Startup Scaleup People

Mario Rivas
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🎙️ Startup Scaleup People shares real stories of how founders, execs, advisors, NEDs & fractional leaders build companies, careers & lives — from startup to scaleup to enterprise. We go deep on leadership, growth, funding, strategy, resilience, operations, exits, the human side of business and more. 📈 Topics: business growth, scaleup journeys, innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, executive insights, human stories, resilience, failure, success, finance, operations, and more. 🎧 New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK. 🔗 Join us: linktr.ee/startupscaleuppeople

  1. 16 HR AGO

    Board Director vs NED: What You Need to Know Before Joining a Board | Kelly Kuhn

    In this episode, we dive deep into corporate governance, board dynamics, and the real role of non-executive directors with Kelly Kuhn, an experienced independent board director, chair, and former global C-suite executive with 30+ years of experience.Kelly shares practical insights on what boards actually do, how governance differs from execution, and how to start a board career, including what most people get wrong.If you're a founder, executive, or aspiring board member, this episode is for you.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Kelly Kuhn and what a board does 02:20 Board director vs non-executive director 05:10 Why boards matter for shareholders, oversight, and governance 08:10 Board structure in the UK, US, and different company types 11:40 Executive vs board mindset: when governance becomes different 15:40 Real board experience and learning in the first board role 20:20 How many board roles and what types Kelly has served on 25:10 What to look for when interviewing for a board role 31:10 Why site visits and employee connection matter for boards 38:20 Advice for younger board members and executives considering board service 44:10 Charity boards: what to know before joining 49:00 Final advice and closing thoughts Hosted by Mario Rivas About Startup Scaleup People: Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#CorporateGovernance #BoardOfDirectors #Leadership #StartupGrowth #Scaleups

    46 min

  2. 6 APR

    AI in Healthcare: Scaling Drug Discovery & Clinical Trials | Mathilda Strom

    How Mathilda Strom Is Scaling AI in Healthcare In this new episode, we explore how leadership and AI are transforming the future of healthcare and drug discovery. Mathilda Strom shares how foundation models are reshaping clinical trials, improving patient outcomes, and redefining business strategy in biotech and AI. With $76M raised at Series A and over 1 million model downloads, Bioptimus is at the forefront of AI-driven biology. This episode is a masterclass in scaling deep tech, navigating complex markets, and building high-impact companies across healthcare and AI. Hosted by Mario Rivas. About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation. New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare 01:30 The Role of AI in Drug Discovery 04:38 User Adoption and Real-World Impact 07:23 Key Performance Indicators for AI Models 08:53 Revenue Models and Business Strategies 10:09 Lessons from Bima: Distribution and Trust 15:36 AI's Impact on Scientific Work 21:31 The Future of AI: Human and Infrastructure Roles 22:57 Control of AI Infrastructure: Private vs Public 24:05 The Role of Governments in Innovation 26:31 The Future of Virtual Healthcare 35:36 Lessons Learned and Simplification in Business Key Highlights ▸ AI’s biggest opportunity is fixing clinical trial failure rates ▸ Founder mindset: simplicity drives adoption and scale ▸ Scaling lesson: last-mile adoption is where growth happens ▸ Operational insight: track every unit cost to win at scale ▸ Governance insight: AI infrastructure needs private innovation + regulation Follow & Subscribe https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/ https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416 https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/ startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신

    40 min

  3. 30 MAR

    The #1 Reason Companies Stall at $100M | Sharon Parmar

    Want to scale your company from $100M to $500M? The secret isn’t just strategy, it’s culture.In this episode of the Startup Scaleup People Podcast, Mario sits down with Sharon Parmar, CEO of Humanity Works Consultancy, to reveal how culture, leadership, and trust drive exponential business growth.Sharon has helped global companies scale revenue, reduce churn, and build high-performance teams, and in this conversation, she breaks down exactly how it works. What you’ll learn:Why 70% of companies fail to scale (and how to avoid it)The real meaning of culture (hint: it’s not values on the wall)How to build a high-trust organization that drives growthWhen you need to let people go to scaleThe #1 KPI to measure culture impact (and how to improve it)How AI is changing hiring, leadership, and team structureWhy the best leaders embrace conflict (and how to do it right) Key insight:Companies with strong trust cultures outperform others with up to 4–5x higher revenue.If you're a founder, CEO, or leader scaling your business, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately. Connect with Sharon Parmar:Website: https://humanityworksconsultancy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-parmar/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Sharon Parmar 01:44 Culture as a growth lever 05:28 How culture projects start in scaleups 10:52 Metrics that show culture is working 15:44 The 100M to 500M scaling challenge 18:33 AI, jobs, and the future of work 24:44 Leadership, conflict, and trust 37:53 Final advice for CEOs and founders Hosted by Mario Rivas About Startup Scaleup People:Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Monday at 6PM UK time.#StartupGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #CompanyCulture #Entrepreneurship #AI #BusinessStrategy

    41 min

  4. 20 MAR

    Why 99% of Startups Fail Fundraising (Investor Secrets Revealed) | Beth Crosier

    How Beth Crosier Helps Startups Become Investor-Ready | Startup Scaleup PeopleStartup and Scaleup founders often struggle with leadership, financial clarity, and funding strategy. In this episode, Beth Crosier explains how strong financial discipline transforms early-stage startups into scalable businesses, and what investors really look for when backing founders in today’s competitive startup ecosystem.From pre-seed to £2M+ raises, this episode breaks down real funding journeys, financial model mistakes, and the reality of raising capital outside major hubs. This is a masterclass from Beth in startup funding, financial storytelling, and scaling strategy. Hosted by Mario Rivas 📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.🧭 Chapters00:00 Startup Funding Myths & Founder Mistakes01:14 The Real Funding Gap Outside London03:50 Why Raising Capital Is Harder Today05:56 Fixing Financial Models for Investors09:13 KPIs Investors Actually Care About12:42 Ambition vs Reality in Financial Forecasting18:13 Unit Economics & Profitability Explained23:23 Red Flags That Kill Startup Deals28:55 Scaling from Startup to Scaleup32:36 Founder Mindset & Leadership Lessons💬 Key Highlights▸ Most startups fail fundraising due to weak financial storytelling▸ Founders must shift from intuition to financial discipline▸ Scaling requires repeatable growth, not just traction▸ Strong unit economics matter more than rapid growth▸ Investors evaluate cash, traction, and governance first🔗 Follow & Subscribehttps://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/🧠 Keywordsstartup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech, financial models, unit economics, fundraising strategy, investor readiness, venture capital funding, startup KPIs, burn rate, runway, SaaS metrics, startup finance, growth strategy, scaling startups, fundraising mistakes🏷️ Hashtags#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신

    36 min

  5. 13 MAR

    AI Transformation Strategy: Why Most Companies Fail to Implement AI | Rujuta Singh

    Startup and Scaleup leadership today increasingly intersects with AI transformation, digital strategy, and operational change. In this episode, Rujuta Singh explains how enterprises should actually approach AI adoption, data strategy, and process automation without wasting millions on tools that don’t solve the real problem. With more than 20 years of experience in data and digital transformation, working with Fortune 500 organizations, Rujuta shares why most companies misunderstand AI, and how leaders can implement it correctly through clear business strategy, fast prototyping, and measurable outcomes. This episode is a practical masterclass in AI strategy, digital transformation leadership, and enterprise innovation. Hosted by Mario Rivas About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation. New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time. 00:00 Why Companies Misunderstand AI Transformation 02:00 Are Companies Automating Broken Processes With AI? 04:30 Data Quality vs Business Processes in AI Adoption 07:00 The Biggest Mistake Leaders Make With AI 09:00 How to Allocate a $1M AI Transformation Budget 12:00 Measuring ROI in AI and Digital Transformation 16:00 Why Enterprise Transformations Take Years 21:00 Why Only 5% of Companies Are AI Ready 🔗 Follow & Subscribe https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/ https://www.tiktok.com/@startupscaleuppeople https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlU https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416 https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/ startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, AI, fintech, AI transformation strategy, enterprise AI adoption, AI implementation for companies, digital transformation leadership, AI strategy consulting, enterprise AI transformation, AI automation business processes, AI ROI strategy, AI adoption enterprise, digital transformation enterprise, AI governance, enterprise automation strategy #startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신

    39 min

  6. 6 MAR

    Building the ‘ClassPass for Private Members’ Clubs | Melissa Dewar

    In episode 21, Mario sits down with Melissa Dewar, founder & CEO of The Modernist, a tech‑enabled membership platform connecting premium venues with “modern members” across cities like London, Paris and New York. ​Melissa explains how she’s building a kind of “ClassPass for private members’ clubs” a global operating system that aggregates social clubs, co‑working and wellness spaces into one platform for members and venues. She shares the origin story, the two‑sided marketplace model, and why post‑COVID demand for curated, in‑person experiences is exploding.​ We talk about growing The Modernist to 1,000+ members and 20+ venues, the challenges of a two‑sided marketplace, using AI to streamline operations and curation, and what it’s really like fundraising as a female founder in today’s market.​ About Startup Scaleup People Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation. New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time. Chapters 00:00 The Startup Behind “ClassPass for Private Members Clubs” 03:00 The Problem With Multiple Memberships Across Cities 06:00 The Modernist Business Model Explained 09:00 Building a Curated Community & Application Process 12:00 Scaling to 1,000 Members & 20 Venues 16:00 Fundraising Challenges for Non-AI Startups 20:00 Expanding to New York & Paris 24:00 Lessons From Building a Community-Driven Platform https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/ https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlU https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416 https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/ #startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #fintech #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #energy #technology #techstartup #techfounders #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정신

    34 min

  7. 27 FEB

    From Schools to Johnson Controls Exit: 600+ Buildings Decarbonised

    How Paul Burnett Built & Exited a £50M Energy Scaleup | Startup Scaleup People Startup and scaleup leadership in the UK energy transition market demands strategy, resilience, and execution. In this episode, Paul Burnett shares how he built Asset Plus into a £37M revenue decarbonisation business before exiting for ~£50M to Johnson Controls. This is a masterclass in energy performance contracting, public sector scaling, and founder leadership. Decarbonising 600+ buildings and delivering 30,000 tons of annual carbon savings, Paul scaled with just 9 employees, leveraging balance sheet strategy, contracted pipeline, and smart market positioning. From managing cash flow pressure to structuring for acquisition, this episode breaks down how to build a high-margin, exit-ready energy scaleup. Hosted by Mario Rivas About Startup Scaleup People Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation. New episodes every Friday at 4PM UK time. Chapters 00:00 From Construction to Energy Transition Leader 03:05 Building Asset Plus from Scratch 06:20 Energy Performance Contracting Explained 09:45 Scaling to £37M with 9 Employees 12:50 Securing Public Sector Contracts 15:20 Preparing for Acquisition & Exit Strategy 18:30 Why Johnson Controls Acquired Asset Plus 21:45 Founder Lessons: Cash Flow & Governance 🔗 Follow & Subscribe https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/ https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlU https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416 https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/ https://www.squarecircle.me #netzero #startupexit #climatetech #proptech #scaleups #johnsoncontrols #decarbonisation #energysavings #founder #ukstartups

    35 min

  8. 22 FEB

    He Quit Cambridge & the UN to Build an AI Energy Startup | Matías Acosta Cosysense

    How Matias Acosta Is Scaling AI HVAC to Transform Buildings | Startup Scaleup People Startup and scaleup leadership in the AI energy sector requires bold decisions and deep technical vision. In this episode, Matias Acosta shares how he built an AI-driven HVAC optimization startup transforming commercial buildings through intelligent automation, real-time data, and sustainable innovation. This is a masterclass in startup growth, climate tech, and enterprise leadership. CosySense installs plug-and-play AI systems into commercial buildings, charging only a fraction of realized savings. With 120+ air conditioning units already running autonomously and 20,000 in the pipeline, this scaleup is outperforming projections and expanding across the UK, Germany, and Latin America. From Cambridge researcher and UN staff member to venture-backed climate tech founder, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build, fund, and scale a deep tech startup. Hosted by Mario Rivas About Startup Scaleup People Real stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages, we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, governance, AI, fintech, SaaS, and business transformation.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.Chapters 00:00 From Cambridge & UN to Climate Tech Founder 03:20 What AI HVAC Optimization Actually Means 06:40 The 8 Billion Ton CO2 Opportunity09:25 Quitting Academia to Build a Startup 13:05 Scaling from 3 to 10 People in Months 18:30 Raising VC: Cambridge, BGV & Super Angels 23:00 Scaling Hardware + Software Internationally 30:40 Building Toward a £300M+ ValuationKey Highlights 🔗 Follow & Subscribe https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416 https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/https://www.squarecircle.me

    36 min
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About

🎙️ Startup Scaleup People shares real stories of how founders, execs, advisors, NEDs & fractional leaders build companies, careers & lives — from startup to scaleup to enterprise. We go deep on leadership, growth, funding, strategy, resilience, operations, exits, the human side of business and more. 📈 Topics: business growth, scaleup journeys, innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, executive insights, human stories, resilience, failure, success, finance, operations, and more. 🎧 New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK. 🔗 Join us: linktr.ee/startupscaleuppeople

Information

  • Creator
    Mario Rivas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mario Rivas
  • Show Website
    Startup Scaleup People