Real World Entrepreneurship

In this podcast Alan and Bhairav talk to Andy Connelly the founder of Coast Entertainment Coast Entertainment is a business that is based on live events, they provide quality live entertainment for over 20,000 weddings and events in the UK and Ireland Covid crippled his business and in this podcast Andy recalls the low points of the crisis and what the company did to maintain their relationships w...

In this week's podcast Alan and Bhairav discuss how to find and manage a marketing team that fits for your company What we learn from this podcast is: The process of finding and managing a marketing team is much like tech If you don't know what you want, you'll get what you don't want Write a brief! Marketing and advertising are different things!! Be crystal clear with your expectations and how to...

In this podcast Alan and Bhairav talk with entrepreneur, podcaster and YouTuber Mark Drager This is a wide ranging podcast that covers the following questions: Are entrepreneurs courageous? How can you be less conservative in business? Building a company culture Are brands fluid or set in stone?

In this podcast we talk about Vision - that word that comes up all the time when you're talking with investors, startup accelerators, mentors etc What is a vision, should we be calling it "ambition" instead? How do you set a vision and once it is set, should it remain set or should you be looking to change and adapt as your business evolves What you will take away from this is: Ambition is probabl...

In this podcast, Alan discuss with Bhairav about communities and their importance to businesses We discuss the following points: - How communities are relevant for an entrepreneur journey - What a community strategy looks like - Tips on building a community - Can every business build a community?

In this podcast we started talking about community and ended up talking about what Bhairav is up to with his blockchain business....

What does "investor ready" really mean? Do you need to have 1M in turnover before you can approach investors? In this podcast, Alan and Bhairav talk about what that phrase means and whether there are any real hard and fast rules for when you can approach investors and what you should have in place before you even start thinking about raising funding

In this podcast, Alan and Bhairav talk about the power of networking, how to utilise it effectively and why its important for you and your business. We discuss the following points: Is there a strategy or a plan for effective networking? Is networking for everyone? Does it have to come naturally? Why simplicity works while networking How to be a good listener How networking actually works for you?

Does slow and steady win the race or do successful entrepreneurs take the big risks to get the big rewards? In this episode Bhairav and Alan talk about what the right approach to risk is for entrepreneurs and how you know when the right time to take the big bets are This episode is aimed at those that need help understanding when and how they should approach risk taking within their organisations...

Are you looking to raise funding for your business? How prepared are you to have another entity looking over your shoulder in your business? In this episode we explore how businesses need to prepare themselves for investment with virtual CFO Raymond Holt The group discusses what entrepreneurs need to know about the process of raising investment and the consequences of obtaining it (hint: its not a...

In this episode we attempt to demystify the terminology around funding rounds - what is the difference between pre-seed, seed, series A What is a Pre-Seed Round? What is a Seed Round? When do you get to a Series A round? What is an Angel Investor?

In this week's episode Alan and Bhairav talk with entrepreneur, author and speaker, Jan Cavelle: https://jancavelle.co.uk/ Jan has written the best seller "Scale for Success" and is currently in the process of writing her second book, however she managed to take the time to talk to the guys about her experience of starting and scaling a business in the 1980s as a single mother. In this podcast we...

For this year's first podcast, Alan and Bhairav talk about New Year's resolution for your business, how to review past year's performance and improve on organization, management and so on. In this podcast we discuss: Should you change your plan of action or stick to it? Problems with overcommitting How to close the gap between you and your customers Importance of acting early Why you should listen...

Alan and Bhairav talk about 'Borrowing with Pride' and how to take ideas that already exist and make them your own without breaking copyright or intellectual property laws

In this episode Alan and Bhairav ponder the metaverse and whether it is something that entrepreneurs and business owners should get involved with immediately or whether it is wiser to wait and see where the technology leads us

This is something we've all felt as entrepreneurs - should I carry on with my business or give up and do something else. In this podcast, Alan and Bhairav relate their experiences in the following areas: How do you realize if you should stop pushing on and figure out if it is really worth continuing your business? Importance of having options What to do when you have thoughts about quitting Import...

In this podcast you'll learn: - Can you have too many advisors? - Importance of understanding when you need help and what exactly you need help for? - Are there any downsides of working with an advisor? - How to make use of your advisor in the best way possible for your company - What differentiates between a coach, mentor, non exec director and an advisor?

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk about scaling, factors to consider while choosing partners and hiring.    In this podcast you'll learn: - How to hire the right people to maintain quality - Things to keep in mind while interviewing, on-boarding and managing your workforce - Positives and limitations of a distributed team - Importance of building a diverse team - 4-step checklist to...

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk about leadership and management, the qualities to look out for and what it takes to excel as a leader and a manager.   In this podcast you'll learn: - Difference between leadership and management - Can everyone be a leader? - What makes a great manager? - Roles and responsibilities for being a better leader and a manager - How important is influence for...

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk about market plan and how to define one before entering a new market.    In this podcast you'll learn: - Importance of understanding market strategy - How you identify who to target - Importance of refining your messaging, advertising and marketing for the market you are targeting - Is Pivoting closely related to fine tuning your market strategy

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk all about the art of pitching and what entrepreneurs need to keep in mind while preparing, delivering and getting feedback for their pitch. In this podcast you'll learn: - Importance of pitch - Purpose of a pitch - its not always to get investment - Alan's 7 principles when it comes to pitching - Identifying your objective - Common mistakes made by entreprene...

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk about tech and what business owners need to think about when implementing technology into their company In this podcast you'll learn: What tech should you implement? When should you implement it? How do you go about implementing technology? Does tech drive the business? Why do tech products fail? Should you build or buy? How do you choose the right software f...

In this episode Alan and Bhairav talk all things "pitch deck" Both Alan and Bhairav outline the slides described by Guy Kawasaki in his post, "The only 1o slides you need in your pitch" and add their own experience and flavour to that methodology https://guykawasaki.com/the-only-10-slides-you-need-in-your-pitch/ In this podcast you'll learn: The key slides you need in your pitch deck Why they are...

What do you do when life throws you a curve ball? The regular listeners may have noticed that we haven't published an episode for some time and that was because Alan has unfortunately been in hospital (not getting a face life but nothing serious) This was a curve ball not only for the podcast but also his business, meaning that he was unable to honour many of his commitments How did he deal with t...

We often get asked by entrepreneurs what the best way is to advertise on a budget. In this week's podcast Alan and Bhairav discuss: How do you execute a marketing strategy on a shoe string budget? What do you need to be saying to your audience? What makes a good story for your business? What channels should you be using to speak to your audience? Is a direct approach better to an indirect approach...