Stores15:00 – Launching in Tesco & Waitrose16:40 – Scaling Across the UK & Europe18:40 – Growing Towards £20M Sales20:00 – Winning Retail Buyers Over21:00 – The Fear of Failure as a Founder22:50 – What Retailers Actually Care About23:30 – Why Alcohol Consumption Is Changing26:00 – The Rise of Wellness Culture28:20 – Wellness Burnout & Social Pressure29:50 – Taste vs Functionality31:00 – Raising £5M for Goodrays33:20 – Advice on Raising Investment34:30 – The Future of Goodrays35:30 – Mental Health & Purpose36:30 – Biggest Founder Mistakes38:20 – What Excites Owen Most Now40:20 – Quickfire Questions43:10 – Thoughts on Quitting & Final Reflections

Charlie and Dan, co-founders of EXALT, join us to break down how they built one of the UK’s most exciting fresh nutrition brands… from a scrappy shed setup to supplying Premier League teams.This is not your typical “clean eating” brand.It’s a business built on:real ingredientshands-on productionand refusing to cut cornersEXALT started with a simple frustration… No genuinely fresh, healthy options on the go.Everything was either ultra-processed… or inconvenient.So they built their own.In this episode we cover:◼️ Building a food brand from scratch (literally in a shed) ◼️ Why most “healthy” products aren’t actually fresh◼️ The truth about ultra-processed foods and preservatives◼️ Scaling from chaos to supplying Premier League teams◼️ Creating bespoke nutrition for elite athletes◼️ Why doing everything in-house changed the game◼️ The power of customer service (and turning mistakes into opportunities)◼️ Building a high-performance team and culture◼️ Why being founders AND partners is actually a superpower◼️ The reality of entrepreneurship… and why it’s not for everyoneChapters00:00 – Intro & Meet EXALTCharlie & Dan introduce the brand and how it all started01:00 – Why EXALT ExistsThe problem with “healthy” food on the go03:15 – The Origin StoryFrom personal experience to business idea06:45 – Taking the Leap (2019)Quitting jobs and going all in08:30 – Fresh vs Ultra-Processed FoodWhy most “healthy” drinks aren’t actually fresh10:00 – What’s Actually Inside the ProductReal ingredients and whole food philosophy12:00 – Early Days in the ShedManual graft, chaos, and figuring it out15:00 – Innovating Food Science (HPP)How they preserve freshness without preservatives18:30 – Working With Cambridge UniversityPotential breakthrough in food preservation20:23 – The 80/20 Lifestyle PhilosophyBalance, nutrition, and real life22:00 – Getting Into the Premier LeagueHow Spurs became their first big breakthrough24:30 – Scaling Into Pro SportCustom drinks for elite athletes27:00 – Building a DTC BusinessGrowth strategy and channels29:00 – Customer Service That WinsTurning mistakes into major opportunities31:00 – Growth & Retail StrategyDTC vs wholesale vs physical stores34:30 – Early Mistakes & LessonsPackaging fails, overcomplicating, learning fast37:00 – Building as a CoupleWhy founders in a relationship can be an advantage40:00 – Culture & Team PhilosophyHiring, pay rises, and looking after people46:30 – The Future of EXALTUS expansion, sport growth, and scaling50:00 – Reality of EntrepreneurshipHow hard it really is52:00 – Quickfire QuestionsFinal thoughts and lessons

Charlie Robinson, founder of Water2, joins us to break down how he built a £20M business with just 3–4 people… and why 1% of the UK now drinks filtered water through his product.It’s a business built on simplicity, leverage, and obsession with growth.Charlie dropped out of university within weeks…Started multiple failed ventures…And then found a problem big enough to build a generational company around.In this episode we cover:◼️ Building a £20M business with a team of just 3–4 people ◼️ Why “keeping the main thing the main thing” scaled everything◼️ The DTC model that allowed massive growth with minimal overhead◼️ How one ad can outperform thousands of hours of work◼️ The importance of leverage in modern business◼️ Why most founders chase distractions instead of growth◼️ Turning customers into repeat revenue through subscriptions◼️ The reality behind rapid scaling (and why it’s not as complex as people think)◼️ How Water2 is tackling a problem that could define the next decade◼️ Why Charlie is obsessed with making money… as a scoreboard for impactWater2 isn’t just about better tasting water.It’s about solving a real, growing problem around contaminants, microplastics, and outdated infrastructure…And building a company that could last for decades.

Nick Kleiner, founder of Sandwich Sandwich, joins us to share how a tiny sandwich shop turned into one of the UK’s fastest-growing food brands.This didn’t start as a big plan.It started during the credit crunch, when a struggling restaurant needed a new revenue stream. A 60 square foot shop next door became the testing ground.In this episode we cover:◼️ Starting Sandwich Sandwich from a tiny shop in Bristol◼️ Why product matters more than personality in building a brand◼️ Lessons from early businesses and learning not to rely on others◼️ Surviving the credit crunch and pivoting into sandwiches◼️ Growing steadily before everything changed during COVID◼️ Using delivery platforms and social media to rebuild demand◼️ The role of community and why Bristol was key to their success◼️ How moving into a bigger site doubled revenue overnight ◼️ Building a viral brand through influencers and organic reach◼️ Winning Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year and scaling into London◼️ Expanding towards 20+ sites and £40M+ turnover ambitionsToday, Sandwich Sandwich is known for its oversized, high-quality sandwiches, with queues out the door and a loyal following across the UK.

Jen Davidson, founder of Sleek Events, joins us to share how she built a £34 million events business, starting from a desk in her spare room.This isn’t a typical growth story.Jen didn’t build Sleek to sell it.She didn’t build it around numbers.She built it around people.From struggling with self-belief at school to navigating toxic workplaces early in her career, Jen’s journey is shaped by one thing: proving there was more to her than people expected.In this episode we cover:◼️ Starting Sleek Events from a spare room with no clear roadmap◼️ Building a £34M business without chasing money or external investment◼️ The early career moment that changed everything◼️ Why culture is the foundation of the entire business◼️ Rewarding the whole team, not individuals◼️ Hiring based on values, not qualifications◼️ Turning down significant revenue to protect the team◼️ Rebuilding the business after COVID nearly wiped it out◼️ Growing 465% in six months after restarting◼️ Trusting your gut instinct in business decisions◼️ Why you don’t need to be ruthless to succeedSleek Events is now one of the UK’s leading independent event agencies, delivering large-scale experiences for global brands.

Bethan Higson, founder of Mother Root, joins us to share how she built one of the UK’s most exciting modern drinks brands, redefining what it means to have a drink without alcohol.After a decade working in wine and spirits, Bethan saw a gap.When she stopped drinking, she realised something was missing.Not just an alternative, but a proper drinking experience.Something bold. Something complex. Something worth having.So she started experimenting in her kitchen.What followed was Mother Root. A completely new kind of drink, built around bold flavour, natural ingredients and a totally different approach to modern drinking.In this episode we cover:◼️ Building a drinks brand from scratch with no prior business experience◼️ Creating a completely new category and educating customers from day one◼️ Starting with market stalls and learning what actually sells◼️ Leveraging early restaurant listings, including Michelin-star venues◼️ Growing a loyal fanbase through DTC and community◼️ Raising over £1m while maintaining control of the business◼️ The reality of launching into retail and what it actually takes to succeed◼️ Becoming a top-performing product in Waitrose and Ocado◼️ Pitching on Dragons’ Den and securing investmentMother Root isn’t just a product.It’s a brand built on taste, community and a new way of thinking about drinking.

Jake and Naynesh Karia, founders of Jake & Nayns, join us to share how they built one of the UK’s fastest-growing food-to-go brands.Founded in Leicester, Jake & Nayns was created to solve a simple problem: finding high-quality, flavour-packed food that’s easy to eat on the move.Inspired by their mother’s cooking and their passion for bold Indian flavours, the brothers developed their now-signature product, Loaded Naans (formerly known as Naansters): soft-baked naan breads filled with curries, rice and chutney, designed to be eaten hot or cold.What started as a small idea has grown into an award-winning British food-to-go brand, now stocked across major UK retailers including Tesco, Asda and Boots, often featured in meal deals and travel locations across the country.In this episode we cover:◼️ The story behind Jake & Nayns and how the brand started◼️ Creating their flagship Loaded Naan concept◼️ Building a scalable food-to-go brand◼️ Expanding into burritos, samosas and toasted snacks◼️ Getting listed in major UK supermarkets◼️ Designing products that are convenient without sacrificing flavour◼️ The realities of growing a modern food brandToday Jake & Nayns continues to push the food-to-go category forward, combining authentic Indian-inspired flavours with convenience, creating products that are bold, satisfying and built for life on the move.

Brothers Simmy and Jhai built Simmer from £10 of a student loan into a £30 million+ meal prep business, without raising a penny.It started in a university kitchen.What began as selling meals to students instead of ordering Domino’s became a nine-year grind of obsession, resilience and doing more with less.In this episode we cover:◼️ Starting with £10 and reinvesting every penny◼️ Scaling to £30m+ turnover with a five-person office team◼️ Why they’ve never raised investment and never wanted to◼️ The crackhead analogy for urgency◼️ Hiring people with something to prove◼️ Living and working together as brothers◼️ Burnout, obsession and operating in “boiling water”◼️ Doing over £100m lifetime revenue without business training◼️ Why most people are softer than they think◼️ Building a personal brand through real storytellingSimmer isn’t just meal prep.It’s proof that relentless execution beats flashy ideas,and that sometimes the best businesses start by solving your own problem.The following link will apply a huge 50% off your first Simmer order: https://simmereats.com?code=febe50

Jack Smith, founder of Lovey, joins us to tell the real story behind one of the UK’s fastest growing business loan providers.A young lad growing up between two very different worlds.One week in a warm house where nothing was missing.The next, sleeping in a coat because the heating couldn’t go on.Then one day, Jack’s mum turned up at his flat with two suitcases and nowhere else to go.That was the moment.In this episode we cover:◼️ Being diagnosed with dyslexia and losing confidence at school◼️ Sitting at the head of the table asking for £100m with a D in GCSE maths◼️ Nearly shutting the business down over a £2.75 parking ticket◼️ The £50 Facebook ad that changed everything◼️ Scaling to 130 staff with plans for 300◼️ Growing from £9.5m to nearly £20m turnover in a year◼️ Signing off a £10m marketing budget◼️ Owning 100% of the business◼️ Why he still plays football with the same mates from schoolLovey is now one of the UK’s top rated business loan providers, helping small businesses access funding from £1,000 to £750,000.But for Jack, it was never about the money.It was about responsibility.It was about grit.It was about making sure his mum never had to sleep on a lounge floor again.

Wayne and James, co-founders of The Skinny Food Co, join us to break down how they built one of the UK’s most recognisable food brands, without investment, without a silver spoon, and without ever losing control.From launching in 2018 with a handful of syrups to now managing 376 SKUs across 18 categories, this is a story of graft, resilience and recalibration.Wayne grew up in a one-bedroom council flat. James was raised by a single mum. Neither left school with standout grades. But both had the same obsession: build something of their own.In this episode, they open up about:◼️ Why a family health wake-up call sparked the brand◼️ Scaling to £18m turnover and 75 staff◼️ Losing nearly half their revenue overnight after platform changes◼️ Spending six months deep in VC talks, then walking away◼️ Why control matters more than cash◼️ Cutting back to 9 staff and outsourcing everything◼️ Going from hyper-growth to focused, profitable growth◼️ Landing nationwide listings with Morrisons and beyond◼️ The real cost of entrepreneurship: sleep, sanity and timeThey’ve never argued. They’ve never quit.But they’ve definitely ridden the rollercoaster.

Cano Water co-founder Josh White shares how extreme personal circumstances led to the creation of one of the UK’s most disruptive purpose-led brands.Before Cano existed, life was already a battle. Josh’s early years were marked by instability, rejection and a constant search for purpose. What followed was a journey that took him from survival mode to helping build an entirely new category, canned water, challenging plastic pollution at scale.This episode goes far beyond business tactics. It’s about resilience, belief and refusing to give up when everything tells you to stop.Josh talks openly about:◼️ Growing up feeling misunderstood and searching for direction◼️ Finding focus and purpose through creativity and music◼️ Losing everything and starting again from nothing◼️ Witnessing plastic pollution firsthand and deciding to act◼️ Why putting water in a can was seen as a ridiculous idea◼️ Being dismissed by industry leaders and told it would never work◼️ Years of rejection, financial pressure and near-miss moments◼️ The turning point that validated the mission overnight◼️ Scaling from an idea to tens of millions of cans◼️ Why aluminium matters and convenience can still be responsible◼️ Building a brand driven by values, not shortcuts◼️ The meaning behind Cano’s message: Don’t Bottle ItThis is a story about conviction.About backing yourself when no one else will.

Ivo Devereux, co-founder of Sapling Spirits, sits down with us to share how a tree-planting project in Scotland became one of the UK’s most purpose-driven drinks brands.What began as two childhood friends organising a community tree-planting “party” turned into a radical idea: use vodka as a vehicle for positive impact. With no background in spirits, Ivo and his co-founder Ed built Sapling around one clear mission – connect great products with real environmental action.In this episode, Ivo opens up about:◼️ How a burnt-out Scottish island inspired the idea for Sapling◼️ Turning tree planting into a movement, not a lecture◼️ Entering one of the most competitive categories in the world with zero experience◼️ Why vodka became the “vessel” for their environmental mission◼️ Building a brand with your best friend and strengthening the relationship, not breaking it◼️ Beating global giants like Belvedere and Grey Goose in blind tastings◼️ Planting nearly 600,000 trees and the goal of one million by 2027◼️ Becoming the highest-scoring B Corp in white spirits globally◼️ Getting into Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose through relentless on-trade graft◼️ Raising capital and taking on the US market with industry-defining leadershipSapling isn’t just a drinks brand.It’s proof that business can be ambitious, profitable and genuinely good for the world at the same time.

Richard Sutcliffe, founder of Passenger, sits down with us to share how a search for escapism led to one of the UK’s most emotionally connected outdoor brands, now turning over close to £100 million a year.What began with an Arctic trek and a desire to escape the noise became Passenger, a brand built on purpose, emotion and meaningful experiences. Alongside his wife Alexa, Rich bootstrapped the business through years of uncertainty, personal hardship and relentless graft, before bringing in senior leadership and investment to take it to the next level.In this episode, Rich opens up about:◼️ Trekking the Arctic and discovering the idea of meaningful escapism◼️ Building Passenger with his wife and risking everything to make it work◼️ Bootstrapping for five years while working full-time◼️ Nearly losing it all and being leveraged to the hilt◼️ Why authenticity can’t be faked and how brands lose it◼️ Stepping away from the CEO role and bringing in leaders better than him◼️ Balancing brand, culture and commercial pressure at scale◼️ Raising investment, imposter syndrome and sitting at the board table◼️ The difference between mistakes and real fuck-ups◼️ Why saying no is the hardest and most important skill in businessThis is a masterclass in founder self-awareness.Honest, reflective and grounded in values over ego.

Ellie Carlile sits down with us to share how a £2,000 lip balm experiment turned into one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands, built almost entirely through storytelling and community.What started as a personal struggle with acne, confidence and cracked lips became a solution-led brand now stocked in Sephora, backed by a fiercely loyal audience and tens of millions of social views. Ellie built ByEllie the hard way. Bootstrapped, solo, and entirely on her own terms.She opens up about:◼️ Losing confidence & the moment the first product was born◼️ Ordering 20,000 lip balms that were wrong and fixing them by hand◼️ Building a brand through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube◼️ Why community always comes before polish◼️ Personally calling customers, refunding orders and creating real moments◼️ The pressure of fast growth, burnout and being “on” all the time◼️ Going viral overnight and selling stock she didn’t even have◼️ Getting into Sephora by emailing relentlessly until one person replied◼️ Barcoding 60,000 products by hand with friends, family and takeaway fuel◼️ The mistakes, the chaos and why she’d still do it all again

Prime Time founders Harvey and Sam sit down with us to share how two lads who met over a beer on a train at 19 went on to build one of the UK’s fastest growing “better for you” beer brands. From Made in Chelsea mayhem to major supermarket shelves, their journey is a brilliant mix of disruption, graft and accidental chaos. What started as two mates frustrated with heavy beers holding back their training has become a fully fledged challenger brand now stocked in Waitrose and Tesco, pioneering the low calorie, low carb, functional beer movement.They open up about:◼️ Using Made in Chelsea strategically to boost the brand◼️ Landing Waitrose, Tesco & proving the “better beer” category is exploding◼️ The festival nightmare where their beer never arrived◼️ Biting off more than they could chew and “chewing it like mad”◼️ What happens when big brewers start copying you◼️ Building a community through events, live music and their network◼️ Crowdfunding choosing the right strategic backers◼️ Their co-founder dynamic and how they keep it healthy under pressure◼️ Creating a culture so strong their team has Prime Time at their weddingsThis episode is full of energy, honesty and proper entrepreneurial grit.Two friends, a challenger mindset and a category-defining mission.Prime Time aren’t just brewing lager. They’re reshaping how a new generation enjoys beer.

Only Curls founders Lizzie and Hugo join us in The Founder Lock-In pub to share how a £500 kitchen-table experiment became one of Britain’s most trusted curly hair brands. What began with a single microfibre towel and a sewing machine has grown into a movement built on confidence, community and curls. From posting orders with a pram to becoming a top curly hair brand in Boots, their journey is as relatable as it is impressive.They open up about:◼️ How a simple idea in 2016 grew into a multi-million-pound brand◼️ Building a business while raising two children and juggling full-time jobs◼️ Growing through Instagram, UGC and influencer gifting before it was a trend◼️ The emotional side of curly hair and why community is their North Star◼️ Bootstrapping everything and avoiding investment for almost a decade◼️ Taking Only Curls into Boots and learning retail from scratch◼️ Why customer service is the heartbeat of the business◼️ The reality of running a company as husband and wife, rows and all◼️ Embracing TikTok early, hiring too late and surviving burnoutA story of graft, family, frizz, and the founders who turned a personal struggle into a beloved British brand.

Solar Buddies founders Kelli and Laura join us in The Founder's Lock-Inn pub to share how two mums who’d only known each other three weeks built one of the UK’s most loved family-product brands.What started with a sun cream disaster in the school playground became a patented invention that caught the attention of Dragons’ Den and earned investment from Deborah Meaden. From makeshift prototypes to running a UK production facility, their journey has been anything but smooth.They open up about:◼️ The playground moment that sparked the Solar Buddies idea◼️ How they went from zero experience to becoming patent-holders◼️ Surviving sudden viral growth, sold-out summers and warehouse chaos◼️ What Dragons’ Den really did for the brand◼️ How Deborah Meaden guides them, challenges them and pushes them to celebrate their wins◼️ Navigating co-founder life as “work spouses” through kids, stress and burnout◼️ Imposter syndrome, copycats and the day Laura nearly walked awayThis episode is heartfelt, funny and full of proper entrepreneurial honesty.Two friends, a clever idea and a decade of sheer determination.Solar Buddies didn’t just make sun care easier. They built a brand that families genuinely rely on.

PerfectTed co-founder Marisa joins us in The Founder Lock-In pub to share how three family members turned a caffeine obsession into the UK’s fastest-growing founder-led brand.From matcha-fuelled library sessions to a £140M valuation, PerfectTed has exploded into supermarkets, cafés and global markets – without selling out the brand to the wrong retailers, and without losing their purpose.Marissa opens up about:◼️ Why they said no to massive retailers to protect brand credibility◼️ How PerfectTed avoided rushing into America and still went global◼️ The mental health battle behind the success – surgeries, depression, burnout◼️ What scaling from 3 people to 40 (and soon 80) really feels like◼️ Why divergent brains build exceptional businesses◼️ The family dynamic of building a business with your husband and brother-in-lawThis one is bold, honest, and surprisingly hilarious.Chaos, focus, culture tests, darts games and a caffeine routine that changed everything.

Suri founders Mark and Gyve join us in The Founder Lock-In pub to reveal how they built one of Britain’s fastest growing oral care brands, turning a simple toothbrush into a product people genuinely love.From exploding into the FEBE Growth 100 to selling out their first 5,000 units, nearly losing the company overnight, and emailing every angry customer by hand, this is a ruthless breakdown of what it takes to build a physical product brand from scratch.We explore:◼️ Why every toothbrush you have ever used still exists◼️ How “Minimum Lovable Product” changed everything◼️ The 1,000-unit disaster that almost killed their business◼️ Why co-founder relationships are harder than marriage◼️ The power of customers who love your product◼️ How to scale teams and systems without breaking everythingIf you are a founder, operator or product nerd, this one is gold. It is honest. It is messy. It is the reality behind fast growth.Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every week from The Unemployables pub with the most exciting founder led brands in the UK.

MOTH co-founder Rob Wallis joins us in The Founder's Lock-Inn to share how a cocktail brand born from chaos became one of the UK’s fastest-growing drinks businesses.From bar shifts to building MOTH (Mix of Total Happiness), a brand now selling a can every five seconds... Rob opens up about the obsession, optimism and sheer persistence that turned a simple idea into a supermarket staple.He reveals:◼️ The wild Selfridges story that changed everything◼️ How being “professionally annoying” got MOTH into Waitrose◼️ Why naivety is a founder’s greatest superpower◼️ The value of focus & doing one thing brilliantly◼️ Why success can be just as dangerous as failureThis is a masterclass in optimism, resilience and brand obsession, all poured into a can.🎧 The Unemployables: Episode 2 with Rob Wallis, Founder of MOTH DrinksRecorded at The Founder's Lock-Inn

MyoMaster founders Joe Gray and Lottie Whyte join us in The Founder Lock-In pub to share the journey from rugby to recovery empire revealing how they built one of Britain’s fastest-growing wellness brands and why they’ll never work for anyone else again.Joe Gray and Lottie Whyte are the husband-and-wife founders of MyoMaster, the performance recovery brand redefining how athletes and everyday people look after their bodies. From a homemade massage gun built out of a jigsaw to a multi-million-pound business, their story is one of determination, innovation and relentless drive.They reveal:◼️ How Joe turned a rugby injury into a business idea that changed everything◼️ The reality of building a company with your partner and surviving it◼️ The Dragon’s Den pitch that went viral and what really happened behind the scenes◼️ How they scaled from £0 to £5 million and nearly lost it all in Westfield◼️ Why being “unemployable” has been their greatest advantageCheck out MyoMaster at - https://myomaster.com/Our socials!  / febegrowth100    / febegrowth100    / febe-growth-100  https://www.febe.com/