Sara Roberts

This week on Diaspora.nz ... the one and only Rachel Carrell !! Founder & CEO of Koru Kids - the UK's largest childcare network, responsible for training, matching, and providing ongoing support to over 10,000 nannies across London, to date. Joined by special co-host Phoebe Harrop, we discuss: ▶ Rachel's journey from New Zealand to the UK: hustling chocolates and home-grown lottery schemes on the streets of Invercargill; strategising her way into a Rhodes scholarship to “find her people” at the University of Oxford. ▶ The transition from consulting to entrepreneurship, and unique challenges of operating in the healthcare and childcare sectors. Which learnings from consulting transfer over to startups, vs. where she needed to invest in personal growth. ▶ The founding and early days of Koru Kids: addressing the critical need for quality childcare solutions, how the lack of accessible and affordable childcare has profound consequences for individuals and society. ▶ Scaling marketplaces: solving the “cold start problem” … building the supply side of a marketplace when the service provided requires specific qualifications, how to think about (and avoid) “de-platforming” risk. ▶ Insights into fundraising in Europe, particularly for companies in traditionally difficult sectors. Approaching fundraising with a mindset of learning and strategy development. ▶ Raising venture capital while pregnant, advice for other female (and- pregnant) founders who may need to do the same! ▶ Being a non-technical founder building a technical business has its challenges, but both approaches (tech-first or ops-first) can work with trade-offs. ▶ Rachel’s upcoming book! micro interventions with children to shape how they learn and grow. If you weren't already seeing enough of her in your feed — you'll want to hop over and give her a follow after this! Subscribe + listen, share it with a friend... links in comments 👇👇👇👇

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Sia Partners and Cadent Gas Limited are supporting the people most affected by the living crisis by designing and launching The Warm Homes Network, a new UK fuel poverty Partner Ecosystem initiative. This partnership ecosystem brings together diverse organisations to create a community of trusted partners which offers single source of support to vulnerable customers. It includes utility providers, Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, National Grid, local governments and charities as well as technology providers, Google Cloud.   We have launched initial pilots in Birmingham and Cumbria, two areas identified as having high levels of deprivation in the UK. So far, this ‘one-stop-shop’ benefits support has saved households an average of £8,950, and we are now working at scaling the programme to offer the following support to vulnerable customers across the UK: - Grants, benefits check and application support - Money management advice - Fuel and water debt advice - Energy efficiency and low carbon technology advice, in-depth assessments and retrofitting measures This is necessary as fuel poverty is an increasingly prevalent issue, illustrated by the statistics published by National Energy Action in 2023 stating that 6.5 million UK households are now predicted to be in fuel poverty from January ’24, a 31% increase from October '21. Aby Handler Alessandra Ciniero, PhD   Phil Burrows, MBA Mark Belmega Gurvinder Dosanjh Kate Ravenscroft nicola campbell Gary O'Sullivan, Stephen Deadmon, Scott Flavell, Saul Lew Yousuf M. Olivia Tomalin

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 📣Join Our Mission: Women's Health! Despite recent growth in the women’s health space, there is still unmet demand for products and services. Menopause has been a particularly overlooked segment of the market: only 5 percent of FemTech start-ups address menopause needs globally (McKinsey & Company, 2024). Nevertheless, the acceleration of advances in women’s healthcare holds considerable implications for investors and stakeholders across the value chain and beyond. At KRING, we're pioneering innovative solutions in women's health, focusing on cognitive health, sleep management, menopause, fertility, and more - with Menopause, an active health challenge we are currently exploring. While diving into Validation, our concept has garnered significant interest across the health innovation ecosystem, corporate partners, and investors. ✅ Chief Commercial Officer (Co-founder) We're seeking dynamic Commercial Co-founders with robust entrepreneurial backgrounds with experience of scratch to commercialization, and exceptional leadership skills. Experience in negotiating complex agreements is advantageous, but a passion for women's health is essential. https://lnkd.in/dVRwJ6i8 ✅ Menopause Expert: Chief Product Officer (Co-founder) We're looking for a scientific expert with a deep understanding of medical science, clinical research, and regulatory requirements, to lead the development of innovative healthcare solutions for women's health. https://lnkd.in/dXX3RWQY 🧠 The Concept: Building a Digital Platform for Women's Health Our digital platform helps women tackle midlife challenges, including menopause, by enhancing sleep quality, addressing weight gain, and boosting self-confidence. Components include data gathering, tailored recommendations, personalized wellness programs, and a supportive community. 📍Join Us in Copenhagen Our team is headquartered in Copenhagen, offering an exciting opportunity for individuals based in these cities or open to relocation. If you're intrigued by this opportunity, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to Marina Miteva and Agnes Agada to learn more. Join Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Investors like Britt Meelby Jensen, Kristine Leerbeck, Christina Høgh Selmer Kirk, Anne Mette Bang, Benjamin Suhr, Anja Monrad, Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni, Ella Smoraczewska Harris, Fanny Hauterat, Sumeya Hassan, Rosemarie Wedell-Wedellsborg, Jane Kudsk, Susanne Brønnum, Pernille Foss, Sara Maria Franch-Mærkedahl, Gitte Nipper, Jenny-Ann Axson Johnson, and more in revolutionizing healthcare and shaping the future of women's health. Apply now.

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To quote Ventex Studio founder Steven Gray on #ukenergytransition "we have to find a model the money can fund". Last week's move on strike price by Chris Stark and the team Department for Energy Security and Net Zero delivered 9.6 GW of renewable energy projects. The decision to increase strike price from £44/MWh to £73/MWh delivered 9.6GW vs ZERO in the 2023 auction. A model was found the money could follow. Steve and other E-FWD members know I like to look stare for hours across the North Sea to Denmark for inspiration where capital from the likes of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has been flowing for decades to green energy at a far greater pace than in the #uk. This is what I see: 1. Stable Regulatory Frameworks : Denmark has a stable, long-term energy policy. Cross-party support for goals like 55% renewable energy by 2030 this ensures investor confidence, as policies don’t swerve around after every election. Cross party support drives investor confidence - simple. 2. Public-Private Partnerships: Denmark fosters collaboration between the government, private companies, and local communities, sharing costs and risks. The Middelgrunden wind farm is an example, partly owned by members of the local community. 3. Green Bonds : Denmark pioneered the use of green bonds to raise money for environmentally friendly projects. 4. Local Ownership : Denmark promotes local ownership of renewable projects, giving communities a direct stake. In Middelgrunden, locals invested and now share in the profits. and finally and crucially 5. Strong Government Support The Danish government has consistently backed renewable energy. Early days policies like feed-in tariffs ensured a fixed price for renewable power reducing risk for investors and encouraging projects like wind farms. Let's get in the tents and work this out #edinburgh

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We had the pleasure of speaking to the inimitable Gordon Sanghera, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, valued at around $6.8bn in 2021. Gordon somewhat accidentally ended up as an entrepreneur, breaking the conventional VC wisdom around 'born founders'. The technology is wild - democratising access to genomic sequencing giving us a new understanding of living organisms. In the episode of Riding Unicorns, we cover: 00:00 Defining Entrepreneurship 00:55 Understanding Oxford Nanopore's Technology 06:10 Gordon's Journey to Founding Oxford Nanopore 12:09 Commercialization Challenges and Strategies 16:27 Building a Strong Founding Team 20:55 Navigating the Ups and Downs of Deep Tech 25:54 Innovative Applications of Nanopore Technology 28:57 Company Culture and Operational Insights 35:05 Attracting Talent in a Competitive Market 37:22 The IPO Experience and Future Outlook https://lnkd.in/eQZVSGeK

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"Funding Collapse sends investment in start-ups to six year low" The Times today covering the shocking stats that VenturePath uncovered, with our partner Beauhurst. Great quotes from supporters Michael Moore CEO, BVCA and Julian David CEO, techUK. * UK VC funding at Series A is -44% from last year, and worsening * Q3 24 is down a staggering 57% from Q2, itself down from Q1 * 9 in 10 seed funded startups cannot access Series A VC funding, the next 'rung on the funding ladder' * Just 32 future scaleup companies across the whole of the UK were able to access their first VC funding round in Q3...a 6 year low * Half a billion less capital is going in to UK scaleups at Series A, than just 2 years ago! As the UK scaleup funding gap widens, we are losing ground against other countries, at both startup stage (a position the UK worked hard to achieve, since 2011), and for scaleup support. OECD data: 13th in the world for scaleup support, and that's before Series A funding access dried up. I get that its confusing. Another report (BBB, Nations & Regions) released this week spoke of positive trends in private investment, stating "The data for Q2 2024 shows that investment value has continued to grow". Great, I love to see optimistic data. But under analysis that bundles venture with private equity (later stage), where a few megadeals skew the numbers. Otherwise the exact opposite is true. Our independent research here, for the UK ScaleUp Investment Mission, is laser beam focussed on Series A. The funding round where companies move from the c.1m startups launched each year, through the 2,179 that access seed funding, into the rarefied category of being recognised as future scaleups, attracting Series A funding (£2-10m). The UK venture landscape is currently funding just 248 pa of these companies, and declining. We've been sharing this urgent call for support with the new Government since the day after the election. I've personally met with several Ministers, and spoke to all the relevant Government departments. I will shamelessly repeat loudly what is at stake. UK scaleup funding at Series A has nearly halved in a year, and continues to decline steeply, more than halving in the last quarter. VenturePath developed The UK ScaleUp Investment Mission to convene the scaleup support ecosystem and £7bn of funders to help address this problem, to improve nationwide access to VC investment, and create more venture-backed successes. We have clear support, clear recommendations to reverse this decline in UK scaleup investment, and have made a clear ask of Government for participation in this, to ensure immediate action is taken to create the conditions for success for UK scaleups, ensuring the focus on growth isn't undermined by lack of capital, or equitable access to it. Government decision makers, we'd love your interest, to progress to action. HM Treasury: Rt Hon Rachel Reeves Spencer Livermore James Murray & CC Poppy Gustafsson (welcome to the debate).

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To give you an idea of the scale of usage of GLP-1 receptor agonists, in the US, 12% of the population have used a GLP-1 therapy (things like Wegovy or Zepbound). Analysts believe peak sales for GLP-1 drugs could reach $200Bn by 2030. This enormous adoption has utterly transformed the fortunes of Novo Nordisk and Lilly taking them to the top of the market capitalisation tree in the public markets ($874Bn Lilly, share price up 750% in the last 5 years, $400Bn, up 360% in the last 5 years). Oral GLP-1 RA are only likely to increase prescriptions, but with that comes a greater focus on the long term outcomes of patients who have taken these therapies. Known issues around muscle wastage and long-term weight regain will bring greater scrutiny as these drugs become population level interventions. I spoke about pivots in a recent post being driven in DeepTech and BioTech by exceptional science and this announcement from MitoRx Therapeutics is a great example of how experimental data can inform key commercial strategy and how the next wave of obesity therapies can be developed here in the UK. Excited to see what comes next for this novel class of small molecules. https://lnkd.in/ea9Kg9tk

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Great to see SIS Ventures make this list by TechRound https://lnkd.in/eDtRbggM A bit more about what we look for below. If you're a founder and these hit the mark 👇 then please get in touch Investment targets SIS Ventures is focused on high-impact, high-growth potential businesses our investee companies are innovation-led, often spun out of Scotland’s leading university innovation programmes. Portfolio companies are also carefully selected for their commitment to developing their environmental, equality and diversity, social impact and governance practices. SIS Ventures seeks to provide equity investment to: ✔ High growth potential with a global scale and intent to provide significant impact ✔ Focus on social and/or environmental impact, aligning with impact themes / at least one of the UN SDGs ✔ Product or service backed by defensible technology or proprietary know-how ✔ EIS or SEIS qualifying ✔ Low capital-intensive businesses ✔ Sector agnostic, but historically invested across Life Sciences, MedTech, Climate Tech, Circular Economy, Biotech ✔ Pre-seed – Series A ✔ Headquartered in Scotland

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Does more investment mean potentially making more mistakes as a founder? It was fascinating to hear Laura Rudoe (nee Howard)'s views on this as a female founder who still independently owns Evolve Organic Beauty as it approaches its 15th birthday. The potential for investment in Evolve remains and option for Laura, but she's chosen to continue bootstrapping her business. Why? Mainly, because she loves what she's doing. She has no plans to exit and that's always something that has to enter a founder's thinking once they secure investment. But she's also remaining independent because she wants to retain the ownership of decision-making at this point in time. That may change in the future, and one thing Laura has done incredibly well over the past decade and more is to keep her options open. Laura joined me alongside Mazuma Accountants founder Lucy Cohen on Episode 6 of Tash Talks Season Two, where we talk all things bootstrapping, investment and funding for female entrepreneurs. 📺 Don't miss it... tonight, 8.30pm on Sky channel 186. --- This season of Tash Talks is proudly sponsored by Recharge – the leading subscription app. The world's best brands are powered by routine, and the world's best routines are powered by Recharge. Ryan Forster | Rob Barr | Lindy Crea | Katrina Nguyen | Laura Graves | Wyatt Shane #femalefounders #beautybrand #inspiringwomen #tashtalks 

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Why Now is the Time for HealthTech Founders to Engage with the New UK Government https://lnkd.in/dnPRU2iK > Engaging with government and policy makers is important – for ensuring you understand current or impending regulation, for getting the backing of important policy-shapers as you disrupt markets, and crucially, helping to create the soft power that can help your company’s favourability and growth. > Take a health scaleup. The Labour manifesto pledged to streamline public procurement, providing a faster route to get new products into the NHS. Incoming Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has expressed a strong belief in the necessity of public and private collaboration for increasing efficiency and solving the NHS crisis. Engaging with Streeting’s team now could help your health tech commercially, creating a clearer path for growth. To find out more about how Founders Comms can support your startup or scaleup, get in touch at [email protected] or check out the website here https://lnkd.in/dkgGsgNq Founders Forum Group https://lnkd.in/dnPRU2iK

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This is for all women investing in and building startups across the UK. Barclays and The Entrepreneurs Network are currently undertaking research for the next Female Founders Forum report. - Repost and share to reach all voices. In this year’s report, they are exploring the opportunities and challenges for female angel investors in the UK. Throughout October, They are hosting a series of roundtables across the UK to feed into this research. This will cover: Regional challenges in angel investing The impact of angel syndicates, groups, and co-investment funds in supporting female entrepreneurs and investors across different regions. Strategies to increase women's participation in angel investing through improved support programs and policy changes Bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and investors   The roundtables are open to both male and female angel investors, female entrepreneurs who have been backed by angels, and those actively interested in becoming angel investors. The insights from the regional roundtable discussions will help inform the research and policy recommendations for the Government’s work on supporting angel investing among women.   If you want to have a seat at the table sign up below:   Newcastle: Monday, 7 October 2024, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Maybrook House, Newcastle upon Tyne - https://lnkd.in/ehtUFVxe Edinburgh: Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, CodeBase, Edinburgh - https://lnkd.in/e9cwZs-x Birmingham: Tuesday, 15 October 2024, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, 6 Brindley Pl, Birmingham - https://lnkd.in/erqTQnd4 London: Tuesday, 22 October 2024, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, 1 Churchill Place, London - https://lnkd.in/eMmRftKS Belfast: Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Ormeau Baths, Belfast - https://lnkd.in/e--xj54k investHER-UK, Roxane Sanguinetti, Hannah Bernard OBE, Juliet Gouldman,Natalie Ojevah MBE, Emmie Faust, Alma Angels, HERMESA, Angel Academe - increasing female investment, UK Business Angels Association, Deepali Nangia, Jenny Tooth OBE, Emma Sinclair MBE, Emma Wright, Marla Shapiro, Ella Goldner (Levy),

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🌟 Scaling Care Hires: A Journey from Concept to Industry Leader 🌟 Join us as we trace the incredible evolution of Care Hires, from a mere concept on a piece of paper to a thriving platform serving over 15,000 care workers and 1,000 agencies. Ian Mattioli director of Mattioli Woods plc our first investor and chairman, played a pivotal role in this growth story, embodying the spirit of taking calculated risks to scale efficiently. In this video, explore how strategic decisions like offshoring our tech development to Sri Lanka catalyzed our expansion, enabling us to enhance service delivery and impact across the care sector. Discover the bold moves and visionary leadership that drive Care Hires ongoing success. #CareHires #HealthTechInnovation #StrategicScaling #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #MattioliWoods

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🫂Tech-enabled care is an exciting and impactful investment opportunity, with significant returns potential - but it often gets overlooked. The care sector is HUGE - we all have care needs to varying extents throughout our lives, but innovation to date has lagged other sectors, making the care space today ripe for disruption. Excitingly, we are now seeing an increasing number of startups entering this space.  Since Dalia Aga-Shaw and I started 3SV, the care economy has been a key focus for us, but we have found that an understanding of the care space among peers has often been limited, and we want to change this.  📍That’s why we’re publishing this market map showcasing tech-enabled companies operating in the UK care economy. Thank you very much to Rachel Drapper who has led this work for 3SV. #CareEconomy #VC

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Love this article from Claire Archer talking about how hyper personalisation is not going away. Exactly what the team at Adora think and have been working on for the past few years. And why is this important? Because every woman’s peri/menopause experience is different. We believe a hybrid human & personalised hi-tech solution is the way forward for women as they transition through this life stage. Well worth a read!

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📣 We’ve got a big ESG_VC event planned for Tuesday next week – featuring the latest updates to our measurement framework, news of our 2025 benchmarking with the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA), and an introduction to our new platform partners… 📣 On the afternoon of Tuesday 26 November, we’ll be gathering 200+ VCs for the latest update on the ESG_VC Measurement Framework – from what it covers to how it informs industry-leading research, and how you can now work with our accredited data collection partners. This will be our first event delivered in partnership with our cohort of platform partners: Apiday, Novata, and PortF. I’m excited to share with our members how these partners can support a big step up in your ESG initiatives. Join us for a jam-packed event that will feature: 🟢 An update from Suzi Gillespie of the BVCA on how you can take part in our 2025 research – we analysed ESG performance in c.600 VC-backed companies in 2024 and we’re looking to deliver an even more ambitious piece of research next year… 🟢 Insights from Emily Havers of Fidelity International Strategic Ventures on the updates that have been made to the framework and what it means for our members, their portfolio companies, and the broader ecosystem. 🟢 Perspectives from Emily Matthews of Oxford Science Enterprises and Nina Foote of Volution on how the ESG_VC Measurement Framework has supported their work on ESG. 🟢 Presentations from our platform partners: Edouard Audi of Apiday, Conor O'Laoire’Laoire of Novata, and Alex Lu of PortF. It’s going to be a good one so do register. Link to sign up in the comments! #ESG_VC #sustainability #venturecapital

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BDO UK LLP's latest report, created in collaboration with Norman Broadbent Plc, sheds light on the evolving role of Non-Executive Directors (NED's) and how they can drive success in these dynamic industries. In the fast-paced world of life sciences and technology, having the right NEDs on board can make all the difference. They not only provide oversight but also drive innovation and growth. Key insights from the report include: 1. Strategic Insight: NEDs bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective, helping to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and market dynamics. Their strategic input can be invaluable in making informed decisions that drive growth. 2. Governance and Compliance: As businesses scale, maintaining robust governance structures becomes critical. NEDs ensure that compliance and risk management are not just tick-box exercises but integral to the company’s ethos. 3. Network and Influence: NEDs often have extensive networks that can open doors to new partnerships, funding opportunities, and market expansions. Their influence can accelerate growth and innovation. 4. Mentorship and Development: For senior executives, having a seasoned NED as a mentor can be incredibly beneficial. They provide guidance, challenge assumptions, and support leadership development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. 5. Sustainability and ESG: With increasing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, NEDs play a pivotal role in ensuring that these principles are embedded in the company’s strategy, enhancing long-term sustainability and reputation. 6. Securing Future Investment: NEDs can help secure future investment by ensuring that the business is investment-ready and not leaving money on the table. Their expertise in corporate relationships and navigating risk can be crucial in attracting and retaining investors. For a deeper dive into the evolving role of NEDs and how they can benefit your business, I highly recommend reading the full report: https://lnkd.in/eSZzdM-m #LifeScience #Technology #Growth #NED #Cambridge #Board #startup #scaling Tanya Gass Iain Hopper Shrenik Parekh, CFA

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At Balderton Capital, we believe the best way to change the world is to build a business. But building a business is incredibly hard – and founders need to be resilient in order to deal with the challenges and stresses along the journey. That is why we are making holistic support a priority, creating a programme to offer broad support to our founders. Our initial survey was instrumental in shaping this initiative, and we now hope many more founders and CEOs will participate in our second survey. Your feedback will help us continually enhance our offerings and establish holistic support as the new norm. https://lnkd.in/dSnjAniw

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Application for London’s Largest Demo Day is well on the way, but now it’s time to bring some spotlight on one of our partners who made this event possible🔥. We are super excited to be supported by Grantify UK ! I’ve known about Grantify and the man behind it (Mat Westergreen-Thorne) since last year. His story of resilience and perseverance with Grantify is super inspiring. Similar to my case with Rare Founders, Matt set up Grantify to solve his own problems with #grants  Anyone who has tried to research or apply for grants can relate to this😥. But he actually solved the problem. Now with Grantify, all you need is to sign up and get matched with the right grant, and with up to a 60% success rate with grant applications, #founders can get their funding in no time (subject to them being actually eligible for grants❗). I’m super grateful that companies like Grantify see and respect the work we do with Rare Founders and the effort we put into creating something different like London’s Largest Demo Day. By the way, for those founders who are looking at grants and want to get a special 𝟭𝟬% 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 from Grantify for the Rare Founders community, see the slides below. One of the last slides has a QR code so you can check your eligibility and, if eligible, get your 10% discount.

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