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. 2D AGO

    From House Move to 140M Meals Rescued | Olio's Unlikely Story | Tessa Clarke

    In this episode of Startup & Scaleup People, Mario sits down with Tessa Clarke, Founder & CEO of Olio, the climate-tech platform fighting food waste through hyperlocal sharing. Olio has grown into a global community with nearly 10 million users, redistributed more than 140 million meals, and built a network of over 100,000 volunteers helping businesses and local communities reduce waste. Tessa shares the full journey behind building Olio, from the original idea sparked during a house move, to scaling a marketplace business across multiple countries, managing complex logistics operations, fundraising over $50M, building remote-first culture, and using AI to dramatically increase operational efficiency. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Olio and Its Mission 02:47 The Role of Food Waste Heroes 06:04 Challenges of Scaling a Volunteer Community 08:55 The Journey of Founding Olio 11:49 Operational Complexity and Logistics 15:10 Leveraging AI for Efficiency 17:58 Fundraising and Growth Strategies 21:04 Building a Strong Company Culture 23:54 The Importance of Community Impact 27:01 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook

    37 min

  2. MAY 13

    From Bartender to Inventor: The Self-Cooling Can That Could Disrupt Coca-Cola | James Weiss

    What happens after a founder exits a company… and realizes the next big opportunity is even bigger? In this episode, Mario sits down with James Weiss, former bartender turned entrepreneur, inventor, and startup founder, to unpack the journey from building a 7-figure cocktail business to inventing the world’s first self-cooling can. From living in his in-laws’ spare bedroom while bootstrapping a startup to pitching Coca-Cola, Carlsberg, and global beverage giants… this conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, resilience, IP protection, innovation, and the brutal realities of scaling companies. Sometimes your biggest business failure becomes the foundation for your most important invention. About James Weiss: James Weiss is a Welsh entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of Delta Innovations. After building and exiting a successful cocktail delivery business, he shifted into product innovation and created a patented self-cooling beverage can designed to chill drinks in under 90 seconds.His work has attracted attention from some of the world’s biggest beverage brands, including Coca-Cola, Carlsberg, and major global can manufacturers. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Journey 02:12 From Bartender to Entrepreneur 06:52 Scaling the Cocktail Business 11:41 Navigating Investment Challenges 14:34 The Decision to Exit 18:11 Lessons Learned and New Ventures 22:22 Innovating in Beverage Packaging 37:34 Future of the Product and Market Potential

    43 min

  3. MAY 4

    How He Built £900K Pipeline With a £20K ABM Bet | Bilal

    £900K Pipeline From a £20K Bet: Bilal's SaaS GTM Masterclass Most SaaS founders think go-to-market is broken — but the real problem is chasing shiny objects instead of mastering fundamentals. In this episode, Mario Rivas sits down with Bilal, a GTM strategist and operator whose scaleup leadership at UserPilot redefined what modern outreach, ABM, and demand generation look like for B2B SaaS growth. Bilal reveals how a single £20K LinkedIn ABM campaign generated over £900K in qualified pipeline, how his team scaled organic traffic to 300K+ monthly visitors, and why the future of SaaS go-to-market runs on code, not tools. From ICP definition to waterfall email enrichment, from manual outreach experiments to AI-powered context operating systems, this episode is a business transformation masterclass for anyone serious about scaling revenue. 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. Chapters 00:00 Welcome & Bilal's GTM Background 02:05 Is SaaS Go-To-Market Really Broken? 05:15 How a £20K ABM Campaign Generated £900K in Pipeline 11:19 Building Outbound From Scratch: 25K in Wins & 36 Deals 16:42 The Layered Channel Strategy That Became the Secret Sauce 27:07 Activation Rates, Product-Market Fit vs. Novelty 31:39 Scaling Content: 770 Blogs, 14 Languages, 34K Extra Visitors 34:59 The Tools Stack to Start With (Claude Code, APIs & MCPs) 💬 Key Highlights ▸ A £20K LinkedIn ABM pilot targeting 1,417 accounts generated over £900K in qualified pipeline, and is still UserPilot's second best-performing campaign two years later ▸ Stop chasing shiny objects: Bilal's core philosophy is test manually, prove it works, then scale ruthlessly, not the other way around ▸ ICP definition beats tool selection every time, knowing exactly who you're selling to, where they live online, and what pain they're feeling is the only foundation that scales ▸ Waterfall email enrichment, API-driven prospecting, and a self-updating ICP system are replacing Apollo-style manual workflows for lean GTM teams ▸ The next competitive moat is a "context OS", an internal AI brain connected to your CRM, docs, and data that generates outreach, landing pages, and sales assets on demand #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 #gtm #accountbasedmarketing #demandgeneration #b2bsales #saasmarketing #revops #outboundsales #linkedinads #contentmarketing #aitool

    42 min

  4. APR 27

    She Built 20,000 AI Agents, Here’s How You Can Do It | Cien S. LaunchLemonade

    What if you could clone yourself, and build an AI team that works for you 24/7? In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, Mario sits down with Cien, founder of LaunchLemonade, to break down how AI agents are transforming the way businesses operate, and how anyone can start building them today. From bootstrapping her startup to 10,000 users and 20,000 AI agents, Cien shares the real story behind building an AI company, the future of work, and why most people are still underestimating what’s coming. About Cien: Cien is the founder of LaunchLemonade, an AI platform that enables users to build and deploy AI agents across business workflows. With a background in product and machine learning, she has helped build credit, fraud, and decisioning systems before launching her own AI company. Today, her platform supports thousands of users and tens of thousands of AI agents. Subscribe for more: Real conversations with founders, operators, and investors building the future of tech and AI. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to AI and Entrepreneurship 02:09 The Journey of Launch Lemonade 04:31 Building AI Agents for Business 06:57 Customer Success Stories with AI 09:18 Challenges in the AI Market 11:40 Future Directions for Launch Lemonade 14:01 Concerns About AI and Job Displacement 16:36 Essential Skills for the AI Era 18:53 Insights on Recent AI Developments 21:24 Advice for New AI Entrepreneurs 23:22 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook #foundermindset #founderstories #ai #podcast #aiautomation #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #motivation

    34 min

  5. APR 20

    Most AI projects don’t work, and here’s why | Tim Daines

    What’s really happening behind the AI boom? In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sis down with Tim Daines, an enterprise AI expert working across the UK, Europe, and Dubai, to unpack the gap between AI hype and operational reality. From billion-dollar investments to failed implementations, this conversation breaks down why most AI projects don’t deliver ROI, and what companies must do differently. Key insight: AI success isn’t about models—it’s about data, workflows, and operational design. About Tim Daines: Tim works at the intersection of AI strategy and execution, helping organizations move from hype to real production systems. He’s advised companies across healthcare, enterprise, and government, including work with the NHS, and now operates in Dubai’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem.Real conversations with builders, operators, and investors shaping the future of tech. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Dubai’s $47B AI market explained 04:52 UK vs Dubai AI strategy differences 08:18 Government-driven AI adoption 11:23 Challenges working in high-AI-hype environments 17:38 Why ambition beats compliance 23:02 Why AI investments fail 27:15 The hidden cost of data debt 31:08 How to measure AI ROI 36:40 KPIs that actually matter 37:20 Lessons learned in AI strategy

    43 min

  6. APR 13

    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

  7. APR 6

    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

  8. MAR 30

    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
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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
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mario Rivas
  • Show Website
    Startup Scaleup People