Episoder
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Martin Sokk is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lightyear. He joined Hector to discuss his journey from product management at Wise (formerly TransferWise) to building a company revolutionising retail investing in Europe.
Martin shares how his product-driven mindset and relentless curiosity have shaped his career, offering insights into creating 10x products, scaling startups, and understanding customer needs through direct engagement. The conversation also dives into:
Lightyear’s mission to transform Europe’s outdated and costly investing infrastructureThe challenges and opportunities of building a pan-European fintech solutionLessons learned from Wise and the importance of fostering entrepreneurial talentThe role of resilience in navigating crises and maintaining focus on long-term goalsMartin’s story is packed with actionable advice and inspiration for founders, operators, and anyone passionate about fintech innovation.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄 -
In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James is joined by Matt Chandler, Principal at Octopus Ventures, one of Europe’s leading early-stage venture capital firms. Known for his focus on consumer tech, Matt shares his journey from aspiring oil painter to venture capitalist, weaving creativity into every step of his career.
Matt discusses the unique dynamics at Octopus Ventures, including their thematic investment approach and their mission to back transformative startups across sectors like gaming, consumer AI, and niche communities. He provides fascinating insights into the "practicalities of change," lessons learned from his entrepreneurial past, and how to maintain focus on core customers during periods of growth.
The conversation dives into Octopus’s recent investments, including their backing of Onibi, a groundbreaking MMO gaming platform introducing innovative physics to user-generated worlds. Matt also explores overlooked themes in venture capital, including loneliness, consumer AI, and the evolving world of niche communities.
This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders and investors alike. Tune in to hear how Octopus Ventures is championing underdog consumer startups and how Matt’s creative approach is shaping the future of venture capital.
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Sasha Kaletsky, Managing Partner at Creator Ventures, joins James Pringle on Riding Unicorns to discuss his journey into venture capital, the evolution of Creator Ventures, and the unique insights creators bring to consumer internet investing.
In this episode, Sasha dives into:
The transition from an investment club to a $20M fundBacking transformative startups like beehiiv, Praktika.ai, & ElevenLabsLeveraging creator expertise to navigate social media strategies and consumer trendsThe importance of team and market defensibility in early-stage investingSasha also shares his views on running a nimble, founder-led fund, scaling sustainably, and the future of AI-driven consumer products.
This is a must-listen for anyone interested in consumer-focused venture capital and the intersection of creators and startups.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄 -
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, joins James Pringle and Hector Mason on Riding Unicorns to delve into the fascinating intersection of behavioural science, marketing, and business strategy. With a career dedicated to understanding human decision-making, Rory shares his unique perspective on how psychological insights can unlock growth and create competitive advantages in today's business landscape.
In this episode, Rory explores why even the most brilliant ideas can fail without the right marketing approach and how concepts like the Netflix subscription model and the reliability of brands like McDonald's and Five Guys build customer trust through consistency. He introduces the concept of “inshittification” — when successful companies lose their way by prioritising profits over user experience — and critiques the tech industry’s obsession with automation at the expense of user needs.
Rory’s thought-provoking insights touch on everything from counterintuitive customer behaviour and the hidden power of psychological hacks to why founders need to consider both product and distribution as essential locks to unlocking success. This episode offers practical takeaways for founders, VCs, and creatives on how to better align products with consumer psychology and navigate today’s competitive market.
Listen now for Rory Sutherland’s refreshing take on behavioural science and its unexpected impact on business growth.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media to never miss an episode! 🎙️🦄
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Vidu Shanmugarajah is a Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), where he invests in transformative tech companies across Europe. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, Vidu joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share his journey from corporate law to venture capital, highlighting how his unique background has shaped his approach to investing.
Vidu discusses his atypical career path, starting as an M&A lawyer before transitioning to private equity and eventually venturing into tech as an entrepreneur and investor. He sheds light on GV's distinct model as an independent venture firm backed by Alphabet, explaining how it leverages Alphabet’s resources while maintaining a startup-focused ethos. Throughout the conversation, Vidu offers insights into his investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of identifying standout founders, the growing role of AI, and the value of diversity in venture capital.
This episode provides a compelling look into the mindset of a successful VC, the nuances of investing in tech, and the evolving landscape of European startups. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just curious about the venture capital world, you won’t want to miss Vidu’s insights on building and scaling impactful tech companies.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄
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Edwina Johnson is the General Manager of MoneyGram Online International, responsible for overseeing the company’s digital consumer business outside of North America. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, Edwina joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to talk about her diverse career, ranging from working with startups to corporate roles, as well as her experience as an angel investor and startup advisor.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Edwina shares her unique journey, beginning in digital media and advertising, co-founding an ad tech startup, and eventually moving into fintech, where she played a pivotal role at Startup Bootcamp and Alloy. She discusses the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a fast-growing startup to a well-established institution like MoneyGram, shedding light on the major shifts needed for traditional businesses to stay competitive in a digital age.
Throughout the conversation, Edwina emphasises the importance of supporting underrepresented founders and shares insights from her own angel investing criteria, which focuses on B2B fintech, regtech, and SAS businesses led by founders from underestimated backgrounds. She also highlights the need for diversity in tech, particularly in the fintech space, and the barriers still present in early-stage investment networks.
This episode offers valuable lessons in career adaptability, building diverse teams, and fostering innovation across sectors. If you’re interested in the intersection of fintech, startup culture, and angel investing, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow *The Riding Unicorns* podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media for more exciting episodes! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Paul Yacoubian is the Founder and CEO of Copy.ai, a company revolutionising the way businesses create marketing and sales copy by automating workflows with AI. Founded in 2020, Copy.ai initially helped distribute the value of GPT-3, but has since expanded to build an enterprise product streamlining go-to-market efforts for companies globally. In this episode, Paul joins hosts James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss his journey from an accounting and hedge fund career to becoming a leading AI entrepreneur.
They dive deep into Paul's entrepreneurial roots, the early days of Copy.ai, and how his experience working with venture-backed companies influenced his approach to building scalable solutions. Paul also shares insights on the evolving role of AI, how large language models are reshaping business processes, and why he believes in the future of automated business operations.
The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities in the AI space, the importance of talent density in startups, and how companies can leverage AI to drive growth. Paul’s passion for innovation shines through, offering founders, VCs, and anyone interested in the tech space valuable takeaways about building, scaling, and navigating the future of AI-driven companies.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media to never miss an episode! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Charles Wells is the Founder and CEO of HelloSelf, a technology business focused on personalised psychological advice aimed at self-betterment. In this episode, Charlie joins hosts James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss his eclectic career in marketing, charity, angel investing, and entrepreneurship, as well as the story behind HelloSelf. The business provides personalised online therapy designed to help people feel better, faster and stay better, longer, and Charlie shares how his near-death experience inspired him to dive into the brain tech space and focus on mental health.
Throughout the conversation, Charlie discusses his mapping of the emerging neurotechnology space, breaking it down into chemicals, hardware, and software categories. He also talks about the massive potential of AI in understanding our brains, while highlighting the importance of therapy that empowers individuals to become their own therapists.
Charlie’s extraordinary journey, which includes surviving a category five brain haemorrhage and undergoing extensive neuro-rehabilitation, has profoundly shaped his outlook on life and business. His commitment to brain health and earth health drives his work, and his story offers valuable lessons about resilience, focus, and the power of incremental self-improvement.
Curious about how HelloSelf could help you? HelloSelf are offering taster sessions with psychologists to give you a personalised glimpse into their services. Whether you're considering therapy for yourself or want to learn more about their approach to mental wellbeing, these no-obligation sessions are designed to help you take the first step toward feeling better, faster. Learn more and book your session here.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on your favourite podcast platform and stay connected with us on social media for more episodes! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Simon Mellin is the Founder and CEO of The Modern Milkman. Their business started as a local milkround inspired by David Attenborough's Blue Planet and the need to reduce plastic waste. In the space of a few short years, they've grown from four friends and a truck to a vast network of milkmen and women working tirelessly to reduce consumer waste. Their mobile tech supports their 'eco-warriors on earlies' by connecting them to their customers via online ordering and driver apps, facilitating convenient doorstep deliveries. The tech also connects them to their network of independent dairies, farmers and suppliers who are mutually committed to sustainable produce and plastic-free packaging. Their mission is to revolutionise consumer habits by delivering fresh ways to return and reuse packaging, shop ethically and feel good about convenience.
Simon joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss key lessons from moving from farmer to founder, the idea behind The Modern Milkman, business expansion to the US, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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David Jarvis is the Co-Founder and CEO of Griffin. Griffin puts the bank in Banking as a Service. They combine the secure, regulated infrastructure of a bank with the speed and power of modern software into one powerful full-stack BaaS platform. Their goal is to empower companies to embed banking into their products quickly and safely. With purpose-built APIs and an all-access developer sandbox, they’re helping customers build and launch payment platforms, financial wellness apps, client account products, business loans, and more.
David joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss the founding principles of Griffin, company culture and management, the future of embedded finance, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Mike Soutar worked in the media and entertainment industry since the mid-1980s, starting as a magazine journalist and editor before becoming a Publisher and Managing Director working across print, digital, and broadcast platforms in the UK and America. In 2000 Mike joined the Board of Britain’s largest magazine publisher, IPC, and was part of the Board team which sold that business to Time Warner. In 2006 Mike co-founded Shortlist Media, one of the fastest-growing media companies of the early 2000s. As CEO he led the business from a 5-strong start-up to an award-winning enterprise employing 180 staff, with operations in the UK and Europe, across print, digital and events. He led the ultimate successful sale of the business to legendary Scottish publishers DC Thomson, the company he joined from school as a trainee journalist aged 17.
Mike joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss the winning formula for a successful media brand, what he enjoys about being a CEO, the future of media, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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George Henry is a General Partner at LocalGlobe. LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm that focuses on seed and impact investments. They have seeded impactful founders since 1999 at places like Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Wise, and Zoopla. They invest in startups selling to consumers, small businesses, and enterprises. They are lean, data-driven, and move fast in decision-making. They offer highly structured, collaborative support to investee companies, and have an excellent track record in getting their startups to a Series A raising (almost 90% vs less than 40% EU average).
George joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss founder evaluation, the 4 investment themes they’re excited about, what the next 10 years potentially hold for VC, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Read George's 4 investment themes for 2024 here: https://digitalculture.substack.com/p/4-investment-themes
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Richard Anton is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Oxx. Oxx partners with the most promising European B2B software companies at the scale-up stage. As a specialist SaaS investor, Oxx provides each entrepreneur with a support system of unique specialist expertise and network, and a culture of unfaltering partnership and absolute conviction. The firm’s strategy is built around the concept of “Go-To-Market Fit”, developing a structure for thinking about how to build a repeatable, sustainable growth engine that accelerates and propels the growth of SaaS companies.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Richard joins James Pringle to discuss Oxx’s investment strategy, what needs to change about ventures in the UK, investing in AI and cybersecurity, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Tim Creswick is the CEO and Founder of Vorboss. Vorboss is a dedicated fibre network and internet service purpose-built for the needs of London’s most demanding businesses. They are the only internet service provider that offers 10Gbps as a minimum—meaning that their network can cope with the demands of the most data-hungry businesses for the next decade and beyond.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Tim joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss infrastructure operations, significant business pivots, network security, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Oana Andreea Jinga is a CCO and Co-founder of Dexory. They develop robotics and AI logistics solutions to drive better business decisions. Through their DexoryView platform, they automate data collection and build real-time fed digital twin technology that unlocks insights across all levels of warehouse operations.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Oana joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss what problem Dexory solves, leaving Google to start Dexory, her view on humanoid robots, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Gareth Jefferies is a Partner at RTP Global, a global, early-stage venture capital firm, backing ambitious founders who are reshaping the world with technology. Their track record speaks for itself; over 110 investments worldwide, with one in 10 becoming multi-billion dollar companies including Datadog, DeliveryHero, and Cred.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Gareth joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to share the skills to hone as a VC, common profiles of companies that became unicorns, intuition in investing, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Akshat Goenka is a Partner at Moonfire. Enabling European entrepreneurs to dream big and execute fully on their bold ideas at the very earliest stages of their journeys is Moonfire’s passion and cause. Moonfire can help entrepreneurs at the very start of their journeys to create the right foundations to drive growth exponentially. Moonfire lights a fire within seed stage investing in Europe to help entrepreneurs grow their boundless ambition and burning creativity. In partnering with Moonfire, companies benefit from Mattias Ljungman’s extensive experience including 13 years as a Co-Founder of Atomico with investments in like Supercell, viagogo, Klarna and Rovio. Moonfire focuses on reimagining finance & money, realising the future of work, new frontiers in gaming and transforming healthcare.
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Akshat joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss Moonfire’s data-driven approach, Moonfire’s ambition, the future of capital allocation, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Sam Ettelaie is the Co-Founder and CIO at Thema, Europe's strategic LP for emerging fund managers. They act as a strategic cornerstone limited partner, writing first tickets of up to £5m, offering operational and regulatory support.
Sam joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to discuss building long-term defensibility, knowledge vs operational edge, Fund of Funds investing, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Callum Taylor is the Head of ITV AdVentures Ignite, they are here to help startup and scaleup brands begin an ongoing journey into the exciting world of TV - not as simply a media owner, but as a business partner. Hosting some of the nation’s favorite shows and offering unrivaled reach, advertising on ITV will supercharge your brand's growth - unlocking new customers in the only medium that can give you the scale and gravitas to tell your brand’s story with impact. They’ll use their expertise to help you identify the right media strategy, target audience, and creative messaging to help you maximize the outcome of your TV campaigns.
Callum joins James Pringle to share about the Ignite Program, what media for equity is, new standards in the TV industry, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄
Technology, Trends, ExplorationIs humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Johannes Weber is the Founding Partner at Ananda Impact Ventures, the leading impact venture capital fund with a pan-European investment remit, managing ca. €200 million in four Core Impact Funds, with backing from notable institutional and private investors. They back technology businesses committed to having a positive impact that answers the most pressing social and ecological challenges of our time, in a way that is both scalable and sustainable. The active portfolio includes NatureMetrics (biodiversity monitoring & assessment), Close Loop Medicine (personalized medicine), OroraTech (wildfire detection & monitoring from space), and IESO Digital Health (online psychotherapy).
Technology, Trends, Exploration
Johannes joins James Pringle and Hector Mason to speak about the super skill a VC should have, founder’s health, founder alignment, & so much more.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns Podcast on our socials and your chosen podcast platform to stay up to date! 🎙️🦄Is humanity on the brink of a tech takeover? Will AI rewrite the rules of existence?...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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