36. How to get users on your app from day one | Michelle Kennedy
Nearly 10,000 apps are uploaded to the app store every week, and most of them are ignored. So how do you launch one that becomes a movement?In this episode of All About Business, we’re joined by Michelle Kennedy, founder and CEO of Peanut; the social networking app that has transformed how women connect and help each other through every stage of motherhood.What does it take to walk away from a top executive role and start from scratch? From pitching with nothing but a deck, to raising over $23 million, to building one of the most trusted platforms for women online, listen to Michelle's story and find out.We dive into her strategy for building a matchmaking app that attracts millions of users, how to validate your idea before you build it, and the biggest lessons she’s learned as a female founder.Michelle also opens up about the hardest parts of fundraising, how she built traction without a product, and why not every business should take venture capital. 01:42 Introduction - Michelle Kennedy01:54 Peanut - Social Media App09:09 Raising Money11:34 Advice on Deck, Pitch, Value Proposition15:56 Not Every Business Needs the Venture Capital Path20:04 I Wouldn't Have Done It If I Knew ...24:25 Achieving Critical Mass - The Network Effect27:40 Start Without Building The App33:34 Peanut Start Her Fund for Women36:48 Advice to Family Women on Starting a Business46:59 Curiosity Spawns New Ideas50:10 Why A Book In The Digital Age?54:57 Reed Interview Round - What Gets You Up Monday Morning?56:39 Where Michelle Sees Herself in Five YearsLinksCheck out Peanuts’s website: Follow Peanut on LinkedIn: Download Peanut app from Google Play: Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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35. Cargo without borders: How airships are about to connect the unreachable | Mark Dorey
Did you know that nearly half the planet still isn’t connected? In many places, getting essential supplies like medicine and food is not only costly, it’s nearly impossible. But what if we were standing on the edge of a breakthrough that could change all of that?On this episode of All About Business, we're joined by Mark Dorey, co-founder and CEO of Straightline Aviation. A pioneering company building hybrid airships designed to deliver cargo to the most remote corners of the world.No roads, no airports - no problems. It’s a bold mission with the power to reshape global logistics and unlock new possibilities for connection, commerce, and care.Mark shares how he turned an ambitious idea into a real business, what to look for in the right business partner, and some of the great lessons he learned when working alongside Richard Branson.01:42 Introduction04:04 How Does an Airship Work?06:55 Why the Early Popularity of Airships?12:04 The Customer Benefits of Airships19:06 Mark's Early Career24:15 Changing Business Models29:51 Future Scale32:07 Learning from Richard Branson34:35 Delegation and Accountability44:49 Pros and Cons of Business Partners47:17 Negotiating and Establishing Business Relationships51:10 Business Opportunity Check List52:43 Establishing Shared Vision and TrustLinks Check out Straightline Aviation’s website:Follow StraightlineAviation on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at www.reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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34. The importance of being idle: A serious case for doing less | Tom Hodgkinson
We've long been taught that hard work is beneficial for both body and mind, but is that truly the case? Could there be inherent value in slowing down, embracing rest, and allowing ourselves the space to simply be idle?Today on 'All About Business', we meet Tom Hodgkinson, founder and editor-in-chief of The Idler Magazine, a publication that teaches its readers the value of slowing down.In this episode, we learn about the philosophy of idling, challenge traditional beliefs that hard work is inherently good, and explore the idea that true fulfilment, in both life and business, can be found in activities that restore the soul, body, and mind.Tom Hodgkinson founded The Idler Magazine in 1993 together with his friend Gavin Pretor-Pinney. Tom has worked over 20 years in editing and advertising, while also writing several books on the philosophy of idling and its benefits. 00:35 The Puritan work ethic08:03 Tom Hodgkinson's journey12:03 Starting the Idler magazine14:41 The Idler Academy 25:10 Modern work ethic and AI predictions33:30 The bookshop dilemma38:26 Challenges of running a business47:20 The digital pivot50:43 Idler Retreats and experiences52:47 The philosophy of idlingLinks Check out The Idler’s websiteFollow The Idler on LinkedInBuy Business for Bohemians, by Tom HodgkinsonFollow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotesThis podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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33. Surfers Against Sewage: Are we sitting on a public health time bomb? | Giles Bristow
The UK is ranked last in Europe for bathing water quality. With a small team and limited resources, how have a ‘bunch of surfers from Cornwall’ got parliament to listen and launch a commission on England’s chemical cocktail of stinking sewage?Today’s guest on All About Business is Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, a water reform charity that’s been around for over three decades.In this episode, we discuss the dangers of not taking sustainability seriously, how to get the government to sit up and listen, and why community lies at the heart of every charitable brand.Giles Bristow is the CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity. Founded in 1990 by a group of surfers in Cornwall, SAS is a powerful environmental movement that addresses a range of ocean-related issues. Giles joined SAS in 2023 and has over 20 years of experience in environmental advocacy. 01:31 Introduction02:22 What are the problems with the UK's oceans?08:32 Recent environmental changes10:41 Why can't water companies solve this?13:38 Time for systemic change16:45 Voters Against Floaters31:31 Giles' advice for effective campaigning36:42 Circular economies38:53 Plastic - it's everywhere40:40 How to lobby - transparency and connections45:52 Just Stop Oil – Are they effective?50:22 Helping businesses become more sustainable53:55 Community and brand59:19 Interview roundLinksCheck out SAS’s websiteFollow Giles on LinkedInFollow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes. This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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32. What a venture capitalist is REALLY looking for when deciding to invest in your business | Sasha Kaletsky
What should you do if you have a brilliant business idea but don’t have the funds to bring it to life? In today’s episode of All About Business, I'm joined by venture capitalist Sasha Kaletsky. Sasha is the co-founder of investment firm Creator Ventures which he started with his cousin Caspar Lee. They have injected millions of dollars into digital tech companies in six short years. In this episode, we explore how to craft the perfect pitch, how social media is shaping our economy, and how you can use simple AI tools to scale your business quickly.Sasha Kaletsky is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Creator Ventures, a firm that invests in technologies shaping the digital landscape. Before founding Creator Ventures, Sasha gained extensive experience in private equity, technology, and consulting. He started at Bridgepoint in private equity, contributed to the launch and expansion of Uber, and worked as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group.Timestamps01:58 Introduction02:31 Creator Ventures17:37 Setting up in the United States18:48 CEOs becoming creators20:35 Building companies with AI25:51 The future social landscape29:28 Uber31:12 The network effect34:04 The secret behind a 5-Star passenger rating35:09 What makes a good pitch39:18 How Sasha determines future markets41:12 Presenting to VCs42:39 Due diligence43:20 How to pitch to Sasha43:53 Working with family47:06 When due diligence fails49:15 How companies can make better use of AI54:53 Interview roundLinksSend Sasha your pitch Check out Creator VenturesFollow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotesThis podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk.
'James Reed: all about business' puts you at the heart of fun, dynamic, candid conversation with business leaders, philanthropists and charitable celebrities as they use their journeys to give clear, actionable advice.
Hosted by James Reed CBE, the Chairman and CEO of Reed Group, you’ll hear the highs and lows of what it means to be a true business leader to empower you to implement smarter, more meaningful strategy in your business or career.
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