Founders500

About Founders500

This monthly series is for creative founders shaking up industries and redefining success. Expect intimate fireside chats and honest interviews with visionary entrepreneurs sharing the real stories behind their journeys—big wins, tough lessons, and everything in between. From funding to failure, it’s all on the table. Get inspired, get practical insights, and tune in for the full episodes that go deeper than the highlight reel.

Publisher

Founders500

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Jun 2025

Latest episode

14 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Session #15 - Spilling the Tea: Building a Consumer Brand

   How do you take a neighbourhood bubble tea café and build a brand stocked by Harrods, Selfridges and Ocado? Yandis Ying, Founder and CEO of Dot Dot Tea, joins Founders500 to share the story behind that journey, including building an in-house brewery, securing major retail partnerships and receiving four offers on BBC’s Dragons’ Den. We explore what it takes to create a product customers want, stand out in a competitive market and scale production without compromising quality. Along the way, Yandis shares lessons on investment, resilience and building a business alongside family life. Whether you’re developing your first product, growing a consumer brand or curious about what happens behind the scenes, this conversation offers an honest look at turning an ambitious idea into a growing business. In this conversation: Taking Dot Dot from café to national retail Creating a distinctive brand with mainstream appeal Getting products onto shelves and building retail partnerships Scaling manufacturing while keeping control of quality Pitching for investment and the Dragons’ Den experience Navigating the pressures and uncertainty of founder life Founders500 brings creative founders together to share ideas, learn from each other and build meaningful connections. Subscribe for more honest conversations with the people building businesses.

2. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Session #14 - Behind the Build: Three Founders on Mistakes, Setbacks and Starting Up

   An honest startup showcase with three founders at different points in their journey. You will hear why they launched, the highs and lows so far, what they wish they had known on day one, This isn’t another polished success-story panel. You’ll hear directly from startup founders about what really happened behind the scenes: why they launched, the mistakes they made, the challenges they didn’t see coming, and the lessons they’d wish they’d known from day one. We’ll be putting our founders in the hot seat for a candid Ask Me Anything session, where nothing is off-limits. Expect honest answers on growth, fundraising, finding customers, hiring, AI, product-market fit, setbacks, resilience, and the realities of building a business from scratch. About our featured Start-Ups: The company combines industry expertise with data-driven methodologies to help businesses assess AI readiness, improve data quality, identify opportunities for automation and intelligence, and develop practical adoption strategies. VerAIson.io’s approach is grounded in the belief that successful AI implementation begins with understanding the business problem first, and the technology second. Saarey Music (https://www.saareymusic.com/) is a streaming platform dedicated to South Asian classical music, serving a global audience of more than 300 million listeners. Built specifically for the genre, the platform combines exclusive content, culturally designed metadata and AI-powered recommendations to deliver a richer listening experience.Saarey holds exclusive rights to approximately 90% of Pakistani classical recordings and has earned international recognition, including Fast Company’s #9 Most Innovative Companies in Europe & the Middle East, a Music Week Awards finalist nomination, and inclusion in Forbes India’s Top 200 Companies. By connecting audiences with a historically underserved genre, Saarey is helping South Asian classical music thrive on a global scale. Ticketlab  (https://ticketlab.co.uk/)is an online ticketing platform that has been helping organisers create events, sell tickets, and manage admissions with minimal hassle for nearly 13 years. Built for organisations that operate at a human scale, the platform is trusted by venues, charities, community groups, churches, performers, workshop hosts, and independent event organisers across the UK. Ticketlab combines a simple event setup process with Stripe-powered payments, individual tout-proof tickets, event analytics, and a dedicated admissions app for fast and reliable on-the-door check-in. Founded and built by Riley Ramone, Ticketlab was created as an alternative to overly complex ticketing systems, focusing instead on transparency, affordability, and ease of use. Organisers benefit from low fees, light administration, and powerful tools that help them run successful events, while ticket buyers enjoy a straightforward checkout experience. This commitment to simplicity and value has helped Ticketlab build long-term relationships with organisers who return event after event, year after year. Joanna Dąbrowska (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodabrowska/) is the founder of VerAIson.io, an AI consultancy focused on helping wine and drinks businesses adopt artificial intelligence in practical, commercially meaningful ways. With a background spanning wine, data analytics, strategy, and technology, she works with producers, importers, distributors, trade bodies, and retailers to identify where AI can create measurable value across sales, customer intelligence, portfolio management, and operational decision-making.VerAIson.io (https://veraison.io/) helps wine and drinks businesses understand, adopt, and implement artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing on technology for technology’s sake, VerAIson.io works with organisations to identify business challenges where AI can create measurable impact, from customer insights and portfolio optimisation to sales enablement, knowledge management, and strategic planning.

3. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Session #13 - The People Problems No Founder Sees Coming

   Most founders think scaling is a hiring problem, but it's really a people problem. Join us for an interactive evening exploring the leadership and organisational challenges that catch founders off guard as their teams grow from around 10 to 50 people. Featuring executive coach Katherine Ray and fractional People leader Kuldish Sibia, this session shares real-world stories, practical frameworks, and actionable insights on leadership, hiring, performance, and building the right foundations before growth exposes the cracks. Whether you're building your first team or scaling a fast-growing business, you'll leave with ideas you can put into practice immediately.

4. 

   4 Jun 2026

   Session #12 - The Psychology of a Successful Entrepreneur

   In this session, Willem explores what truly drives entrepreneurial success,  not tactics, not theory, but the psychology behind how successful entrepreneurs think, decide, and act when certainty disappears. This is not about “teaching people to fish.” It’s about developing fishermen. Through real-world experience built in high-pressure, unpredictable environments, Willem will introduce a practical operating framework called The Entrepreneurial Thinking Compass — a tool designed to help leaders and professionals function effectively when strategy and playbooks fall behind reality. By attending this session, participants will: Understand how successful entrepreneurs make decisions under uncertainty Learn how to operate when clarity is missing but responsibility remains Develop tools to overcome fear, rejection, and demotivation Gain insight into choosing the right co-founder or business partner Recognize common entrepreneurial traps — including “buying the bus” too early Strengthen resilience and adaptability in fast-changing environments Apply entrepreneurial thinking inside established organisations This session is relevant whether you are starting a business, leading a team, navigating career transitions, or building something new inside an existing organisation. Willem’s work is not built on theory. It is proven in environments where certainty is absent and failure carries real consequences. He has worked in some of the most unpredictable conditions imaginable, helping individuals with little more than determination learn how to think, decide, and act their way forward. In those environments, entrepreneurial thinking is not a concept,  it is a necessity. If these tools work where there are no safety nets, limited resources, and constant uncertainty, they work even more powerfully inside organisations with talent, structure, and scale. This is what makes Willem different. His frameworks are field-tested under pressure, not designed for classrooms or slide decks.

5. 

   6 May 2026

   Session #11 - Building Fundable Startups in the AI Era

   In today’s AI-driven world, launching software has never been easier — but building a startup that truly stands out has never been harder.This Founders500 X Signal session explores what actually makes startups fundable in the current AI landscape: solving meaningful problems, validating real value, and building with strong market understanding rather than chasing trends.Hosted as a live conversation with Nikolas Pyrgiotis, this session dives into how venture capital expectations are changing, how AI is reshaping startup building, and why domain expertise and problem selection matter more than ever.Topics covered include:• What investors are really looking for in AI startups today• How AI is changing the startup and fundraising landscape• Why the best ventures start with the right problem• How founders can identify commercially meaningful opportunities• What makes startups defensible in increasingly crowded markets• Where real-world industries like logistics, supply chain, and maritime present major opportunities for innovation• How technical founders can turn engineering and AI capability into scalable businessesWhether you are a founder, aspiring founder, engineer, data scientist, or AI builder, this session offers practical insight into building ventures that create genuine value in the modern startup ecosystem.About the speaker:Nikolas Pyrgiotis leads ventures and investments at Signal, focusing on opportunities across logistics and supply chain. His background spans engineering, applied mathematics, company building, and venture investing, making him uniquely positioned to speak about both startup execution and investor expectations.

6. 

   3 Mar 2026

   Session #10 - What leaders won’t talk about, but need to know

   Leading a team is one of the hardest and most meaningful challenges you can take on. Whether you’re building a company, scaling a function, or guiding people through change, leadership demands clarity, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure. This evening is an honest, inspiring conversation for leaders at any stage who want real insight into what it actually takes to lead well, especially when things are messy, uncertain, or moving fast. It is a candid, interview-style conversation with Ben Stocken, founder of Atherio, exploring the realities of leadership: the setbacks, the hard decisions, the moments of doubt, and the habits that separate strong teams from struggling ones. Ben has spent over 20 years advising FTSE 250 companies and high-growth organisations on leadership and performance. As the founder of Atherio, a real-time Leadership Intelligence Platform, he works with leaders navigating the human side of scale: trust, engagement, accountability, and culture. A former England Rugby coach and extreme endurance athlete (including summiting the world’s 10th deadliest mountain and completing the Marathon des Sables), Ben brings a rare perspective on what pressure reveals, and what great leadership requires. This conversation will explore: The leadership mistakes most people make early, and what they cost How trust, feedback, and conflict shape team performance What resilience actually looks like in high-pressure environments How leaders avoid becoming the bottleneck in their own organisations What AI will change (and won’t change) about leading teams in the future You will leave with practical insight, fresh perspective, and tools you can apply immediately, whether you lead a startup, a scale-up, or an established organisation. Who Should Watch? Leaders and managers at any levelFounders, operators, and executives navigating growth or changeData, product, and technology leaders building high-performing teamsAnyone curious about the realities behind strong leadership and culture

7. 

   11 Dec 2025

   Session #8 – Soho Startup Showcase: Truths from the Trenches

   An honest startup showcase with three founders at different points in their journey. You will hear why they launched, the highs and lows so far, what they wish they had known on day one, how they see the future, and the practical tips and tricks that keep them moving. Founders will leave with sharper ways to validate ideas, common pitfalls to avoid, simple playbooks for early growth, and fresh connections with peers and mentors. Key takeaways include proven tactics for customer discovery, fundraising readiness, building resilient teams, and staying focused when everything feels urgent. Tina Chen: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-chen-tea-latte/) Our Chief Tea Officer Tina was inspired by Taiwanese bubble tea concept and British tea drinking culture to develop a delicious, well-balanced tea latte beverage. With her love for a quality cuppa and her desire to make a positive impact on society, Tina made a career switch from IT to just tea, and HumaniTea was born! A proud social enterprise, HumaniTea supports wellbeing and sustainability initiatives through wholesome tea. Spreading Me Time, Tea Time, Any Time, we encourage people to take tea breaks to find mindfulness. Madalina Mihailescu:  (http://www.linkedin.com/in/madalina-daniela-mihailescu-mdm)My entrepreneurial journey began in the classroom, while delivering lectures to MSc Data Science students, where I witnessed a critical gap in education delivery. Students struggled to find employment despite completing rigorous academic programmes because companies demand industry-specific skills that rigid curricula fail to provide. Academic institutions prioritise theoretical knowledge over practical application, leaving graduates unprepared for real-world challenges. This educational crisis resonated deeply with my personal experience as a neurodivergent learner who had struggled through traditional educational systems until discovering personalised study techniques that transformed my learning approach. Recognising that different learners require different methods, I founded HiveMind with a mission to make education efficient, personalised, and responsive to how people actually learn – especially in our rapidly digitalising world where time is precious and adaptability is essential. Fredi Monk Porcel – (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredi-monk-porcel-fka-beard-8360971aa/) Fredi oversees the smooth running of Voicebox, and is the company’s Director of Partnerships & Strategy. He has completed an MSc in Creative Arts and Mental Health from Queen Mary, University of London. Fredi has extensive experience of facilitating conversations on masculinity with a breadth of different audiences including adolescents, primary age children & professionals. Fredi’s particular interests lie in male mental health and facilitating spaces where men and boys can proactively increase each other’s wellbeing and bond with each other.

8. 

   5 Dec 2025

   Session #9 – Bubbles & Big Ideas: A Festive Founder’s Story & End of Year Wrap Up

   This isn’t your average fireside chat. It’s an unfiltered exploration of what it really takes to build bold ideas from scratch, the late nights, the turning points, and the moments of clarity that define an entrepreneurial journey. Featuring an intimate Heart-to-Heart with Marc Albert, an extraordinary founder reshaping how operational and market decisions are made in bulk shipping. Marc Albert is an Entrepreneur in Residence at The Signal Group, where he’s building a digital twin of the bulk shipping market, a groundbreaking platform that helps industry stakeholders anticipate market movements and make smarter, data-driven decisions. To understand Marc’s work is to appreciate the scale of the challenge: over 80% of global trade moves by sea, yet the shipping industry remains at the mercy of volatile freight rates and dynamic market swings. Marc’s mission? To bring clarity, stability, and intelligence to one of the world’s most complex supply chains, transforming how global trade decisions are made. Before his current venture, Marc was part of the pioneering team at nuTonomy, an MIT spin-off developing self-driving cars, where he witnessed the full arc of a startup journey, from bold idea to acquisition and beyond. He’s now also pursuing a PhD at ETH Zurich, focusing on strategic decision-making and coordination in multi-agent systems. Marc’s career has been anything but linear, and that’s exactly what makes his story so compelling. From engineering to entrepreneurship, academia to innovation, he embodies the resilience, curiosity, and courage that define today’s most forward-thinking founders. Thank you to our founding partner Signal (https://www.thesignalgroup.com/signal-ventures) for making this event happen.

9. 

   6 Nov 2025

   Session #7 – Money Talks: What Investors Really Want from Early-Stage Founders

   This panel brings together top venture capitalists and angel investors to provide clear, practical advice for early-stage founders looking to build fundable businesses. Aimed at those in the pre-seed to seed phase, it explores what investors truly value beyond the pitch deck—covering topics such as founder-market fit, storytelling, and personal vision; what materials investors actually review; how to time fundraising; and how to balance traction with hype. It also examines strategies for authentic networking and accessing investor communities, especially for underrepresented founders, as well as how to identify supportive investors who offer more than just money. Attendees will gain honest insights, real-world examples, and actionable guidance to help them confidently grow and navigate their startup journey. Meet the panel: Jem Stein (https://www.daringcapital.co.uk/), is the founder of Daring Capital, an impact investor syndicate backing early-stage, purpose-driven founders, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, with over £1.9 million invested since its launch in September 2023. Previously, Jem founded and scaled The Bike Project, a social enterprise supporting refugees, growing it to £2.5 million in annual revenue and earning awards such as Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He also sits on the social investment committees of two major charitable trusts. This series offers not just inspiration but practical, actionable advice for founders, creatives, and future leaders ready to grow, adapt, and thrive. Carmel Rafaeli (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmelrafaeli/) is the Founding Partner of The Table, a global community of over 280 investors co-funding early-stage climate ventures led or co-led by women. She backs climate-positive startups across sectors, with a focus on inclusion, intentional capital, and measurable environmental impact. With more than 15 years of entrepreneurial experience spanning fashion, tech, and sustainability, she began investing through small angel deals to support overlooked founders and accelerate climate solutions. Today, she provides capital, mentoring, and strategic advice, with a particular emphasis on financial storytelling and founder-investor alignment. She is also a Venture Partner at The Conduit Connect and a trusted advisor to early-stage founders. Carmel believes inclusive innovation and smarter capital allocation are essential to solving the climate crisis. Dan Bowyer (https://www.superseed.com/) is a Partner at SuperSeed VC. Dan has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, having built and exited 2 startups and angel invested in many more. He’s most passionate about connecting people, product and process, creating something from nothing. At SuperSeed Dan looks after partnerships and portfolio companies, alongside new and existing investments. Thank you to our founding partner Signal (https://www.thesignalgroup.com/signal-ventures) for making this event happen.

10. 

    6 Oct 2025

    Session #6 - UK Go-to-Market PR Workshop

    Ready to make headlines for all the right reasons? This 1.5-hour online workshop will give you the inside track on how to launch into the UK market and get your story in front of the right audiences through British and international media, journalists, and influencers.This workshop is designed to help you successfully launch into the UK market by reaching the right audiences through British and international media, journalists, and influencers. It will give you actionable insights into what the media looks for, how to craft a compelling story, and how to secure meaningful press coverage. Attendees will also receive access to exclusive PR packages and have the opportunity to book 1:1 consultations ideal for those preparing to take their story to the press.Led by Lisa Wlodyka, Founder of Banjo Communications and PR powerhouse behind brands like Deliveroo, GoDaddy, and GoFundMe, you’ll learn:PR 101 – what it really is (and isn’t)The UK and global media landscapeHow to craft irresistible headlines and storiesWhy the media would (and wouldn’t) be interested in your businessHow to make sure your website and assets are PR-readyTimelines for a successful launchThe exact steps to go to market with impactBalancing bold ideas with protecting your brandDefining and communicating your USPMeet the Speaker:Lisa Wlodyka is a powerhouse in PR and strategic brand storytelling, trusted by some of the world’s most ambitious companies to launch, scale, and turn their businesses into market leaders. With a track record that includes names like Deliveroo, GoDaddy, GoFundMe, and Airtasker, Lisa is known for taking brands from early traction to market domination.Born in London and globally experienced, Lisa has led Tech, Digital and Innovation departments in both London and Sydney, and works closely with Silicon Valley disruptors looking to break into new markets. Her B2B and B2C expertise makes her equally skilled at building reputations, driving media buzz, and creating cut-through campaigns that turn emerging players into household names. In a world where news is consumed across countless platforms, she ensures campaigns cut-through whether via traditional media, digital outlets, or social-first journalists and influencers. Lisa works across all major sectors.A graduate of the world-famous Central Saint Martins Art College and Chelsea College of Arts, Lisa’s creative roots fuel bold narratives and standout campaigns. She is a strategic mind, a creative soul, and a fierce advocate for the next generation of visionary brands – truly one to watch.

11. 

    8 Sept 2025

    Session #5 – Fuel & Fire: The Mindset Behind Scaling a Business

    Entrepreneurship can be exhilarating, but it’s often emotionally demanding, isolating and mentally exhausting. This session pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build and scale a business without losing yourself along the way. Through open, honest conversation with founders and coaches, we’ll explore the mindset shifts, leadership habits and personal resilience needed for sustainable growth. From navigating burnout, imposter syndrome and failure, to leading with clarity through chaos, you’ll hear real stories and gain practical tools to stay grounded, focused and true to your values. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, this is a space to reconnect with your purpose, challenge toxic startup culture and walk away with renewed energy and insight for the journey ahead. Meet the panel: Claire Koryczan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairekory/) is an award-nominated leadership expert with over 25 years of experience spanning creative agencies, technology, innovation, and HR. Her approach blends coaching with strategic insight, enabling leaders to navigate complexity and unlock meaningful change. Recognised globally, she’s been shortlisted for Best Business Coach by the Coach Awards, named a Top Team Leadership Voice on LinkedIn, and featured in SohoWorks’ Future50 and Grant Thornton’s Faces of a Vibrant Economy. Kit James (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-james-pcc-b01ba515/) is the founder of Kit James Coaching, a private practice working with ambitious individuals who’ve hit the traditional markers of success, yet find themselves questioning ‘what next?’ His clients are high-achieving and often in positions of influence, yet beneath the external milestones lies a deeper search for clarity, meaning, and legacy.Kit’s approach is personal and instinctive. It’s shaped by his own decision to walk away from the expected path and define success on his own terms. He brings challenge, sharp perspective, and real precision to the process, helping clients cut through noise, confront difficult truths, and move forward with purpose. Jen Smith’s  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensmiththecuriousmentor/)entrepreneurial journey began in 2009, driven by a desire for flexibility and creativity after becoming a parent, and soon evolved into a successful digital marketing agency. Recognised as one of the Top 100 women leaders in business in 2021, she pivoted in 2023 to become an accredited Executive Coach and Mentor, combining her creativity, business acumen and lived experience of physical disabilities, ADHD and Autism to champion inclusion, accessibility and neurodiversity. Known as ‘The Curious Mentor,’ Jen draws on practical neuroscience, coaching techniques and her ILM Level 7 studies in Coaching Supervision to support a wide range of clients, particularly neurodivergent individuals. She collaborates with Small Business Britain on initiatives including The Lilac Review and The Maple Review, and was shortlisted for The Small Awards in 2023.

12. 

    14 Jul 2025

    Session #4 - Jaron Soh: Startups with Soul: Building Brands That Matter in 2025 and Beyond

    Meet Jaron Soh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaronsoh/), Co-founder and CEO of Voda The award-winning mental health app designed by leading LGBTQIA+ psychologists. Voda offers blends clinical expertise with lived experience insights, offering discreet, evidence-based support for LGBTQIA+ challenges such as coming out, gender dysphoria, hate speech and stigma. Since its launch, Voda has supported over 36,000 users globally, was named “App of the Day” in 35+ countries, and was recognised as a “Rising Star” at the UK National Startup Awards in 2024. Jaron grew up in Singapore, where same-sex activity between men were criminalised up until 2 years ago. His personal journey to overcoming shame fuels Voda’s mission to make affirming mental health support accessible to LGBTQIA+ people everywhere. Under his leadership, the startup has raised over £900k from impact-driven investors and built a globally recognised platform that is both purpose-led and commercially smart. Listening to Jaron’s session is a chance to hear how mission-driven startups can thrive in competitive markets. Founders will come away with tangible insights on building community-first tech, securing values-aligned funding, navigating stigma in brand storytelling, and scaling with authenticity. Jaron’s story is not only inspiring—it’s a blueprint for building with impact. Reaching 39k+ users Being featured as App of the Day in 35+ countries Spotlighted by the Apple App Store this Pride Month Voda has just closed their (oversubscribed!) funding round, and Jaron will share how we raised from a diverse, values-aligned group of VCs and angels – and why that alignment really matters.

13. 

    19 Jun 2025

    Session #3 - Ed Leon Klinger: Risk, Reward, and Raising $38M

    CEO Ed Leon Klinger discusses Flock's data-driven insurance platform, which began with drones and scaled to commercial fleets by pricing risk in real-time, in this interview.

14. 

    10 Jun 2025

    Session #2 - Mae Yip: Start Smart, Alternative Funding & Real-World Advice for Creative Founders

    Mae Yip, co-founder of ERIC, shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing angel investment versus venture capital and offering practical advice for creative founders, in this interview.

15. 

    4 Jun 2025

    Session #1.5 - Lakechia Jeanne: From Side Hustle to Thriving Business: Practical Insights from Successful Founders

    Lakechia Jeanne, Founder of Girls In Science, shares her journey of building a thriving international community empowering women in STEM through education, networking, and career development in this interview.

16. 

    4 Jun 2025

    Session #1 - Ashley Staines: From Side Hustle to Thriving Business: Practical Insights from Successful Founders

    Ashley Staines, Co-Founder of Volunteero, discusses the realities of entrepreneurship, including funding decisions and scaling a tech-for-good platform, in an interview about building a successful business.

Who has been a guest on Founders500

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ed Leon Klinger
• Mae Yip
• Lakechia Jeanne
• Ashley Staines

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 10 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

19

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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