It all started with a chopping board.In 2003 twin brothers and designer-makers, Antony & Richard Joseph designed their first product – a clever chopping board – and that was the beginning of Joseph Joseph. With a passion for invention and an emphasis on functionality and quality, they set out to revolutionise everyday tasks in the home, making everything from food prep to laundry easier and more efficient.Proud to be celebrating 20 years of innovation, the brothers grew up in a family with a long history in design and manufacturing. Originally set up by their grandfather in the 1930s, the family business specialised in producing glass components. The brothers spent part of their summers working in the factory in Birmingham. Antony is a Creative Director and studied Design at Central Saint Martins College. Richard is CEO and studied Industrial Design at Loughborough, followed by a master's in Design Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, which led to his first role as a product designer at Dyson. As a sideline to their jobs, and with the support of their father, they utilised the capabilities of the factory in Birmingham to develop their own range of contemporary glass chopping boards. What started as a fun project soon became the seed of a new business idea. Soon more innovative kitchenware designs joined the range, and Joseph Joseph collections now include award-winning laundry & storage, bins & recycling solutions, and cleaning & organisation categories. With an international presence and major retail partners including Selfridges, Harrods and John Lewis, Joseph Joseph’s iconic products are designed in London and built to last.Their distinctive, problem-solving approach and ability to blend innovative design with aspirational modern living is unique within the industry. Now one of the fastest-growing companies in the global housewares market, Joseph Joseph continues to earn accolades and awards for its brilliantly useful designs.Find out more about Richard Joseph via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Joseph Joseph via: their website, Instagram and TikTok.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing!Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Chai Guys is the brainchild of Abhilash Jobanputra and Gabriel Unger, two entrepreneurs driven by their love for authentic Indian chai. Their journey began in September 2018 with a transformative trip to India, where they immersed themselves in the vibrant world of chai culture. Returning to London with a  suitcase filled with tea and a vision, they spent nine months perfecting their recipes, brewing techniques, and spice blends. In May 2019, their iconic Masala Chai made its debut at Brick Lane Market, marking the birth of Chai Guys. Today, Chai Guys stands as a pioneer, introducing countless individuals to the enchanting world of chai.Chai Guys' locations at Old Spitalfields Market and Seven Dials Market evoke chai's origins, creating an enchanting ambience for all. Together, Abhilash and Gabriel have woven their unique stories and passions into Chai Guys, delivering not only chai but an unforgettable journey of flavour and authenticity.The arrival of Chai Guys Bakehouse marks a significant expansion for Chai Guys as a new chapter unfolds. Find out more about Abhilash Jobanputra via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Gabriel Unger via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Chai Guys via: their website, Instagram , TikTok and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Humble Crumble - A food stall that started from humble beginnings, today is the world’s first crumble bakery and a multi-million pound business with permanent fixtures in Old Spitalfields and Borough Market. With more than 500,000 crumbles served in the last three years, Humble Crumble has struck a chord with passionate crumble-loving foodies and has no signs of slowing down, with two new sites set to open in London’s gastronomic hotspots Camden Market and Covent Garden this year. Kim Innes founded Humble Crumble in 2018, but it wasn’t until October 2020 when things took a pivotal turn for her business. With Halloween in sight, Kim produced a moment of magic; introducing the famous Pumpkin-Spiced Crumble, which will forever be recognised as what thrust Humble Crumble into the limelight, making people aware that a crumble bakery existed. The special dessert gleaned viral attention following an Instagram post from Time Out, and then by a TikTok video from a customer. Although London was in a lockdown, the queues simply wouldn’t surrender for Humble Crumble, and the ever-growing demand for the perfect British grab-and-go crumble continues. Find out more about Kim Innes via: LinkedIn and Instagram.Find out more about Humble Crumble via: their website, Instagram , TikTok and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Ben is the visionary Founder and CEO of BOXRAW - a boxing lifestyle & sportswear brand driving cultural and social change. BOXRAW was manifested from the powerful themes of Boxing and Business interwoven throughout Ben’s life which elevated him out of the socioeconomic and racial hardships he experienced growing up.  BOXRAW has dressed the likes of Michael B Jordan, Gervonta Davis, Tommy Fury and Ryan Garcia, and hit sales of £5.2 million in 2020.Founded with the vision, ‘to be the reason why the world got into boxing’, BOXRAW’s mission is to shift the narrative of the sport away from just the brute aspect of fight night, to focus on the journey it takes to get there; one of discipline, mindfulness and love. These values are the foundations of all of Ben’s life achievements.The brand at every level is fuelled by a genuine desire to add value first, changing the world through the sport of boxing.Ben also founded Boxing Is Love, a charity that teaches the "sweet science" to children in Liberia. The Registered Charity uses Boxing as a mechanism for positive change around the world.Find out more about Ben Amanna via: LinkedIn.Find out more about BOXRAW via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Sam Jameson is one of many UK-based, Black and female founders that are transforming the beauty and wellness space, one product at a time. A born creator and leader, Soapsmith isn’t Samantha Jameson’s first endeavour into the world of Entrepreneurship.  At the age of just 24, Sam launched and ran a successful event chocolate fountain business; the assets she later went on to sell to Thorntons Chocolatiers. Sam then turned her attention to starting the Soapsmith journey in 2010; marrying her talent for fragrances and desire to bring joy and new energy into everyday moments, through scent. Soapsmith is the result of Sam's true love; taking her hobby of artisanal soap making and scent creation, she soon transformed it into a viable business. In a true act of faith, Sam poured all her savings (topped up by cash made by pawning her engagement ring - that she later got back) into setting up a home in the Old Clockworks in Walthamstow. In 2012, Soapsmith officially launched with a small collection of products and just herself making each one. Sam sought inspiration for her scents from the real world around her. A born and bred Londoner Sam is constantly inspired by the raw, vibrant energy of the people and places she grew up around and still lives today. One of her first, and still best-selling scents is Hackney, which was inspired by Sam’s childhood home. The fresh, grassy scent is evocative of Sam’s teenage years and long summer days spent on the Marshes with her brothers and friends. Eleven years on the collection has grown exponentially, now offering a full range of products and 8 London scents and one international scent which is a limited edition Christmas scent, that has been brought back due to popular demand since its launch in 2022. Soapsmith has also launched their first ever homeware product, the limited edition Whitechapel diffuser. Products are stocked Nationwide in leading luxury retailers, hotels, restaurants and independent boutiques. The brand has also garnered a large, loyal online community through its online shops.Sam’s love of bringing fragrance into tangible products comes from her innate curiosity and her ability to take huge inspiration from her surroundings and make something beautiful that reflects it.  A huge lover of travel and high-energy places (Las Vegas is her second love after London!) Sam and her team of Soapsmiths are developing the brand further with global inspiration as the world opens up again.Sam is also passionate that the business serves a purpose for the wider community. Soapsmith donates soaps and scents to charity; from mental health and homeless charities to a small charity set up to support parents who have lost their babies. Sam is a firm believer that scent can bring great comfort, solace or joy to people when they need it the most.Sam still resides in East London with her partner and little girl, Eva. After scent (and family), Sam’s other great loves include music, discovering new places, fashion and mojitos! Soapsmith products are available to shop at soapsmith.com, Liberty London, Fenwick, and Debenhams to name a few.Find out more about Sam Jameson via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Soapsmith via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out.

Paul Lindley is an award-winning British entrepreneur and social campaigner. Paul began his career as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG, then spent 9 years at Nickelodeon's children’s TV network, rising to become Deputy Managing Director. In 2006, he founded Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s biggest baby food brand.  Ella’s Kitchen believes in purpose as well as profit and was certified as one of the UK’s first B Corporations, validating its mission to use business as a force for good. Paul sold the company in 2013 and stepped away from it in 2018.In 2017 his first book ‘Little Wins: The Huge Power of Thinking Like a Toddler’ was published.  His second, ‘Raising the Nation: How to Build a Better Future for Children (and Everyone Else)’ will be published in 2023. In 2018, Paul was appointed Chair of London’s Child Obesity Taskforce by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.In 2019 he founded just IMAGINE if… an annual innovation competition supporting entrepreneurial ideas designed to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.In 2022 he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Reading.Paul is Chair of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights UK, a director of the purpose-led business Toast Ale, and is a Trustee of Sesame Workshop, the creators of Sesame Street. Paul has received recognition as the UK’s Entrepreneur of the Year and Director of the Year, has been awarded two honorary doctorates and was appointed an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours.Paul is a vocal advocate for entrepreneurship, for the evolution of capitalism towards better serving all of society, for a greater focus on ‘humanness’ in the way our economy and civil society are structured, and for children’s welfare. He campaigns for both public policy and societial behaviour changes in all of these crucial areas.Find out more about Paul Lindley OBE via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Ella's Kitchen via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Established in 1985, Kiki McDonough Ltd was born from Kiki’s passion for showcasing coloured gemstones in innovative, contemporary designs. She continues to lead the way in British fine jewellery design. The brand’s very first creation, a pair of distinctive crystal heart earrings, were put on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s renowned jewellery gallery, cementing the brand’s importance within the modern jewellery landscape. Kiki has been at the forefront of the British fine jewellery for more than 35 years, launching her first range via a small concession in 1985. Following moves to Elizabeth Street in 1989 and Walton Street in 1992, her designs are now housed in a flagship store on Symons Street, just off Sloane Square. The business has grown rapidly year-on-year and the collection is available to buy online, at selected stores in the UK and overseas including the US and Canada. Colour, creativity and craftsmanship have long been held in high esteem by Kiki and her family. She is a fifth-generation jeweller and the only woman in that line, igniting in her an ambition to share the joy jewellery can bring, and how a little colour can elevate the every day. Though her designs have varied in style, cost and composition over the years, Kiki has always aimed to provide wearable and beautiful jewellery at an affordable price. Filling this gap in the market has been her motivation from the start.Kiki’s clientele spans style conscious women of all ages. Her designs have also been popular amongst members of the Royal family. The Duchess of Cambridge has worn her jewellery on numerous occasions, just like Princess Diana before her.Passionate about the ballet, Kiki has been on the Development Board of the English National Ballet school and has been a trustee of the Starlight Foundation, both of which she still supports. She is also a business mentor for the Prince’s Trust, supporting young entrepreneurs at the start of their business journey. Kiki lives in London with her two sons. She loves to travel and is a keen supporter of Liverpool Football Club. Find out more about Kiki via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Kiki McDonough fine jewellery via: their website, Instagram and Facebook.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Olly Hiscocks is a snack fanatic and founder of Olly's, one of the most exciting brands in the healthier delicious snack space with their range of innovative Pretzel Thins, Chocolate Pretzel Thins and Olive snack pouches. Having landed a degree in neuroscience, he then embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in the wonderful world of olives. His snack adventure was born out of marinating olives in his kitchen in London and selling them at local farmers markets in 2016. Since then, Olly's has gone on to become an international snack brand, selling millions of packs each year across countries all over the world. Olly is a seasoned pro when it comes to breathing new life, colour and character into snack categories; all guided by his snack creation ethos which is to keep health at the heart and deliver flavour to the full. The rise & rise of their latest creation, Pretzel Thins, has translated to the Olly's range being the fastest-growing pretzel brand in the UK currently, and he's sure there will be plenty more creations to come.The community surrounding Olly's is something that has always been incredibly important to the brand, which is continuing to build upon its mission to feed the planet's feel-good. This mission goes well beyond the snacks and into the lifestyle and relationships the brand looks to foster and grow. Olly's also works closely with their charity partner, One Feeds Two, to support them by providing over 25,000 school meals to underprivileged children around the world. Find out more about Olly Hiscocks via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Olly's Snacks via: their website, Instagram and Twitter.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

The Debate Mate Group is a social business with 2 distinct but complementary parts – the charity Debate Mate Schools, and the business Debate Mate Limited. At its core, Debate Mate – across the entities - teaches confidence, communication and leadership from the classroom to the boardroom. Margaret founded Debate Mate (Schools) as a non-profit in 2007 with the aim of reducing poverty, improving social mobility and tackling racism through a revolutionary education programme. The programme, which started with 200 students in London, has now reached over 125,000 young people in nearly 100 countries. Debate Mate Limited, established in 2015, provides world-class communication and leadership training and engagement events for leading companies across the globe. Current partners range from Morgan Stanley to Meta, from Snapchat to Standard Chartered. The business launched an ed-tech platform in 2020 as a response to the Covid pandemic, that provides virtual skills-based programmes for nearly 1000 young people per week from 47 countries aged 5 and up. Courses range from learning to debate to exploring law, technology and entrepreneurship, and we currently run them in English and Arabic. The business is raising investment this year to accelerate its technical evolution and is partnering with data science specialists from the Institute of Education to imbed ML and AI to enable them to scale their programmes.Find out more about Margaret McCabe via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Scarlett McCabe via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Debate Mate via: their website, Instagram and LinkedIn.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.

Al is a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder/CEO of Grenade, one of the most successful UK FMCG brands of the last 25 years. Starting with a £500 loan from the UKTI Passport to Export program in 2010, he sold shares in Grenade in 2014 for £35M, again in 2017 for £72M, and in 2021 for £200M, to Mondelez International.Current trading as of 2023 values the brand at over £500M and still growing.Grenade has been featured in the Virgin Fast Track 100 for seven consecutive years in a row, with no signs of slowing down, and its signature product, Carb Killa, is currently the bestselling protein bar brand in the UK grocery channel, disrupting the entire confectionary category for the first time in many years, as well as the number one selling item in food on Amazon.Al has won UK Entrepreneur of the Year an unprecedented three times, and is a mentor for Virgin Start Up, as well as an angel investor and philanthropist. He also holds multiple pilots licences for both aeroplanes and helicopters and is an honorary Colonel in the British Army (Royal Artillery)He has invaluable experience in going head to head with industry giants and passionately tells the highs and lows of building a disruptive global brand and overcoming adversity against all odds, from making front page headlines after surviving a plane crash to creating one of the UKs best known and fastest growing consumer brands.Find out more about Al Barratt via: LinkedIn.Find out more about Grenade via: their website, Instagram and Twitter.A new episode EVERY WEEK, showcasing the journeys of inspirational entrepreneurs, side hustlers and their mentors. We discuss their successes, challenges and how they overcame setbacks. Focusing mainly on what they wish they had known when starting out. The podcast aims to give aspiring entrepreneurs the confidence to START UP and START NOW by showcasing real and relatable entrepreneurs. After all, seeing is believing! Join the conversation using #startupstartnow and tagging us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Don't forget to leave a review as it really helps us reach those who need it and allows us to get the best guests for you! Connect with START UP. START NOW. and to nominate a guest please visit: www.startupstartnow.co.uk.  To connect with Sharena Shiv please visit: www.sharena.co.uk.