You might not have heard of Ben Parker, but you’ve almost definitely heard of Runna — the incredible running app that just sold to Strava for millions
For me, this one’s probably my biggest regret but also one of my biggest lessons. A few years ago, a young entrepreneur came up to me after an event to tell me about his business. It sounded brilliant, but honestly… I couldn’t see it: “Why would a running app take off?” I thought. Well, that business was Runna, the app that’s now one of the biggest fitness apps in the world. And that young entrepreneur was Ben Parker. Missing the chance to invest in Ben’s vision taught me a powerful lesson: always look for the opportunity in someone else’s passion.
Fast-forward four years and Ben’s built — and sold — a business that most would call “impossible.” But behind that success is a story of sacrifice, pressure, and what ambition really costs. In today’s episode, Ben opens up like never before about the realities of building something extraordinary — the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
We cover:
- How to turn your purpose into a thriving business
- The personal sacrifices behind success
- What makes a truly great founder
- How to build a culture that wins
- What it really takes to make it to the top
As much as I’m still a little gutted I didn’t invest, I’m blown away by what Ben’s achieved — and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
This is one of those rare, raw conversations you don’t want to miss.
And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk
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And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Producer: Helen Burke
Editor: Dan King
Assistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa
Video: Jake Ji & Josh Bennett
Audio: Rafi Amsili
Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter
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Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot
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