Startup Sensations

S6 Ep11 (Bonus) - David Fogel is the co-founder of Alma Angels, a trailblazing community dedicated to supporting startups with at least one female founder, and on a mission to generate $1 trillion in women-led wealth by 2050. In this bonus episode, David joins Bulent Osman and Shelley Bays to discuss the evolution of angel investing, the importance of diversity in early-stage funding, and the powe...

S6 Ep10 – Charlie Barlow is CEO of ConnectedLife, a pioneering digital healthcare company, author of “Dreaming of Unicorns”, and a British entrepreneur with a global perspective shaped by years working across Asia, the Middle East, and the UK. In this thought-provoking episode, Charlie Barlow joins host Bulent Osman to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of building tech startups i...

S6 Ep9 – Peter Segal is a Principal at Ogilvie, a seasoned headhunter who has played a pivotal role in shaping executive teams for some of the world’s leading tech and fintech firms across the UK, Europe, and the US. In this fascinating discussion, Peter Segal shares first-hand insights into the evolution of recruitment and startup culture over the past three decades. Together with hosts Shelley B...

S6 Ep8 – Orla Lynskey is Professor of Law and Technology at University College London, a leading authority on digital regulation, data governance, and equality in tech. Her career spans international legal practice and academia, with a special focus on how technology shapes, and is shaped by, society. In this engaging episode, Orla sits down with Bulent Osman and Shelley Bays to unpack the evoluti...

S6 Ep7 – Maryna Steger is the dynamic CEO and co-owner of Watch Advisor, a leading digital media house based in Switzerland and a major voice in the luxury watch industry. With a background in international relations, law, and digital marketing, Maryna brings a unique approach to entrepreneurship in the luxury sector. In this engaging episode, Maryna shares her journey from growing up in Belarus t...

S6 Ep6 – Don Stewart is the President & CEO of PlantForm Corporation, a pioneering Canadian biotech company revolutionising pharmaceutical manufacturing using plant-based technology. In this engaging episode, Don shares firsthand insights into his entrepreneurial journey, shedding light on disruptive innovations in biopharmaceuticals, the challenges of breaking into the conservative pharmaceutical...

S6 Ep5 – Sam Dunning is a dynamic founder, B2B marketing specialist and host of the Breaking B2B podcast, joining us from the UK with a wealth of experience in SEO, content marketing and scaling tech agencies. In this episode, Sam shares his journey from web development to launching his own B2B agency, discussing the seismic shifts in online search, the rise of AI, and strategies for standing out...

S6 Ep4 – Hanim Dogan-Jain is a partner at Prime Advantage Capital Partners, as well as an  advisor, board member and passionate advocate for female founders. She has a rich international background spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. In this compelling episode, Hanim shares her journey from humble beginnings in Turkey to entrepreneurial success and venture capital leadership. The conversation dives...

S6 Ep3 – Noah Faro and Samir Dutta are the dynamic co-founders behind Farsight AI, a cutting-edge startup at the forefront of “Agentic AI” for financial services. Alongside their third co-founder Kanal Tangri, they are reimagining how AI drives productivity in the world’s most traditional industries. In this thought-provoking episode, Noah and Samir share first-hand insights from building a pionee...

S6 Ep2 – Sarah Woodhouse is a dynamic PR strategist, co-owner and Director of Ambitious, a Bristol-based public relations agency in the UK renowned for supporting fast-growing businesses with strategic comms, content, and innovation-led campaigns. In this episode, Sarah shares her remarkable journey from launching her PR career in London to building an agency in Asia, scaling it across Greater Chi...

S6 Ep1 – Scott Bok is a former CEO, investment banking trailblazer, and author of “Surviving Wall Street: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy and Timing.” Having taken his boutique New York firm from its entrepreneurial roots all the way to a multi-billion-dollar IPO, Scott brings a wealth of experience and authentic insights from the dynamic world of financial services. In this thought-provoking episode,...

Jesse DeCosta is a creative entrepreneur, artist, and founder of DeCosta Global, a leading branding and marketing firm working with some of the world’s biggest names, from Hollywood stars to global corporations. In this insightful episode, Jesse shares the unvarnished truth behind his journey – from drawing caricatures at a theme park to building a multi-division business with decades-long partner...

S5 Ep11 – Ted Elvhage is a pioneering Swedish entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Expansion Aerospace Ventures, one of Europe’s largest space and defence-focused VC funds. In this enlightening episode, Ted joins hosts Shelley Bays and Bulent Osman to unpick the accelerating world of space technology, revealing how “space” is already an essential part of our daily lives. From his own transfor...

S5 Ep10 - Marta Emerson is a dynamic Spanish entrepreneur, renowned for her influential YouTube presence and her dedication to empowering solopreneurs and small business founders through online education and mentoring. In this insightful episode, Marta shares her personal journey from humble beginnings and navigating the early Spanish startup environment, to building a thriving personal brand that...

S5 Ep9 – Michelle Blieberg is a seasoned HR leader, executive coach, and architect of leadership programmes, whose career spans global giants such as Charles Schwab, UBS Investment Bank, and Time Warner, as well as nimble startups. In this practical and insightful episode, Michelle joins Shelley and Bulent from Connecticut in the US to unpack the real-world contrasts of leading HR in large versus...

S5 Ep8 -  Mike Turner, co-founder and Managing Director of Bird and Blend Tea Company, shares his journey from starting out with his ex-wife to building a thriving tea company with now 25 stores across the UK. Mike discusses a wide range of topics, from the company's unique approach to creating innovative tea blends and spreading happiness to the challenges of growing a business amid changing econ...

S5 Ep7 - Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger, joins us to share insights from his journey in the podcast industry. Recognised as a titan in British podcasting, Tony, along with his co-founder, Gary Lineker, the former professional footballer and TV host, is behind some of the UK’s most successful podcasts like The Rest Is History. In this engaging episode, Tony discusses the podcasting landscape...

S4 Ep6 - Jeff Wallace, a prominent figure in the world of startups, is an expert in accelerating businesses with his initiatives, Silicon Valley in Your Pocket and The Batchery. Joining the conversation from New Zealand, Jeff brings valuable insights from his extensive experience across continents. In this thought-provoking episode, Jeff Wallace shares his journey from Wall Street to Silicon Valle...

S5 Ep5 - Carrie Osman is the founder and CEO of Cruxy, a growth intelligence specialist company based in London. With a background from Mars and an entrepreneurial mindset nurtured from childhood, Carrie has built a dynamic business serving high-growth B2B tech sectors globally. In this engaging episode, Carrie shares her journey from the early challenges of starting Cruxy to the successes she enj...

S5 Ep4 - Tommaso Trionfi is an Italian serial entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Noro, a company revolutionising the business travel experience with life-size immersive portals. In this engaging episode, Tommaso shares his journey from being a curious young man in Rome to becoming a pioneering force in the tech industry across multiple continents. He discusses the inception and evolution o...

S5 Ep3 - Leo Rogers is the innovative co-founder and CEO of Curvo, a burgeoning tech startup leveraging AI to revolutionise sales enablement and coaching. In this invigorating episode, Leo divulges his entrepreneurial journey, from dropping out of university to founding Curvo, which aims to provide real-time coaching to sales representatives using artificial intelligence. He opens up about the ini...

S5 Ep2 - Fabrice Marquet is an accomplished entrepreneur and the innovative Co-Founder of Monaco Foundry, a venture dedicated to fast-tracking access to market for innovation and revolutionising the fundraising process for startups. In this fascinating episode, Fabrice shares his journey from being a scientist to becoming an entrepreneur, discussing his impressive academic background and his enric...

S5 Ep1 - Kyle Whitehill, CEO of Avanti Communications, reflects on his career, personal values and experiences with the startup community. In this insightful episode, Kyle joins hosts Shelley Bays and Bulent Osman to delve into the nuances of transitioning from a corporate role to entrepreneurial ventures. Kyle shares wisdom from his career, discusses the impact of personal values, and explores th...

S4 Bonus Ep5 - Phill Robinson is the founder of Boardwave, a networking community connecting CEOs and founders of software companies across Europe. With his belief that access to knowledge, skills, and experience is critical to success, Phill provides a space for software leaders to share best practices and ideas.  In this conversation with Bulent and Shelley, he discusses why it is important we c...

Sarah Turner founded Angel Academe 11 years ago to make a real difference. She has built this successful angel investor network into a supportive and empowering environment to encourage more women to join the startup ecosystem.  In this episode, Sarah discusses the key issues faced by women founders and early-stage investors, offering practical advice for both. Key points include: The qualities in...