In the latest episode of How To Start Up, we’re joined by Rachel Harris, Co-Founder of StriveX & Founder of Accountant She. Passionate about financial well-being and running values-led businesses, Rachel has created a modern, cloud‑focused accountancy and tax advisory firm for both businesses and individuals alongside a platform for business owners to find accessible, consumable, financial education. 

Listen to the episode to hear Rachel’s advice on  the highs and lows of running a business. Why loneliness is something that you should not ignore, what you should ask an accountant when you are vetting your first one, how they can become your business partner, how to manage people within the business, and so much more.

In the latest episode of How To Start Up we’re joined by Chloë Luxton, founder of Bramley. With sustainability as a top priority, Bramley is providing customers with botanical magic through natural fragrances, bulk refill pouches, and recycled packaging.

Listen to Chloë’s episode to hear how she got started and why slow growth was her friend. Also, her perspective on B Corp and the pros and the cons of getting certified as well as the pros and cons of being a founder and how to manage that isolation that can often feel relentless.

In this episode of How To Start Up, we hear from Caragh Keane, founder of SUPERKEEN. A shock lupus diagnosis in 2021 turned her world upside down and sparked a radical shift in her lifestyle. 

Refusing to settle for a life dependent on medication and steroids, Caragh took matters into her own hands - turning to food as a tool for healing. What followed was not just a personal transformation, but the birth of SUPERKEEN: a brand on a mission to make healthier, natural food options more accessible, supporting gut health and nourishing the body from the inside out.

Tune in as Caragh shares how adversity became her launchpad, why she believes food is powerful medicine, and what it really takes to build a business with purpose.

Starting a business is tough & making sales in a challenging economic climate is even harder. So, resilience is key to keeping on track. 

But how can we manage rejection alongside the expected setbacks? To find out, I spoke with Lauren Currie OBE, Founder of UPFRONT, a global organisation upskilling 10 million women. Teams at Nike and Just Eat have enrolled their teams in UPFRONT’s Bond course to transform their team culture.

Keep listening to hear Lauren’s advice on developing resilience in sales & when to acknowledge you should probably cut your losses.

Welcome to How To Start Up — the podcast that dives into the real stories behind the startups, side hustles, and self-made successes. I’m your host, Juliet Fallowfield, founder of the B Corp PR & podcasting consultancy, and our latest guest is a force to be reckoned with.

Jamila Brown is an American-German powerhouse who moved to London at 21 and after being told her life was “over” when she became a single mum at 24 — proved everyone wrong.

From running Soho House’s global ESG programme to discovering her knack for freelancing during a sabbatical, Jamila’s journey to founding her own impact agency is anything but linear — and that’s exactly why it’s inspiring.

Today, she’s a business owner, a mum of two, a wife, and a sustainability and social impact champion. This is an honest, motivating chat about reinvention, resilience, and knowing your worth.

Welcome back to How To Start Up, the podcast for early-stage entrepreneurs. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Emma and Kenny, the co-founders of HipPop — a gut-friendly drinks brand that’s shaking up the soft drinks aisle. While many might have pigeonholed their product as just kombucha, Emma and Kenny have taken a bold and intentional route: positioning HipPop as a go-to soft drinks brand, not a wellness niche.

We talk about what it takes to enter a new market, how branding beyond a product category can be a superpower, and why really listening to your customer is key. From humble beginnings in a farmhouse to securing shelf space in major retailers, their story is packed with practical insight for anyone launching into a crowded space.

Welcome to How To Start Up, the podcast for anyone looking to start & scale their own business. I'm Juliet Fallowfield & today we’re discussing viral marketing with Lucie Macleod, founder of the TikTok sensation, Hair Syrup.

Founded in 2020 with no prior entrepreneurial experience, Lucie combined her understanding of consumer behavior with social media creativity, to turn a handmade hair oil into THE beauty must-have with over 350,000 engaged TikTok followers & rapid, 1,000% year-on-year growth. 

After an appearance on BBC Dragon’s Den, the brand is now on track to hit £6.5 million in revenue by 2026.

Building a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand offers an incredible opportunity to connect with customers and foster long-term brand loyalty. But while the rewards can be significant, so too are the challenges and barriers to entry. That’s why I wanted to speak with someone who has successfully navigated this journey for our season focus on sales.

From modest beginnings in a Shoreditch coffee shop in 2011, David Abrahamovitch has built Grind into one of the UK’s leading DTC coffee brands. Having built a hugely loyal customer base, it’s estimated a Grind coffee is enjoyed every 2.8 seconds in the UK. David’s business has also grown through partnerships with the likes of British Airways & Soho House.

Keep listening to hear David’s advice on how to build a DTC brand & how to leverage community-building to generate sales. 

PWC reports that over 80% of consumers are willing to pay higher prices for sustainably produced goods so environmental responsibility is clearly a lucrative business as well as being the right thing to do. 

Laura Harnett is the Founder of Seep, the only B Corp-certified, plastic-free cleaning tool brand in Europe. Having raised a £50,000 Dragons’ Den investment from Trinny Woodall & Deborah Meaden, Laura & her team are on a mission to stop 1 billion plastic cleaning tools from entering landfill by 2030.  

Keep listening to hear Laura’s advice on learning how to sell as a first-time founder & how to make your sales process as sustainable as possible.

How to scale your business to £30m+ of sales with Guy Blaskey, Founder of Pooch & Mutt

Starting a business is a huge effort, but scaling it to new heights takes a great deal of skill. So, I wanted to hear from a serial founder who has not only grown and scaled a multi-million-pound business, but also decided to start from scratch and do it again.

Guy Blaskey founded healthy pet food business Pooch & Mutt in 2007. Having scaled it to £30 million in sales, he sold the business in 2023 for £11.5 million. Since then, Guy has founded Detrash to upcycle waste products into high quality watches.  

Keep listening to hear Guy’s advice on what he learnt about a sales strategy, selling a business & why laying the operational foundations is one of the most important things you can do. 

How to bring a product to market with Kinga Wilewska, Founder of MUJO

When it comes to bringing a product to market, there are lots of aspects to consider before it reaches the shelves.

To learn more, I wanted to hear from someone who has successfully launched products to market. Kinga Wilewska is the Founder & CEO of MUJO, the adaptogenic coffee alternative packed with vital nutrients. Having watched her dad lose his fight against cancer, Kinga developed a keen interest in adaptogens & set out to bring truly transformational products to market.

How to find clients & generate loyalty with Lucy Goff, Founder of LYMA. As any founder needs to conquer their fear of sales I wanted to interview a founder who rapidly grew a new sector. After overcoming chronic illness, Founder of LYMA, Lucy Goff, set out to redefine the wellness landscape and share her learnings. Since launching in 2017, LYMA has been at the forefront of science-driven wellness & health optimisation securing listings with Harrods & Harvey Nichols with its truly transformational & effective supplements. Keep listening to hear Lucy’s advice on acquiring & retaining clients & what to consider when developing a loyalty programme.

How to generate sales overseas with Thea Green MBE, Founder of Nails.INC. With only 11.9% of UK SMEs exporting their goods & services internationally, more support is needed to help businesses scale overseas. So, I wanted to hear from a founder who has generated millions in international sales. Thea Green MBE founded Nails.INC in 1999 at the age of 23 & has since revolutionised the UK nail care industry with her polishes & treatments. In 2013, Nails.INC was awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise for international trade & today exports to over 20 countries. Keep listening to hear Thea’s advice on how to get started with sales and then how to conquer exporting.