What does it take to raise $100 million in startup funding and exit two startups? Gregg Stein, founder and CEO of Triple G Ventures, knows a thing or two.

#BigRiskEnergy is back and in this episode, he breaks down the strategies behind his success — from scaling startups to executing successful exits 🔝

Imagine having to bounce back from closing your business TWICE as a founder?

Cameron Leslie, Co-founder of Fabric, can relate.

Since it’s inception in 1999, Fabric has been home to not only some of the world’s best DJs but also upcoming ones who needed a platform to show their skills, soon becoming a rite of passage for all DJs in Europe.

From hosting top talents such as Terry Francis, Craig Richards, Seth Troxler and Skream and Benga to facing the closure because of COVID and licensing issues, it’s been a hell of a journey for Cameron and team.

Listen to Cameron as he shares how the community stepped up when Fabric was on the brink of closure, the lessons he gained as a founder in learning from setbacks and more in this week’s #BigRiskEnergy episode 🎙

#Founders #Startups #Investors #FabricLondon #EventManagement #FabricNightclub

“Stop trying to emulate other people’s journey”

After quitting her job during the height of COVID to immerse herself in her personal brand, Stefanie Sword-William is disrupting the way we see self development.

Author and founder of consultancy F*ck Being Humble, she’s empowering individuals to see their self worth and to embrace who they are 🌟

Stef joined us in the #BigRiskEnergy studios to speak on why we need to self-promote more as well as offering crucial advice on managing your mental health as a founder 🎙️

#Mindset #SelfWorth #Confidence

“The premise of bitcoin just doesn’t sit right with me”

There’s no doubt Bitcoin is one of the hottest topics right now.

However, Mark Stanton-Bennett isn’t fully convinced. From crypto to AI to the pressures of modern living, this episode of #BigRiskEnergy featuring our Chief Technology Officer covers it all.

Founders tend to lose out on business because of poor timekeeping or over pitching.

When Ken Valledy said this, it was a big eye opener. Not only has he sat in several pitch sessions as the connector between enterprise companies and best-in-class startups, but he’s also author of The Startup Lexicon which helps founders understand the jargon used within the early stage ecosystem 🌍

Ken joined us in this episode of #BigRiskEnergy to talk on how founders need to approach pitching, the importance of connecting enterprise companies and startups and transitioning from corporate to becoming a founder 👏

After 21 years playing and coaching in professional rugby with the likes of Saracens and England, James Parkes decided to dive into the world of mental wellness, preventative health and climate action, leading him to found wellbeing app MyDay

James joined us in the #BigRiskEnergy studios to speak about his transition from professional sportsman to first time founder, mental health and more🎙

The future of our climate is bleak.

And when this is coming from sustainability leader David MacDonald, you know we’re in for a serious ride.

Founder of Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging and pioneer of The Fibre Bottle, his company delivered 1.2 BILLION plastic-free products last year alone but it’s still not enough to tackle one of the biggest issues humanity faces.

It requires a collective effort. David joined us in the #BigRiskEnergy studios for a very frank conversation on the world’s climate, sustainability and more 🎙

#Sustainability #EcoFriendly #ClimateChange

“I was on 65 pills a day”

This was the every day reality for Maya Raichoora at age 15 after being diagnosed with an incurable disease. But one day, she decided enough was enough and mastered the art of visualisation which saved her life.

Ten years later, she’s helping teams at global brands such as Nike, Lego and Barclays rewire their brains for optimum performance.

Maya shared her incredible story in the first episode of the new season of #BigRiskEnergy

#MentalFitness #Visualisation #MentalHealthTips #ProductivityHacks

If you’re a founder, you need to know who Dawn Haynes is.

With over 30 years experience in business development, customer experience and building high-performing teams, she’s now helping tech startup founders in Central Florida to start and scale their business 📈

Dawn came down to the #BigRiskEnergy studios for an insightful episode on what investors look for in startups, why some founders aren’t successful and more 💻

#MiamiTech #Founders #Investors #TechStartup #Startups 

Selling your business can leave you feeling lost as it's such a huge part of your life and identity

At least that’s how Rachel Murphy ChMC FBCS felt after she sold Difrent (now TPXimpact) for £13.3million at the height of lockdown in September 2020

Now, she’s helping other founders grow, scale and exit their businesses through her recent venture The Grafter and recently launched 'The Founders Journey' which helps business owners with the mental impact of exiting 🙌

Rachel joins Roei Samuel in another intense, honest and open conversation in this episode of #BigRiskEnergy 🎙️#ExitStrategy #FounderStories #FemaleFounder

🚨 Reminder for all founders: your workforce is THE most important part of your business

After realising the detrimental effect his approach in management was having on his team, Joe Kaul did a 180 and rapidly changed his startup’s culture, putting employee wellbeing as the number one priority

As founder of Pulse.io and ONQOR, he’s determined not only to shift how organisations value employees but also how machine learning AI tools can transform the future of marketing 👏

We caught up with Joe in this week’s #BigRiskEnergy episode to share more on life as a founder, the future of AI in marketing and more 🎙

Whilst his friends were taking huge steps in their career, Gabriel Isserlis was sat in his room depressed and just about getting by. But during one of his lowest lows came this life-changing idea which we know today as Tutti - the 'AirBnb of creative spaces' Gabriel joins us in this episode of #BigRiskEnergy to talk on his life-changing journey, from wanting to be an internationally renowned cellist like his dad Steven Isserlis, to founding a self-funded business and becoming a mentor for entrepreneurs

Have you ever thought of looking at your customers as your best innovators, rather than just numbers on the board? In this latest instalment of #BigRiskEnergy, we spoke to customer growth expert Janice B. Gordon on applying a human-centred sales strategy, the importance of founders tapping in to their key customers, the dynamics of racism within the UK and more

From managing the Nike ACG ski and snowboard team to leading the operations team at Boomtown Fair, Graham MacVoy puts his success down to following his gut and being resilient.

In this episode of #BigRiskEnergy, I caught up with Graham to speak on his journey so far that covers everything from snowboarding incidents to co-founding Bristol Life Awards 2023 Platinum Winner, Wake The Tiger.

Executive coaching is becoming more and more prevalent in corporate life. In this latest candid conversation with industry expert and masters-qualified coach Tom Ungi, we discuss how and why coaching is on the rise across the globe.

We discuss the concept of "one conversation at a time" and why Tom decides to share his own personal stories of trauma whilst coaching. The neurological and historic aspects of trauma.

1 in 5000.

That’s the number of businesses Andy Albalous beat to win Gordon Ramsay’s 2023 Future Food Stars 🥇

After suffering from a life changing knee injury, Andy found himself exploring CBD as a form of healing and found a major gap in the market, leading him to co-found food brand Drops of Heal

We caught up with Andy in this week’s #BigRiskEnergy episode on having to pivot his career, breaking the stigma of CBD usage, his experience working closely with Gordon Ramsay and more

Managing your side hustle during maternity and transitioning this venture into a full-time business! This transition is certainly no easy feat and in this most recent podcast episode, we discuss Lottie Whyte's journey from DIY tools to product market fit. We follow Lottie's and her ex-professional rugby partner's story as they launched Myo Master, in a bid to revolutionise the sports recovery market.

In this 45-minute chat, we discuss how and when to transition from a side hustle to full-time venture, how to manage running the business with your partner and why it is so important to have passion within your organisation. We also discuss important topics around fitness, the lack of education around recovery and nutrition but also how the rise of technology and social media affects performance.

When it comes to mastering sales strategies in Tech & SaaS solutions it can be difficult to block out the noise and find the right knowledge to help you succeed in today's hugely competitive landscape.

What are the key components you must know for sales in 2023 and how much of sales success is defined by mentality. In this 40-minute conversation between Tom and I, we discuss the answers to these important questions.

As well as covering some amazing insights around the world of sales and how this is changing, it was great to discuss Tom's own career journey. We discussed how he has scaled and exited a billion dollar business but also his latest venture - Jiminny.

In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I spoke to Economist & Professor Stephen Scruton. As well as Stephen's work at Oxford University & Hult, he is an Angel Investor, Chair & Non-executive Director so well informed to discuss some heavy topics which included, the BOE, recessions, inflation and wage rises.

We dive into Stephen's thoughts and experience across his career to uncover his tips for driving innovation within startups and what he looks out for as an investor.

Stephen's career is a remarkable one, with so many phenomenal opportunities taken at huge organisations. Today, Stephen uses his skills and experience together and adds equity to the mix in his venture skills, helping otherwise fundamentally good ventures succeed.

How did you obtain a rating of London's best pizzeria by industry titans Sorted Food? In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I speak with Thom Elliot, Co-founder of restaurant and takeaway Pizza Pilgrim. Thom and his brother's story is an incredibly inspiring listen for any entrepreneurs. In this conversation we visit, Thom's motivations to starting the company and why he didn't deem this as a risk at all. We also touch upon, his pilgrimage through Italy in a 19mph two seated car?! The 2011/12 street food boom in London and how the pandemic helped launch the "pizza in the post" craze. Thom also highlighted his desire to make risks and we also visit his journey to creating his second book in 2020.

In this episode, I sit down with ex-England U19 & Kent professional cricket player, Simon Cusden. Simon shares his journey to elite sport, and the challenges he faced during and after his professional cricket playing days.

Simon shares his personal experience of addiction and recovery, whilst bringing a unique perspective and understanding to the issues that many people face in sport or in the wider world. Touching upon his knowledge around mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, relational, financial, and environmental health.

It's fair to say Simon is one of the most genuine and inspiring individuals I have ever met. You do not want to miss this episode!

Where do you start when it comes to angel investing in startups? What are the key components you must know in 2023? Listen in to this 40-minute conversation between Andy Ayim and I, as we discuss the answers to these important questions. As well as covering some amazing insights around the world of angel investing and it's origins dating back to the 1800s, it was great to discuss Andy's journey into entrepreneurship. We discussed how he has scaled teams and subscription revenues both at Zlich and now at his own business Angel Investing School. Andy also highlighted his pathway to an MBE award and how this is aligned with his risk appetite.

In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Natalie Ojevah MBE, the youngest black woman to receive an MBE to discuss career tips in banking & finance and her meteoric rise to Vice President.

Natalie's ambition stood out the most, rising from a cashier at a Barclays local branch to Vice President of Eagle Labs Diversity & Inclusion. Her passion for equity and inclusion is remarkable, reinforcing her overarching purpose to proliferate diversity and inclusion within the boards of the largest banks in the world.

It was great to hear about the risks she has taken to get to where she is today, as well as her aspirations moving forward. There's nothing holding Natalie back from her dreams!

How did Otta survive the SVB tech crash?

What makes a great workplace with great people? What are the benefits and downsides of a 4-day work week? What is the employer value proposition?

In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I speak with Sam Franklin, Founder of Otta, the leading recruitment agency for tech startups. It was great to discuss how founders build a great culture, hire great people and retain the best talent.

Sam highlighted Mission, Values, Flexibility, Transparency and Corporate Responsibility as key areas founders of tech startups need to work on to attract the top talent and nurture the best cultures in today's jobs market.

In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I spoke to TikTok extraordinaire Simon Squibb. In this hour-long special episode, we talk about entrepreneurship and risk in detail. We dive into the lens of young enterprise and the challenges Simon faced in his journey from homelessness to millionaire.

Simon is the owner of the Purposeful Project & ex-owner of the creative agency, Fluid which was sold to PWC. Today, Simon runs the Purposeful Project, a platform that helps people learn how to start and scale a business for free. Simon's mission is to help 10 million people start a business of their own, and fix the education system.

How many of us can say we’re truly passionate about our career?

Matt Swain turned his life around after breaking down on the way to work, suddenly realising how unhappy he was with his job.

He pivoted into Marketing after figuring our where his passion lies and has since worked with big brands and personas such as Gymshark and Steven Bartlett, to hosting international talks on building your personal brand 🏆

Watch as he shares valuable insight on how self belief plays an important role in your pursuit for success, the power social media plays in shaping your career and more in this week’s episode of #BigRiskEnergy 🎙

#SelfDevelopment #GrowthJourney #Entrepreneur #growthmindset

In this episode of Big Risk Energy, I spoke to Jamie Barber, the entertainment lawyer who left a successful and stable career to join forces with Sir Roger Moore’s son, Jeffrey, to make an impact in London’s dining scene.

Hear about his incredible journey, which includes an impressive portfolio of restaurants such as Hush restaurant in Mayfair, Haché Burgers chain, Cabana Brasilian Barbecue group and Kitchen Italia, an Italian casual dining brand.

Topics discussed include the strategies he employed as a restaurant owner, battling fears of failure and rejection, his proudest moments and successes throughout his restauranting career and the mountain climbed taking on food giants Ivy Cafe and THE MET BAR, as well as industry food critics.

Wondering what’s the future of AI? And how this will impact our lives? Or even our jobs?

I sat down with Oliver Bruce, founder of PinPoint Media, to discuss neurodiversity, the education system, the inspiring story of Bank of Dave and, of course, building his AI-driven content marketing agency, PinPoint Media, into one of the leading agencies in the UK for AI SMMA and digital marketing media.

We also explored what AI will mean for the future of work and how we can harness this technology to supercharge growth.

It was a pleasure to sit down with Oliver in this deeply insightful conversation and look forward to hearing your thoughts on this episode.

Making money in the music industry? A feat not completed by many.

In this latest episode, I delve deep into the meaning of art, the importance of authenticity but the limitations of format with Cloud X founder David Dabieh.

We discuss how David pivoted the brand in the face of the Covid19 crisis, his deal with Orchard (Sony) and how this helped save the brand in the short term. The move towards diversified revenue streams and the events and festival space are discussed whilst also touching upon important questions around diversity & opportunity within the music industry.

Cloud X talent roster today includes the likes of Santino Le Saint, Kwaku Asante & Clara Rosa and the business is shaping up for it's latest festival in the summer of 2023.

Managing your side hustle whilst working a 9-5?! In this most recent podcast episode, I discuss the challenges and opportunities around this topic with Millennial Money co-founder Niaz Azad, who followed this very path, launching and running his own business whilst maintaining a full-time career.

In this 45-minute chat, we discuss how the freelancer, solopreneur jobs market is changing with more and more individuals looking to diversify their revenue streams. Authenticity and The topic of money flow through this conversation; our relationship with it and some of the harrowing stories Niaz has encountered to date.

Today, Millenial Money has amassed over 25k Instagram followers as the business continues to demystify money-saving tips for millennials.