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Charles McManus took the stage at our very first Founders With Nick LIVE event to tell a different kind of startup story. After decades in traditional finance, he stepped away to build ClearBank, the UK’s first new clearing bank in over 250 years. Not a flashy app or consumer brand, but the infrastructure beneath the surface that makes modern finance work.
Charles shares how he transitioned from banking exec to founder, how he built trust in an industry where credibility is everything, and what it takes to scale quietly in a world that rewards noise.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Kicking off the live event and introducing Charles McManus
03:03 The unexpected lunch that sparked the ClearBank journey
05:21 Selling the unsexy backbone of fintech via cloud-native APIs
07:44 Navigating rulebook gaps to build the first new clearing bank
11:25 Winning early clients by rejecting legacy attitudes
13:13 The reality of hiring the wrong people early on
15:41 Graduate schemes, early churn, and what made them proud
17:40 Losing a year chasing big client revenue over product focus
19:50 Holding the culture intact through growth and global scaling
24:18 The hidden pressure of being responsible for other people’s money
26:46 Refusing to chase growth at the cost of profitability
27:59 Adapting leadership style and showing up authentically
30:24 Lessons on transparency, risk, and building no-blame culture
32:02 What real sacrifice looks like as a founder CEO
33:33 Why it was all worth it despite what was lost
36:11 The one thing holding the UK back in fintech innovation
39:37 Lack of urgency around digital payments and stablecoins
45:56 Why big banks keep failing on basic compliance
54:27 Can fintechs survive without being eaten by incumbents?
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Callum Woodcock spent seven years dreaming about starting a company while working at JP Morgan.
He had zero investor connections, was searching for a perfect co-founder who didn’t exist, and kept reading entrepreneurship books instead of actually getting started.
In this episode of Founders With Nick, Callum reveals how he went from corporate paralysis to building a wine investment platform that’s solving problems the entire industry has ignored for decades, why most wine businesses accidentally become Ponzi schemes, and how his deepest insecurities became the driving force behind his success.
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Building in Barcelona and what this interview aims to uncover
06:24 Bootstrapping versus venture capital and the emotional cost
08:24 Breaking in without a network and the snowball effect of one contact
12:52 Just ask for help and ditch the self-reliance myth
18:12 How Cotri’s backing changed everything for credibility
24:19 The legal structure that lets clients keep their tax perks
25:33 Who WineFi is not for and why that matters
29:04 Deep ownership, identity and how workaholism shows up
35:49 Self-doubt, overthinking and who keeps him grounded
46:55 A real misstep with a post and what he learned from it
51:33 Finding community and levelling up through founder networks
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WineFi: https://winefi.co/
Founders With Nick is on the move—this week, we're in Austin, TX with Abel Olmos, founder of The Barbashop, to break down the truth behind building a brick-and-mortar brand from scratch. Far beyond clean fades and cool interiors, Abel reveals what it really takes to scale a people-first business in a saturated space.
From team dynamics and toxic hires to co-founder trust and learning how to let go, this episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary challenges of early-stage leadership.
Whether you're building a barbershop or a startup, the mindset shifts and management lessons here are universal.
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Website: https://www.lngr.co.uk/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelolmos-pm/
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The Barbashop: https://www.thebarba.shop
Ross Neal—former professional rugby player turned performance consultant—brings a refreshingly honest take on ambition, burnout, and the myth of high-performance culture. We often assume elite athletes are relentlessly driven from day one, but Ross admits he coasted early, only stepping up when the risk of failure became real.
In this episode, he reveals what finally lit the fire, why pressure is really about uncertainty, and how many “high performers” aren’t as disciplined as they claim. A sharp, grounded conversation for any founder or entrepreneur aiming for the next level.
Episode timeline
Connect
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Everyone thinks starting a fashion brand is about aesthetics and creativity—but Ben Hurren knows it's about obsession, patience, and operational grit. After two decades leading menswear at retailers like Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and REISS, Ben’s now building Vingt Quarte: a denim brand four years in the making, born from a gap he saw and couldn't unsee.In this episode, Ben shares the reality of launching a fashion business with deep industry experience but zero startup experience. From botched factory relationships to navigating production delays, he opens up about the lessons that almost broke the brand—and the turning points that kept it alive. This is a story of starting over at the top of your game, playing the long game in a saturated market, and betting on your own taste when no one else can see the vision yet. If you’ve ever dreamt of building a brand from scratch, this one’s for you.00:00 The journey into fashion03:39 Learning from industry veterans06:11 When e-commerce changed everything11:18 Inside Selfridges' buying strategies17:34 How men and women shop differently21:07 The vision behind Concept2425:40 Taking the entrepreneurial leap28:10 Vingt Quarte's story and valuable failures33:11 Building a team while keeping your vision35:18 Planning for growth and eventual exit38:37 Why fashion startups struggle to survive42:48 The manufacturing challenge44:18 Wisdom for fashion entrepreneurs45:57 Building beyond the brand
Starting a business with no experience sounds like a risk—but for this week’s guests Nicklas Vang & Leopold Henriksen, it became their greatest advantage. With no background in supplements, the co-founders of SUPPLME questioned everything the industry took for granted—from outdated pill formats to poor absorption rates.In this episode, they share how a lockdown routine in Copenhagen sparked the idea of a supplement company, the reality of bootstrapping while working full-time, and how they turned scientific curiosity into a fully-fledged supplement brand. From failed manufacturers to bluffing their way into pitch meetings, Nicklas and Leopold prove that with enough grit, energy, and belief, you don’t need industry expertise to build something that matters.0:00 Paddle board conversations that sparked a business04:43 When casual ideas turn serious06:13 Balancing day jobs with startup dreams07:30 Securing crucial government funding08:28 Taking the leap to full-time founders09:44 The supplement industry's dirty secrets11:09 Finding their place in a crowded market13:36 Understanding their ideal customer15:45 Startup life in Denmark18:51 Navigating co-founder relationships21:31 Early sales lessons and B2B focus23:48 Building the first team and community26:00 Breaking down the science behind their product29:35 Learning from early mistakes33:56 Why DTC failed and finding their path36:38 Landing their first major clients39:52 Creative ways to get meetings43:20 The high-pressure first big delivery44:11 The Antler experience and pitch insights45:55 Growing into confident founders48:08 Key takeaways from their journey49:10 Co-founding versus going solo
🎙️ Founders with Nick – Episode with Ross Neal
In this episode, I sit down with Ross Neal, ex-professional rugby player turned high-performance coach. We dive into his journey—starting rugby at a young age, the struggles of not fully applying himself, and the challenges of breaking into the first team.
Ross shares his insights on what separates top performers, the mindset shifts that changed his career, and how he’s now helping others unlock their potential through his coaching business.
A must-listen for anyone interested in resilience, growth, and high performance.
Summary
In this episode of Founders with Nick, Joey Speed, a seven-time founder, shares his journey from a supportive childhood to navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
He discusses his early influences, the lessons learned from his first business failures, and the transition into the recruitment industry. Joey emphasises the importance of mentorship in sales and the unique challenges faced in recruitment.
He also reflects on his transformative experience living in Colombia and his current ventures, including a new SaaS business aimed at helping entrepreneurs.
The conversation concludes with insights on the future of AI and its impact on human interaction.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:36 Childhood Influences and Family Dynamics
03:27 University Experience and Early Entrepreneurship
06:28 First Business Venture and Lessons Learned
09:30 Transition to Recruitment and Sales Insights
12:26 Mentorship and Personal Growth
15:13 Building Trust in Sales
18:32 Quitting the Job and Starting a Business
21:30 Respect Among Entrepreneurs
23:40 The Slimy Side of Recruitment
27:53 Incentives and Their Impact on Recruitment
29:40 Rapid Growth and Market Timing
32:19 Burnout and Mental Health Awareness
36:24 Discovering Colombia: A New Chapter
39:56 Building a New Future: Entrepreneurial Ventures
Summary
In this engaging conversation, Harry from Hartex shares his journey from a vintage shop owner in London to understanding his neurodivergence. He discusses the challenges of running a business, the importance of community, and his aspirations for the future. Harry reflects on his educational experiences, the evolution of the vintage market, and the cultural landscape of London, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Chapters
00:00 Harry's Background and the Evolution of Hartex
06:28 Navigating Education and Neurodivergence
12:40 Challenges of Running a Vintage Shop in London
23:29 Transitioning from Vinegar Yard to Gabriel's Wharf
28:29 Lessons from Legal Challenges
31:58 The Role of Family Support
35:36 Navigating Business Challenges
42:37 Advice for Aspiring Vintage Shop Owners
47:34 Cultural Reflections and Community Engagement
Episode 4 - Alexander MacDonald - Co Founder
Alex is building the first SDR cold calling A.I appointment setting business for the financial services industry.
We dive into how he came up with the idea, his past and why building a business is not for everyone.
On this episode of Founders With Nick, I am joined by Harry Turpin of The Savourists Ltd.
Harry is trying to conquer the healthy snack isle and disrupt and entire industry. He speaks about how he got into the snack game, what he thinks of the consumer and how his business is going to be the go to brand of healthy snacking.
Enjoy the show!
Founders with Nick | Episode 2: Navigating the VC Landscape with Daniel Sawko
In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Sawko, the founder of Ship Shape VC, to explore his journey from the world of finance to launching a platform that simplifies venture capital fundraising for startups.
He is a hugely likeable individual, who is intelligent, driven and focused to ensure ShipShape is authority in search engines for the VC world and beyond.
Whether you're a startup founder or just curious about the inner workings of the VC ecosystem, this conversation is packed with valuable advice and perspectives.
Founders with Nick - Episode 1: Tom Cullen, Founder of Zoplo
In the debut episode of Founders with Nick, we sit down with Tom Cullen, the visionary founder of Zoplo, the largest Gen Z polling app in the world. Tom takes us on an inspiring journey, from his humble beginnings growing up on a council estate to his academic pursuits at Newcastle University.
We delve into his early career experiences at EY and Barclays, where he honed his skills in sales and thrived in fast-paced environments. These pivotal moments paved the way for the creation of Zoplo, a groundbreaking app that is set to revolutionise the polling industry.
Join us as Tom shares his origin story, the challenges he faced, and his aspirations for Zoplo to become the next big thing in the world of polling.
