The EIS Navigator 94 How governance enables startup growth and how to start it well with Dermot Campbell of SEEIO
Governance is all too often seen in startup companies as a chore, or necessary evil when it can be a positive and enable success. Dermot Campbell, founder of CEEIO, is trying bring more of the latter to the venture world. In this episode, he discusses how startups can enable good governance without spending too much time on it and make it a means to the right end rather than an end in itself.
Dermot covers a lot of areas, including:
- what is governance
- the importance of maintaining stakeholder relationships
- when startups should start introducing governance structures
- how governance should lead growth
- who should take the lead on board creation
- the role of fund managers
- good preparation for board meetings
- building effective board agendas
- the value in identifying risks
- setting up risk assessments and how these can lead to key objectives
- how to generate relevant KPIs
- how to translate a business plan into something useful
- generating the right board
- the commons mistakes made by founders
- the rise of ESG and how its different in startups from quoted companies
Whether you are a founder looking to put governance into place or an investor helping or wanting a company to do it, this is an essential discussion.
01:00 Dermot introduces himself
02:00 What is SEEIO
03:10 What is governance
04:20 the importance of maintaining stakeholder relationships
05:40 importance of creating a governance framework
06:15 how should new startups approach governance
08:40 when to create the board
09:45 who takes the lead
11:30 role of fund managers
12:30 the work in preparing for board meetings
15:00 don't just sell - value in identify risks
16:30 setting up appropriate risk assessment
20:30 how to use a business plan and use it to generate objectives
22:10 working on KPIs
24:00 building effective board agendas
27:20 generating the right board and founder relationship with them
30:30 role of independent NEDs in startups
32:10 what mistakes do founders make
33:30 value of governance in improving odds for fundraising
35:50 rise of ESG and how investors care about G - G facilitates E & S
42:20 favourite questions
Links
SEEIO website - https://seeio.co.uk/
Dermot on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-campbell-3178a326/
Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listen
Suggested books and media
The Go To Market Handbook for B2B SaaS Leaders by Richard Blunder
MEDDICC: The ultimate guide to staying one step ahead in the complex sale by Andy Whyte
Bio
Dermot Campbell
CEO, SEEIO
Dermot Campbell is an experienced fintech leader, known for founding Kuber Ventures and building it up to be a key player in the alternative investment platform sector. As CEO of SEEIO, he's transforming corporate governance for startup and scaleup SMEs. His expertise spans wealth management, financial planning, and navigating regulatory environments. Prior to becoming a startup founder, Dermot was a Chartered Wealth Manager and in his early career he was an airline pilot.