Riding Unicorns: Venture Capital | Entrepreneurship | Technology

In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle is joined by Raffi Salama, Co-Founder & CEO of Passionfruit, a fast-growing marketing OS used by the world’s most ambitious brands to orchestrate campaigns across resourcing, planning, execution, and tracking.Raffi shares his journey from launching David Beckham’s Inter Miami football club to scaling Passionfruit across London, Lisbon, and now New York. What started as a freelance marketplace has evolved into a full-stack platform for marketing teams in the AI era, already used by the likes of PepsiCo, L’Oreal, Motorway, and Klaviyo.We explore:🛠 The evolution of Passionfruit from talent marketplace to vertical SaaS 🎯 Why every marketing campaign is like launching a mini business 🤖 How AI and voice tooling are changing workflows inside enterprises 🧠 Dogfooding, distribution, and why Passionfruit must walk the talk 🎥 Creators as employees — and the future of influencer equity 📊 Why distribution is the biggest challenge of the AI age ⚖️ The 3 hiring principles that drive Passionfruit’s culture and velocity 📈 Raffi’s personal evolution as a founder from “glorified intern” to visionary CEO 🍽 His dream dinner guests (with a little NFL chat thrown in)This is a must-listen for anyone building in B2B SaaS, marketing, or the future of work, or simply curious about what a next-gen startup looks like under the hood.

Mike Jones, Managing Partner at Science Inc., has a wealth of experience in building and scaling consumer brands like Dollar Shave Club and Liquid Death. He discusses his transformation from founder to VC, emphasizing effective leadership styles and the crucial role of consumer insights. Mike unveils the secrets behind Dollar Shave Club's viral marketing and shares hard lessons from unsuccessful ventures. The conversation also covers AI's impact on investment strategies and exciting consumer trends, making it a vital listen for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by legendary repeat founder Dylan Collins, known for building and exiting three companies—including SuperAwesome, acquired by Epic Games.Dylan takes us on a fascinating journey from founding middleware for Call of Duty at university, to building tools that made the internet safer for kids, and now backing the next generation of Gen Z and Gen Alpha startups through his investment company, LFG Holdings.We dive deep into: 🎮 The early days of multiplayer gaming infrastructure📱 Building SuperAwesome and why kids’ digital safety became his mission⚡️ Emotional fuel: why desperation and revenge can drive great founders🧠 Survivorship bias and staying sharp as a repeat entrepreneur📈 Why most VCs still don’t understand M&A—and why that’s about to change💸 How the next wave of liquidity will be unlocked in venture🌍 Why today’s 20-year-olds live in a completely different world from 30-year-olds🧪 His bullish take on agent middleware and the future of AI-powered interfacesThis episode is a masterclass in longevity, startup psychology, and identifying generational shifts before anyone else. Dylan brings humour, honesty, and razor-sharp insight throughout.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle and Hector Mason are joined by Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Financial—a thesis-driven venture capital firm investing in B2B FinTech and enterprise technology companies that are redefining the future of financial services.With offices in London, New York, and Singapore, Illuminate is deeply embedded in the global financial ecosystem. Its strategic LPs—ranging from major banks to market infrastructure providers—offer more than just capital; they provide meaningful insight, early validation, and go-to-market support for portfolio companies. For more, visit www.illuminatefinancial.com.Mark takes us through his remarkable three-decade journey in financial markets—from trader at Deutsche Bank, to entrepreneur, to operator, and now VC. He shares how these experiences shaped the Illuminate model and its unique position at the intersection of venture and financial institutions.We dive into:💸 Mark’s journey from Deutsche Bank to launching Illuminate🏦 The rise of institutional FinTech and why B2B was overlooked in 2014🌍 The complexity of selling into financial institutions—and how to overcome it🧠 How VCs stay relevant and avoid anchoring in past trends🤖 Where AI fits (and doesn’t) in heavily regulated environments🛡 Reality Defender and the arms race against deepfake fraud🧩 The slow death of legacy infrastructure and promise of microservices🚗 Mark’s passion for cars and his dream dinner party lineupDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.This episode sees James Pringle and Hector Mason sit down with Staffan Helgesson, General Partner of Creandum. Creandum is one of Europe's top early stage investors focused on Seed and Series A across a range of sectors from fintech to SaaS to devtools to climate tech, consumer tech and, of course, AI. Breakthrough companies that Creandum backed early include Spotify, Depop, iZettle, Klarna, Bolt and Trade Republic. n this wide-ranging conversation, Staffan shares the incredible story of Creandum’s origin, starting in the Nordics over 20 years ago, and how it became one of Europe’s most successful and respected venture franchises. From early challenges to establishing a long-term vision, we explore what it takes to build an enduring VC brand.In this episode:🇺🇸 How a trip to Stanford in 1999 inspired Staffan to build a VC firm in Europe🎵 The early days of Creandum and backing Spotify pre-hype💰 The strategy behind holding long and building funds for 17+ years🧠 Advice for emerging managers on picking LPs and thinking long-term🏦 Building a venture franchise vs. just a firm⭐ Brand-building in VC and leveraging the power of the portfolio🤖 The inside story on investing in Lovable, Europe’s hottest new startup🇪🇺 Why Staffan remains bullish on European innovation despite structural challengesA masterclass in longevity, strategy, and humility in venture capital—this is one for fund managers, founders, and startup ecosystem nerds alike.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to our newsletter here. Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.Joseph Pizzolato is the Founder & General Partner at Defiant VC, a newly launched venture fund bringing a tech-first approach to investing.Joseph shares his journey from engineering to venture capital, his experiences at Vitruvian Partners and Felix Capital, and what led him to take the leap and launch Defiant. He explains how the fund is using data-driven insights, deep thematic research, and proprietary software to build a new model for venture investing.We also discuss:The future of venture capital and why it needs to evolveThe role of proprietary technology in sourcing, selecting, and supporting startupsHow to structure a portfolio thoughtfully and avoid ‘groupthink’ in VCJoseph’s views on AI investing and why it may be overhypedLessons from raising a first-time fund in one of the toughest VC marketsThis is a must-listen for VCs, LPs, and founders interested in the future of venture capital and how emerging funds can differentiate in a crowded market.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Aidan Rushby, Founder & CEO of Carmoola, a fintech company reinventing the way people buy used cars through a seamless, mobile-first car finance experience.Aidan shares his journey from running a property rental marketplace to identifying a massive opportunity in car finance, how he validated his business model before launching, and the lessons he learned from raising over £250m in debt and equity funding.We also dive into:How Carmoola is leveraging automation and behavioral economics to create a superior lending experienceThe challenges of building a high-growth, capital-intensive fintechWhat it takes to scale a fully automated lending platformThe importance of validating key business assumptions before committingThe future of car finance and Carmoola’s expansion plansThis is an insightful conversation for fintech founders, investors, and anyone interested in disrupting traditional industries with technology.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. Mike Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s corporate venture capital arm.Mike shares his journey from a career in finance to leading one of the most active CVCs in the UK. He provides unique insights into the role of corporate venture capital in driving strategic innovation, supporting startups, and helping transform legacy industries like automotive.In this episode, we cover:The vision behind InMotion Ventures and its focus on climate, industrial, and enterprise techBalancing strategic goals with financial returns as a CVCHow InMotion Ventures partners with startups to accelerate innovation at Jaguar Land RoverThe evolving landscape of driverless cars and the future of autonomous vehiclesThe importance of longevity and integration for CVC successMike also offers a fascinating perspective on the value of collaboration between CVCs and startups, as well as what it takes to build a sustainable and impactful venture arm.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.This week on Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Adam Norris, Founder & CEO of Pure Electric, one of the leading premium electric scooter brands. Adam is also well known for playing a key role in managing the career of his son, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 driver.From building the UK’s largest pension business at Hargreaves Lansdown to investing in 30+ startups through Horatio Investments, Adam has a fascinating entrepreneurial journey that has spanned multiple industries. Now, he’s on a mission to revolutionise urban mobility with Pure Electric, creating world-class electric scooters designed for global markets.In this episode, we discuss:🔹 Early struggles & drive – How Adam overcame dyslexia, academic setbacks & early career challenges🔹 Building Hargreaves Lansdown’s pensions empire – Spotting trends early & scaling a market-defining business🔹 Angel investing & lessons learned – Why he backed 30+ startups & how it shaped his entrepreneurial approach🔹 Scaling Pure Electric – The global opportunity in micro-mobility & how he’s competing with industry giants🔹 Lando Norris’s journey to F1 – The untold story of the dedication, investment & sacrifices behind his success🔹 Big ambitions – Why Adam believes Pure Electric could become the “Apple of scooters”Adam also shares his unique approach to work ethic, his zero-distraction mindset, and how he thinks about long-term, category-defining businesses.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

Stefano Vaccino is the Founder and CEO of Yapily, a leading open banking infrastructure provider.Stefano shares his unique journey from a career in nanotransistor research and investment banking to discovering his passion for technology and founding Yapily. We explore how open banking regulations like PSD2 inspired him to create a mission-driven company and the challenges he faced as a solo founder building one of the leading players in this competitive space.In this episode, we discuss:Stefano’s career transition from corporate life at Goldman Sachs to becoming a tech founderKey insights on when to take the entrepreneurial leap and how to manage the risksThe evolution of open banking, its global potential, and the massive opportunities it unlocks in payments, lending, and identity verificationLessons on building credibility as a solo founder, raising funding from top VCs and fintech leaders, and navigating a competitive landscapeThe importance of resilience, family support, and maintaining balance as a founderStefano’s insights into open banking’s future and the role Yapily plays in transforming financial services are invaluable for founders, operators, and anyone curious about fintech innovation.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄