Nova&Boba

Ama

The Nova&Boba Podcast is here 🎸 Nova&Boba is the ONLY podcast dedicated to interviewing the UK’s most innovative young founders, offering aspiring entrepreneurs real and relatable insights to learn from. In our conversations I look to explore the Highs and Lows and everything in between about the journey of being a young and new founder while drinking one of my favourites: Boba Tea🧋 Are you ready to start a business? Don’t let this podcast put you off.

  1. how this founder is fixing gen z’s loneliness problem I ep 24 Nova & Boba

    01/24/2025

    how this founder is fixing gen z’s loneliness problem I ep 24 Nova & Boba

    Building Community Through Home-Cooked Meals | Sienna's Journey with The Figs Platform In this episode, join us as we delve into Sienna's inspiring journey of founding The Figs Platform, a unique app that brings strangers together over home-cooked meals. From humble beginnings with just eight guests, Sienna has grown Figs into a vibrant community with diverse events such as 'Mumbai at Home', BBQs, and chicken nugget gatherings. Though recently launched, they already have 1,000+ members (with 600 paying members in just six months!) 🦍 Learn about her motivations, the challenges of being a solo female entrepreneur, and her vision for the future. Plus, get insights into how figs create a sense of belonging and foster genuine connections. Don't miss the friendly banter over bubble tea choices, a round of 'Would You Rather?', and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build their own apps and platforms. SIENA SPILLS THE TEA ON BUILDING A STARTUP AND COMMUNITY! ENJOY 💙 KEY MOMENTS 🧋 00:00 Intro 01:41 The Origin Story of The Figs Platform 03:49 Would You Rather: Entrepreneurial Version 06:32 Building the Figs Platform: From Idea to Reality 11:02 Challenges and Successes of the First Dinner Party 14:22 Expanding the Community and Finding a Co-Founder 16:04 The Reali-TEA of Being a Solo Female Founder 17:38 How to Build a Community 19:18 Safety Concerns! 19:53 Funding and Financial Strategies 22:07 Day-to-Day Operations of Figs 32:33 How to Double Your Social Media Following! 34:08 Key Learnings and Advice for Entrepreneurs 38:09 The Future Vision for Figs ✨ Special thanks to our venue sponsor, Oneder! ✨ You can book a FREE desk for a day at their stunning co-working space using code NOVAANDBOBA. Claim your spot here:https://shoreditchexchange.spaces.nexudus.com/bookings?&v=latest&group=Day+Pass&_gl=1*1hquiio*_gcl_au*MTU2NDkzMjUxNC4xNzM3Mzk1MDEz Connect with Siena and the Figs Platform LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siena-wigley-36a0b9149/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figscommunity/ Connect with Ama the Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ama_the_entrepreneur/ Follow Us On.. 📲 Tiktok @novaandbobapod 📲 YouTube @novandbova 📲 Instagram @novaandbobapod #Podcast #Startup #Community #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Founder#Tech #Connections #Growth #Innovation #Foodies #Relationships#Leadership #Motivation #App #Success #Inspiration #Creativity #Marketing #Events #SoloFounder #WomenInTech #Authenticity #Storytelling #Mentorship #Vision #Resilience #Hustle #Food

    39 min
  2. REVOLUTIONISING SKINCARE: How this founder is bringing clean beauty back!

    01/06/2025

    REVOLUTIONISING SKINCARE: How this founder is bringing clean beauty back!

    Annette's Journey: Skincare Entrepreneur with Netty & Nature | Nova and Boba Podcast In this Nova and Boba Podcast episode, join us as we chat with Annette, a new entrepreneur who shares her inspiring story of resilience and innovation. Annette is on a mission to make skincare clean again using organic and natural ingredients sourced from Ghana and a secret formulation that ensures smooth, non-greasy application—free from the toxic additives commonly found in conventional skincare products. Annette opens up about the challenges of running a business, navigating funding struggles, and the importance of passion and perseverance. From her early days experimenting with baking to her current venture into eco-friendly skincare, she highlights the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also shares valuable advice for budding entrepreneurs and discusses her aspirations for the future of her brand. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about turning dreams into reality. Follow Netty & Nature on Instagram:   / nettyandnature  00:00 Introduction and Annette's Arrival 00:39 A Traumatic Day and Annette's Spontaneity 01:29 Annette's Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 02:41 The Birth of Netty and Nature 09:11 Challenges and Reflections on Entrepreneurship 14:01 Balancing Passion and Responsibility 14:32 The Importance of Researching the Problem and Market 15:09 Importance of Organic and Clean Products 16:12 Challenges and Sacrifices in Business 20:33 Funding and Financial Strategies 25:16 Future Goals and Impact Thank you Shoreditch Exchange for sponsoring this episode A big thank you to the Shoreditch Exchange - Shoreditch's coolest coworking space, for hosting us. Use the code NOVAANDBOBA for a free co-working day. The link below to sign up https://shoreditchexchange.spaces.nexudus.com/bookings?&v=latest&group=Day+Pass Follow Us On.. 📲 Tiktok @novaandbobapod 📲 Spotify @novandbova 📲 Instagram @novaandbobapod

    28 min
  3. How This Founder is Turning Gym Content Creators into Millionaires I Ep 21

    01/01/2025

    How This Founder is Turning Gym Content Creators into Millionaires I Ep 21

    “I went from obese to a national-level athlete in 2 years” 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 Peter. Peter Monteza is the founder and CEO of MyARC—a startup that empowers fitness content creators to train their fans at scale. After graduating from UCL, Peter decided the conventional consulting path wasn’t for him. Instead, he spotted a gap in the gym and personal training space that he set out to solve. And from his personal struggles with obesity as a child, he knew that the power of fitness to change people's life Since then, MyARC has taken its customers’ gym content creators from earning minimum wage to hitting six figures, with their first MyARC millionaires on the horizon. The platform has helped thousands of users worldwide, including those who have overcome obesity, reversed diabetes, and even supported a breast cancer survivor in building muscle for the first time after struggling with other apps. In this episode of Nova&Boba, Peter shares: 🎵 The J. Cole lyric that shaped his perspective on life and business 💪 How MyARC secured Techstars, Morgan Stanley and NoBa Capital backing 📈 Pivoting from the original idea to find product-market fit 💡 How they grew double-digit monthly rates through organic marketing Peter’s story is inspiring, raw, and packed with insights for aspiring founders and founders navigating the unpredictable journey of building a startup. On the Nova&Boba🧋podcast, we share the reality of founder life—the wins, the losses, and everything in between. Follow MyArc Journey on IG - https://www.instagram.com/myarc.io/?hl=en Connect with Peter on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-monteza/ Follow the Nova & Boba pod on IG - https://www.instagram.com/novaandbobapod/?hl=en A big thank you to the Shoreditch Exchange - Shoreditch's coolest coworking space, for hosting us. Use the code NOVAANDBOBA for a free co-working day. Link below to sign up https://shoreditch-exchange.com/

    49 min
  4. LIVE PODCAST | Female Founders Rise x Nova & Boba | Ep. 20

    12/20/2024

    LIVE PODCAST | Female Founders Rise x Nova & Boba | Ep. 20

    #entrepreneurinspiration #podcast #femaleentrepreneurship #entrepreneur #femalefoundersrise #juniper #emmiefaust #ambrazhang This week's episode is a live podcast bought to you by Female Founders Rise, a community that aims to see more women start, grow, make an impact, and generate revenue in their businesses. We are joined by Emmie Faust, an exited founder and entrepreneur who has successfully scaled and sold multiple businesses in the digital and tech sectors. She is also the founder of Female Founders Rise, a "micro" angel investor, and a consultant helping businesses achieve significant revenue growth. Alongside Emmie is Ambra Zhang, the co-founder and CEO of Juniper, a London-based startup revolutionising reproductive healthcare insurance. Leveraging her experience in investment banking, she launched Juniper to address gaps in health insurance, inspired by her own struggles with PCOS, and has raised £1.5 million in funding to expand the business. Emmie & Ambra reflect on their personal journeys, discussing the problems they identified, securing their first investments, and the realities of life as female founders. Finishing with a Q&A from the audience, the live podcast event allowed fellow aspiring female entrepreneurs an intimate experience with Emmie & Ambra. You can find Emmie & Ambra's businesses here: Female Founders Rise - https://femalefoundersrise.com/ Juniper - https://www.getjuniper.co.uk/ We hope you enjoy this as much as we did! The podcast can also be found on: YouTube - https://youtu.be/rEDF9JgMELo Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tBXo5hJT0ZEGHD9ZU4lpB?si=034dc06243574250 Apple Podcasts - A massive THANK YOU to Females Founders Rise for sponsoring this episode. Special shout out to Blue Lake VC for providing the venue for this event. Follow Us On.. 📲 Tiktok @novaandbobapod 📲 YouTube @novandbova 📲 Instagram @novaandbobapod

    49 min
  5. Fashion Designer Turned AI Founder: 12-Hour Coding Days to Fix Recruitment | Ep 17

    11/28/2024

    Fashion Designer Turned AI Founder: 12-Hour Coding Days to Fix Recruitment | Ep 17

    #ai #podcast #entrepreneur BIG THANK YOU to Block Dojo for sponsoring this episode. Block Dojo is a global venture builder for founders in blockchain and AI. If you're READY TO SCALE, Block Dojo’s 12-week venture builder program is the game-changer you need. Last year, Block Dojo’s programme startups secured £12 million in additional funding from leading venture firms like Techstars, Octopus Ventures, and Index Ventures. APPLY NOW for the London cohort to accelerate your startup’s success. FAST TRACK APPLICATION LINK: https://blockdojo.io/apply-now/?utm_source=nova_and_boba&utm_medium=podcast_and_networking&utm_campaign=cohort_10_recruitment 🚨🚨🚨 APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON DECEMBER 1ST! Back into the episode What if AI could determine if someone is a cultural fit for your company? 💡 According to PwC, organisations with strong cultural alignment are 12% more profitable than those without. Yet, hiring managers often lack tools to objectively assess whether a candidate truly aligns with a company’s culture. Enter Crystal, co-founder of Cognevo, an AI Interview Co-Pilot. This groundbreaking platform listens live during interviews, offering real-time, data-driven analysis of candidate responses and generating dynamic follow-up questions. Crystal shares her story on the Nova&Boba Podcast Today, Crystal and her team are building a platform to solve the AI recruitment crisis. 🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. 💻 Check out Cognevo at https://www.cognevo.co.uk/ Follow the podcast on IG @NovaAndBobaPod for more inspiring founder stories. Thank you, Shoreditch Exchange, for providing a beautiful space for us to film. For a free working day, check out their website and use the DISCOUNT CODE: NOVAANDBOBA #femalefounders #blockdojo #novaandboba #coding

    49 min

About

The Nova&Boba Podcast is here 🎸 Nova&Boba is the ONLY podcast dedicated to interviewing the UK’s most innovative young founders, offering aspiring entrepreneurs real and relatable insights to learn from. In our conversations I look to explore the Highs and Lows and everything in between about the journey of being a young and new founder while drinking one of my favourites: Boba Tea🧋 Are you ready to start a business? Don’t let this podcast put you off.