Scale-Up Sessions

In this episode of Scale-Up Sessions, we explore another fascinating Scale-Up Story, delving deep into the realities of scaling an AI-driven business.
Joining us is Chandini Jain, co-founder and CEO of Auquan, a fintech company that creates autonomous AI agents designed to automate complex, knowledge-intensive workflows in financial services.
Chandini shares how she identified a widespread industry problem, validated what customers truly needed and navigated the challenges of selling into highly regulated environments. She also tells us more about the evolution of Auquan’s product, from early search-based tools to fully orchestrated AI agents, and what it really takes to stay competitive in today’s fast-moving AI market.
● Follow Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkennington/
● Follow Chandini Jain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandinijain/
Scale-Up Sessions is brought to you by Cynergy Bank. To learn more about Cynergy Bank, visit https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast, visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk

In this episode of Scale-Up Sessions, we dive into our first ever Scale-Up Story, exploring the real journey of building, growing and leading a business through the highs, lows and pivotal turning points that only experience can teach.
Joining us is Devika Wood, CEO of Brain+, a tech-enabled home care platform that raised millions in funding and scaled rapidly in the UK’s growing elderly care sector.
She shares the early signals that can tell you whether your business is actually working, the unexpected challenges of transitioning from founder to CEO of a listed company, and the leadership lessons learned through some of the toughest moments in her career.
If you’d like to find out more about Cynergy Bank’s Business Births & Deaths Index discussed in this episode, you can find the full research here: https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/the-index
Follow Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkennington/
Follow Devika Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devikawood/

Scale-Up Sessions is brought to you by Cynergy Bank. To learn more about Cynergy Bank, visit https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast, visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk

In this episode of Scale-Up Sessions, we explore how growing businesses can protect and strengthen their customer experience as they scale. From spotting early warning signs, to fixing the right problems first, this conversation is packed with practical strategies to ensure growth doesn’t come at the expense of satisfaction or trust.
Joining us is Louise Coles, Director of Operations & Service Transformation at Cynergy Bank. Louise specialises in designing and evolving operating models so they continue to deliver great service. Her work focuses on aligning people, processes, and technology to create consistently strong customer experiences.
Follow Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkennington/
Follow Louise Coles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-coles-ba94939/

Scale-Up Sessions is brought to you by Cynergy Bank. To learn more about Cynergy Bank, visit https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk

PR is changing, and getting attention is harder than ever. With newsrooms shrinking and competition growing, how do you cut through the noise and get the right people to care about what you’re building?
In this episode of Scale-Up Sessions, we explore how growing businesses can use PR as a powerful growth lever — building trust, credibility and visibility in increasingly crowded markets. From understanding what journalists actually want, to choosing the right media placements and turning coverage into real commercial impact, this conversation is packed with practical advice for scaling brands.
Joining us is Matt McKenna, Head of Communications and Content at Finder, where he leads the UK PR strategy and helps translate complex topics into compelling stories that resonate with millions of consumers.
Follow Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkennington/
Follow Matt McKenna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmckenna2/

Scale-Up Sessions is brought to you by Cynergy Bank. To learn more about Cynergy Bank, visit https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk

Is discomfort a sign that you’re failing or growing?
In this episode of Scale-Up Sessions, we explore how founders can build resilience, empower their teams, and create a culture of transparency and psychological safety that drives high performance. From reframing discomfort to giving honest feedback without breaking trust, this conversation is packed with practical strategies for scaling under pressure.
Joining us is Tom Emery, leadership coach and performance specialist who works with founders and executive teams to build resilience and high-performing cultures.
Follow Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkennington/
Follow Tom Emery on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-emery-b8809818/

Scale-Up Sessions is brought to you by Cynergy Bank. To learn more about Cynergy Bank, visit https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/
This episode was produced by Flamingo Media. If you want to create a chart-topping podcast visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk