Building Tech Products & Scaling Startups: Launchbase
Launchbase is the go-to podcast for startup founders and tech leaders building and scaling software products. Hosted by John Radford (software expert with $50M+ in funding success), each 30-minute episode brings practical insights on AI adoption, product strategy, and scaling high-performing teams. Hear from real founders, investors, and CTOs as they unpack the challenges of building tech, raising funds, and navigating digital transformation.
Episodes
From Exit to Execution: Griffin Parry on Scaling SaaS, Product Mark Fit and GTM
In this episode of Launchbase, John Radford sits down with Griffin Parry, founder and CEO of M3ter and former co-founder of Gamesparks (acquired by Amazon), to explore the realities of scaling a SaaS startup in a fast-changing market.
Griffin shares his journey from corporate life to building, exiting, and starting again. We explore lessons from Gamesparks and how they’re influencing his latest v
From Bootstrap to Millions: Jack Henderson's Journey
In this episode of Launch Base, host John Radford interviews Jack Henderson, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully built and scaled multiple ventures in the healthcare sector without initial investment. Jack shares his journey from medical recruitment to founding KPI Health, discussing the challenges of cash flow management, the importance of having the right team, and the transition from fou
UK vs US Tech: Inside the Mind of a Modern VC with Alistair Russell
In this episode, John Radford sits down with Alistair Russell, investor at Venrex, to unpack the realities of startup fundraising, the evolving nature of venture capital, and the key differences between the UK and US tech ecosystems. Alistair shares his personal journey into VC, lessons learned from early bets, and what separates average startups from exceptional ones.
From the importance of produ
The Art and Science of Startup Investment
In this episode, John Radford interviews Tony Kula, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor, discussing the intricacies of early-stage B2B SaaS investing. They explore the importance of founder characteristics, the balance between bootstrapping and seeking funding, common mistakes made by founders, and the role of an angel investor. Tony shares insights from his investment journey, emphasizing
The Art of Storytelling in Startups
In this episode of Launch Base, host John Radford speaks with Phil McSweeney, an advisor and author, about the challenges founders face in scaling their businesses. They discuss the importance of storytelling, the reasons behind founder failures, and the key traits that make exceptional founders. Phil shares insights on angel investing, the significance of brand positioning, and the impact of no-c
From Tech to Tranquility: The Unplugged Journey
In this episode of Launchbase, host John Radford speaks with Hector Hughes, co-founder of Unplugged, a hospitality startup focused on providing digital detox experiences through off-grid cabins. Hector shares his journey from the tech industry to creating a business that encourages people to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with nature. The conversation explores the impact of digital de
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
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
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 perso
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
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
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 a
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 recy
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
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
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 pa
Growing Pains with Roy Shelton, Managing Partner at DropJaw Ventures
Different founders make different kinds of mistakes. This is where DropJaw comes in. DropJaw Ventures are a specialist business advisory firm and provide access to capital, interim management and advisory services to scale up businesses and companies in need of a turnaround.
This week, we have an insightful discussion with Roy Shelton, Managing Partner at DropJaw Ventures on the challenges faced b
Pivot Your Product Market Fit with Lydia Jones, Founder and CEO of Housemates with Lydia Jones, Founder and CEO of Housemates
Execution is everything. This morning, our host is joined by Lydia Jones, Founder and CEO of Housemates. Housemates is a marketplace to discover and book student accommodation in minutes. Lydia has been featured in TechRound’s 29 under 29 for 2020 and BusinessCloud’s 35 under 35 to watch in the UK.
We discuss staying curious when solving a problem through product and building a product your users
Let’s Iterate It with Andy Skipper, Founder and Chief CTO Coach at CTO Crafts
This week, we decode the role of CTO with our guest Andy Skipper, Founder and Chief CTO Coach at CTO Craft. CTO Craft’s community brings together technology leaders from across the world, from small startups to global organisations. They offer an easily digestible range of deep-dive courses and programmes to help technology leaders of all experience levels. We discuss the role of a CTO, what that
’Will AI and Machine Learning Terminate Us?’ with Mads Jensen - Managing Partner at SuperSeed
The terms 'Artificial Intelligence', 'Machine Learning' and 'Big Data' have been in the limelight throughout 2020 and 2021 has been no exception. Our guest this week saw this potential and their portfolio demonstrates this. This week, our host has a catch up with Mads Jensen, Managing Partner at SuperSeed. SuperSeed accelerates B2B startups in launching great AI-focused products. John picks Mad's
Just F****ing Launch It with Dr Charles Armitage, Co-Founder and CEO of Florence
When it comes to scaling a business from the ground up, you want to build a category-defining company that owns the entire space and adds value for your users. This week, John dives in with Dr Charles Armitage, Co-Founder and CEO of Florence, an online marketplace that connects independent nurses and carers for freelance shifts.
Re-inventing your startup at every opportunity is key whilst scaling
Getting Curious with Wills Hapworth - Managing General Partner at TIA Ventures
Passion, Resilience, Coachable, Curiosity.
These are the qualities that seed/pre-seed investment firms like TIA Ventures look for in entrepreneurs and bringing 'Thought Into Action'. This week, John grabs a virtual coffee with Wills Hapworth, Managing General Partner at TIA Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund that partners with companies building emotional and visceral connections with the
Launching It Lean with Nick Miller- UK Country Manager at PayFit
Execution is everything. When launching your digital product, you should always have the “why” and the “how” and sell your product in just one sentence. This week, we sit down with Nick Miller, UK Country Manager for Payfit on launching your product lean and focusing on the “less is more” mantra. Understanding your user and what problem you are solving for them through your MVP will save you money
The Agile Entrepreneur with Lex Deak - Founder of Basket
For those of us starting the journey towards launching our own business or startup, taking those first steps may seem daunting. This week, we have a chat with Lex Deak, Founder of Basket, on delving into the vast and multi-faceted world of entrepreneurship and starting a business from the ground up: the good, the bad and the funny.
Launching A Product During a Pandemic with Molly Johnson-Jones - Co-Founder at flexa
To say that 2020 was a rollercoaster ride is the understatement of the century. In times of chaos, however, comes opportunity. This week, we sit down with Molly Johnson-Jones, Co-Founder of flexa, to discuss launching your product during a pandemic and the challenges and opportunities that come with keeping your product and startup thriving in the chaos.
Sowing The Seed and Getting Funded with Robert Walsh – Managing Partner at Q Ventures.
We're in a business climate transformed by a global pandemic and tech founders need help figuring out how to navigate the seed round and impress investors and stand out from the crowd. This week, we sit down with Robert Walsh, the Managing Partner at Q Ventures. Robert answers our burning questions: What key qualities do investors look for in your business? What is your idea disrupting? Is it nece
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