Virgin StartUp Changemakers

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with GoHenry co-founder Louise Hill to explore what it takes to build a business that doesn't just solve a customer problem, but sets out to change the system around it. After seeing her own children struggle to understand the value of money in an increasingly digital world, Louise helped create GoHenry to give young peo...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with UNROOTED founder Nathan Clemes to explore how you build demand for a product when most of your customers have never heard of its hero ingredient. From leaving a career in finance to building a functional drinks brand around baobab, Nathan shares how UNROOTED turned an unfamiliar African fruit into a proposition cust...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with COAT Paints co-founder Rob Abrahams to explore how a startup can take on an established industry without trying to compete with everyone in it. From spotting a frustrating customer experience in a market dominated by longstanding brands to building a made-to-order paint business around a clearly defined audience, Ro...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Pretty Little Marketer founder Sophie Miller to explore how listening to your audience, experimenting in public and building genuine connection can turn an online following into a thriving business. What started as an Instagram page Sophie created while feeling lost about her own marketing career has grown into a co...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Desmond & Dempsey co-founder Molly Goddard to explore how a simple idea around pyjamas became a brand built around something much bigger: taking more pleasure in slowing down. From making their first 100 sets in London while working other jobs to collaborations with brands including H&M and the Natural Histo...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Fanbytes founder Timothy Armoo to explore why building a successful business isn't just about how hard you work, but choosing the right opportunity to work on in the first place. From starting his first business at 14 to launching Fanbytes at university and eventually selling the influencer marketing company in an e...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Childs Farm founder Joanna Jensen to explore how deep customer understanding, strong relationships and relentless persistence helped turn a personal problem into a major British skincare brand. Inspired by her daughter's eczema-prone skin, Joanna developed products she believed could better serve families like hers,...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Hertility co-founder Dr Helen O’Neill to explore what happens when scientific expertise, lived experience and a refusal to accept the status quo come together. From starting Hertility as a clinical trial to building a platform designed to give women better answers about their reproductive health, Helen shares why wo...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Nice and Serious co-founder Tom Tapper to explore how founders can turn purpose from something they talk about into something that actively shapes how they run their business. From landing a first project with Sky with no agency experience to building a purpose-led creative agency over 17 years, Tom shares why Nice...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Mous co-founder James Griffith to explore how relentless product development and attention-grabbing marketing helped turn an early failure into a global tech accessories brand. From losing their savings on the first version of Mous to moving to China to learn how to build better products, James shares why founders n...

This week's interview is with Connie Nam, Founder and CEO of jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu. Connie was inspired by childhood memories to create something different in the stale high street jewellery space. She's since built an iconic brand, beloved by an ever growing community of admirers and - importantly - customers. 💐 Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible. Recorded at:&nb...

In this episode of  Changemakers , recorded live at Virgin HQ, Natalie Pearce sits down with Colette Laxton, co-founder of The INKEY List – the cult skincare brand on a mission to make skincare simple, affordable, and backed by science. Colette’s story is one of bold moves and big learnings. She shares how a failed pitch to ASOS taught her the power of selling the dream, how Reddit inspired T...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Seedlip and Sylva founder Ben Branson to explore what can happen when founders follow their curiosity rather than simply searching for a gap in the market. From experimenting with botanical distillation at home to helping establish the alcohol-free drinks category, Ben shares the thinking behind Seedlip and his late...

In this episode of  Changemakers , recorded live at Virgin HQ, Natalie Pearce sits down with Freddie Garland, founder of Freddie’s Flowers — the subscription flower service that brought fresh blooms, creativity, and colour into thousands of UK homes. Freddie’s story starts with a milk float and a dream. From door-to-door sales and DIY Excel Gantt charts, to building a beloved household brand,...

Host Natalie Pearce sits down with Harriet Hastings, the innovative founder of Biscuiteers—a luxury biscuit-gifting brand that transformed the food gifting space. Harriet shares how her entrepreneurial leap came after stepping away from a successful career in publishing and PR, seeking greater control and flexibility as a mother of four. Starting Biscuiteers in her husband’s catering kitchen, Harr...

In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Black Seed co-founder Karl Lokko to explore what investors really look for in founders and why access to capital still isn't equal. From entering venture capital with little experience of how funds worked to raising millions to back Black founders, Karl shares the realities behind building Black Seed and challenging...

Changemakers is back - and we're kicking off this new season with a bang (or should we say a dream!) Welcoming star of social media and serial founder, Simon Squibb. Find out how Simon went from homeless to selling his business for millions to PWC, and why he's dedicating his time to making other founders' dreams come true. Hosted by Natalie Pearce. Visit www.virginstartup.org to find out about ho...

Subscribe to our new feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Take a look at our lineup for our new podcast launching next week!   We’ve been behind the scenes with some of the UK’s boldest business minds - who all happen to be Virgin StartUp Mentors — David Abrahamovitch (GRIND), Pip Murray (Pip & Nut), Olivia Jenkins (D. Louise), Andy McNulty (Touch Stay), Abi Selby (Spabreaks.com), and Alex...

We're back with a bonus! This week we meet the founder of Confident and Killing It, Tiwalola Adebayo. Tiwa's hosting our International Women's Day panel event alongside Grace Andrews and Michelle Feeney. Grab your ticket now at: https://www.virginstartup.org/events/leading-with-confidence-women-making-moves/ Follow Tiwa and Confident And Killing It on Instagram. The brand Tiwa mentioned is Kai Col...

It's the last episode of Changemakers for 2024 😭 We're going out with a bang though, with the co-founder of Too Good To Go, Jamie Crummie, who's helping millions of us reduce food waste with their tech platform built around a strong purpose. See you in 2025 for more inspiring conversations with founders creating sustainable impact across the UK. Are you a new or aspiring founder? Our Community ha...

This episode features an interview with Virgin StartUp Managing Director, Andy Fishburn, and Olivia Ferdi, co-founder of the wellness brand TRIP. Find out how Olivia and co-founder Dan have build the UK's 4th fastest growing company, helping millions of people along their wellness journeys. Are you a new or aspiring founder? Our Community has launched, providing a new home for founders in the UK....

This week we meet Olivia Rubin, the designer behind her eponymous brand. After graduating from Central St Martins, Olivia has led a fashion design career which is driven by passion. Find out more about Olivia here: https://www.instagram.com/oliviarubin/ Are you a new or aspiring founder? Our Community has launched, providing a new home for founders in the UK. Explore membership options here . Visi...

Changemakers is back! This week we meet Charlie Bowes-Lyon, co-founder and CMO of Wild. Wild have become one of the fastest brands in the UK thanks to their breakthrough branding, sustainability credentials, brilliant plastic-free products and a knack for cutting through the noise. Are you a new or aspiring founder? Our Community has launched, providing a new home for founders in the UK. Explore m...

It's #WorldEntrepreneurshipDay - and what better way to celebrate than listening to our latest podcast featuring an exclusive conversation between Holly Branson and Simon Sinek. 🌎💬 Recorded at our 10th birthday celebrations in London, Holly sat down with eternal optimist and Ted Talk sensation, Simon Sinek, to recognise the impact that you as founders all have on our society.  Holly and Sim...

Changemakers is back! This week we hear from David Abrahamovitch, CEO and founder of cult coffee brand Grind. Find out how David turned an old phone shop in Soho into 11 coffee shop-come-cocktail bars, a home-delivery empire, and even a contract with British Airways. Are you a new or aspiring founder? Our Community has launched, providing a new home for founders in the UK. Explore membership optio...