Launchbase: Building Tech Products & Scaling Startups

Building the Future: AI Forge's Mission

In this episode of LaunchBase, John Radford sits down with Kevin Jackson, Chairman of AI Forge, to explore what it takes to build and scale AI startups. Kevin shares his journey from advertising to AI, the mission of AI Forge, and the rigorous selection process founders must go through. They dive into the challenges and opportunities in AI, the role of resilience in entrepreneurship, and why AI is becoming as fundamental as electricity.
If you're an aspiring AI founder or curious about where AI is heading, this episode is packed with insights on funding, innovation, and the future of work.
 
 

From Banking to Angel Investing: Katie Dunn's Journey

In this episode of Launch Base, host John Radford is joined by Katie Dunn, an angel investor and startup advisor, to discuss her journey from corporate banking to the world of angel investing. They dive into the critical role of personal branding on LinkedIn, the key qualities that make a successful founder, and the evolving startup ecosystem. Katie shares valuable insights on navigating investor relationships, the significance of founder-market fit, and the growing impact of AI in investment opportunities. Tune in for practical tips on fundraising, networking, and leveraging your unique skills to succeed in the startup world.
Takeaways:
The importance of LinkedIn for building a personal brand and network.
Insights on the transition from corporate banking to angel investing.
What makes a successful founder, and why experience matters.
How to effectively communicate with investors and tell your story.
The evolving role of AI in investment strategies and startup success.
Listen now for actionable advice on securing investment and scaling your startup!

Is Europe’s Startup Scene Ready to Go American?

In this episode of LaunchBase, I sit down with Dan Bowyer, partner at Super Seed, to discuss early-stage investing and why Europe’s tech scene needs a serious shift.
We cover:
✅ Why Dubai’s tech hype doesn’t compare to Europe and the US model✅ How Europe can ‘Americanise’ its approach to funding and scaling✅ The importance of founder-market fit and how it drives investment decisions✅ Why personalized outreach trumps cold emails when raising capital✅ Dan’s new fund focusing on very early-stage startups and what it takes to win
Dan also shares his thoughts on the differences between the European and US startup ecosystems, why second-time founders have an edge, and why having skin in the game is crucial for attracting serious investors. Tune in for insights on how to better navigate early-stage funding and take your startup to the next level.

Inside the VC Mind: What Founders Get Wrong About Fundraising

In this episode of LaunchBase, I sit down with Kiran Mehta, a former VC turned startup advisor, to break down the biggest mistakes founders make when raising capital. We cover:
✅ Why B2B SaaS is the safer bet for UK VCs✅ What investors really want to see at pre-seed, seed, and Series A✅ The funding challenges founders are facing today—and how to navigate them✅ The real tipping point for scaling a SaaS startup✅ Common founder mistakes (and how great founders set themselves apart)
Kiran also shares insights on his transition from VC to working directly with founders, why some startups struggle to raise pre-seed funding, and the importance of hiring well, proving commercial traction early, and knowing when to say no to bad deals.

From Idea to Seven Figures: Callum Woodcock’s Journey with WineFi

In this episode of Launchbase, I sit down with Callum Woodcock, the founder & CEO of WineFi, a platform that’s transforming fine wine into an accessible investment class.
 
🚀 Key Highlights:
How Callum went from idea to £1M+ in revenue within seven months.
The power of building in public and leveraging LinkedIn for early traction.
Raising £500K in an oversubscribed pre-seed round—before even having a product.
Why personal brand matters for startup founders (and how Callum got his whole team posting).
The mindset shift that helped him overcome rejection while fundraising.
 
📢 One big takeaway? Startups don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they don’t find product-market fit fast enough. WineFi nailed it early—before even launching a platform.

From Police Officer to 7-Figure Exit: Eddie Whittingham’s No-BS Guide

In this episode of Launchbase, John Radford sits down with Eddie Whittingham—ex-police officer, lawyer, and tech entrepreneur. Eddie bootstrapped The Defense Works, a cybersecurity training company, and successfully exited to Proofpoint, a NASDAQ-listed firm. Now, he’s building Ministry of Work, a premium co-working space for ambitious founders.
They discuss:
✅ Bootstrapping to exit—what worked and what didn’t✅ The role of luck vs. hard work in startup success✅ Why most online training is terrible—and how Eddie made it better✅ The reality of selling a business—how Proofpoint found him through LinkedIn✅ Why founder networks matter more than ever

Crowdfunding Chronicles: Startup Success with Jonathan Keeling

Jonathan Keeling has seen fundraising from all angles—helping CrowdCube raise over £1B for 1,000 startups and now scaling Haatch from £50M to £250M AUM.
In this episode, we dive into the realities of startup fundraising, crowdfunding do’s and don’ts, and what investors really look for. We also explore how UK investors differ from their US counterparts, the rise of AI-powered startups, and why recycled capital is key to a thriving ecosystem. If you’re raising or investing, this one’s for you!

Disrupting the Status Quo with Gabriela Hersham, Co-Founder and CEO of Huckletree

This week, we end off Season 1 with a bang as we sit down with Gabriela Hersham, Co-Founder and CEO of Huckletree. Huckletree is the home of conscious entrepreneurship across the UK and Ireland, providing a network of mentors, talent, investors and experts, along with the right services to help their members grow.We discuss what the future of work may look like in a post-pandemic world, the role of community in facilitating growth and avoiding the founder trap of approaching the startup as a lifestyle, rather than a stackable business. Sources:Huckletree: https://www.huckletree.com/about

Don’t Stop Retrieving with Rikke Rosenlund, Founder of Borrow My Doggy

With the dog days of lockdown slowly lifting, there are businesses that have built and maintained communities that have kept the world a happier place and our guests this week are one of them. BorrowMyDoggy is a digital platform that connects dog owners with trusted local people who would love to look after their dog and make it easy to arrange walks, playtime, overnight stays or holidays. Grab a coffee and sit back as we discuss all things funding and launch, the importance of building a community with your users and the importance of the pivot in accommodating platforms that rely on community building during the pandemic. Sources:Borrow My Doggy - https://cutt.ly/4x4KkPsThe Mom Test - https://cutt.ly/kx4KSVP

It Takes A Village with Rachael Box, Founder of Local Village Network

When it comes to developing digital products, it takes a village. And when it comes to building product for companies that strive to do good in the world, it makes the journey that much sweeter. This week at Launch Base HQ, we are joined by Rachael Box, Founder of Local Village Network (LVN). LVN are a charity dedicated to tackling network poverty and social inequality. Our sponsor Borne Agency partnered with LVN in delivering a native mobile application, connecting young people to volunteers and a world of opportunities.We touch base on the influence of tech in bridging network poverty and what that entails and the future of "tech for good." Our host discusses the importance of keeping your user in mind when it comes to designing products for charities and defining your product roadmap through user-testing sessions as your product evolves.Sources:Website: https://www.lvn.org.uk/Download the App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/lvn/id1209440307