Talking Frankly with Founders and Investors

Frankie is joined by Jinesh Vohra , Co-Founder & CEO of Sprive, to discuss his transition from Goldman Sachs to becoming a fintech founder. Jinesh reveals how his own mortgage experience led to building a platform that’s helping thousands of UK homeowners save millions in interest. They discuss the highs and lows of startup life, raising capital, building resilient teams, and why personal fina...

In this episode of Talking Frankly, Frankie speaks with Joe Roberts-Walker, founder of Mejuicer — the fresh, unpasteurised juice company shaking up the drinks industry. Joe shares how a second-hand juicer, lockdown restlessness, and a deep need to create something positive led him from his kitchen to supplying Amazon, Soho House, Ralph Lauren and more. This is a story of resilience, purpose, and b...

Six new episodes. Honest conversations with founders and investors who’ve built, pivoted, and kept going — even when things got tough. Narrated by Frankie Smith, with insights from some truly brilliant guests, this season is packed with bold thinking and practical advice. If you’re building something of your own or backing someone who is, you’ll want to listen in.

From spare room to standout firm. Jessica Sue Rasmussen, Co-Founder and CEO of Two Magnolias, shares how she built her business from the ground up — while raising a family, navigating imposter syndrome and staying true to her values. An honest and empowering listen for anyone building something of their own.

Episode 3: From Wedding Photographer to 2,000+ Weddings a Year – Samantha Gilchrist, The Gilchrist Collection. What does it take to go from photographing weddings to running one of the UK’s most successful wedding venue groups? In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Gilchrist, the powerhouse behind The Gilchrist Collection – a group of 12 wedding venues across the UK and US. From a chance view...

In this episode of Talking Frankly, Frankie speaks with Andrea Reynolds, Founder and CEO of Swoop. Andrea shares her journey from corporate finance to building Swoop, a platform transforming SME access to capital. She discusses raising funds, overcoming challenges in tech, staying “money ready,” and the lessons she’s learned along the way. A warm, honest conversation packed with practical advice f...

Talking Frankly with Simon Rogerson, Founder & CEO of Octopus In this episode of Talking Frankly, Frankie Smith sits down with Simon Rogerson — founder and CEO of Octopus, one of the UK’s most dynamic and values-driven companies. Simon shares how he went from working in asset management to launching Octopus from a small office above a Co-op, securing his first investors from the Yellow Pages....

Frankie chats to Ben Carter, investment manager in the life sciences team at Deepbridge Capital. Ben tells her what he looks for when he's weighing up whether to invest in an organisation, why he loves getting involved with companies at an early stage, and why he's learned more from his failures than his successes. To find out more about Frankie's network for professionals and entrepreneurs, visit...

Frankie speaks to Tom Gearing, founder of the fine wine investment company Cult Wines. Tom explains why his Dad's passion for wine was a crucial part of his entrepreneurial journey, why he believes it's vital to preserve your company culture as it grows, and why he splits the development of Cult Wines into three-to-five-year cycles. To find out more about Frankie's network for professionals and en...

Frankie chats to Alice Parmiter and Wynter Karo, founders of the bottled cocktail business, Pimentae. Alice and Wynter tell Frankie how they built up the company while working in corporate jobs in the early days, why their different skillsets mean they work well together as a team, and why they think you should never be afraid to ask for help along your entrepreneurial journey. To find out more ab...

Frankie chats to David Horne, founder of the social enterprise Funding Focus, which aims to level the playing field for female and underrepresented entrepreneurs when raising capital. David tells her why founders need to target specific venture capital firms rather than send their pitch to everyone, why the investment industry has a long way to go in terms of gender equality, and why his mum's att...

Frankie talks to Ruth Handcock, chief executive of Octopus Money, which is on a mission to bring friendly financial planning to millions of people. Ruth tells Frankie why it's hugely important to think long term about money, why building a great team is critical to being a successful company founder, and why leadership involves communicating effectively with the different types of people you work...

Frankie speaks to Katy Cottam, CEO of the microbiome balancing skincare brand Luna Daily. Katy tells Frankie why she thinks naivety can be a superpower when starting a company, why you need to be able to explain your business in under three minutes if you want to attract investors, and how she's educated herself financially along her founder journey. To find out more about Frankie's network for pr...

In each episode of Talking Frankly with Founders and Investors,  Frankie Smith, founder of Frankie's, a Financial Education Network dedicated to empowering you to be bold with the financial decisions you're making, speaks to investors and entrepreneurs about their financial journey, from seeking investment opportunities to pitching, fundraising and scaling their business, along with juggling...