The Mergers Podcast

"I helped break up a human trafficking ring in Stockholm. That was one of my first forays into compliance." Ambreen Khasru isn’t your typical corporate executive. As the Head of Compliance at eToro and a former leader at Zilch, Juni, and Monese , she has spent her career at the bleeding edge of the Fintech revolution. But her journey didn't start in a boardroom; it began in the musi...

Jon Coker is the Founding Partner at Eka Ventures - the UK's largest early-stage impact VC, which has just closed an £80M Fund II. Before founding Eka, Jon spent 11 years at MMC Ventures, rising from analyst to Co-Managing Partner and backing some of Europe's most iconic consumer companies: Interactive Investor (£1.7B exit), Gousto, Bloom & Wild, and Mubi. In this episode, he breaks...

What happens when a founder exits multiple startups and then builds a start-up focused Investment Banking platform from scratch? In this episode, Rory and Ken sit down with Jason Kirby — founder of Thunder VC , ex-founder of LiquidSky (acquired for $40M+), and an advisor on over $200M in startup transactions . Jason shares the raw truths about venture capital, selling companies, the AI investment...

Rob Cossins (Co-founder & CEO, Scribe) on the real founder journey: why entrepreneurship is not for everyone, the seven-year build-up from Barclays to AI/data, and how to decide when to raise (and when not to). We get into failing his very first interview (PE at BlackRock), why the jobs are still there (it's just more competitive) and why your founder network is your unfair advantage . Ro...

Tom Hughes’ career has been anything but normal. He started out as a Dublin kid tracking stock prices on BBC Ceefax, went into equity research before the ’08 crash, and then got 'super-fired' like thousands of others. From there he somehow blagged his way into Bloomberg with a bold doorstep pitch. He’s moved through private capital research (Gartner), relationship intelligence (Affinity)...

In this episode of The Mergers, we sit down with Hanna Lewis, investor at Blue Wire Capital and former operator turned founder with unrivaled experience across all aspects of Entrepreneurship and VC. From making burritos in San Diego to becoming Chief of Staff at a hyperscaling tech company, Hanna's path into venture capital was anything but linear. She shares candid reflections on her journe...

In this episode of The Mergers , Rory and Ken sit down with Jonathan Palmer (JP) — a cybersecurity pioneer who’s worked with elite intelligence units, Fortune 500 firms, and accidentally acquired the patent for secure internet transactions. With a journey spanning decades — from setting up his first tech company on a pasting table in Putney to running global encryption deals across most of the wor...

From £3,000 to a $30 million hedge fund by age 21. In this explosive episode of The Mergers , we sit down with Marceau Dova, the 21-year-old founder of MCD Capital. He takes us through the wild journey of building a hedge fund from scratch at university - starting with £3,000, bootstrapping with student researchers, selling newsletters to prop firms, and ultimately landing institutional backing. W...

From investigating corruption in the prison system to identifying the next decade’s biggest investment opportunities, Eric Markowitz has built a career on deep research, contrarian thinking, and long-term conviction. In this episode of The Mergers Podcast, Ken and Rory sit down with Eric - Managing Partner & Director of Research at Nightview Capital - to discuss: Investigative Journalism &...

From a small bedsit in South London to Managing Director at BlackRock - Henry Odogwu’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode of The Mergers Podcast , Rory and Ken sit down with Henry to discuss: Growing up in a Nigerian immigrant household:  How his father's journey from bank manager in Nigeria to security guard in London shaped his work ethic. Breaking into finance with no...

In this episode of The Mergers Podcast , Rory and Ken welcome Laila, a trailblazer in fund finance with an inspiring journey. Now at Validus Risk Management, a boutique firm facilitating over half a trillion dollars in trades, Laila shares her unique insights into the world of private capital management. Starting her career at PNC Financial Services (a $75 billion market cap bank), Laila ascended...

In this episode of The Mergers Podcast, Ken and I sit down with Mahim Husnain, Investment Associate at ITV Adventures, to dive into the relatively new media-for-equity model reshaping venture capital. Discover how ITV leverages its reach-over 70% of UK households-to empower startups, scale brands, and disrupt traditional VC approaches. Key topics include: 📺 The power of TV advertising in building...

In Episode 15 of The Mergers Podcast , Rory and Ken sit down with Karan Chouhan , Series B and C investor at Valiance , to explore the dynamics of venture capital, career transitions, and finding the right team to make big ideas work. From his early days in finance at Barclays and KPMG to transitioning into venture capital through Mountside Ventures, Karan shares an inspiring journey filled with b...

Welcome to Episode 14 of The Mergers Podcast! In this episode, Rory and Ken dive into the rapidly evolving world of crypto and institutional finance with Charlie Preston , Relationship Manager at Copper, one of the UK’s leading crypto companies. Copper's cutting-edge custodial solutions are reshaping how institutions securely trade and hold digital assets, and Charlie shares invaluable insigh...

Breaking Barriers in Venture Capital [Special Guest - Eleanor Kaye] In this episode of the Mergers Podcast, we’re joined by Eleanor Kaye , Managing Director of the Newton Venture Program, to discuss her unconventional career path and mission to democratize access to venture capital. From her early career in media to her transformative role at Palantir, Eleanor opens up about the pivotal moments th...

In Episode 12 of the Mergers Podcast, The Merger's member, Hector Mendez gives an inside look into the demanding world of investment banking. With 6 years of experience leading major tech M&A deals, including a $250 million sale to Ripple Labs, Hector shares what it really takes to succeed in IB—from mastering financial models to navigating the intense "up-or-out" culture. He al...

In this episode, Rory and Ken are back from a busy summer to sit down with Asif Ahmed, Head of Early Stage, Tech & High Growth at Cooper Parry. Known as the rebels of accountancy, Cooper Parry is shaking up the industry—and Asif’s career path is just as unconventional. From his family-business roots to his role in PwC and advisory positions, Asif shares how he’s managed to carve out a unique n...

In this episode we Navigate Treasury Management & Careers with Imran Siddiqi, Head of Treasury at Juni. With a rich background managing Treasury functions at Bitpanda, Belmont Green Finance, and Paragon Banking Group, Imran shares his expertise on navigating liquidity, interest rate risk, and the ever-evolving financial landscape. Tune in as we explore his career journey, discuss the current m...

In this deeply introspective episode of The Mergers Podcast, Rory and Ken are joined by Basil, whose journey spans from a family empire in Sudan to the world of M&A. This conversation dives into the intersection of legacy, business, and leadership, offering invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, professionals, and those navigating family businesses. Key highlights include: Building a Legacy: Ba...

Join us in this insightful episode of "Mastering Finance Roles," where industry experts Tucker, Rory, Ken, and Josh break down the key responsibilities and career paths in Investment Banking, Research, Venture Capital, and Investor Relations/Sales. Dive deep into the lifecycle of M&A deals, discover the core strategies for tech investments, and learn the nuances of building and maint...

Go from Zero to Hero on all things Venture Capital in this episode featuring Josh from QVentures, Rory of Barclays, and Ken of Backfuture VC. This episode covers everything from round size (Pre-Seed to Series C), Sectors (Biotech and B2B SAAS), and why firms like Sequoia dominate deal flow. Get insiders' views on the dynamics of fundraising - for VCs and Entrepreneurs. The critical role of pi...

Dive into the high-stakes world of music and tech Private Equity investments with Matt Spetzler, Partner and Co-Head of Europe at Francisco Partners, managing $45 billion in capital. In this episode, Matt reveals the strategies behind transformative tech investments and his journey from engineering to equity. Explore how Francisco Partners shapes the tech landscape through strategic investments an...

In this episode of The Mergers Podcast, Rory and Ken are joined by Billy Gallagher, founder of Prospect, to explore the intersection of venture capital, startups, and career decision-making. Billy brings a wealth of experience, having started his journey at Stanford, covering early tech giants like Snapchat and DoorDash, and later joining Rippling as employee #30, helping scale it to 1,000 employe...

Welcome back to The Mergers Podcast! In this episode, host Rory Mason, along with co-host Josh, sits down with Sam, who runs London's premier Family Office Network. With a jaw-dropping backstory that spans Japan, Paris, Papua New Guinea, and beyond, Sam’s journey from a martial arts enthusiast and journalist to a key player in the family office world is as non-traditional as it gets. Key High...

Welcome to another episode of The Mergers Podcast, where we explore unique journeys and hard-earned insights from leaders in finance, venture capital, and family offices. In this episode, host Rory Mason is joined by special guest Russell Tucker, a former All-Africa Games champion turned investment banker and family office GFO managing over £100 million, alongside co-host Ken. Key Highlights: From...