Nothing Ventured

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Adam French, investor at Antler and former operator and co-founder of Scalable Capital, to explore what makes exceptional founders, how venture capital is changing, and where the UK startup ecosystem is heading. Adam shares his perspective on founder DNA, venture capital investing, startup funding, co-founders, AI and building venture-scale companies, explaining why obsession, agency, ambition and execution are some of the most important traits he looks for in founders. The conversation covers Antler's approach to backing founders, why founder communities and co-founder matching matter, the differences between London and regional startup ecosystems, and why the UK needs greater density of talent, capital and infrastructure. They also explore how AI is changing the way startups are built, why founders should avoid overbuilding, the rise of AI-native businesses, and whether the future could include one-person billion-dollar companies. The discussion also looks at data-driven venture capital, SEIS investing, the changing UK funding landscape, Series A progression, and why capital is becoming increasingly concentrated around breakout businesses. In this episode: - What makes an exceptional founder - Founder DNA: obsession, agency and execution - Antler's approach to venture capital - The UK startup and venture capital ecosystem - London vs regional startup ecosystems - Finding the right co-founder - Solo founders and the rise of AI-native businesses - How AI is changing startup creation - Why startups should avoid overbuilding - Data-driven venture capital investing - SEIS and institutional venture capital - The changing UK funding landscape - Reaching Series A in a tougher market - Venture capital and the power law - What investors really look for in founders - The future of AI, startups and venture capital Find Adam French and Antler online at: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adam-french-2192034a Antler: https://x.com/antlerglobal This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence

What does the future of climate tech, energy and deep tech investing really look like? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Matthew Blain, climate tech investor at Voyager, to explore where venture capital is flowing, why climate tech is being misunderstood, and why the economics behind new technologies matter more than the narrative. Matthew shares his perspective on climate tech investing, batteries, renewable energy, nuclear power, robotics, AI and deep tech, explaining why Voyager looks for companies that are better, faster or cheaper than incumbent technologies rather than relying on green premiums or government policy. The conversation covers the rapid growth of battery storage, wind and solar, Europe's energy costs and competitiveness, the future of nuclear and small modular reactors, and why the battle against climate change increasingly happens upstream in supply chains and infrastructure. They also explore the gap between perception and reality in physical AI and robotics, whether general-purpose humanoid robots can compete with specialised machines, and how AI is changing software, finance and venture capital. In this episode: - Climate tech and the future of venture capital - Why narrative shouldn't replace product-market evidence - The exponential growth of battery storage - Renewable energy, energy costs and European competitiveness - Nuclear power and small modular reactors - Climate investing without relying on government policy - Deep tech, hardware and defensible IP - AI, robotics and physical AI - General-purpose vs specialised robotics - How AI is changing software and finance - Why unit economics ultimately win Find Matthew Blain online at: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-blain-vc Twitter: https://x.com/voyagervc?s=11 Voyager: https://www.voyagervc.com/team-members/matthew-blain This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #StartupBanking #financialautomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Energy #Batteries #AI #Robotics #ClimateInvesting #NothingVentured #VC

What does the future of space tech look like and can the UK become a global deep tech powerhouse? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Maureen Haverty, Principal at Seraphim Space, to explore the rapidly evolving space technology and deep tech investment landscape. Maureen shares her perspective on space tech investing, nuclear innovation, deep tech startups, venture capital and the commercialisation of scientific research. They discuss why so much world-class engineering talent remains trapped in national labs and universities, the UK's fear of failure, and what needs to change to turn groundbreaking research into successful startups. The conversation also explores the growing role of generalist VC funds in space, SpaceX and Starlink, space sovereignty, geopolitical risk, satellite technology, defence tech and the impact of SpaceX's IPO on the venture ecosystem. They also discuss whether the UK should concentrate its startup ecosystem around London, why deep pools of capital matter for ambitious companies, and how founders can compete in markets dominated by giants like SpaceX. In this episode: - The future of space tech and deep tech investing - Why the UK struggles to commercialise world-class research - Nuclear technology and the UK's lost commercial opportunity - Getting scientists and engineers into startups - Generalist vs specialist venture capital - SpaceX, Starlink and the future of space investment - Space sovereignty and geopolitical risk - The impact of SpaceX's IPO on the space ecosystem - Building successful deep tech companies in the UK - Why startup talent and capital need to be concentrated Find Maureen Haverty online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenhaverty/ Twitter: https://x.com/seraphim_space Seraphim Space: https://seraphim.vc This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence #SpaceTech #DeepTech #VentureCapital #SpaceX #Startups #VC #Investing #NuclearEnergy #Entrepreneurship #NothingVentured

What will replace the touchscreen as the next generation of human-computer interaction? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Jacques Blagburn from Fether Labs to explore the future of gesture control, wearable technology and human-machine interfaces. Jacques explains how Fether Labs is developing tendon sensing technology that can capture high-fidelity hand movements, offering an alternative to traditional camera-based tracking and EMG sensors. The conversation explores how this technology could unlock new applications across consumer electronics, robotics, gaming, AR/VR, smart devices and next-generation interfaces. Topics covered: • Gesture control and human-computer interaction • Tendon sensing vs EMG and camera tracking • Wearable technology and smart devices • Robotics, gaming and AR/VR • Deep tech and hardware startups • Commercialising academic research • Startup funding and grants • OEM partnerships and technology licensing • Product-market fit and customer feedback • Building the next generation of interfaces • Entrepreneurship, leadership and embracing discomfort #DeepTech #GestureControl #WearableTechnology #Robotics #Startups #HumanComputerInteraction #Hardware #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #NothingVentured Find Jacques Blagburn online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesblagburn/ Fether Labs: https://fetherlabs.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence

What happens when financial advice meets AI? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Laura Cornely, CEO & Co-Founder of Count, the UK’s automated financial advisor, to explore the future of fintech, financial advice and startup investing. Laura shares how Count is using technology to help people manage their money, build budgets, create rainy day funds and invest through personalised financial strategies. They discuss: - Can AI and automation replace human financial advisors? - Why financial advice needs a human touch - Building the UK’s automated financial advisor - The FCA sandbox and navigating fintech regulation - Why Laura and her husband chose to build a startup together - Fundraising, dilution and startup runway in 2026 - Why founders need to think differently about venture capital - The changing fintech investment landscape - AI, defensibility and what makes a startup truly difficult to copy - Whether technology is actually making our lives easier Laura also explains why she believes technology may have peaked in making our lives easier and why human connection could become even more valuable in an increasingly AI-driven world. If you're interested in fintech, AI, financial advice, venture capital, startup fundraising, FCA regulation, investing and the future of technology, this episode is not to be missed. Nothing Ventured explores the people, ideas and businesses shaping the venture ecosystem. Find Laura Cornely online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cornely-505083198/?locale=en Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/count_app/ Count Finance: https://count-finance.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence