Afleveringen
-
In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Romain Sestier and Guillaume Lebedel, the co-founders of StackOne, a rapidly growing startup that’s building the universal integration layer for modern SaaS and AI products. Hot off the back of their $20M Series A led by GV, the duo joins us to share their journey, insights, and lessons from the trenches.
Romain and Guillaume have known each other for over a decade, having worked together across multiple companies before launching StackOne. Their deep co-founder chemistry and clarity of vision have helped them move fast and build credibility with customers and investors alike.
We dive into:
🔧 What StackOne does and why integrations are mission-critical infrastructure
🧠 How they approached finding a co-founder (and why that came before the idea)
🚀 Their path from idea to Series A, including early customer acquisition and GTM learnings
💼 Building a high-talent, low-ego team and making tough hiring decisions
💡 How to scale enterprise sales as a founder
🔥 The mindset shift required to build a venture-scale company
🧪 How they stay nimble while evolving the product and org structure
📣 Tips on empowering internal champions and structuring a sales process that scalesThis is a must-listen for any B2B SaaS or infrastructure founder looking to build something big, fast, and globally relevant.
-
Recorded live at the Capsule Scale-Up 50 event in London on 30th April 2025, this episode features a standout panel discussion moderated by our co-host James Pringle.
The Scale-Up 50 is Capsule’s flagship celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing, most exciting scale-ups, recognising the founders, leaders, and investors driving the next generation of breakout success stories. Supported by Cooper Parry and HSBC Innovation Banking, the event brings together top-tier talent from across the startup ecosystem for a day of insight, inspiration, and connection.
The panels features leaders from category-defining startups. Aidan Rushby (CEO, Carmoola), Tamara Orlova (CFO, Flo Health Inc.), Alexandra French (CEO, Xampla), Nikola Mrkšić (CEO, PolyAI) - these founders share their journeys in achieving product-market fit and building strong team cultures.
In this episode, you will:
🛒 Learn how PolyAI found product-market fit amidst the AI revolution.
♟️ Discover the unique strategies Carmoola used to disrupt the car finance industry.
🏆 Understand the significance of team culture and feedback at Xampla in maintaining growth.
🤝 Explore the dynamics of investor relations and the importance of board composition.
🤖 Hear insights on the role AI tools play in different operational areas within a business.Tune in for a discussion featuring leading entrepreneurs as they share practical wisdom, strategic lessons, and real-world experiences you can apply directly to your own business journey.
-
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle is joined by Raffi Salama, Co-Founder & CEO of Passionfruit, a fast-growing marketing OS used by the world’s most ambitious brands to orchestrate campaigns across resourcing, planning, execution, and tracking.
Raffi shares his journey from launching David Beckham’s Inter Miami football club to scaling Passionfruit across London, Lisbon, and now New York. What started as a freelance marketplace has evolved into a full-stack platform for marketing teams in the AI era, already used by the likes of PepsiCo, L’Oreal, Motorway, and Klaviyo.
We explore:
🛠 The evolution of Passionfruit from talent marketplace to vertical SaaS
🎯 Why every marketing campaign is like launching a mini business
🤖 How AI and voice tooling are changing workflows inside enterprises
🧠 Dogfooding, distribution, and why Passionfruit must walk the talk
🎥 Creators as employees — and the future of influencer equity
📊 Why distribution is the biggest challenge of the AI age
⚖️ The 3 hiring principles that drive Passionfruit’s culture and velocity
📈 Raffi’s personal evolution as a founder from “glorified intern” to visionary CEO
🍽 His dream dinner guests (with a little NFL chat thrown in)This is a must-listen for anyone building in B2B SaaS, marketing, or the future of work, or simply curious about what a next-gen startup looks like under the hood.
-
Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.
Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode we're joined by Mike Jones, Managing Partner at Science Inc., a trailblazing venture studio behind breakout brands like Dollar Shave Club, Liquid Death, and DogVacay (merged with Rover).
Mike is one of LA’s most prolific entrepreneurs and investors. From turning around MySpace to co-founding and investing in over 150 companies, his career is filled with pivotal lessons on operating, scaling, and backing iconic consumer brands.
We dive deep into:
🚀 How Mike transitioned from founder to turnaround CEO to VC🧠 His three phases of leadership: micromanager, manager through people, and board-level strategist🔍 What he looks for in early-stage consumer brands💡 The signals that made Liquid Death and Dollar Shave Club stand out🧪 Why he loves the studio model and how it works behind the scenes📉 Hard lessons from ventures that didn’t go to plan — and how to know when to pivot🛠️ The biggest distribution mistake consumer founders make🧬 How AI is transforming the way he builds and backs companies🧭 The trends he's most excited about — from AI legal to loneliness-driven consumer experiencesPlus, Mike shares the best dinner guest he’s ever had and who he’d love to sit down with across time.
This is a masterclass in consumer investing, venture building, and founder psychology.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.
Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by legendary repeat founder Dylan Collins, known for building and exiting three companies—including SuperAwesome, acquired by Epic Games.
Dylan takes us on a fascinating journey from founding middleware for Call of Duty at university, to building tools that made the internet safer for kids, and now backing the next generation of Gen Z and Gen Alpha startups through his investment company, LFG Holdings.
We dive deep into:
🎮 The early days of multiplayer gaming infrastructure
📱 Building SuperAwesome and why kids’ digital safety became his mission
⚡️ Emotional fuel: why desperation and revenge can drive great founders
🧠 Survivorship bias and staying sharp as a repeat entrepreneur
📈 Why most VCs still don’t understand M&A—and why that’s about to change
💸 How the next wave of liquidity will be unlocked in venture
🌍 Why today’s 20-year-olds live in a completely different world from 30-year-olds
🧪 His bullish take on agent middleware and the future of AI-powered interfacesThis episode is a masterclass in longevity, startup psychology, and identifying generational shifts before anyone else. Dylan brings humour, honesty, and razor-sharp insight throughout.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.
Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle and Hector Mason are joined by Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Financial—a thesis-driven venture capital firm investing in B2B FinTech and enterprise technology companies that are redefining the future of financial services.
With offices in London, New York, and Singapore, Illuminate is deeply embedded in the global financial ecosystem. Its strategic LPs—ranging from major banks to market infrastructure providers—offer more than just capital; they provide meaningful insight, early validation, and go-to-market support for portfolio companies. For more, visit www.illuminatefinancial.com.
Mark takes us through his remarkable three-decade journey in financial markets—from trader at Deutsche Bank, to entrepreneur, to operator, and now VC. He shares how these experiences shaped the Illuminate model and its unique position at the intersection of venture and financial institutions.
We dive into:
💸 Mark’s journey from Deutsche Bank to launching Illuminate
🏦 The rise of institutional FinTech and why B2B was overlooked in 2014
🌍 The complexity of selling into financial institutions—and how to overcome it
🧠 How VCs stay relevant and avoid anchoring in past trends
🤖 Where AI fits (and doesn’t) in heavily regulated environments
🛡 Reality Defender and the arms race against deepfake fraud
🧩 The slow death of legacy infrastructure and promise of microservices
🚗 Mark’s passion for cars and his dream dinner party lineup
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.
Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.This episode sees James Pringle and Hector Mason sit down with Staffan Helgesson, General Partner of Creandum.
Creandum is one of Europe's top early stage investors focused on Seed and Series A across a range of sectors from fintech to SaaS to devtools to climate tech, consumer tech and, of course, AI. Breakthrough companies that Creandum backed early include Spotify, Depop, iZettle, Klarna, Bolt and Trade Republic.
n this wide-ranging conversation, Staffan shares the incredible story of Creandum’s origin, starting in the Nordics over 20 years ago, and how it became one of Europe’s most successful and respected venture franchises.
From early challenges to establishing a long-term vision, we explore what it takes to build an enduring VC brand.
In this episode:
🇺🇸 How a trip to Stanford in 1999 inspired Staffan to build a VC firm in Europe
🎵 The early days of Creandum and backing Spotify pre-hype
💰 The strategy behind holding long and building funds for 17+ years
🧠 Advice for emerging managers on picking LPs and thinking long-term
🏦 Building a venture franchise vs. just a firm
⭐ Brand-building in VC and leveraging the power of the portfolio
🤖 The inside story on investing in Lovable, Europe’s hottest new startup
🇪🇺 Why Staffan remains bullish on European innovation despite structural challenges
A masterclass in longevity, strategy, and humility in venture capital—this is one for fund managers, founders, and startup ecosystem nerds alike.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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Follow us on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.Joseph Pizzolato is the Founder & General Partner at Defiant VC, a newly launched venture fund bringing a tech-first approach to investing.
Joseph shares his journey from engineering to venture capital, his experiences at Vitruvian Partners and Felix Capital, and what led him to take the leap and launch Defiant. He explains how the fund is using data-driven insights, deep thematic research, and proprietary software to build a new model for venture investing.
We also discuss:
The future of venture capital and why it needs to evolveThe role of proprietary technology in sourcing, selecting, and supporting startupsHow to structure a portfolio thoughtfully and avoid ‘groupthink’ in VCJoseph’s views on AI investing and why it may be overhypedLessons from raising a first-time fund in one of the toughest VC marketsThis is a must-listen for VCs, LPs, and founders interested in the future of venture capital and how emerging funds can differentiate in a crowded market.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Follow us on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Aidan Rushby, Founder & CEO of Carmoola, a fintech company reinventing the way people buy used cars through a seamless, mobile-first car finance experience.
Aidan shares his journey from running a property rental marketplace to identifying a massive opportunity in car finance, how he validated his business model before launching, and the lessons he learned from raising over £250m in debt and equity funding.
We also dive into:
How Carmoola is leveraging automation and behavioral economics to create a superior lending experienceThe challenges of building a high-growth, capital-intensive fintechWhat it takes to scale a fully automated lending platformThe importance of validating key business assumptions before committingThe future of car finance and Carmoola’s expansion plansThis is an insightful conversation for fintech founders, investors, and anyone interested in disrupting traditional industries with technology.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Follow us on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.Mike Smeed, Managing Director at InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s corporate venture capital arm.
Mike shares his journey from a career in finance to leading one of the most active CVCs in the UK. He provides unique insights into the role of corporate venture capital in driving strategic innovation, supporting startups, and helping transform legacy industries like automotive.
In this episode, we cover:
The vision behind InMotion Ventures and its focus on climate, industrial, and enterprise techBalancing strategic goals with financial returns as a CVCHow InMotion Ventures partners with startups to accelerate innovation at Jaguar Land RoverThe evolving landscape of driverless cars and the future of autonomous vehiclesThe importance of longevity and integration for CVC successMike also offers a fascinating perspective on the value of collaboration between CVCs and startups, as well as what it takes to build a sustainable and impactful venture arm.
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! 🎙️🦄 -
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Follow us on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.This week on Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Adam Norris, Founder & CEO of Pure Electric, one of the leading premium electric scooter brands. Adam is also well known for playing a key role in managing the career of his son, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 driver.
From building the UK’s largest pension business at Hargreaves Lansdown to investing in 30+ startups through Horatio Investments, Adam has a fascinating entrepreneurial journey that has spanned multiple industries. Now, he’s on a mission to revolutionise urban mobility with Pure Electric, creating world-class electric scooters designed for global markets.
In this episode, we discuss:
🔹 Early struggles & drive – How Adam overcame dyslexia, academic setbacks & early career challenges
🔹 Building Hargreaves Lansdown’s pensions empire – Spotting trends early & scaling a market-defining business
🔹 Angel investing & lessons learned – Why he backed 30+ startups & how it shaped his entrepreneurial approach
🔹 Scaling Pure Electric – The global opportunity in micro-mobility & how he’s competing with industry giants
🔹 Lando Norris’s journey to F1 – The untold story of the dedication, investment & sacrifices behind his success
🔹 Big ambitions – Why Adam believes Pure Electric could become the “Apple of scooters”Adam also shares his unique approach to work ethic, his zero-distraction mindset, and how he thinks about long-term, category-defining businesses.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Stefano Vaccino is the Founder and CEO of Yapily, a leading open banking infrastructure provider.
Stefano shares his unique journey from a career in nanotransistor research and investment banking to discovering his passion for technology and founding Yapily. We explore how open banking regulations like PSD2 inspired him to create a mission-driven company and the challenges he faced as a solo founder building one of the leading players in this competitive space.
In this episode, we discuss:
Stefano’s career transition from corporate life at Goldman Sachs to becoming a tech founderKey insights on when to take the entrepreneurial leap and how to manage the risksThe evolution of open banking, its global potential, and the massive opportunities it unlocks in payments, lending, and identity verificationLessons on building credibility as a solo founder, raising funding from top VCs and fintech leaders, and navigating a competitive landscapeThe importance of resilience, family support, and maintaining balance as a founderStefano’s insights into open banking’s future and the role Yapily plays in transforming financial services are invaluable for founders, operators, and anyone curious 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! 🎙️🦄
-
Mandeep Singh is an angel investor and co-founder and former CEO of Trouva, a marketplace for independent boutiques that was acquired by Made.com.
Mandeep takes us through his journey from founding Trouva, navigating its growth, and the eventual exit, to his current role as an active angel investor with a portfolio of over 80 companies.
In this episode, we dive into:
The story behind Trouva’s evolution, including the pivots and lessons learned from building both B2B and consumer propositionsThe challenges of building a marketplace, balancing stakeholders, and achieving product-market fitReflections on fundraising, scaling, and navigating acquisitionsMandeep’s approach to angel investing, what he looks for in founders, and his perspective on valuation at the earliest stagesLessons on resilience, grit, and determination, drawn from his entrepreneurial journeyMandeep also shares unique insights into the European startup ecosystem, including the challenges of scaling marketplaces and the capital landscape for ambitious founders.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of startup life, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Tim Chong is the Co-Founder and CEO of Yonder, a modern lifestyle rewards credit card designed for young city adventurers.
Tim shares his journey from growing up in Australia and a career in consulting to working at ClearScore and ultimately founding Yonder. We delve into the evolution of the Yonder product and brand, from solving credit challenges for expats to becoming a lifestyle companion for urban explorers.
In this episode, we explore:
The pivotal insights that shaped Yonder’s unique proposition and its focus on restaurant and travel rewardsLessons on customer discovery, why it’s crucial for founders, and how to execute it effectivelyBuilding a high-frequency, habit-forming product that becomes a primary card for usersThe importance of organisational design, culture, and language in scaling startupsInsights into raising funding through challenging market conditions and the importance of patience in building a generational companyTim also reflects on his role as a first-time founder, the art of adapting as a CEO, and why building great companies takes time, vision, and conviction.
Whether you’re a founder, operator, or just curious about building products and brands, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration. 🎙️
-
This week on Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Romina Savova, Founder & CEO of PensionBee, the platform transforming how people manage their pensions. With over 260,000 customers and £5.5 billion in assets under management, PensionBee has become a household name in the UK. Romina shares the journey of building a public company that empowers consumers to take control of their retirement savings.
In this episode, we explore:
🎙️ Romina's career shift from investment banking to founding PensionBee
🔍 How PensionBee approached the complexities of trust-building in the pensions industry
🏟️ Their thoughtful brand partnerships, including sponsorship of Brentford FC and National Geographic
💡 The decision to go public, raising £55 million and the benefits of transparency and simplified ownership structures
🇺🇸 The exciting expansion into the US market and the parallels between UK and US pension landscapes
👩💼 Hiring strategies that prioritise internal progression and a deep understanding of customer needsRomina also shares insights into navigating the political landscape surrounding pensions, the importance of long-term thinking, and how PensionBee stays focused amidst external noise. Plus, don’t miss her Future Unicorn prediction and a fascinating dinner party guest list that blends business and politics!
Tune in to hear how Romina and her team have built PensionBee into a trusted brand and what’s next for the company as they continue their mission to give consumers “extra time” in retirement. 🚀
Enjoying Riding Unicorns? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share on your favourite podcast platform! 🎧
-
This week on Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Dom Hallas, Executive Director at the Startup Coalition, the policy voice for UK tech startups and scaleups. Dom brings a wealth of insight into the intersection of tech, venture, and public policy, offering a fascinating look into the state of the UK ecosystem during a time of governmental and economic change.
Dom discusses the Startup Coalition's mission to advocate for startups and investors by addressing key challenges such as access to talent, funding, and regulatory clarity. He also shares valuable perspectives on how policy can shape the future of startups across areas like AI, climate tech, and FinTech.
In this episode, we explore:
🎙️ The impact of the new UK government and Autumn Budget on startups and investors
📊 The state of venture funding, including changes to tax incentives, capital gains, and carried interest
📍 Regional disparities in startup funding and the Coalition's "Funding the Underfunded" project tackling inequalities across gender, race, class, and geography
🤖 The future of AI regulation and how the UK can become a global leader in building and applying AI technologies
💡 Opportunities for the UK to leverage its strengths in sectors like finance and healthcare to remain competitive on the global stageDom also shares his personal passion for football and sports, offering a light-hearted end to an episode packed with actionable insights for founders, investors, and policymakers alike.
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! 🎙️🦄
-
Ron Levin is the Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, the most active venture capital firm in the US. Hector spoke to Ron to discuss his journey from entrepreneur to investor and his insights on scaling ventures and building impactful companies.
Ron shares his fascinating career story, from organising trading card shows as a teenager to founding the travel-tech unicorn TravelPerk and eventually joining Alumni Ventures, where he leads their dedicated Seed Fund. The conversation dives into:
Ron’s unique career trajectory, blending tech, travel, and entrepreneurshipFounding TravelPerk and the lessons learned from pivoting earlyAlumni Ventures' innovative model and how they empower founders while co-investingThe importance of serendipity, curiosity, and acting on opportunities in building a careerHis philosophy on investing for impact and solving big societal problemsThis episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice for founders, investors, and anyone interested in venture capital and entrepreneurship.
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! 🎙️🦄 -
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.
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! 🎙️🦄 -
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! 🎙️🦄 - Laat meer zien
