The Startup Game

Lee Lam
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Finish off your week with a look into the lives of other founders and business owners, all looking to play and win the game of business. This is a dip into the reality of starting and running your own business, with all of the battle scars to prove it! A fun conversation about why, regardless of what goes wrong, we wouldn't have it any other way.

  1. 05/02/2025

    The Speed Dating Game: How soon is too soon for pitching to new connections?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. We can fight it as much as we like, but for many smallbusinesses, LinkedIn is where we go to meet our next new leads – or at least we hope it is.  Often, the interactions wehave on social media platforms like this can leave a lot to be desired, and my guests Jodie Newman and Sasi Krishnan and I discuss the finer points of how you reach out to new connections, how to build a rapport with them before you go in with the big sell and in one case, how it is not advisable to engage with Harley Davidson riders. Just before we head into the conversation I just wanted toput a shout out to founders everywhere listening in – I want you to come and join the conversation! I’m looking to bring as many new and seasoned founders onto the show, to give you a voice but most importantly, to help listeners hear the reality of running your own business and to feel less like they are theonly one going through it.  If you want to come on or you have any questions, please reach out to us on Instagram @thestartupgamepodcast and we can get it sorted.  Come and join us. Now onto the episode.   Guests: Jodie Newman, The Business Allotment It's the place where businesses grow creatively. It’s an Allotment, but for businesses.It’s about growing, using the power of ideas. It’s for business owners and freelancers who want a different way of looking at business growth.I’ve been running the Business Allotment for over 23 years, building it on my belief that great ideas grow businesses. Creativity is the bedrock on which you can create a business that does things differently, stands out from the otherbusinesses around it, and let’s not be shy, allows you to have fun. (May the God of Gravitas strike me down, but there is no creativity without fun).I'm not an expert in your business, but I am an expert in helping you see your business challenges in a whole new way, and working creatively with you to come up with shedloads of fresh, practical ideas to move your business forward. Ideas that actually work. A quick get-to-know me word collage: trained RCA furnituredesigner, mother of two family/business juggler, book writer (two so far), amateur ceramicist obsessed with cacti, craft obsessive. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodienewman/     Sasi Krishnan, Sasi Samyal My name is Sasi Krishnan, and my passion for healthy livingand good friendship has always been connected with the kitchen. A healthy and well-presented meal of delicious food has always been the centerpiece of healthy and warm conversation and community. I am a passionate cook. Good food is my passion. I enjoy cooking for friends and family, sharing recipes and conducting forums for those who also love good food.    Inventive cooking, injecting healthyalternatives without sacrificing brilliant flavour. This is Sasi Samyal.   Whether you are curious to learn aboutIndian Food or to have a go at tasting and joining in the conversation, Sasi Samyal welcomes you to experience the very best flavors from the most natural and classic dishes.   I’m also a speaker and love presenting on Philosophy of Indian food and/or mindset and motivation, where I share my journey from “Sasi to Sasi Samyal.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasi-krishnan-81ba583/.*+--8

    36 min

  2. 04/25/2025

    The Gold Medal Game: Do we give enough positive feedback?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. Sometimes the conversation I have is so interesting it wouldbe hard to edit it down to the usual length of half an hour or so and today’s is one of those.  My chat with CatherineAnn Reid of Doqit and Nils Welham started talking about the challenge of balancing business life and home life especially during school holidays, and ended talking about how maybe sometimes, telling people they are doing a good job would be a really good idea. Hopefully you have a listen today and decide to send that testimonial, give that feedback, make someone feel like what they are doing in their business is making a difference.  Let me know if it does!   Guests: CatherineAnn Reid, Doqit Catherine Ann is the founder of doqit, a cutting-edge life admin management app designed to empower busy individuals, particularly working parents.  With over 30 years of experience in sales, businessdevelopment, and strategy within the communications industry, Catherine Ann combines her extensive expertise with a passion for alleviating the everyday struggles of life management.  A proud Scottish entrepreneur based in Berkshire, she drawsinspiration from trailblazers like Dame Steve Shirley. Her mission is to help people reclaim their time and mental space, enabling them to focus on what truly matters.  When not driving doqit forward, she loves spending time with her daughter, Chloe, and husband, Gary. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineannreid/ https://www.doqit.io/life-admin-app     Nils Welham, The Uncaged Existence You're ambitious yet unfulfilled. My clients have itchy feet, innovative ideas and want to ditch the rat race. Breaking free from corporate shackles they're ready to live life on their own terms and experience more success, freedom, and joy. You know what you want but don’t know what road will take you thereYou are an explorer at heart with big dreams but are afraid to let goYou love challenging the status quo and doing things differentlyYou are ready to invest in yourself and fulfil your true potentialYou are ready to get your hands dirty and put in the work https://theuncagedexistence.com/attend-a-workshop-3/#Bendingtime https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-welham-acc-icf-cpc-eli-mp-7929a051/

    55 min

  3. 04/11/2025

    The Followers Game: Is visibility always good?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. This week’s episode is on the topic close to so manyfounders’ hearts – social media and in particular, LinkedIn.  My guests today are Nina Young of Surveyors UK and Vikash Chohan of Responza Marketing and we get into the nooks and crannies of using LinkedIn as a business tool – is it good to be seen, is it useful to your business to be recognised in real life and what to do with the chatbots and rage baiters that reside on the platform.  I guarantee there is something in this episode that you will have seen from your own use of the social media, don’t forget to let me know in the comments! Just before we head into the conversation I just wanted toput a shout out to founders everywhere listening in – I want you to come and join the conversation! I’m looking to bring as many new and seasoned founders onto the show, to give you a voice but most importantly, to help listeners hear the reality of running your own business and to feel less like they are theonly one going through it.  If you want to come on or you have any questions, please reach out to us on Instagram@thestartupgamepodcast and we can get it sorted.  Come and join us. Now onto the episode.   Guests: Nina Young, Surveyors UK Championing the Surveying Profession with Community andCollaborationAs the founder of Surveyors UK, my mission is to unite, empower, and elevate the UK surveying profession through a dynamic digital platform. Surveyors UK connects surveyors, academia, and industry leaders, creating a vibrantecosystem that fosters promotion, collaboration, and growth."Our goal is not to replace professional bodies but to complement them by creating a space where the entire profession can connect, collaborate, and thrive."We support surveyors at every career stage by offering 📚CPD resources, training, job opportunities, events and industry insights. By working with professional bodies, we amplify their great work while breaking down silos to connect the entire profession. We’re also committed to raising public awareness of surveying’s critical role in shaping the built and natural environment, enhancing its value and recognition.This year, we are rolling out the Surveyors UK platform in carefully planned stages. These include professional directories, training resources, and 🤝 partner tools to deliver maximum value. This phased approach ensures that the platform evolves into the definitive digital space for the surveying profession. https://surveyors-uk.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-young-surveyors-uk/   Vikash Chohan, Responza Marketing Struggling to get customers to buy again? Most brands lose85%+ of first-time buyers.At Responza Marketing, we help self-care & wellness brands doing $30k–$3m/month turn one-time shoppers into repeat buyers with retention-focused email & SMS marketing.Our 6-Point Retention System is designed to:→ Recover 20–40%+ more revenue from repeat customers – guaranteed, or we work for free→ Tap into lost traffic and turn it into long-term buyers→ Reduce reliance on ads by maximizing customer lifetime valueWhat makes us different?→ Fully done-for-you retention strategies tailored to your brand→ Real guarantees (if it doesn’t work, we don’t get paid)→ Proven track record: 41% revenue increase in week 1If you want predictable, scalable revenue beyond traffic struggles, let’s chat.→ Book a free call: https://calendly.com/vikjc-responza → DM me: Connect and message me→ Email me: vik.jc@responzamarketing.com

    35 min

  4. 04/04/2025

    The Writing Game: Is writing a book the way to get noticed?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. Sometimes things just work out and today’s episode is justthat, when through random selection of founders, I chatted with Janine Coombes, a brilliant coach who is finishing up a book based on her methodology and Kaye Freeman, who runs an agency that supports and promotes speakers and – you’ve guessed it – writers. Writing a book is seen as one of the steps to take to getvisibility for you and your business but it is not as easy as sitting down in front of the screen with a big mug of coffee – there is a lot more to it being effective.  We had a great conversation about the process, the way to stay motivated and the essence of why writing your thoughts down matters so much.  Let me know if it helps you can the writing bug Just before we head into the conversation I just wanted toput a shout out to founders everywhere listening in – I want you to come and join the conversation! I’m looking to bring as many new and seasoned founders onto the show, to give you a voice but most importantly, to help listeners hear the reality of running your own business and to feel less like they are theonly one going through it.  If you want to come on or you have any questions, please reach out to us on Instagram @thestartupgamepodcast and we can get it sorted.  Come and join us. Now onto the episode.   Guests: Kaye Freeman, Andromeda Talent Andromeda Talent was founded by Kaye Freeman when she saw a gap in the Speakers and Personal Appearances market for a more bespoke, personal approach to sourcing, suggesting and booking Talent, one that grew out of her Talent Management background. Andromeda Talent works with, books and manages Speakers, Performers,Presenters and Experts for all kinds of Events including but not limited to Conferences, Seminars, Awards Ceremonies and Comic Cons but also works across Radio, Television and other media.  Kaye holds a MA from Royal Holloway, University of London and a BA (Hons) from UCN.She has spent over 17 years working in Talent Management and the Creative Industries, including The Artists Partnership and Ken McReddie Ltd. the agency home to talent such as Idris Elba, Emily Blunt, Aneurin Barnard, Joseph Fiennes, Anna Friel, Sue Johnston and David Suchet.  She has worked across Film, TV & Theatre Talent, Commercials, Voiceover and Radio Departments, as well of course as Speakers and Personal Appearances. Alongside this she oversaw the re-brandingof TAP from the original KMA and set up one of the original ‘ethical’ Internships in London Talent agencies. Website: https://andromedatalent.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/andromedatalent Instagram: www.instagram.com/andromedatalent X: www.x.com/AndromedaTalent TikTok: www.tiktok.com/agentkayeandromeda   Janine Coombes, Marketing Coach Janine Coombes is a marketing coach and an offer positioning expert for coach-shaped-people. She’s worked with big brands like EE, Orange and Europcar. She has a business degree, a post-graduate marketing diploma (CIMDip) and regularly speaks on stages like Atomicon, You Are The Media and MarketEd.Live. She now offers marketing consultancy/ coaching for coachesand mentors   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinecoombes/

    32 min

  5. 03/28/2025

    The Whiteboard Game: Why are founders obsessed with whiteboards?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. After last week’s episode on the amazing Standing Tallcharity, we are very much back to normality with my two founder friends, Becca Teers of Healthy Habits Hypnosis  and David Hatch of Griffon Consulting discussing the ins and out of using a whiteboard – yes or no? I promise the conversation was a lot more interesting than itprobably sounds, as we were talking about we keep our massive to do lists straight in our heads and whether all of the time management technology out there actually helps. We also talked about how we effectively guilt ourselvesinto getting stuff done.  There’s also a super interesting segment on project delivery and time tracking and how ittakes away from the value you are offering. Enjoy!   Guests:   Becca Teers, Healthy Habits Hypnosis Becca is a Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner,Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner, Holistic Therapist and holds a certificate in EMDR Therapy and Coaching. She is the author of the book "Unlimited; 7 Habits to Unleash Your Full Potential & Get the LifeYou Want." Using a combination of RTT, cognitive behavioural and advanced hypnotherapy techniques, NLP and EMDR, Becca is passionate about empowering people to achieve their goals and full potential.    She is the founder of The Achievement Wound™️ Healing Method, supporting women in business to get unstuck and rewire subconscious blocks that may be holding them back.   https://www.healthy-habits.me/heal-achieve-program https://www.instagram.com/beccateerstherapist/   David Hatch, Griffon Consulting David has spent his career in small businesses & start-ups, primarily in the aerospace sector, previously co-founding a UK ‘new space’ company and more recently starting his own business and developing Leading with Integrity as a 'solopreneur'. He has broad knowledge in leadership, team-building, project delivery, satellite imagery, servicedefinition, and implementing innovative new services; as well as working with international partners. He's also a podcast host and enthusiast!In his previous role as Client Services Director in a space sector start-up, David was a part of the executive management team and grew a new department while leading the delivery of the company’s contracts, a portfolio of ~£10 million total value, including commercial contracts and grant-funded projects working with organisations including the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and InnovateUK. He has an MSc in Business & Management, is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership, and has completed several project management qualifications. Today, David works with new leaders, first-time founders and emerging managers who want to improve their leadership skills, so they can become leaders not bosses, lead with integrity, and build happier, higher performing teams, more effective organisations, and, ultimately: successful businesses. To learn more about how, visit: https://www.leadingwithintegrity.co.uk/ or find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhatch-leadernotaboss/

    34 min

  6. 03/21/2025

    The Charity Game: Special Episode for Podcasthon

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. This week we have a very special episode, donated as part ofthe Podcasthon that will be going on all week, where podcasts donate an episode for this week to a cause of their choosing. Of course, this meant a perfect pairing between the discussions we have on this podcast and the charity that is very meaningful to me as a trustee, Standing Tall. Christy Acton is CEO of the Birmingham based charity, and we are joined by Mark Ashfield who is chair for the Board of Trustees.  In the episode I wanted to use it to not onlyspread the word about the fantastic work that Christy and the team do on getting people experiencing homelessness back into work and housing, but to also drill into the realities of starting and running a charity, which is not that different to a lot of issues founders of for profit businesses experience. It’s a longer than usual episode, but the conversation toucheson such great topics – the link between business, charities and society, the importance of proactive solutions that give everyone multiple ways of getting involved, and the reality of taking an idea from a concept to an organisation (in short, it takes longer than you think!) It would be great for you to listen to Christy and Markexplain the work of Standing Tall and if you feel like donating or getting involved, the links are included in the show notes. Enjoy!   https://podcasthon.org/   Guests: Christy Acton, CEO, Standing Tall Christy Acton is the Founder and CEO of Standing Tall, asocial enterprise providing a real solution to homelessness. Christy previously set up and managed a night shelter in Birmingham for people experiencing homelessness and saw the potential for the talented residents to start and keepa stable job. Standing Tall matches the right person with the right stable job, the right safe home and the right support and 80% of the people the organisation helps are still off the streets and in the same job one year later.Standing Tall is helping 100 people across 8 cities this year.   https://www.standingtall.org.uk/     Mark Ashfield, Lime intervention Design As a social entrepreneur, Mark is committed to usinginnovative business models to create positive social change, and he is dedicated to learning as much as possible about the intersection of business and social impact. Throughout his life, he has witnessed the devastating effects of poverty and inequality and have always felt a deep desire to make a difference. He has been fortunate to work with organisations and individuals who share his vision.Through these experiences, he has developed a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities that social entrepreneurs face, and he is eager to use this knowledge to create lasting change. He is driven to create a more just and sustainable world, and value-centred social entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools to achieve this. Mark is excited to continue exploring new ways to use business as a force for good,and he is confident that with passion, dedication, and hard work, we can build a better future for all. https://www.linkedin.com/in/markashfield/ https://www.engagelime.com/

    59 min

  7. 03/14/2025

    The Gender Game: How are you feeling?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. In this episode, I am joined by speaker extraordinaire ChrisWilson of Speak to Serve and Sell, and Capucine Codron, a holistic coach and cofounder of Holorise. We often hear about the different challenges that men andwomen experience as business owners, but I think this conversation is prettyunique as it focusses, not on the stereotypes and social and political impacts,but at a emotional and hormonal level.  Emotions, we all have them – but each genderexperiences them and their reaction to it in a different way. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to receive new episodesas they get released.   Guests: Chris Wilson, Speak to Serve and Sell Chris Wilson, is Founder and Lead Coach of www.speaktoserveandsell.co.uk. His mission is to enable you, or those you know, to use their voice to make an impact and influence change.  When not speaking & coaching, you’ll normally find Chris outside, enjoying Triathlon, either cycling, running, (walking!) or swimming.  Enabling your voice to make an impact. Speak, and Serve Winner, Toastmasters Area Competition 2024Finalist, National Mentoring Awards 2024NLP CertifiedILM Executive and mentor Level 7 Certified Want to be a better networker?  Grab the Ai Pitchmethod course.  https://offersspeakandserve.com/sales-page-page-1782-9859-8427-4006-1136 www.speaktoserveandsell.co.uk    Capucine Codron, HoloRise Capucine Codron is the co-founder of Holorise, a dedicatedcoach and RTT Therapist, helping ambitious entrepreneurs achieve extraordinary success—without burnout, chronic stress, or self-sabotage. An expert in personal growth and peak performance,Capucine blends psychology, business strategy, and transformational coaching to help clients break through limiting beliefs, optimize productivity, and build a thriving business and life. With a background as a startup founder and a proven track record in burnout recovery andflow-state mastery, she knows firsthand the pressure of scaling a business while juggling self-doubt, co-founder dynamics, and personal relationships. Her approach isn’t about hustling harder—it’s about workingsmarter. Whether you need to rewire your mindset, recover from burnout, refine your business strategy, or balance success with your relationships, she’ll help you design a life where growth feels effortless, not exhausting. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and startmaking real progress, book a call today. 📍 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cap.and.jas/  📍 Book a discovery call: https://www.holorise.co/book-discovery-call 📍 Learn about Holorise: https://www.holorise.co

    34 min

  8. 03/07/2025

    The Learning Game: How much can others teach you about your business?

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Startup Game, where we have honest conversations about running a business – the incredible highs and the terrifying lows and how it takes hearing the stories from another business owner to understand why on earth we do it to ourselves. In this episode, I am joined Lindsey Burden who is an intuitive business coach and  designer Zainab Quresh of Zainab Quresh Design. This week we went deep into the world of reading – what toread, who to read and how to use it to your advantage.  We can always learn from others, but what matters most is how you use it to create your business. What are you reading this week? Enjoy!   Guests: Lindsey Burden, Lindsey Burden Intuitive Business Coach Hello 👋, this is Lindsey, an intuitive business coach dedicated to helping ambitious business owners buildthriving businesses their way. Whether reclaiming your evenings, improving your health and well-being, or reaching bold financial goals, she can help you succeed without the hustle.Real Success, Real Stories. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-burden/ https://lindseyburden.com/     Zainab Quresh, Zainab Quresh Design Zainab is a freelance brand designer with 7 years in andaround the creative industry, working with 50+ clients worldwide, including MNCs, hospitality brands, beauty and retail businesses, and service providers.Before launching her business five years ago, she worked as a graphic designer and digital strategist at an advertising agency and interned at multiple print and digital studios.Her mission is to help women entrepreneurs move from fear to fierce—building confidence, clarity, and courage through strategic brand identities.She  specializes in brand strategy, brand identity systems, and social media branding, crafting designs that makebusinesses stand out with impact.Some of the brands she has worked with include Ramada Hotel’s Marco Polo branch in Miami, a beauty and cosmetics brand, a baby wear and retail brand, as well as wellness professionals, interior designers, and creative experts.https://www.instagram.com/zainab.quresh.design?igsh=MWUxOGdkZ3owbWpxdg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainab-quresh%E2%9C%A8-freelance-brand-designer-a86aaa167?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

    38 min
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About

Finish off your week with a look into the lives of other founders and business owners, all looking to play and win the game of business. This is a dip into the reality of starting and running your own business, with all of the battle scars to prove it! A fun conversation about why, regardless of what goes wrong, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Information

  • Creator
    Lee Lam
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lee Lam
  • Show Website
    The Startup Game