Frankly. The energy podcast for founders.

Episode 20. Running a startup optimising energy use for commercial customers

It's time for another episode of Frankly, hosted by  Steve Cook. 

In this episode Steve talks to David Hill, Commercial Director at Open Energi. David reveals to us an interesting origin story of Open Energi that has an unusual structure of running with an executive Chair rather than a CEO – we will know what the benefits and challenges of that model are. 

Tune in to learn about how David's approach to selling into very large complex customers.

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Episode 19. How to assess your readiness to scale and go through a transformational journey.

It's time for another episode of Frankly, hosted by our Operating Partner Steve Cook. 

In this episode Steve talks to Daryn Edgar, CEO at LYTT, recognised by ComputerWeekly’s Most Influential Women in UK IT and the Women in Technology Awards, Daryn speaks on a range of topics in digital technology, business development and diversity. As an active startup mentor, Board member and angel investor, Daryn is skilled at building relationships to produce value and influence direction.

In today's episode Steve and Daryn discuss that Lytt was a spun out of bp and Daryn came in as CEO shortly after – what were the challenges and advantages that came with it?

Tune in to learn about Daryn's take on the battle for tech talent right now -  LYTT has successfully hired a CTO – how they are making a compelling proposition to potential hires?

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to stay in the know!

Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Episode 18. Challenges of being a CEO during the lockdowns.

It's time for another episode of Frankly, hosted by our Operating Partner Steve Cook. 

In this episode Steve talks to Bruce Hall, CEO at Onyx Insight, who has grown rapidly over 100 people and recently won UK Queens awards for enterprise – one for innovation and one for export. Steve and Bruce try to answer the following questions: how to ensure that the team stays cohesive and culturally consistent during a rapid growth? How to attract and retain talent and why it might be a good idea for some start ups to consider unconventional locations for their business? 

Tune in to learn about one leadership lesson Bruce has learned that has been important for him?

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to stay in the know!

Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Episode 17. CEO journey and how to deal with the constant ups and downs of start-up life

It's time for another episode of Frankly, hosted by our Operating Partner Steve Cook. 

In this episode Steve talks to Chris Shannon, CEO at Fotech Group, established serial entrepreneur with 20+ years experience in a rapid growth, innovative, international environment. After spending a large part of his career as a CEO for various start-ups, Chris shares with us his advice on making it through a start-up rollercoaster, how it is important to stay focused, calm and positive. 

Tune in to learn about how to get the team know and understand each other and build level of trust. 

There is a big growth agenda for Fotech Group - and to help power that Fotech Group has recently hired a new COO, CTO and Head of Sales. Chris will tell us what has been done to get that new top management team working together effectively in a short period of time. 

Episode 16. Making a career move from a big corporation into a CEO of a rapidly scaling start-up

Frankly is back from summer holidays with our Operating Partner Steve Cook talking to CEOs and founders of Launchpad's portfolio and picking up their brains about things they have learned, some of the practical challenges they have dealt with as they scaled their companies over the past 2-3 years. 

In this episode Steve talks to Mike Popham, CEO at STRYDE, who is building a new seismic company, reinventing subsurface imaging. The two discuss how seismic is used outside of oil&gas in such industries such as geothermal, mining, carbon capture and storage. Mike reveals his journey from a corporate into a startup and what he has learned on the way - how to expand internationally in a short period of time and keep the right culture in the team, when you need to take data-driven decisions and how sometimes you need to trust your gut feelings. 

Tune in to learn about bringing people in and how to make sure people are interested in your mission and your values resonate with them. 

 

Episode 15. What it takes to transform business at the leading edge of finance and technology with Christine Moy

In this episode Siobhan Clarke talks with Christine Moy, Global Head of Liink, Onyx by J.P. Morgan who is building new financial infrastructure with 16+ yrs sweat equity in the trenches of banking, markets, operations, and technology and is responsible for developing and driving the adoption of the blockchain technology across the entire firm. 

Siobhan and Christine discuss how to introduce new technologies into the new market, what learning loops are consistent and the importance of the team and people with intellectual curiosity, resilience who focuses on impact. 

Tune in to learn about the concept of a blank page in the experiment cycles, the skills and the behaviours that enable taking 'don't knows' into execution and the key attributes for scaling. 

Episode 14. What Are the Challenges for Being a Hardware And Software Start-up?

It's time for our last Tech Series episode of Frankly, hosted by our CTO, Tom Grey.

Today, we get to hear from Dr John Coultate, Head of Product Development at Onyx. 

John and Tom talk in detail about similarities and differences when being both hardware and software start-ups and how focus on quality and supply plays a vital role. John also shares the two angles to hardware testing. 

Tune in to find out from John what it takes to put something developed using 'hobby grade' components live as a product and how does it need to change. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to stay in the know!

Episode 13. What is Design Thinking and How Do You Know When You Need It?

Tune in to another episode of Frankly Tech Series, hosted by our CTO, Tom Grey.

This time, we get a 20 minute crash course on design thinking from Marlene Weber, User Experience Specialist at Launchpad. Marlene holds a doctorate in human centred design. Practiced at Jaguar Land Rover, she works with clients to map human AI with people first products designed for their businesses.

Marlene talks us through her own definition of design thinking, how it is used to challenge assumptions to do user research, to test with customers and to prototype and on top of it explains the differences between UX and UI. 

Tom and Marlene also discuss when is the best time to bring a designer in your team and if there is a trade off between hiring a designer or developer. 

Episode 11. How to Make Science Education and Making STEM Careers More Accessible to People with Different Backgrounds?

Tune in to the second episode of our Tech Series hosted by Tom Grey, our Chief Technology Officer, where we focus on the technology we develop at Launchpad and our Portfolio Companies.
In this episode Tom talks to Arabela Silva, IT and Security Manager at Fotech Solutions, on how young people most times “fall into” tech roles totally unprepared and stay feeling inadequate for a long time. Hence Arabela started being involved in programmes supporting young people in developing their full potential. We will discuss that diversity, not only in gender or race, enables innovation and the importance of understanding science and technology by people at large.  

Episode 10. What is Seismic and How STRYDE Technology Can Reduce Environmental Footprint and HSE Risk of Seismic Surveys?

Tune in to the second episode of our Tech Series hosted by Tom Grey, our Chief Technology Officer, where we focus on the technology we develop at Launchpad and our Portfolio Companies.
In this episode Tom talks to Amine Ourabah, Head of Processing at STRYDE, about seismic technology and how it is similar to medical ultrasound technology, its environmental impact, STRYDE's system difference from others and how it can eliminate the need for line cutting for receivers in forested areas. Learn from the team about other areas where the technology can be applied from geothermal and seismic risk to archaeology and CCUS.