DQventures

Founder Unlocked

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

Founder Unlocked is the entrepreneurship podcast for experienced professionals dreaming about leaving the corporate world to build their own business. Hosts Ollie Palmer and Sam Middlehurst, both exited founders and venture builders who together with the team at DQventures have invested in over 100 startups, guide aspiring entrepreneurs through DQ Ventures' proven venture building methodology.

Author

DQventures

Episodes

06: When Should You Raise Money For Your Business? 21.11.2025 40:15

When should you raise money for your business? Or do you need to raise money at all? Sam and Ollie give aspiring founders a reality check on startup fundraising: traction, investor expectations, and when raising makes sense. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:00 Should you raise? 09:20 Traction signals 12:20 TigerSpike raise 21:00 Bootstrapping 27:00 Dilution Key Insights • Fundraising ≠ validation • Tractio...

05: How Do You Find Your First Real Customers? 21.11.2025 34:47

Finding your first few customers is the start, but to acquire the next hundred, you need a repeatable engine. In this episode, Sam and Ollie break down real go‑to‑market strategy, including ICP evolution, channel testing, messaging, funnels, and the metrics that matter. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Early vs ideal customers 03:50 – TigerSpike GTM evolution 08:30 – LinkedIn as a growth engi...

04: When Should You Go 'All-In' on Your Business? 20.11.2025 25:50

Every founder dreams of the moment they finally ‘go all in’ — but most get the timing wrong. Ollie and Sam unpack what an evidence-based all‑in moment looks like, why older founders face unique pressures, and the signals that show your business is ready for full‑time focus. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:26 – Ollie’s first all-in moment 02:00 – Sam’s early missteps 04:10 – When traction *actuall...

03: What Is a Minimum Viable Business (MVB) - And Why Does It Matter? 30.10.2025 38:58

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is not enough — you need a Minimum Viable Business (MVB) that proves real customers and repeatable sales. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:25 MVB defined 04:40 Launch early 06:00 Validation 11:00 Pricing 13:00 Unit economics 21:00 Scaling Key Insights Build a business, not just a prototype Validate with revenue Repeatable sales motion Early pricing + economics About DQventure...

02: Why Must Every Great Business Start With a Problem? 30.10.2025 29:15

Every great startup begins with a painful, frequent problem. Learn how to identify and validate it. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:20 Problem-first 03:20 Expertise advantage 05:00 Painkiller problems vs Medicine problems 09:30 CLVR Benefits 13:00 Mom Test 31:00 DealerDocs Key Insights Problem > solution Identify hair-on-fire pain Validate with real customers Warm → cold network transition About DQvent...

01: How Can Experienced Professionals Become Startup Founders? 30.10.2025 43:00

Why older founders win: experience, networks, and industry insight. Hosts and General Partners at DQventures, Ollie Palmer and Sam Middlehurst break down why 40–55 year olds make some of the most successful founders. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:20 Why older founders win 01:00 TigerSpike story 07:20 Why DQ exists 10:15 Validate → Build → Scale1 9:00 Warm network 23:00 MVB Key Insights Older founders ou...