Founder to Founder

Virgin StartUp
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Every two weeks

Founder to Founder is the podcast where founders share the lessons you won't find in a business book. Hosted by Luke Johnstone, founder of PACK'D and Virgin StartUp Mentor, each episode brings together inspiring entrepreneurs for honest conversations about building a business, overcoming challenges, securing support, and learning from the people who helped them along the way. From funding and growth to leadership, resilience and decision-making, Founder to Founder explores the realities of entrepreneurship through the stories of founders who have been there themselves. You'll hear practical advice, personal experiences, and the moments that shaped some of the UK's most exciting businesses. Whether you're starting your first venture, growing an early-stage business, or looking for guidance from people who understand the founder journey, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Luke Johnstone Luke is the founder of PACK'D, a disruptive food brand that has generated more than £15 million in sales and reached over one million customers. After launching with support from Virgin StartUp, he now helps the next generation of entrepreneurs as a Virgin StartUp Mentor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. The purpose behind Spabreaks.com: Changing wellness for everyone

    24/07/2025

    The purpose behind Spabreaks.com: Changing wellness for everyone

    In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with Abi Selby, founder of Spabreaks.com, to explore how she built the UK's leading spa booking platform while staying true to a mission of making wellness more accessible, inclusive and meaningful. What began as a simple idea grew into a £36 million business that now sends more than 16,000 people to spas every week. Along the way, Abi challenged industry norms, opened wellness experiences to people often overlooked by the sector, and built a purpose-led business that has continued to evolve for nearly two decades. Together they discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, mentorship, community and the realities of growing a business through major industry shifts, including the challenges of Covid. This is an honest conversation about purpose, perseverance and building a company that creates impact beyond profit. In this episode:The moment Abi spotted the opportunity behind Spabreaks.comGrowing a business from startup to industry leaderWhy inclusivity became central to the company's missionSupporting people living with cancer through wellness experiencesThe role mentors played throughout Abi's journeyNavigating Covid and rebuilding strongerFounder wellbeing and avoiding burnoutWhy relationships are one of the most valuable business assetsLessons from leading a £36m business over nearly 20 years Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. The journey behind Pip & Nut: From kitchen blender to supermarket shelves

    09/07/2025

    The journey behind Pip & Nut: From kitchen blender to supermarket shelves

    In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with Pip Murray, founder of Pip & Nut, to explore how a simple idea born from marathon training became one of the UK's best-known challenger food brands. What started with homemade nut butter, a blender and weekend market stalls grew into a multi-million-pound business stocked in major supermarkets across the UK. Pip shares the realities of building a food brand from scratch, finding manufacturers, creating a standout brand identity, raising investment through Crowdcube and navigating the challenges of scaling in a highly competitive industry. Together they discuss entrepreneurship, product development, fundraising, mentorship, leadership and what it takes to build a brand that lasts. Whether you're launching a food business, building a consumer brand or looking for practical founder lessons on growth and resilience, this episode is packed with honest insights from someone who has spent more than a decade turning an idea into a category-leading brand. In this episode:How Pip & Nut started from a homemade recipeTesting products through market stalls and customer feedbackFinding manufacturers and building a scalable supply chainRaising £120k through CrowdcubeBuilding a standout consumer brand on a limited budgetLeadership lessons from scaling a food businessThe role mentors played throughout the journeyWhy patience often beats speed in entrepreneurshipGrowing a challenger brand in a competitive market  Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  3. The leap behind Touch Stay: From Gucci to startup exit

    25/06/2025

    The leap behind Touch Stay: From Gucci to startup exit

    In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with Andy McNulty, co-founder of Touch Stay, to explore the journey of building, scaling and ultimately selling a SaaS business with no technical background. Before founding Touch Stay, Andy held senior leadership roles at brands including Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Victoria Beckham. But it was a frustrating holiday rental experience and a strong entrepreneurial instinct that led him to launch Touch Stay, a digital guidebook platform now used by thousands of hospitality businesses around the world. Andy shares the realities of startup life, raising investment through the Virgin StartUp Accelerator, navigating rapid growth during Covid, and the emotional challenges of selling a business he had spent a decade building. Together they discuss intuition, mentorship, community, fundraising, product-market fit, startup exits and what founders often underestimate when building a technology business. Whether you're launching a SaaS startup, preparing to raise investment or wondering what life looks like after an exit, this episode offers honest lessons from a founder who has experienced the full journey. In this episode:How a holiday rental binder inspired the idea for Touch StayBuilding a SaaS business without a technical backgroundThe role Virgin StartUp played in raising early investmentFinding product-market fit and scaling sustainablyHow Covid accelerated growth rather than slowed it downLessons on fundraising, mentorship and founder intuitionThe emotional reality of selling your businessLife after exit and what comes next Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  4. The grit behind D.LOUISE: Growing through grief

    11/06/2025

    The grit behind D.LOUISE: Growing through grief

    In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with Olivia Jenkins, founder of D.LOUISE, to discuss how she built one of the UK's fastest-growing jewellery brands from scratch with no industry experience, no business background and a powerful personal mission. After losing her mother and facing a period of uncertainty during the pandemic, Olivia channelled her energy into creating D.LOUISE, a jewellery brand built around confidence, resilience and meaningful storytelling. What started as a side project quickly became a thriving direct-to-consumer business, known for its sustainable, tarnish-free jewellery and loyal community. Together they discuss grief, entrepreneurship, founder mindset, bootstrapping a product-based business, building confidence, and the realities of scaling a brand while staying true to your values. This is an honest conversation about resilience, personal growth and what it really means to build a business with purpose. In this episode:Why Olivia started D.LOUISE after losing her motherBuilding a jewellery brand with no industry experienceBootstrapping and growing a direct-to-consumer businessTurning grief into purpose and motivationDeveloping confidence as a first-time founderThe role mentors, coaches and community play in growthManaging founder wellbeing and mental resilienceWhy sustainable growth matters more than overnight successBuilding a brand rooted in authenticity and values Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  5. The grind behind GRIND: Lessons on luck and leadership

    27/05/2025

    The grind behind GRIND: Lessons on luck and leadership

    In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with David Abrahamovitch, founder and CEO of GRIND, to explore what it really takes to build and scale a modern consumer brand. David shares how he transformed his late father's old mobile phone shop on Old Street into one of London's most recognisable coffee brands, before expanding into direct-to-consumer, retail, grocery and hospitality partnerships. Together they discuss startup growth, leadership, fundraising, mentorship, hiring the right people and the realities of scaling a business over more than a decade. From opening the first GRIND location in Shoreditch to launching products into major supermarkets and serving millions of coffees every year, David reflects on the decisions, risks and lessons that shaped the journey. If you're building a startup, growing a consumer brand or navigating the challenges of leadership, this episode is packed with practical insights from a founder who has scaled through multiple stages of business growth. In this episode:How GRIND started from a single coffee shop in East LondonThe realities of scaling a consumer brandWhy mentorship and community matter as a founderLessons on fundraising, hiring and leadershipHow to balance instinct with adviceWhy luck plays a bigger role in entrepreneurship than most founders admit Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  6. The mind behind UNILAD: What I wish I knew about ADHD, anxiety and entrepreneurship

    14/05/2025

    The mind behind UNILAD: What I wish I knew about ADHD, anxiety and entrepreneurship

    What happens when an ADHD diagnosis helps explain your entire founder journey? In this episode of Founder to Founder, Luke Johnstone sits down with Alex Partridge, founder of UNILAD, co-founder of LADbible, host of the ADHD Chatter podcast and Virgin StartUp Mentor. Alex shares the highs and lows of building some of the UK's biggest media brands, the legal battle that nearly cost him everything, and how an ADHD diagnosis at 34 helped him better understand anxiety, entrepreneurship and the way his mind works. Together they discuss founder mental health, neurodiversity in business, mentorship, resilience, self-awareness and why understanding yourself may be one of the most important skills any entrepreneur can develop. Whether you're building a startup, navigating founder challenges or exploring your own neurodiversity, this is an honest conversation packed with practical lessons and powerful insights. In this episode:How Alex built UNILAD from a university side projectThe legal battle that almost cost him his businessWhat an ADHD diagnosis revealed about his founder journeyManaging anxiety, rejection and founder pressureThe role mentors and community played in difficult momentsWhy self-awareness is a founder's greatest advantageHow neurodiversity can become a business strength Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  7. Welcome to Founder to Founder

    Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    Welcome to Founder to Founder

    Take a look at our lineup for our new podcast launching next week!  We’ve been behind the scenes with some of the UK’s boldest business minds - who all happen to be Virgin StartUp Mentors — David Abrahamovitch (GRIND), Pip Murray (Pip & Nut), Olivia Jenkins (D. Louise), Andy McNulty (Touch Stay), Abi Selby (Spabreaks.com), and Alex Partridge (UniLad & LADBible) — to talk growth, grit, and the power that mentoring has had on their startup successes.    The first episode drops this Wednesday, featuring viral media pioneer and host of the ADHD Chatter podcast, Alex Partridge. Brought to you by Virgin StartUp Looking for support on your own founder journey? Founder to Founder is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start, grow and thrive through funding, mentoring, expert advice and community. Find out more at virginstartup.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 sec

Trailer

About

Founder to Founder is the podcast where founders share the lessons you won't find in a business book. Hosted by Luke Johnstone, founder of PACK'D and Virgin StartUp Mentor, each episode brings together inspiring entrepreneurs for honest conversations about building a business, overcoming challenges, securing support, and learning from the people who helped them along the way. From funding and growth to leadership, resilience and decision-making, Founder to Founder explores the realities of entrepreneurship through the stories of founders who have been there themselves. You'll hear practical advice, personal experiences, and the moments that shaped some of the UK's most exciting businesses. Whether you're starting your first venture, growing an early-stage business, or looking for guidance from people who understand the founder journey, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Luke Johnstone Luke is the founder of PACK'D, a disruptive food brand that has generated more than £15 million in sales and reached over one million customers. After launching with support from Virgin StartUp, he now helps the next generation of entrepreneurs as a Virgin StartUp Mentor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Virgin StartUp
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Virgin StartUp
  • Show Website
    Founder to Founder