40 Minute Mentor

“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

“You can still have an incredibly successful business, without it being a triple decker Unicorn.” This week we’re launching another series of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, sharing exclusive market insights, mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising. Alongside our Wednesday episodes, we are also launching four bite-sized episodes on Monday, taking a deep dive into one of the biggest trends we’ve seen in VC - Operators becoming Investors. To bring this to life, we’re joined by Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures. In today’s episode, we dive into Rosie’s background as a Physician, why she decided to move into VC and she busts some very common industry myths.  ⛳ 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

"Community for me has always been - What is our purpose? Why do we exist? What's it all for? Why does it even matter?”There are two popular topics that come up time and time again when we interview our 40 Minute Mentors and when we speak to JBM clients and candidates. These topics are: Building communities and sticking to your purpose. In this week’s episode, we’ve rounded up some of the best advice from our most recent Series, including: ➡️ Vanity metrics vs Impact -  Nikki Wicks, CEO of The Body Coach  [00:41] ➡️ Meaningful exchanges over numbers - Abadesi Osunsade, Founder of Hustle Crew [03:28] ➡️ Staying true to yourself throughout the journey - Simmy Dhillon, Founder of Simmer  [05:23] ➡️ The dark side of social media - Sue Fennessy, Founder of WeAre8  [06:13] ➡️ Fixing problems with purpose-driven solutions - Nader AlSalim, Founder of Gaia  [07:29] ➡️ Bringing change-makers into your network - Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder of Notpla  [09:13] ➡️ Tapping into what your community wants - Alice Pelton, Founder of The Lowdown  [10:46]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ For the full Series 9 episodes, check out our 40 Minute Mentor archives: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/category/40-minute-mentor/ ➡️ And for more mentorship, make sure you follow JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ 🏆 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 40k+ loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on hannah@jbmc.co.uk ⭐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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TW: This episode includes conversations around eating disorders and extreme quick fixes that are not recommended or endorsed. If you are struggling with the topics covered, please seek professional help. "A Mediterranean style diet can be more effective than anti-depressants."The nation's health is arguably the worst it's been in generations, and that predominantly comes down to our relationship with food….What if everyone knew the truth about fad diets? Are calories actually to blame? Is plant-based the way to go?In today's final episode of our wellbeing feature, we're joined by Rhiannon Lambert, one of the UK’s leading nutritionists, a Sunday Times bestselling author and chart-topping podcast host.We chat about Rhiannon's career defining pivot and realistic, tangible nutrition advice for the busiest Execs, including: ➡️ Pursuing a Music career at the age of 17  [03:04] ➡️ The toxicity of body image in the limelight [07:08] ➡️ Her pivot into nutrition and becoming a Founder  [11:16] ➡️ Opening her Harley Street clinic [14:45] ➡️ The making of her 'Food For Thought' podcast [22:48] ➡️ Tangible nutrition advice for the busiest professionals [28:57] ➡️ How parents can help tackle childhood obesity [32:57]➡️ Making healthy and affordable choices in a cost of living crisis [35:30]AND spoiler alert, you CAN have chocolate after breakfast.... ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Rhiannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhitrition/➡️ Check out Rhitrition: https://www.rhitrition.com/ 🏆 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⭐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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Most people listening need to understand that the government is not coming to save us. There is not going to be a huge pension when we retire. What you have is what you will have.”With interest rates on the rise, and the cost of living higher than ever, all of us are feeling the strain of financial stress… To help us get money smart and enhance our financial wellbeing, we’re joined by Vivi Friedgut, the Founder of Blackbullion - a financial wellbeing platform that equips young people with financial skills for life and improves access to funds.Blackbullion is currently available to over 1 million students at almost 50 partner universities and colleges across the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The platform includes resources covering spending habits, loan calculators and shines a light on schemes, such as buy now pay later.At a time where the world has never needed to be more money smart, Vivi brings her infectious energy to this week's episode, where we dive into:➡️ Being raised financially savvy and the idea behind Blackbullion [03:46] ➡️ What to expect from the Blackbullion platform [07:40]  ➡️ Navigating a slow sector in a fast moving world [13:23] ➡️ The relentless early days as a Founder [16:03] ➡️ The hurdles and advantages of female Founders [22:48] ➡️ Making your money work for you & other actions to take [25:14] ➡️ Financial wellbeing advice for students [27:01] ➡️ Closing the financial literacy gap [29:05]➡️ Simple but effective money tips to utilise right now [36:22] ➡️ Running a 11-month fundraise and dealing with 78 rejections [37:52]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Vivi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivifriedgut/➡️ Check out Blackbullion: https://www.blackbullion.com/ 🏆 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 ⭐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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everybody has something, everybody is travelling through this thing called life, and life is not all sunshine and rainbows.”Did you know, around 12 billion working days globally, are lost every year to depression and anxiety? These staggering stats find us amidst a mental health crisis, and a huge demand for increased support for employee wellbeing…What gives you energy? And what takes it away? What boundaries do you set?Figuring this out is at the heart of wellbeing for this week’s 40 Minute Mentor, Sançar Sahin, Co-Founder of Oliva, a platform that provides proper mental health care for employees.How is Oliva different? They provide on demand therapy, coaching, classes and content to help your people show up feeling their best AND doing their best work… all in one platform. After all, what is a successful company without healthy employees? Our mental health, much like Founder life, is full of ups and downs, and we are continuing the conversation around wellbeing in today’s episode, where you’ll uncover:➡️ The journey from marketing to disruptive Founder [05:14]➡️ Building more than a SaaS solution [11:22] ➡️ Digging deeper to reveal employee struggles [15:24]➡️ Combining technology and people [17:23] ➡️ How Oliva can enhance your employees wellbeing [22:09]➡️ Pivotal moments of realising you’re burnt out [26:55]➡️ Looking after your mental health as a Founder and looking after your team [33:16] ➡️ Wellbeing benefits that actually make a difference [36:25]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Sançar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sancarsahin/➡️ Check out Oliva: https://www.oliva.health/ 🏆 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 ⭐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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices