40 Minute Mentor

"What I try to do is listen to the problem, understand how it fits stuff I've seen before, then relate how I think it'll play out…”In this week's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by a mentorship duo connected by their love and passion for the startup world. Peter Nixey - serial entrepreneur and OG of the UK Startup scene, joins us together with his mentee, AJ, who has been the CEO of the invite-only community, Foundrs.Peter founded Clcikpass.com which raised investment from YC and several angels, before selling the company to Yola.com. His most recent ventures include Copyin, a platform for progressional communities built entirely in email and Intentional.io - a day planner that focuses you on managing your time, rather than your tasks. AJ has been the CEO of Foundrs for the past two years and is soon moving on to start his own company that will support others looking to build communities like Foundrs. From structuring sessions with pre-set agendas, to open conversations around personal life challenges, this episode explores the real ins and outs of a solid mentorship relationship, including:➡️  Evolving from community check-ins to full-scale mentorship [04:25] ➡️  The importance of agendas and time management [06:13] ➡️  The power of pushing back AND being open to feedback, as a mentee [09:06] ➡️  Using previous problems to tackle current challenges [12:50] ➡️  Overlapping topics and progression to propel the mentor relationship [14:39]➡️  Allowing space for emotionally charged conversations [20:48]➡️  Opinions vs shared experiences from a serial entrepreneur [23:54] ➡️  From PhD dropout to a mentorship awakening [28:57]➡️  The significance of community in the Startup world [32:02]➡️  Providing value from both sides of the mentor relationship [35:09]➡️  Being a cheerleader and staying inquisitive on your mentorship journey [36:38] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with AJ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-foundrs/➡️ Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternixey/➡️ More about Foundrs: https://www.foundrs.co/➡️ More about Intentional.io: https://intentional.io/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You want someone who's lived that same experience, and hopefully they can pass on what worked for them, but also what didn't work for them.”The golden mentorship moments keep on coming as we head into episode two of our new mentorship feature series. This week, James and Hannah are joined by Ashleigh Tennent, Founder of the coaching platform, More Happi and Lisa Rodwell, the CEO of Daye, the company bridging the gender gap in medical research and innovation. Together, the four discuss how to find your perfect match in a mentor and a coach and how to nurture those relationships, including:  ➡️  Blossoming from colleagues to mentorship and friendship [04:54] ➡️  The value of trust in building a mentor relationship [07:17] ➡️  The art of not wasting time [09:11] ➡️  Balancing a range of roles, as a mentor [10:38] ➡️  Finding common ground to rocket your relationship [13:47] ➡️  Paying it forward and the benefits of ‘reverse’ mentorship [15:26] ➡️  Respecting busy lifestyles and managing expectations [19:00] ➡️  Navigating conflict and misunderstanding [22:11] ➡️  Using missions or problems to hook in a prospective mentor [27:48] ➡️  Mentor vs Coach, what’s the difference? [29:27] ➡️  Reflections and advice for aspiring mentees and mentors [33:23]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Ashleigh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleightennent/➡️ Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisarodwell/➡️ More about More Happi: https://morehappi.com/➡️ More about Daye: https://www.yourdaye.com/⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Do it because you care. Find out who you are, where you can be most useful, and how you want to go about it, but only do it if you care.”Mentorship can truly change people’s careers and lives. We’re big believers in the power of mentorship, it’s why we started this podcast! In this brand new feature series, we’ll take a deep dive into the different forms and shapes of mentorship and answer some of your most common questions, e.g. How do you approach a mentor? How do you manage the day to day? When do you know it’s time to part ways? And to change things up even more this series, we’re also not just have one but two hosts. For the first time ever, James, JBM Founder and resident 40 Minute Mentor host, will be joined by our Head of Marketing and Podcast Producer, Hannah Urbanek. In our first episode, we’re joined by Varun Vassanth and his mentor, former 40 Minute Mentor and Founder of Patch, Freddie Fforde. We dig deep into their mentorship relationship and uncover: ➡️  Naturally falling into the mentor-mentee relationship [03:54] ➡️  The impact of an informal approach to mentorship [06:12] ➡️  What mentorship can mean to different people [09:09]➡️  Crafting a virtual board of stellar advisors [12:35] ➡️  Separating mentorship from management and respecting boundaries [14:55] ➡️  Building mutual respect for effective mentorship [17:52] ➡️  Instilling mentorship to drive your company culture [21:50] ➡️  Parting ways [28:53] ➡️  The do’s and don’ts of mentorship [31:40] ➡️  Being selective about the advice you’re giving as a mentor [36:06]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Freddie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddiefforde/➡️ Connect with Varun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varunvassanth/➡️ More about Patch: https://www.patch.work/➡️ Check out Freddie’s previous episode: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/feature-series-freddie-fforde/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you can be very clear in articulating what you are trying to do, why the world needs it and why you are the best person to work on it, the money will follow.”And just like that, we come to the end of our 40 Minute Mentor VC feature series. BUT, before we kick off our next series, we have one more VC mentorship packed episode in store for you…. Today, we’re joined by Yvonne Bajela, Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude, and Venture Partner at Impact X Capital. Yvonne talks about her journey from Goldman Sachs to VC, her first investment and the formative influence her father had on her career. Having invested over £200m across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Yvonne has backed some of the most category-defining Founders, including the teams behind Unicorn InsurTech, Marshmallow and OG FinTech Unicorn, Wise. Tune in to discover: ➡️ The influence her late father had on her career [03:28] ➡️ The success story of her investment in Marshmallow [09:04] ➡️ Local Globe’s investment thesis [13:07] ➡️ Building a founder-investor relationship for the long-haul [14:07] ➡️ Characteristics she looks for in Founders she invests in [16:18] ➡️ Common mistakes she sees Founders make [18:21] ➡️ Closing the funding gap for under-represented Founders [20:58]➡️ Navigating the current fundraising climate [22:45] ➡️ Building a successful board of advisors [24:57] ➡️ Motherhood and returning to VC [27:28]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Yvonne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnebajela/➡️ More about LocalGlobe: https://localglobe.vc/➡️ More about Latitude: https://latitudeventures.vc/➡️ More about Impact X Capital: https://www.impactxcapital.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s a really great time if you want to learn how to be a disciplined Investor and to really be able to hunt down the best Founders and best opportunities.” In the final part of our bite-sized VC feature series, Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures, talks to us about navigating the current landscape and shares tangible advice for any Founders, looking to fundraise. This episode is jam packed with advice - no matter, if you’re a Founder looking for investment or an aspiring VC, looking to get a foot in the door. Have your notebooks ready and if you haven’t already, make sure you catch up on the previous 3 parts of this feature series.  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you think there’s something that needs to be changed in the world, I think that starting a company is the best and easiest way to achieve that change.”For our penultimate episode in this VC feature, we’re joined by Suranga Chandratillake OBE, former engineer and entrepreneur, now General Partner at Balderton Capital, one of Europe's leading early stage technology venture capital firms. Before joining the world of VC, Suranga founded blinkx, an intelligent video search engine, which he took public and reached a peak market cap of $1bn. Now mainly investing at Series A, Suranga has backed some huge names in the industry, including Tessian, Wayve and Beauty Pie.Tune in to this week’s episode to find out more about: ➡️ How Bill Gates sparked his curiosity for entrepreneurship [05:23] ➡️ His Silicon Valley inspired business, bllinkx [07:40] ➡️ Building a business from 0-$200m a year [10:06] ➡️ Overcoming common Founder challenges [13:12] ➡️ Transitioning from Founder to Investor [16:47]➡️ Why empathy is so important [20:26] ➡️ Helping Founders change the world at Balderton Capital [23:21] ➡️ Red flags when assessing Founders [27:10] ➡️ Advice for Founders on building healthy habits, while spinning many plates [32:23] ➡️ Championing diversity in the VC ecosystem [37:27]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Suranga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suranga-chandratillake-6a839363/➡️ More about Balderton Capital: https://www.balderton.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Spend some time with the team to shadow and see what they actually do day to day, before you join. It’s invaluable because it gives you an opportunity to try before you buy.” In part 3 of our bite-sized ‘Operator to VC’ feature, Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures, talks to us about making the transition to VC. We hear the criteria Rosie looked at when deciding which VC to join and the crucial steps she took to adapt to the new industry. She also shares some of the great communities she’s a part of and why immersing herself ahead of becoming a VC has been so helpful. For even more resources to check out, make sure you tune into episode 2, which has a full list of podcasts, newsletters and reading materials for you to check out: https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/11fd722f-4096-45f5-bd6e-62327f8088ce/shows/6ef8fc38-9e69-482e-bf6c-3c1489829886/episodes/62416790-27dd-4dee-a7d3-b4ad50f74f70/ ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you have the passion to solve a problem, you will find a way to solve it, no matter what comes in your way.”Next up in our VC feature series, we’re joined by Zeynep Yavuz, Partner at General Catalyst. General Catalyst is a top-tier VC that invests from early stage through to growth equity stages, having backed some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Airbnb, Warby Parker and Stripe. Having grown up in Turkey with entrepreneur parents, Zeynep saw first-hand that a more mature VC ecosystem in the country could have been really transformational for Founders in the area. To be a part of that change, she now focuses on FinTech and Crypto investments on a global scale, and particularly with a focus on emerging markets. In today’s episode, we dive more into Zeynep’s journey, her advice for Founders and the future of VC, including: ➡️ VCs unlocking ambitious risks [04:41] ➡️ Building products from 0-1 as an Operator [07:52] ➡️ The importance of diversity of thought in VC [09:26] ➡️ Why venture should be recession proof [11:30] ➡️ Advice on getting into VC [13:42] ➡️ How to stand out when interviewing with General Catalyst [16:03] ➡️ Why emerging markets [17:18] ➡️ Why Founders need to know and convey their ‘Why’ in pitches [19:59]  ➡️ Investment process at GC [21:15] ➡️ Changes in the market [22:24] ➡️ Common mistakes Founders are making [24:49]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Zeynep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeynep-yavuz-72362379/➡️ More about General Catalyst: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/➡️ The Finstack Newsletter: https://finstack.substack.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Founders want to work with investors who can understand what they are going through.”Welcome back to week two of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, with stellar mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising.We’re back today with another bite-sized episode with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on practical advice for Operators transitioning into VC. Not only does Rosie share the benefits of making the move, but she also shares the skillset needed to make it work and tons of resources that will help along the way - some of which we've linked to in the section below. ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.com/➡️ Acquired podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/➡️ Big Picture Medicine podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5707RPmWOJkVZyUHNRSUfS➡️ Invest Like The Best podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/22fi0RqfoBACCuQDv97wFO➡️ This Week In Startups podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-week-in-startups/id315114957➡️ Pietro Invernizzi’s blog: https://pinver.medium.com/➡️ Out-Of-Pocket newsletter: https://www.outofpocket.health/➡️ Exec Sum newsletter: https://www.execsum.co/➡️ Wall Street Prep: https://www.wallstreetprep.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us?Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene?Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The most successful companies are the ones that went against what is considered the status quo.”In our inaugural episode of our latest VC feature series, we’re joined by someone who is inspired by Founders that don't see limits in what could be achieved with the help of technology…Today, we’re joined by Sasha Vidiborskiy, a quantum physicist turned VC Partner at Atomico. Atomico is a $5bn+ AUM VC fund, investing in ambitious tech Founders at Series A and beyond, with a particular focus on Europe. Founded in 2006, Niklas Zennstrom, former CEO and Co-Founder of Skype, Atomico has partnered with over 100 ambitious teams, including those at Klarna, Supercell, MessageBird, Pipedrive, Hinge Health, Ben, and many more. In today’s episode, we dig into Sasha’s background, his move into VC and tons of advice for aspiring investors, including: ➡️ The effects of sending out rejections [05:36] ➡️ An overlooked area in VC [07:43] ➡️ From electrical engineering and quantum physics to VC [09:13] ➡️ A taster of Founder life & lessons for investors [14:54] ➡️ Why Atomico & how Sasha works with Founders [19:09] ➡️ The Partner role explained [26:10] ➡️ Pitching advice for Founders [29:01] ➡️ Purposeful investments that get a good return [33:24] ➡️ Advice for aspiring Investors [37:47]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Sasha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidiborskiy/➡️ More about Atomico: https://atomico.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices