Founded & Grounded

In an age where we have a constant stream of personal data on our wrists, and home testing has become second nature, one UK company is nicely poised to ride the crest of a wellbeing wave.

Forth is a digital health business pioneering personalised biomarker profiling. Its founder and CEO, Sarah Bolt, caught up with Founded & Grounded to talk about how Forth are on a mission to improve health and wellbeing and, in particular, close the gender health gap.

But it's a conversation as much about the less-than-straightforward path to success as Sarah reflects on the challenge of convincing investors outside Forth's target demographic, the success rates of sole founders versus partnerships, and how running a business can sometimes feel like coming at the expense of those closest to you.

Presented by Andrew Parsonage, with analysis from Ollie Collard and listener feedback courtesy of Samantha Miles.

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“If you do what you don't love, that's stress. If you do what you love, that's passion.”

Author, Podcaster, Motivational Speaker...and for good reason.
Jeff Dewing has a story to tell.
He's seen it all in the world of Facilities Management - good and bad. Restless, and far from content with maintaining the status quo, Jeff founded Cloudfm to disrupt the industry for the better.
Over 10 years later, he's CEO of an award-winning company that's blazing a trail for the next decade. But, as with all entrepreneurial journeys, there have been a few twists and turns along the way.

In conversation with Founded & Grounded, Jeff talks about finding fulfilment in life, and why the impact of Covid on Cloudfm was transformative for his leadership style - and how showing 'vulnerability' enabled his people to be the best versions of themselves.
Overall, there's powerful advice here for life and business in general - including the importance of simply asking yourself the question 'Why?'

Presented by Andrew Parsonage, with analysis and input from Ollie Collard & Samantha Miles.

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Proudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:
National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:
NPSA.gov.uk/innovation
Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:
hexafinance.co.uk/contact

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They started out in 2018 with no business qualifications, marketing experience, or entrepreneurial background - simply a shared passion and a big idea. 4 years on, they're the pioneering start-up taking drinks bottles to a new and truly sustainable level.
Through their company S'wheat, Jake Elliott-Hook and Amee Ritchie have created the world's first reusable bottle made from plant-based materials. Now courted by environmentally-conscious consumers and tech giants alike, S'wheat's growth is built on foundations as organic as their products. And in an era of corporate 'greenwashing', they're backing the talk with action, redefining the relationship between business and nature.
Speaking with Founded & Grounded, the couple talk about going viral for the first time, the brushes with disaster, and being wary of sharing their business idea with those closest to them. It's an inspiring story - and a reminder that anyone with the right energy and attitude can be a successful entrepreneur.
Presented by Andrew Parsonage, with analysis from business start-up specialist Ollie Collard, and Founded & Grounded Community Lead, Samantha Miles.

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Proudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:
National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:
NPSA.gov.uk/innovation
Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:
hexafinance.co.uk/contact

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Meet Thomas, co-founder of Aisle 3, who shares his insights into how his start-up propelled itself into the 1% of start-ups that raises funding.
We discuss the world of price comparison, how Aisle 3 are a 'shopper obsessed' business, the trials and tribulations of fundraising two rounds of investment and the future of e-commerce.
Aisle 3 aims to give shoppers the complete view of all of their buying options on a single screen so that they can make purchase decisions based on their personal values such as price, delivery, locality, sustainability or brand loyalty.

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Proudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:
National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:
NPSA.gov.uk/innovation
Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:
hexafinance.co.uk/contact

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From performing magic for prime ministers and billionaires to gracing stages on shows like Britain's Got Talent. Alfie Whattam shares his unorthodox journey from entertainment to launching his own recruitment startup, Alfa Technology. Alfa builds software engineering teams for businesses operating in cutting-edge technologies like AI and Web3.
Uncover Alfie's game-changing insights on cultivating a bulletproof mindset, building effective content strategies, and disrupting outdated industries ripe for innovation.

The recruitment industry is broken. Hear how Alfie is challenging the status quo, taking on the incumbent ‘dinosaurs’, questioning unethical practices, and doing things differently.
Alfie's insights delve into pressing issues, like the ethical implications of AI, and the exponential speed of development, which could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. Alfie emphasises the need for genuine community-driven approaches in recruitment.

Key takeaways
- How to build a winning Content Strategy – Alfie shares his blueprint so you can drive inbound demand for your business. He stresses the importance of consistency and a clear strategy to make content work effectively for your goals.

Delegation and Automation - Alfie emphasises the significance of delegating tasks, systematising, and automating to avoid burnout and maximise productivity.
- The potential and dangers of AI and Web3 technologies. Hear the immense potential for transforming entire industries and creating new business opportunities. But the rapid evolution also poses ethical and existential questions that we explore

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Proudly sponsored by our wonderful partners:
National Protective Security Authority - NSPA: The Secure Innovation campaign helps you take steps to protect your business from hostile threats. Don’t leave it too late. Use the link to download the quick-start guide now:
NPSA.gov.uk/innovation
Hexa Finance: Hexa provides business finance to help you grow from start-up to success. To access your free consultation, simply go to:
hexafinance.co.uk/contact

Have questions about our podcast or an episode? Ask our hosts, chat now