Ed Keelan is a Partner at Octopus Ventures focused on B2B SaaS. As well as identifying & nurturing disruptive SaaS startups, Ed's actively involved in various initiatives addressing D&I topics - including neurodiversity - within the VC sector. We discussed: 💡 What do VCs really care about when evaluating startups & entrepreneurs? 💰 Why many SaaS businesses that raised money during the VC bubble need to refocus on unit economics and "Swiss army knife" talent 🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 The importance of all types of diversity, including neurodiversity, in VC - Ed, who himself is dyslexic, is involved in several D&I initiatives 😨 The struggles faced by “the forgotten 90%” in VC portfolios - one CEO told Ed “I wake up most days just wishing someone would tell me what to do” - and a few crucial steps overwhelmed CEOs can take to address their challenges

Ambre Soubiran is the CEO at Kaiko – a cryptocurrency market data provider who in June ‘22 raised a $55m Series B led by Eight Roads. Kaiko aims to become the Bloomberg of the blockchain & cryptocurrency worlds! We explored: ✳️ Why Ambre gave up a successful banking career to build a blockchain startup ✳️ How blockchain data services will empower decision-makers across many industries ✳️ Why being too early can become a competitive advantage in a data-centric market ✳️ Why successful entrepreneurs should obsess less about fundraising- it's not how about raising money, it's how you spend it! ✳️ How to ensure a diverse international culture from Day 1 ✳️ How Ambre handled closing a Series B & giving birth to her baby on the same evening!

Tariq Rauf is the Founder & CEO at Qatalog whose digital work hub enables organisations to scale fast with transparency, automated knowledge flow, & tightly aligned teams & projects. We explored: * How Tariq started coding when he was 6, built his 1st software business when he was 12, developed software for major corporations throughout his teenage years & then chose to re-train as an architect! * How architects learn to anticipate, & accommodate in their designs, rapid growth in user numbers unlike software designers who typically fail to plan for this * The "productivity paradox" - why are productivity tools destroying productivity? * Why Covid has, by accident, enabled us to find the ideal working environment for knowledge workers * Will the latest generation of employees ever embrace 9-5 working practices & daily commutes?

Thor Olof Philogène is the Co-Founder & CEO at Stravito who've sold their AI-driven saas research & insights platform directly to blue chips like Mcdonalds, Electrolux & Pepsi Lipton. We explored: * Applying the Eric Ries concept of “validated learnings” when launching a SaaS business * How a small European venture can sell enterprise SaaS directly to blue chips like McDonalds * Why focus is your best friend - and how to retain that focus as your business grows * The advantages of front-load your hiring * How to build an effective autonomous culture

Jack Macfarlane is the CEO at DeepStream Technologies who's SaaS solution delivers a seamless, visible & automated procurement experience to clients like Maersk and BritishVolt. DeepStream was originally funded by TechStars plus angel investors - and then raised a Series A, led by Beringea, in 2021. Jack discussed: * Switching from investment banking to become a tech entrepreneur * Ensuring your employees develop a shared winning mentality & contribute to the company's vision * Navigating the path from your startup dream to the reality of scaling your business * Diversity – building an eclectic mix of people from the outset * Why Procurement is changing from a cost centre to a profit-generation centre