Now We Build

Sam Marchant
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Practical guidance for founders, operators and anyone obsessed with startups. Hosted by entrepreneur-turned-investor Sam Marchant, Now We Build brings you candid conversations with the people who've actually done it - seasoned founders and operators sharing hard-won insights and actionable advice you need to build a successful startup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1D AGO

    How to know when to double down - with LOW6 CEO, Jamie Mitchell

    In this episode, Jamie Mitchell shares his entrepreneurial journey from corporate life at BT to founding LOW6, a pioneering sports engagement and gaming platform. Discover how strategic pivots, international expansion, and relentless determination fueled his success, along with practical lessons on scaling, product development, and navigating investor challenges. Sam and Jamie also discuss: Entrepreneurial transition from corporate to startupScaling a sports engagement platform internationallyPivoting business models in response to market opportunitiesChallenges of fundraising and investor relations in gambling techLeadership and team building in high-growth startups Now We Build has partnered with Capquest, an equity and investor relations management platform built for founders who need to track SAFEs, manage their cap table, and keep investors updated without the spreadsheet chaos. If you're raising capital or managing equity, Capquest helps you stay organised from day one. Now We Build listeners can now get 20% off an entire annual subscription with the code nowwebuild20. Use the link here to claim the discount: https://capquest.io/book-demo  Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:50 From Corporate to Entrepreneurship: Jamie's Journey 04:33 The Birth of LOW6: Early Business Ventures 07:25 Navigating Challenges in the Sports Marketing Landscape 10:33 The Evolution of LOW6: From Betting to SaaS 13:01 Scaling the Business: Overcoming COVID and Investor Hurdles 15:44 The Shift to B2B: Lessons from the Gambling Sector 18:36 Global Expansion: Strategies for New Markets 21:22 The Role of AI in Gambling: Enhancements and Opportunities 24:01 Looking Ahead: Exciting Developments for LOW6 Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow Jamie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-mitchell-51a805168/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  2. MAY 13

    From consultant to deep tech founder - scaling additive manufacturing globally with Francesco De Stefano

    In this episode, Francesco De Stefano shares his journey from consultancy to deep tech entrepreneurship, focusing on additive manufacturing, team building, product development, and international expansion. Gain insights into scaling hardware startups, navigating investor relations, and leveraging AI in manufacturing. Sam and Francesco also discuss: Journey from consultancy to entrepreneurshipTeam building and co-founder dynamicsProduct development and market fit in manufacturingFundraising strategies and investor relationsInternational expansion and market entry in US, Middle East, AsiaUse of AI in industrial manufacturing Now We Build has partnered with Capquest, an equity and investor relations management platform built for founders who need to track SAFEs, manage their cap table, and keep investors updated without the spreadsheet chaos. If you're raising capital or managing equity, Capquest helps you stay organised from day one. Now We Build listeners can now get 20% off an entire annual subscription with the code nowwebuild20. Use the link here to claim the discount: https://capquest.io/book-demo Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Francesco's Career Path 02:46 From Consulting to Industrial Passion 04:08 The Birth of Caracol and Technological Vision 05:56 Lessons from Consulting vs Startup World 08:44 Building a Complementary Co-Founding Team 11:16 Hiring and Culture in Scaling Companies 13:57 Identifying Market Gaps in Aerospace Manufacturing 15:29 Service Model as a Commercial Strategy 19:32 Fundraising Journey and Investor Relations 25:48 Lessons from Early Failures and Mistakes 29:09 Global Expansion: Markets in US, Middle East, and Asia 32:35 Commercializing Deep Tech and Hardware Challenges 35:09 Integrating AI into Manufacturing Platforms 38:46 Why Keep HQ in Milan? The Italian Ecosystem 42:45 Closing Remarks and How to Connect Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow Francesco: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-de-stefano-8b4b4497/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  3. MAY 6 ·  BONUS

    How to build in emerging markets | 3 leaders on how to scale businesses in markets that most people overlook

    What does it actually take to build a financial business in a market most people overlook? In this special episode, we've brought together three of the most experienced builders in global fintech to answer exactly that. You'll hear from: Oliver Hughes, who scaled Visa in Russia, built Tinkoff into a $25 billion digital bank, and is now scaling TBC in Uzbekistan. Tommy Mermelshtayn, Chief Strategy Officer at Zip, who took the business from 30 people to nearly 2,000 across 30 markets.  Sammy Ennebt, who has built five banks across two continents - and is doing it all over again in Saudi Arabia. Together they cover: How to identify the right emerging market before everyone else doesWhy localisation is non-negotiable in fintechThe mistakes most companies make when entering new geographiesHow to work with regulators rather than against themWhat the next wave of emerging market opportunities looks like Now We Build has partnered with Capquest, an equity and investor relations management platform built for founders who need to track SAFEs, manage their cap table, and keep investors updated without the spreadsheet chaos. If you're raising capital or managing equity, Capquest helps you stay organised from day one. Now We Build listeners can now get 20% off an entire annual subscription with the code nowwebuild20. Use the link here to claim the discount: https://capquest.io/book-demo Timestamps: 00:00: Intro 01:57: Oliver Hughes: Picking the right market  12:20: Tommy Mermelshtayn: The emerging markets playbook 27:29: Sammy Ennebt: Why the back office makes or breaks a bank Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Full interviews: Oliver: here Tommy: here Sammy: here Follow: Oliver: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-hughes-0b5540247/  Sammy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyennebt/ Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  4. APR 29

    How personalisation and customer focus built Moonpig - with Jamie Malcolm

    In this episode, Jamie shares insights from being on the founding team of Moonpig, evolving marketing strategies, and adapting to digital transformation across industries.  Jamie Malcolm is Managing Director of Retail Trust, and has previously lead the marketing at Moonpig, Pizza Express, Nectar Loyalty (Sainsburys) and Samsung. He’s the founder of CAHOOT, Co-Founder of Shoots, and Partner at Positive Momentum.  In this episode, Sam and Jamie also discuss: Early marketing challenges and solutions at MoonpigThe importance of customer-centric marketingEvolving marketing strategies with business growthImpact of digital transformation and AI on marketingLeadership and team building in startups Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 The Birth of Moonpig: A Novel Idea 03:53 Marketing Challenges in the Early 2000s 06:46 Key Marketing Decisions for Success 09:30 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies 12:13 The Role of Customer Insight in Marketing 15:11 Navigating Growth and Change in Marketing 17:56 The Changing Landscape of Marketing 20:33 B2B vs B2C Marketing Dynamics 23:11 The Future of Marketing: Lessons Learned 25:59 Core Truths of Great Marketing Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow Jamie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-malcolm-7676a613/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  5. APR 21

    Creating viral marketing campaigns, and mastering startup pivots - with Andrew Davies

    In this episode, Andrew shares his entrepreneurial journey from founding Idio to leading innovation at Paddle. He discusses pivots, fundraising, acquisition strategies, and the future of AI in SaaS, offering valuable insights for founders and marketers. Andrew is Chief Innovation Officer at Paddle, a Merchant of Record providing secure payment infrastructure for over 6,000 software companies around the globe. Andrew was previously CMO at Paddle, VP Corporate Marketing at Optimizely and Co-Founder of Idio.  In this episode, Sam and Andrew also discuss: Startup pivots and decision-makingFundraising strategies and investor relationsAcquisition and integration of businessesThe impact of AI on SaaS and product developmentLeadership and organizational culture during growth Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Founding Idio: The Journey Begins 03:48 - Navigating Pivots: Lessons Learned 06:29 - The Art of Fundraising: Insights from Idio 09:27 - Mistakes Made: Learning from Early Days 12:21 - Acquisition Insights: The Idio x Episerver Transition 15:05 - Post-Acquisition Dynamics: Adapting to Change 17:55 - Joining Paddle: A New Chapter 20:47 - First Steps at Paddle: Immediate Changes and Challenges 23:01 - Understanding Customer Perspectives 26:21 - Transitioning Roles: From CMO to Chief Innovation Officer 28:58 - The Future of Paddle: Partnerships and Ecosystem Development 34:48 - The Role of Chief Innovation Officer in Corporates Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andjdavies/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

  6. APR 16 ·  BONUS

    The product lessons that changed everything | 3 leaders on what separates good product from great

    In this special episode, we bring together three of the sharpest product minds we've had on the show. Serial entrepreneur Heikki Haldre, former Intercom and Shopify product director Mark Ryan, and product leader Naomi Fitzpatrick, discuss with Sam: The importance of starting with the problem before building the productStaying close to your customersNever mistaking the technology for the pointWhy the founders who build the biggest outcomes think about their end market from day oneWhy the best product people think in strategies not featuresWhat truly great product teams look like from the inside Heikki Haldre is Co-Founder & CEO of Miros, former CEO at Rakuten Fits.me. Mark Ryan is Co-Founder at Trig, Former Product Lead at Shopify & Intercom. Naomi Fitzpatrick is Product Manager at HubSpot, Former Product Manager at Intercom & Typeform. Whether you're building your first product or leading a team at scale, this one is essential listening. Timestamps: 00:00: Intro 01:06: Heikki: Exit in mind 10:53: Mark: Ship first, perfect later 25:33: Naomi: Unsung heroes of great product teams Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Full interviews: Heikki: here Mark: here Naomi: here Follow: Heikki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hhaldre/  Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ryan-20717636/ Naomi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomibfitz/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  7. APR 9 ·  BONUS

    The marketing advice nobody tells you | 3 CMOs on what actually works

    Three of the best marketing minds we’ve had on the show, brought together in one special episode. Darren, Rory, and Steve on why story comes before spend, why constraints make you more creative, and why truly understanding your customer is the most underused growth lever in business. Darren Goode has led marketing at L’Oréal, Apple, and Paramount and was formerly CMO at Elvie and Zumper.  Rory McEntee is CMO at GymNation, and previously delivered some of Gymbox’s most disruptive marketing campaigns as their Brand & Marketing Director.  Steve James is Behavioural Marketing Chief & CMO at Bias Worx, former Marketing Director at Property Finder, Virgin Mobile, and Head of Commerce at giffgaff and EE.  In this episode, Sam discusses with the 3 CMOs: Why most brands fail before they’ve spent any money What it really takes to build a story people believe inHow budget constraints can be a secret weaponHow to build a brand community people are genuinely proud to belong toWhy the best ideas come from being close to your customer The counterintuitive power of behavioural marketing What happens when you put customer satisfaction ahead of commercial instinct Timestamps 00:00: Intro 00:45: Darren: Story Before Spend 11:55: Rory: Creativity Under Constraint 26:10: Steve: The Behavioural Marketing Edge Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow: Darren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrengoode/  Rory: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/rory-mcentee-3746a1a Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steverjames/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  8. MAR 25

    Mastering international markets, from ServiceNow to Paddle - lessons from Jimmy Fitzgerald

    Discover insights on building high-performance teams, navigating cultural differences, and leveraging AI for customer relationships. Jimmy Fitzgerald shares his extensive experience in scaling global tech companies, highlighting strategies for international expansion, customer success, and product innovation.  Jimmy is CEO at Paddle, a Merchant of Record providing secure payment infrastructure for over 6,000 software companies around the globe. Jimmy has 20+ years of experience helping SaaS businesses scale, previously leading ServiceNow’s customer outcomes team as SVP.  In this episode, Sam and Jimmy also discuss: Global market entry strategiesCustomer outcomes and relationshipsProduct platform evolution and AI impactNavigating trust in leadership transitionsCross-cultural management  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Journey at ServiceNow: Building a Legacy 04:24 Entering New Markets: The Asia Experience 10:13 Building Customer Relationships: The Art of Listening 13:09 Common Mistakes in Geographical Expansion 17:48 Transitioning to Paddle: A New Challenge 20:43 Navigating Trust in Leadership Transitions 25:40 Understanding Paddle's Product Suite 29:36 Customer-Centric Leadership and Company Culture 33:07 The Impact of AI on Customer Relationships Learn more: https://linktr.ee/nowwebuild  Did you enjoy this interview? Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Follow Jimmy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyfitzgeraldpaddle/  Follow Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammrchant  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammrchant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
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About

Practical guidance for founders, operators and anyone obsessed with startups. Hosted by entrepreneur-turned-investor Sam Marchant, Now We Build brings you candid conversations with the people who've actually done it - seasoned founders and operators sharing hard-won insights and actionable advice you need to build a successful startup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Marchant
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sam Marchant
  • Show Website
    Now We Build