In this episode of Kasa Connect, we sit down with Joe Seddon, founder & CEO of Zero Gravity. From a single-parent household in West Yorkshire to studying at Oxford University, Joe shares how he turned £200 of his student loan into a mission-driven tech startup that has supported over 15,000 students and deployed £2.3M in scholarships.

Joe opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, self-teaching coding, and building Zero Gravity from his bedroom into a company backed by £6.5M in investment. We dive into the challenges of fundraising, leadership, and scaling a startup while staying true to your values.

If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, education, or social mobility, Joe’s story is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

(00:00) The impact of Zero Gravity & Joe’s motivation

(00:38) Joe’s background: West Yorkshire to Oxford

(00:59) How Joe got into Oxford & GCSE turning point

(03:10) Choosing PPE & battling imposter syndrome

(05:11) Founding Zero Gravity: the idea spark

(08:10) Teaching himself to code & building MVP

(09:20) Bootstrapping with £200 & early traction

(11:16) Finding first users & growth hacking

(13:42) Key insights: confidence & community

(15:11) Biggest challenges & PR breakthrough

(18:08) Leadership lessons & company culture

(20:52) Personal motivation & redefining success

(22:59) Metrics that matter: acquisition & retention

(26:06) Real impact stories from Zero Gravity students

(27:09) Social mobility & systemic change

(28:43) Oxford’s influence & elite networks

(32:00) Quickfire: coffee habits & northern roots

(32:34) Connecting with Joe & giving back

(33:40) The first investor who believed in Joe

(34:46) Advice regrets & leadership lessons

(36:28) Closing thoughts & thank you