Upstream Podcast moveupstream

In episode 4, we talk to Dhivya Venkat, CEO of Esya Labs and Emily Carter, fashion designer whose designs are sold at Libertys and Selfridges. From sustainable fashion to life-saving precision diagnostics for Alzheimer’s, these two entrepreneurs delve into what it means to be a founder: overcoming challenges, balancing revenue with growth, and carving out time for creative thought.

In episode 2 we welcome Prof. Dale Russell of the Royal College of Art and Lloyd Lee of Yoo Capital as they discuss how you reconcile creativity with the bottom line, what technological innovation leaves them hopeful/worried and finishing off on the light note that is our word association round.

In episode 3, we delve into the world of Big Data and entrepreneurship. Sam Carter, CEO of Fospha and Gianluca Carrera, Chief Solutions Office of dunnhumby unpack the key principles behind a ‘good capture’ that is insightful to businesses and respectful of their customers before launching into the challenges of being an entrepreneur - wildly agreeing more than predicted. Recorded just before the Euros 2021 semis, it appears one of our speakers has either done some data crunching or is a psychic.

We welcomed David Hickson, Chief Strategic Development Officer at Founders Factory to our Money talks series sharing how to fundraise effectively or what he likes to call the “No BS guide to fundraising”. 
David has helped hundreds of startups with their fundraising strategies. His experience includes time at one Europe’s biggest tech-companies (lastminute.com) from its founder era to its 2005 $1.1bn exit. Since then, he has raised over $100m worth of venture/investment capital for four tech ventures.  
Tune in to hear the best approaches to avoid the quick jump-to-no from investors whilst raising pre-seed to pre-series A. 

In anticipation of a return to the office, the Uplift podcast series aims to mimic lift rides - without the awkward silences. Each time, we bring together two people who’ve never met each other before.  It may be a tech startup and an ad agency, people in the same building or opposite sides of the road. Uplift - Taking connections to the next level
In episode 1, we talk to Bethany McDonald Shepherd from LAMDA and John Simpson of Fresh Check. One studied and has worked extensively in theatres and the arts, the other has a PhD from Imperial College London in single cell proteomics and is CTO of a biotech startup.

In February 2021, we welcomed Asesh Sarkar, Global CEO of Salary Finance for a fireside chat exploring his journey as an entrepreneur and the key lessons he learned as he continues to build a fast growing FinTech with a social conscience at its heart. 
In this 'truly insightful', 'exciting' and 'refreshing' chat, Asesh covers how Salary Finance's recent Series D funding is being led by Experian and Legal & General and have already raised $138m to date, with backers including Blenheim Chalcot, Goldman Sachs and Royal London.