Episodes
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This week on the podcast, we’re talking about the groundbreaking Investing in Women Code – what it is, why we’re proud to be signatories, what this year’s report reveals, and what we’re doing here at Obu to move the key stats forward. We’re exploring the power of allyship and collaboration, the importance of empathy in design and the reason why understanding data enables us to create lasting, positive change…
You can read the Investing in Women Code annual report 2023 in full, right here.
The Obu angel investment platform is live! Registration’s now open at obuinvest.com, so head over, find out more – and see whether you’re eligible to start investing.
You can also register for our Obu Angel Collective – a space where women and allies curious about investing can come together, make connections, deepen their understanding and be inspired by what’s possible.
And of course, if you’d like more from The Obu Podcast, you’ll find every episode right here.
Chapter timings:
[00.00] Disclaimer
[00.24] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.56] Why data and insights matter so much
[01.18] Introducing the Investing in Women Code
[02.48] The code’s key goal and commitments
[04.46] Who else is signed up to the code
[05.36] The code’s 2023 annual report headlines
[06.43] How Obu’s out to change those stats
[10.35] How to get even more from Obu
Full disclaimer:
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose money. This is a high-risk investment. You may not be able to access your money easily, and are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. Angel investing is considered to be a high risk investment.
Obu Ltd (FRN: 993433) is an appointed representative of Khepri Advisers Limited (FRN: 692447) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Obu does not provide investment advice and/or recommendations, and no communication, through its platform or other communication methods should be considered a recommendation to invest. Individual investors should make their own decisions or seek professional and independent advice if they are unsure as to the suitability / appropriateness of any investment for their individual circumstances or needs, including potential tax treatment. The value of an investment may go up as well as down, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future result. Access to Obu’s platform is subject to eligibility, please see our terms and conditions for further information. -
This week’s a big one for everyone at Obu. Our groundbreaking, women-focused investment platform is here, it’s live, and it’s set to change the face of investment, for good. So, to celebrate this massive Obu milestone, our co-founders Sarah and Claire are looking back at the twists and turns that got them here, laying out the problems they can’t wait to solve, and sharing what they’re most proud of at this huge, pinch-me moment…
The Obu investment platform is live! Registration’s now open at obuinvest.com, so head over, find out more – and see whether you’re eligible to start investing.
You can also register for our Obu Angel Collective – a space where women and allies curious about investing can come together, make connections, deepen their understanding and be inspired by what’s possible.
And of course, if you’d like more from The Obu Podcast, you’ll find every episode right here.
Episode timings:
[00.00] Disclaimer
[00.17] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.49] Our investment platform is live!
[01.26] What it’s taken to get here
[02.17] The big moments in our journey
[05.49] The key problems we’re here to solve
[06.18] How our platform and collective will do that
[07.30] What we’re most proud of as we go live
[09.06] How to get even more from Obu
Full disclaimer:
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose money. This is a high-risk investment. You may not be able to access your money easily, and are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. Angel investing is considered to be a high risk investment.
Obu Ltd (FRN: 993433) is an appointed representative of Khepri Advisers Limited (FRN: 692447) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Obu does not provide investment advice and/or recommendations, and no communication, through its platform or other communication methods should be considered a recommendation to invest. Individual investors should make their own decisions or seek professional and independent advice if they are unsure as to the suitability / appropriateness of any investment for their individual circumstances or needs, including potential tax treatment. The value of an investment may go up as well as down, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future result. Access to Obu’s platform is subject to eligibility, please see our terms and conditions for further information. -
Episodes manquant?
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This week, we’re bringing you the next instalment of our co-founder mini-series, as Claire and Sarah count down to our investment platform – and angel collective! – going live. They’re talking about the shocking stats that get us out of bed every morning, the way we’re designing with women in mind, the work we’re doing to bring legitimacy to angel investing, and what exactly you can expect from our platform and collective when launch day arrives…
The Obu investment platform goes live this June, disrupting the investment sector for good. Pre-registrations are now open over at obuinvest.com, so head over, find out more – and see whether you’re eligible to start investing.
You can also register for our Obu Angel Collective – a space where women and allies curious about investing can come together, make connections, deepen their understanding and be inspired by what’s possible.
And of course, if you’d like more from The Obu Podcast, you’ll find every episode right here.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[01.26] The three big stats we’re out to change
[03.42] Designing for an underserved audience
[06.38] Bringing legitimacy to angel investing
[07.44] What to expect from our investment platform
[10.34] What to expect from The Obu Angel Collective
[11.58] How to get even more from Obu -
In this week's episode, Sarah and Claire celebrate and champion other women-led businesses who are out there trailblazing in the financial sector; all with the collective mission to close the gender financial gap. These businesses, like Obu, serve to empower and educate women with tools that inform their financial decisions. Each of them have the aim to positively impact women's financial futures, for good.
The Obu investment platform goes live in June, disrupting the investment sector for good. Pre-registration’s now open over at obuinvest.com, so head over, find out more – and see whether you’re eligible to start investing.
You can also register for our Obu Angel Collective – a space where women and allies curious about investing can come together, make connections, deepen their understanding and be inspired by what’s possible.
And of course, if you’d like more from The Obu Podcast, you’ll find every episode right here.
Episode timings
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.56] Introducing the mini-series
[03.33] Women Backing Women Campaign
[05.26] Designing products with women in mind
[07.49] Championing female founded businesses in the financial sector
[09.12] Obu X Female Invest content partnership
[13.25] How to get even more from Obu -
This week’s episode is the second in our co-founder mini series, recorded right here at Obu HQ as we count down to our game-changing investment platform going live. Today, Sarah and Claire take you behind the scenes to talk about three words you’ll see a lot in the investment world – subject to eligibility. They’re discussing what those words mean and the bigger picture they represent.
The Obu investment platform goes live in June, disrupting the investment sector for good. Pre-registration’s now open over at obuinvest.com, so head over, find out more – and see whether you’re eligible to start investing.
You can also register for our Obu Angel Collective – a space where women and allies curious about investing can come together, make connections, deepen their understanding and be inspired by what’s possible.
And of course, if you’d like more from The Obu Podcast, you’ll find every episode right here.
Episode Timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.56] What’s happening today at Obu HQ
[02.29] Three words: Subject to eligibility
[03.53] Why we work in regulated environment
[05.16] Why we’ve got to ask questions
[06.19] Empowering women to take the next step
[08.34] How to get even more from Obu -
The countdown is on at Obu HQ. With just a few weeks to go before our investment platform goes live, co-founders Claire and Sarah take you behind the scenes, as they get ready to disrupt the investment sector for good.
They talk about why they’ve designed the platform with women in mind, how they’re driving diversity, and what it feels like to be this close to launch. They also introduce The Obu Angel Collective – a community for anyone who’s curious about investing and wants the know-how, inspiration and support to get started… *subject to eligibility
If you’re all fired up about investing, raising or learning with us, head over to obuinvest.com today, because pre-registration for the Obu investment platform and Angel Collective is now open – go, go, go! And if you want more from The Obu Podcast, our website’s also the place to catch up with every episode, anytime. As we get ready to disrupt the investment sector for good, we really appreciate every like, follow and share – because spreading the word helps us take meaningful steps towards equality, together, today.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.56] What it’s like at Obu now the Platform launch countdown has begun
[03.00] Zooming out and looking at what the ecosystem looks like
[05.00] Discussing the Obu Angel Platform and Obu Angel Collective
[15.48] How we’re feeling about the launch
[20.02] How to get even more from Obu -
In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by Roland Harwood, an entrepreneur, compulsive connector, podcast host and author of On The Edge – a hugely inspiring book which explores navigating transitions and how we can thrive in our increasingly connected world. Roland delves into the thinking behind the book and shares with us how the future is built by the actions we take today.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
For more on Roland’s story, follow him on Linkedin, Instagram and Twitter at @rolandharwood + @we_are_liminal
Episode timings
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.42] Introducing our guest, Roland Harwood
[01.57] Why making a positive impact is a motivator
[04.18] How Roland’s upbringing fuelled his curiosity
[05.14] Why Roland’s book is so accessible
[09.40] What it means to enter periods of transition
[11.30] The butterfly effect
[13.13] Building a positive future
[19.40] Why vulnerability is an ability
[22.28] Creating vivid alternatives
[28.43] The power of rituals
[35.24] Meaningful leverage points
[41.46] Reflections on releasing a book
[44.38] How to get even more from Obu -
In this episode, Sarah and Claire are joined by Dr Lorna Treanor, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Nottingham University Business School and co-author of the newly launched Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Lorna talks about how and why the charter was created, what an inclusive ecosystem really means – and what businesses can do to become more inclusive, empowering organisations.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
For more on Lorna’s story, follow her on LinkedIn.
Chapter timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.42] Introducing Lorna and the charter
[02.12] Lorna’s journey into academic research
[06.33] What inclusive entrepreneurship means
[17.12] The experience of co-authoring the charter
[23.38] How the charter can help you drive change
[34.06] Lorna’s ambitions for the project’s future
[36.30] Where to find out more about the charter -
In today’s episode, Sarah and Claire take a no-nonsense look at investment jargon, crunching through some of the most commonly used terms with clear, straight-talking explanations. So, if you’ve ever wondered what an angel investor really is, or what on earth your ticket size might be, they’ve got you. Grab a cuppa, get beyond the mystery and count yourself in…
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog. And to bust even more investment jargon, don’t miss our full Obu A to Z.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] Jargon busting and why it matters
[01.24] What does ‘angel investing’ mean?
[04.32] What kind of angel could you be?
[06.59] Why angel networks are a great way in
[09.42] What’s ‘advanced assurance’ all about?
[13.29] What’s a ‘cap table’ and who’s on it?
[16.37] What does ‘ticket size’ mean?
[20.35] What’s ‘due diligence’ and how does it work?
[26.22] A speedy recap of those gnarly terms
[28.32] Where to find our A to Z of investing
[29.09] How to get even more from Obu -
This week, Claire and Sarah get together with founder, investor, trustee, board member, tech diversity champion and chief encouragement officer Ramat Tejani, for a lively episode full of shared experiences, honest insights and wearing different hats. Ramat opens up about what it means to her to be an investor, what diverse founders and funders bring to the table, and why it’s so important to keep on being curious.
Like to find out more about Ramat? You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn @ramat_tejani or @theinspirationbox. And don’t forget, if you’d like to connect on LinkedIn, tell Ramat where you found her!
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] Introducing our guest, Ramat Tejani
[01.34] Diving into Ramat’s many roles
[06.27] The value in being true to yourself
[09.55] Struggling to identify as an investor
[19.34] Diversity and the power of new perspectives
[34.38] Why Ramat made her investment choices
[39.59] How her support goes beyond just capital
[45.54] Where to find and reach out to Ramat
[47.28] How to get even more from Obu -
This week on the podcast, Sarah and Claire talk purpose, investment and the impact of the SEIS changes with two brilliant, early-stage women entrepreneurs: Lara Senbanjo of The Cornrow and Lesley So of So Good Kombucha. From celebrating Black culture to empowering marginalised people, Lara and Lesley share their big ambitions – getting honest about their challenges, the things they wish they’d known and the powerful difference the right angel investors are going to make.
Like to find out more about Lara and The Cornrow Head on over to thecornrow.com, follow @thecornrow on Instagram, find Lara on TikTok at @thisislaraland, email [email protected] or check out Lara’s co-founder (and sister) Kemi on Instagram @cottagenoire.
And you can find lots more on Lesley and So Good Kombucha over at sogoodkombucha.com, on Instagram @sogoodkombuchauk, on Twitter @SoGoodKombucha, and on LinkedIn. You can also email Lesley direct at [email protected].
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] How SEIS is changing – and who that helps
[01.26] Meet Lara Senbanjo, cofo of The Cornrow
[07.44] The story and purpose behind the brand
[10.49] Lara’s investment journey and the impact of SEIS
[15.39] What The Cornrow needs, beyond just capital
[19.03] Lara’s ambitions for the business in 2023
[21.11] Where to find Lara and The Cornrow
[22.16] Meet Lesley So, founder of So Good Kombucha
[25.53] Lesley’s purpose, products and ambitions
[30.21] Choosing between bootstrapping and investment
[33.49] What Lesley’s looking for from her angels
[36.35] The difference the SEIS extension will make
[38.01] Why raising awareness around investment is crucial
[42.09] Lesley’s plans for 2023 – and where to find her -
This week, the SEIS changes we campaigned for go live. They’re going to help thousands of women entrepreneurs and angels build and back businesses they love – and we couldn’t be prouder. So in today’s special episode, Claire and Sarah dive into what’s changing and what that could mean for you. They break down how SEIS works, share the journey they’ve been on to make this change happen and explain why shouting about the changes is so important.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] What is SEIS – and why is it big news?
[01.36] What’s changing – and how it helps you
[04.07] How the tax breaks work – an example
[07.59] Sarah & Claire’s own SEIS story
[10.35] The #overbeingunderfunded campaign
[13.26] Lobbying, learning and leaning in
[16.37] Why we need to shout about SEIS
[19.39] Where to find more on SEIS and Obu -
This week, Sarah and Claire are joined by Natalie Gasson-McKinley MBE MBA, newly appointed chair of the Obu board. Natalie’s a genuine trailblazer, passionate about using her voice to champion more equitable, inclusive spaces, and we’re immensely proud she’s joined our team. She talks about why disruptive businesses need disruptive boards, why breaking the rules is brilliant for business, and why aligning head and heart can drive purposeful, positive change.
For more on Natalie’s story, follow her on LinkedIn, join her at of our Obu Meets or sign up to our newsletter and find out more about the change she’s helping us create here at Obu.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] Introducing Natalie and her MBE story
[03.20] Growing up and the value of guidance
[06.56] Why you’ve got to align head and heart
[09.13] Resilience, responsibility and recognition
[14.39] Lobbying, learning and the power of allies
[20.42] Why Natalie wanted to join the Obu board
[28.50] Disrupting the way boardrooms work
[38.52] How to follow and connect with Natalie
[39.30] On next week’s pod… SEIS changes go live! -
In this week’s episode, Claire and Sarah share the frustrating, often shocking practices that women encounter day in, day out in the world of investment and entrepreneurship. They’ve wrapped them up into their three Ps – pitching, power and poor behaviour – and they’re calling them out on behalf of all the women who feel they can’t. Because change doesn’t take time, it takes courage.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] Why we’re talking about our three Ps
[02.48] Pressured pitches vs real partnerships
[07.08] It’s time to change the power dynamic
[10.18] Calling out those poor behaviours
[12.03] Using tech to create real change
[16.26] How to find out more about Obu -
In this episode, Sarah and Claire are joined by award-winning wealth manager, financial adviser and investor, Sophia Lerche-Thomsen. Sophia talks about women’s relationship with wealth, why she’s on a mission to close the gender wealth gap, and why more of us need to talk about money. She also shares simple, doable advice on how to organise your finances, how to start investing and how solid financial plans can help you feel ready for anything.
For more on Sophia’s story, follow @sophia_financial_planner on Instagram or LinkedIn. And to take Sophia’s advice on breaking down investment jargon, try Obu’s investment A to Z or dive into the resources over on Investopedia.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You'll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.42] Introducing Sophia and her story
[02.37] Exposing the gender wealth gap
[07.15] Sophia’s three-pot financial plan
[11.09] Why women need to talk about wealth
[18.51] Making investments that matter to you
[25.02] How to get started as an investor
[30.14] Why investor-founder relationships are key
[36.30] How planning helps prepare for life’s hurdles
[40.23] Going from founder to purposeful investor
[43.06] How to follow and get in touch with Sophia -
It’s a Rose Review special! Since its launch back in 2019, the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, led by NatWest CEO Alison Rose, has been one of Obu’s biggest anchors and inspirations. Every annual update continues to fuel and focus our fight – and this year we’re absolutely bowled over to be part of it. To celebrate, we’re sharing a special episode diving into its data and insights – and what they reveal about investment and entrepreneurship in the UK today.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.41] Why the Rose Review matters so much
[04.35] The data highlights from this year’s report
[08.53] Celebrating collaboration, raising awareness
[10.59] Diversifying angel investment in the UK
[12.04] Getting founders ready for future funding
[13.31] The chance to create change, together
[15.07] Setting ambitious targets for angels
[17.38] Emerging innovation and opportunity
[19.33] The real need for more early-stage deals
[22.23] Obu’s next steps – drive funding UK wide
[24.26] Obu’s next steps – corporate collaborations
[25.16] Obu’s next steps – investment platform launch
[29.33] Refusing to see women’s progress rolled back
[31.09] Thanks to everyone who’s supported us
[32.59] What’s coming up in next week’s episode -
In this episode, Claire and Sarah sit down with Laura Pomfret, co-founder of Financielle, the female-focused financial wellness app that’s helped women increase their wealth by over £1 million. Laura talks about how to take control of your finances step by step, why we need to tell it straight when it comes to women’s wealth and the importance of finding investors that give you much more than money.
For more on Laura’s story, head over to www.financielle.co.uk, download the Financielle: Budget Planner app, follow @financielle on Instagram or TikTok or check out @TheFinancielle on Twitter.
Want to hear more from The Obu Podcast? You’ll find every episode over on our website, as well as all the latest investment insights, campaign stories and platform updates, fresh from our blog.
Episode Timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.42] Introducing Laura and Financielle
[01.26] Financial wellness – and why it matters
[05.23] Taking back control, step by step
[08.46] Normalising conversations about wealth
[10.42] Understanding women’s financial context
[13.33] Why there’s a lack of women in tech
[16.20] The ripple effects of financial empowerment
[19.10] Why investment’s about more than money
[26.29] The power of being part of a community
[31.17] Scrapping the softly, softly approach
[35.31] How to find out more about Financielle
[36.40] What’s coming up in next week’s episode -
In this episode, Sarah and Claire are joined by the incredible, inspiring Erika Brodnock, co-founder of Extend Ventures and Kinhub. Erika talks about exposing the sheer scale of inequality in the investment world, why we need action – not more evidence, how she’s creating more inclusive workplaces and why capital, contracts and connection are the key to a fairer future.
For more on Erika’s story, follow @ErikaBrodnock on Twitter or LinkedIn, check out the companies she’s co-founded: extend.vc and kinhub.com, or dive into the reports she’s co-written: Diversity Beyond Gender and Better Venture.
Chapter timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[01.56] Erika’s experience of investment injustice
[04.46] Harnessing data to demand change
[09.53] How Erika’s research impacted Obu
[15.16] Why we need action – not more evidence
[20.03] Adding socio-economic inequality into the mix
[21.52] The impact of upcoming SEIS changes
[28.34] How Kin Hub’s creating more supportive workplaces
[36.26] Why we need greater supply chain diversity
[41.30] The impact of diversifying angel investment
[44.41] How to follow and get in touch with Erika -
In episode two of The Obu Podcast, Claire and Sarah dive into the story behind their new brand. They talk about how changing government legislation changed their business, why they’re joining the 3% of fintech founders who are women, and how their disruptive new investment platform is revolutionising the investment ecosystem for women, and allies, across the UK.
The Obu Podcast is full of real conversations with entrepreneurs and investors changing the world for the better – full of honest insights, real-life stories and powerful, practical know-how.
For more on Sarah and Claire’s story, head over to obuinvest.com, or follow Obu on LinkedIn.
Chapter timings:
[00.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[00.35] The story behind the rebrand
[03.59] How we’re fighting back with fintech
[07.12] Why we’re about purpose, as well as profit
[12.11] Harnessing experience… and allies
[14.20] Asking questions, feeling resilience
[17.09] What’s coming up next on the podcast -
Sarah and Claire are back, with a new name, a new brand and the same rock-solid determination to bring equality to the world of entrepreneurship and investment. This week, they open up about the toughest moments they’ve been through – and the exciting times ahead. They talk about how to find your founding principles, why failure’s part of the journey and how to come back stronger.
The world of investment is changing, and on The Obu Podcast, we’re inviting you to learn how. Join us for real conversations with entrepreneurs who’ve taken investment – and angel investors who are putting their capital, wisdom and networks to work to grow diverse-founded businesses right here in the UK. We’ll hear their stories, explore their experiences and find out how, together, they’re changing the world for the better.
For more on Sarah and Claire’s story, head over to obuinvest.com, or follow OBU on LinkedIn.
Chapter timings:
[0.00] What The Obu Podcast’s all about
[1.30] Looking back at where we began
[5.50] How investment became our focus
[10.20] Coming through the tough times
[16.30] Zeroing in on our big idea
[18.55] The lessons we’re taking into 2023
[23.30] What’s coming up next on the podcast - Montre plus
