<p>If you haven’t heard of disruptive men’s health brand Numan, it’s time to start taking notice. Since its launch in 2018, the company has helped 430,000 men maximise their health. </p><br><p>Having raised over $75m (£61.2m) in funding and boosting a team of over 150 people, the company offers personalised, integrated care in one digital platform and is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Sokratis Papafloratos. </p><br><p>We spoke to Sokratis about learning from a severe business failure, the key belief you need to look out for in an investor, and much more.</p><br><p><strong>Here's what we discussed:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Could you give us an overview of your career? (00:22)</li><li>When you came to the UK in 1997, was the plan always to get into business? (02:36)</li><li>Would you call yourself a good employee? (04:00)</li><li>You sold TrustedPlaces to Yell after four years. Did you scale the company for acquisition, or did you get an offer you couldn’t refuse? (05:33)</li><li>What lessons did you learn from the sale that you applied to your next business ventures? (08:51)</li><li>After TrustedPlaces, you launched Togethera and Upshot but decided to shut the business down after a few years. You were 36 at the time and had already been through a lot in business, but did you go through any trepidation or self-doubt? (10:08)</li><li>Sticking with closing down Togethera and Upshot, some people try to raise funds to get out of the hole and some call it a day at the right time. Where would you class yourself on that spectrum? (17:11)</li><li>Onto Numan – you need funding to pull off this brilliant vision you have. You’re not a healthcare expert, but you do have experience in successful businesses. Do investors prioritise experience and vision over expertise? (20:20)</li><li>You are an angel investor yourself. How much does receiving pitches from people change your thinking when preparing to pitch to someone else? (26:00)</li><li>Could you tell us about the funding journey with Numan? (27:47)</li><li>How have you found the experience of hiring people to help you scale Numan? (31:22)</li><li>Could you tell us about Numan's marketing strategy? (33:57)</li><li>What does the future hold for Numan? (35:45)</li><li>The Good News Postcard: What superhero would you be and why? (37:27)</li><li>What makes a great business leader? (38:32)</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Thanks to Ella from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting <a href="https://goodnewspost.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Good News Post</a>, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.</p><br><p>Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYMiQAiikesqqT_uel9aEA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Business Leader YouTube channel</a> for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The Business Leader Podcast

Business Leader

Sokratis Papafloratos: Overcoming failure to transform men's healthcare

OCT 18, 202340 MIN
The Business Leader Podcast

Sokratis Papafloratos: Overcoming failure to transform men's healthcare

OCT 18, 202340 MIN

Description

<p>If you haven’t heard of disruptive men’s health brand Numan, it’s time to start taking notice. Since its launch in 2018, the company has helped 430,000 men maximise their health. </p><br><p>Having raised over $75m (£61.2m) in funding and boosting a team of over 150 people, the company offers personalised, integrated care in one digital platform and is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Sokratis Papafloratos. </p><br><p>We spoke to Sokratis about learning from a severe business failure, the key belief you need to look out for in an investor, and much more.</p><br><p><strong>Here's what we discussed:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Could you give us an overview of your career? (00:22)</li><li>When you came to the UK in 1997, was the plan always to get into business? (02:36)</li><li>Would you call yourself a good employee? (04:00)</li><li>You sold TrustedPlaces to Yell after four years. Did you scale the company for acquisition, or did you get an offer you couldn’t refuse? (05:33)</li><li>What lessons did you learn from the sale that you applied to your next business ventures? (08:51)</li><li>After TrustedPlaces, you launched Togethera and Upshot but decided to shut the business down after a few years. You were 36 at the time and had already been through a lot in business, but did you go through any trepidation or self-doubt? (10:08)</li><li>Sticking with closing down Togethera and Upshot, some people try to raise funds to get out of the hole and some call it a day at the right time. Where would you class yourself on that spectrum? (17:11)</li><li>Onto Numan – you need funding to pull off this brilliant vision you have. You’re not a healthcare expert, but you do have experience in successful businesses. Do investors prioritise experience and vision over expertise? (20:20)</li><li>You are an angel investor yourself. How much does receiving pitches from people change your thinking when preparing to pitch to someone else? (26:00)</li><li>Could you tell us about the funding journey with Numan? (27:47)</li><li>How have you found the experience of hiring people to help you scale Numan? (31:22)</li><li>Could you tell us about Numan's marketing strategy? (33:57)</li><li>What does the future hold for Numan? (35:45)</li><li>The Good News Postcard: What superhero would you be and why? (37:27)</li><li>What makes a great business leader? (38:32)</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Thanks to Ella from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting <a href="https://goodnewspost.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Good News Post</a>, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.</p><br><p>Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYMiQAiikesqqT_uel9aEA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Business Leader YouTube channel</a> for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>