Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way
Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way is a podcast for investors and founders focused on high-growth investing and venture building. Each episode offers actionable insights into what drives value in today's funding landscape, including tax-efficient SEIS/EIS schemes, venture studio models, and AI startups. Guests include investors who have backed big exits, fast-scaling founders, CTOs, advisors, and venture studio leaders. New episodes appear every two weeks with strategies and practical lessons for making high-impact decisions.
Episodes
A360 Special Mini Series : Episode 4
Welcome to the fourth and final episode of our special A360 mini series of Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way.After three episodes recorded live at the Abundance 360 Summit in California, Guy Remond sat down back home in Manchester to step back and ask the bigger question of what all of this actually means for EHE, our AI native tech community, and how we stay ahead of the curve.The themes covere
A360 Special Mini Series : Episode 3
Welcome to this special mini series of Fast Growth : The Venture Studio Way, sharing insights from our recent annual trip to the Abundance 360 Summit in the US.Rather than waiting until they got home; Guy Remond, Gary Fletcher and Carl Castledine hit record at the end of each of the three days while it was still fresh.This is three mates chewing the fat on the technologies that are going to reshap
A360 Special Mini Series : Episode 2
Welcome to this special mini series of Fast Growth : The Venture Studio Way, sharing insights from our recent annual trip to the Abundance 360 Summit in the US.Rather than waiting until they got home; Guy Remond, Gary Fletcher and Carl Castledine hit record at the end of each of the three days while it was still fresh.This is three mates chewing the fat on the technologies that are going to reshap
A360 Special Mini Series : Episode 1
Welcome to this special mini series of Fast Growth : The Venture Studio Way, sharing insights from our recent annual trip to the Abundance 360 Summit in the US.Rather than waiting until they got home; Guy Remond, Gary Fletcher and Carl Castledine hit record at the end of each of the three days while it was still fresh.This is three mates chewing the fat on the technologies that are going to reshap
S3 E9: Co-investing: The New Normal for Early-Stage Investing?
Co-investing. Everyone talks about it, but how does it really work behind the scenes?In this episode of Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way, we sit down with David Walters, Investment Director at River Capital, and Jack Worne, Head of Investor Relations at EHE, to explore the real dynamics of co-investing in early-stage startups.We get into: why every company eventually needs more than one investo
S3 E8: How to Win Grants – and Make Them Work for You
Grants aren't just free money, and applying for them isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, we unpack how founders can use public funding alongside private investment to scale smarter.With insights from Gabriela Isas (Co-founder of Good With) and Hannah Williams (Innovate UK Business Growth), we explore what makes a fundable project, common mistakes to avoid, and how to get started, e
S3 E7: Why We're Still Betting on AI
Six AI investments. One explosive quarter. In this episode, Guy Remond (Co-founder, EHE Ventures) and Neil Vose (CEO, EHE Venture Studio) break down the first wave of startups backed by the EHE AI Growth Fund and why now is the smartest moment to bet on early-stage AI.We dive into:The real gap in the market that EHE set out to fill - and what was at risk if we didn’tThe one-liner on each of our fi
S3 E6: Startup legals 101: What to know before you raise
Most founders don’t think about legals until it’s too late.In this episode, we break down what actually matters when it comes to fundraising paperwork, SEIS/EIS, and cap tables – with two people who’ve seen it all.Joining us are Dan Reeves, co-founder of SUBJCT, and Aaron Duke from SeedLegals – the platform that's transformed how UK startups handle legals.We cover:Why SEIS Advanced Assurance
S3 E5 (Part 2): MVPs That Actually Work
Tech debt is inevitable. The trick is knowing where to accept it.In Part 2 of our MVP deep dive, we go beyond quick wins and surface-level builds to talk about the foundations that actually matter.Aleksa and Andy explore:Why some tech debt is okay—and why some isn’tHow to recognise your core differentiator (and why it needs to be bulletproof)What happens when you underinvest in your MVP’s most imp
S3 E5: MVPs That Actually Work: How to Build Smart, Not Just Fast
When does “minimum” become too minimum?In this two-part episode of Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way, we dive into the messy middle of MVP building - and why so many startups get it wrong.EHE’s CTO Aleksa Vukotic is joined by Andy Nicol, founder of Sputnik Digital, for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to ship something people want to use (and pay for).In part 1, you’ll l
S3 E4: Is AI Investing in 2025 All Hype?
AI is booming -massive valuations, record-breaking funding rounds, and a race among the biggest players to dominate the space. But as an investor, how do you separate real opportunities from inflated expectations?In this episode of Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way, we’re cutting through the noise with Neil Vose, CEO at EHE, and Aleksa Vukotic, CTO of EHE Venture Studio.Together, they break down
S3 E3: How to Nail Your Startup Pitch in 60 Seconds
Pitching for investment is tough. You’ve got a tiny window to convince investors your startup is the one to back—and it all starts with a killer pitch deck.In this episode, Jack Worne and Neil Vose, Venture Partners at EHE Venture Studio, break it all down. Find out:What makes a startup stand outWhat makes investors hit “next”How to nail your pitch in 60 secondsIf you’re raising investment or a ne
S3 E2: What Are SEIS & EIS? A Straight-Talking Guide
What is SEIS? What is EIS? And how do these schemes actually work?In this episode of Fast Growth: The Venture Studio Way, we’re joined by Christiana Stewart- Lockhart from the EISA and Jack Worne from the EHE team, who break down everything founders and investors need to know about SEIS and EIS - two of the UK’s most tax-efficient schemes.N.B. Tax benefits are subject to individual circumstances a
S3 E1: What Is A Venture Studio? Why Investors Are Betting Big on This Model
Venture studios are reshaping startup investing — and both investors and founders are paying attention. But what makes this model so powerful?In this first episode, we break down:Why investors see venture studios as a lower-risk, higher-upside opportunityHow founders get more than just funding—hands-on support from day oneMore about the EHE Venture Studio model and how it worksIf you're an in
A360 Special - The AI Revolution: Is the World Ready? with Guy Remond and Carl Castledine
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, host Georgia Kirke is joined by Guy Remond and Carl Castledine , Founder at Away Resorts to discuss valuable insights from the 2024 Abundance360 conference. Together, we explore the transformative potential of AI technology, from generating a year’s worth of marketing content in hours to creating perfectly lip-synced, multi-language videos through co
S2 E14: A Guide to Successful Exit Planning for Founders and Investors with Guy Remond and Charlotte Ashton
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, host Georgia Kirke is joined by Guy Remond and Charlotte Ashton. Charlotte is the founder of Implicit, where she provides strategic support to business owners to help them prepare for exit from day one.In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore why early-stage founders need to think about exit planning, the common myths and biases around selling a
S2 E13: This AI Startup Is Going To Change Publishing Forever with Guy Remond and Georgia Kirke
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins welcomes Guy Remond and a very special guest – Georgia Kirke. Georgia is the founder of Write Business Results and Clio, a new AI-assisted tool that helps non-fiction authors “speak their books into existence.”In this episode, we delve deeper into how Clio is shaking up the publishing world, what this means not just for publishers but al
S2 E12: The Tenets of AI-Led Investing
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, we’re reflecting on some of the lightbulb moments we’ve had so far, including some nuggets for forward-thinking investors.Tune in to discover the future of AI-led investing, why collaborating with “techies” can help investors make informed decisions, and why tech startups need to start thinking about IP protection from day one.-----------------------
S2 E11: Building an Effective Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy with Guy Remond and Katie Street
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, host Georgia Kirke is joined by Guy Remond and Katie Street. Katie is the founder of Street Agency, a firm that helps businesses grow by building scalable, marketing-led sales programmes.Together, they discuss what a go-to-market (GTM) strategy should look like, why early-stage startups have a better opportunity for growth than the big players, and w
S2 E10: This Golf Tech Company Secured £2.7m In Series A Funding - Here's A Peek Into Their Growth Journey with Guy Remond and David Hunter
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Guy Remond and David Hunter, the CEO of Shot Scope Technologies. Shot Scope is on a mission to improve the way both amateur and professional golfers collect and analyse statistics from their games.During this conversation, the trio explore Shot Scope’s investment journey, how founders have a huge responsibility to deliver po
S2 E9: Why Founders and Investors Need to Rethink Brand Strategy Now with Simon Landi and Ben Mott
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Simon Landi, Fractional CMO at EHE Ventures, and Ben Mott, Co-founder of FutureKings.This conversation focuses on the impact of branding on a startup’s success – particularly when it comes to tech and AI-driven businesses.Tune in to find out how FutureKings helps tech companies tell their stories better, why businesses that
S2 E8: IP Protection for Tech Startups - An Investor's Guide with Guy Remond and Keegan Caldwell
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Guy Remond and Keegan Caldwell, Founder of Caldwell. Caldwell is a multi-disciplinary law firm serving high-growth technology and life sciences companies and is America’s No.1 fastest-growing IP firm.Together, they discuss how an IP strategy can help mitigate risks for investors, why a patent doesn’t necessarily prevent comp
S2 E7: An IFA's Perspective on Investing in AI Funds with Guy Remond and Simon Booth
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Guy Remond and a very special guest – Simon Booth. Simon is a Chartered Financial Planner and the CEO of Foresight Wealth Strategists.Together, they break down the ins and outs of investing in AI funds – from a financial advisor’s perspective.Join the conversation to get real insights into the benefits of an AI fund, how to
S2 E6: How to Future-Proof Your Business with AI with Guy Remond and Mark Hartley
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.This episode features a podcast regular, Guy Remond, and a very special guest – Mark Hartley, Founder of BankiFI. BankiFI is a financial technology provider on a mission to help banks and traditional financial institutions build better relationships with their small business customers.In this episode, Guy and Mark explore BankiFI’s investment journey and what the fut
S2 E5: How an Investor Ecosystem Can Unlock Tech Innovation with Guy Remond and Gordon Bateman
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Guy Remond and Gordon Bateman, Founder of Investor Ladder. Investor Ladder is one of the UK’s largest investor ecosystems, created to help improve the entire investment and innovation landscape across the UK.In this wide-ranging conversation, we get into the building blocks of an investor ecosystem. Find out why collaboratio
S2 E4: AI Jargon-busting with Pete Evison and Neil Vose
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this week’s episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Pete Evison and Neil Vose from the EHE team.Together, they do some jargon-busting, breaking down some of the terms you’ll probably hear a lot of as a new investor.Find out what “AI-first” truly means from an investor’s perspective, how to mitigate risk when backing AI-driven opportunities, and a tax-efficient way of i
S2 E3: The Ultimate Guide for Entrepreneurs Turned Investors with Guy Remond and Gary Fletcher
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this week’s episode, Gary Fletcher returns to the show after a brief hiatus, joined by Guy Remond.They share their collective experience of building and investing in high-growth businesses as well as some actionable tips for entrepreneurs turned investors.Tune in to discover how to find profitable investment opportunities that match your values, why the true role
S2 E2: The Investor's Guide to Vetting AI Startups with Guy Remond and Aleksa Vukotic
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by two podcast regulars – Guy Remond and Aleksa Vukotic, CTO of thestartupfactory.tech. Together, they explore some tenets of AI investing, especially for non-tech investors. Discover what makes an AI startup truly investable. The key metrics to look at when vetting startups for long-term growth potential. And how to avoid gett
S2 E1: Trailer Episode
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding!In this trailer episode, Ivan Meakins is joined by Guy Remond and Neil Vose from the EHE team. They look back on the previous season, EHE’s history, and provide a teaser of what you can expect from the rest of the show.Tune in to find out the future of tech investing, why every company needs an AI strategy to survive the current technological wave, and what it really
S2 E0: Season 1 Roundup
Welcome to Fast Growth Funding.In this intermediary episode, host Ivan Meakins reflects on some of the lightbulb moments from last season, including some nuggets for growth-focused founders.Listen in to discover what due diligence looks like from an entrepreneur’s perspective, the hygiene factors VC investors want to see in early-stage businesses, and how a conversational AI platform is revolution
S1 E14: Fast Growth and Funding with Versori
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by Sean Brown, Founder of Versori. Sean gives us a whistle-stop tour of his funding journey and offers some key advice for founders thinking about fundraising.Learn why innovation can sometimes be a curse for startup founders. The need for a pragmatic, holistic approach to fundraising. And why fou
S1 E13: Raising Funding with Mercia
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by a special guest - Kiran Mehta from Mercia Asset Management Plc.Together, they explore the world of funding from an investor's perspective. Kiran highlights some of the hygiene factors VC investors expect to see in early-stage tech businesses, the current investment landscape, and how Merci
S1 E12: The Art of Storytelling with Dan Ilett
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by regular Guy Remond and they welcome a special guest - Dan Illet, MD of Tollejo.Dan takes us through some of the most prevalent issues facing start-ups; he highlights an exercise that can help get everyone in the company singing from the same hymn sheet; and why a company's story is so cruc
S1 E11: Your Property Strategy for Fast Growth with Joe Averill
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by a special guest - Joe Averill from Level.They discuss the current landscape for office space; how Joe spotted a potential gap in the market which he sought to fill; and why Manchester is such a thriving place for entrepreneurs.--------------------------------------------Nyree Trimbel can be fou
S1 E10: Revolutionising Insurance with Nigel Lombard of Peppercorn
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by regular Guy Remond and they welcome back a special guest - Nigel Lombard, Founder and CEO of Peppercorn.Nigel gives us an update on Peppercorn and how it has been performing since going live; how the journey has progressed behind the scenes from the perspective of a founder; and what it's
S1 E9: Building Foundations for High Growth with Ian Brookes
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by regular Guy Remond and they welcome back a special guest - Ian Brookes from thestartupfactory.tech.They discuss some of their shared history from the Cake Solutions days, as well as some of the lessons learned; why a company should respect itself and carry that energy moving forward; and how to
S1 E8: Lessons from a Clothing Industry Titan with Antony Hunt
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by regular Elliot Smith and they welcome a special guest - Antony Hunt, Managing Director of Ivyleague UK.They discuss Antony's rich and storied history in the clothing industry, as well as some of the lessons he has learned along the way; how manufacturers were forced to pivot and innovate d
S1 E7: What to Look for in an Investor with Emma Cassidy
In today's episode, we sit down with Emma Cassidy, Investment Executive at DSW Ventures, for an eye-opening conversation about winning pitch decks.Together, we explore some of the "Dos and Don'ts" of pitch decks - from the perspective of someone who looks at hundreds every month.Discover why certain intangible elements can make the difference when assessing a founder's sui
S1 E6: Introducing Betmate with Ryan Lawrence
In today's episode,we are joined by Ryan Lawrence, the Founder of Betmate for a deep dive into his background and the journey so far.Join the conversation to discover how Ryan joined forces with trusted allies to create a more socially conscious betting app. The lessons he learned from looking for angel investors. And the valuable insights gained from increasing the frequency of strategic che
S1 E5: Building Better Businesses with Hannah Cox
As an entrepreneur, you probably know that sustainability should be at the top of your list. But where do you begin?In today's episode, we are joined by Hannah Cox of Better Not Stop. We discuss why sustainability is increasingly becoming a more important factor for entrepreneurs and businesses.Discover the many ways sustainability can reveal itself within the daily running of a business. How
S1 E4: Due Diligence with James Brookes and Rupert Rutledge
Entrepreneurs, are you fully prepared for due diligence?In today's episode of Fast Growth Stories, we are joined by James Brookes and Rupert Rutledge from thestartupfactory.tech. Together, we explore what due diligence entails from an entrepreneur's point of view.Join us as we delve into the three phases of technology-based due diligence. How it can help identify hidden problems that nee
S1 E3: The Importance of Marketing with Amy Lawson
In today's episode, we are joined by Amy Lawson, an experienced CMO and growth adviser.Together, we unpack the vital role marketing plays in any business and why it shouldn't be dismissed as a mere sideline activity. Learn how marketing plays into fast growth. How it can help identify solutions within your organisation. And why marketing can help clarify the overall goal that a young com
S1 E2: From Loss to Fast Growth with Gary Fletcher and Ross Faith
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories with EHE Capital.In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by Gary Fletcher and Ross Faith.They discuss Ross and Gary's experience taking Forest Holidays from loss-making to multimillion-pound profit levels; some of the most valuable lessons they learned from the whole experience, including the importance of finding the right Finance Director; and wh
S1 E1: Angel Investment with David Levine
In today's episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by David Levine.David is an Entrepreneur, Investor, Founder and the Principal of the Manchester Angels Network.They discuss David's background in corporate life and entrepreneurship; the growing importance of diversity with angel investment; and he explains why the appetite for risk from investors differs so wildly between those based in t
Trailer Episode
Welcome to Fast Growth Stories! In this trailer episode, host Nyree Trimbel is joined by Guy Remond as they give you a taste of what's coming up on this exciting new season.Find out what 'fast growth' means, and why it might not be suitable for everybody. How having the right mindset is vital for growing quickly. And what to expect in future episodes in this series.-----------------
