Welcome to today's episode, where we have the absolute honour of hosting a remarkable individual who epitomises resilience, determination, and the sheer power of the human spirit. Our guest today is none other than Martin Perry, a phenomenal Paralympian who is about to embark on yet another incredible journey—competing in the Paris Paralympics in t…

In this inspiring episode of "The Search Fund Podcast," we delve into Alexander Schuil's remarkable journey from an early interest in entrepreneurship to achieving a significant exit through a search fund. Alexander shares his beginnings, from diverse early work experiences to pivotal educational moments that shaped his path. He discusses the strat…

By Jake Nicholson, SMEVentures

Welcome to the last of three special episodes of the Scottish Business Network podcast in partnership with the UK Government’s Department of Business and Trade and, in particular, its International Markets Team for Latin America and the Caribbean.And here's a questions for you... Did you know that one of the most popular dishes in Brazil is sushi? …

Welcome to the second of three special episodes of the Scottish Business Network podcast in partnership with the UK Government’s Department of Business and Trade and, in particular, its International Markets Team for Latin America and the Caribbean.In this episode, it' a great pleasure to hear from Spencer Mahony, His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commiss…

Welcome to three special episodes of the Scottish Business Network in partnership with the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade and, in particular, its International Markets Team for Latin America and the Caribbean.In this first episode, we hear the fascinating story of Robin Sampson, founder of Trade in Space, an Edinburgh-based busin…

SBN co-founder Russell Dalgleish meets identical twins Lisa and Alana Macfarlane and discovers how they swapped their globe-trotting careers as DJs to build an ambitious business promoting gut health.By Fraser Allen from Fraser Allen Communications

In this episode, two-time search fund entrepreneur, 20-year search fund investor, Stanford GSB professor, and now author David Dodson joins us to discuss his new book The Manager's Handbook, which derives lessons from his life and experiences with search funds. From his humble Colorado upbringing to unconventional early jobs to success as a CEO and…

If you go down to the woods today, you might find Rupert Waites drilling for birch sap. The co-founder of Scottish drinks company Buck & Birch is our fascinating host for a special woodland episode in which we discuss the business he co-founded with Tom Chisholm. We also explore their deep connection with the Scottish landscape, their foraging-insp…

David started life in Glasgow dreaming of working in an ice cream van but then, after considering a career in the merchant navy, he realised he could get a place at university. That decision opened the door to an extraordinarily successful career thousands of miles away in the US space industry. David tells his story with wonderful colour, humour a…

In 1966, two brothers called George and Mike Wills bought a small taxi firm in Glasgow, comprising just three cars – a Humber Hawke, a Humber Snipe and an Austin Princess. More than half a century later, George’s daughter Heather Matthews is CEO of Little’s – the luxury worldwide chauffeur services. In this interview with Christine Esson, Heather t…

If you’ve had any interaction with the Scottish marketing industry, you will almost certainly have heard of Tayburn, one of the leading agencies in Scotland for more than four decades. Our guest in this episode is Richard Simpson, who joined Tayburn 14 years ago, before participating in a management buyout to become co-owner and joint managing dire…

Glasgow-born Sandy Kennedy, studied at Cambridge and began a law career in London, while enjoying the city's club scene. But when the novelty of legal work and house music wore off, he returned to Scotland to help with his family's laundry business, and embark on his own entrepreneurial adventures as Founder of Klick Direct. The UK-wide photo proce…

As Chief Executive of Women's Enterprise Scotland, Carolyn Currie is dedicated to supporting and promoting women-led and women-owned businesses. It's a cause she is passionate about, having a forged her own successful career in finance as Head of Business Lending at Royal Bank of Scotland. And as we hear in her conversation with Christine Esson, Ca…

When Tynah Matembe and her husband moved from Uganda to Edinburgh, they fell in love with Scotland. However, when the contrast in cultures left them feeling isolated, they embarked on a mission to create a social group bringing together others with an African background. Little did they realise what it would lead to.With their new friends increasin…

When Edinburgh-raised Neil McInnes and his childhood friend Andy Whitmey were still in their 20s, they spotted an opportunity in the residential lettings market. Having both experienced poor service from letting agencies as tenants, they believed that the fusty image of solicitors in pin-striped suits was due a shake-up, with much greater care and …

In this episode we hear from Sandy Paige, who is the self-proclaimed oldest person to launch a search fund. While I'm not sure that's true anymore, I think it might have been true when he launched a traditional search fund in 2017, focused exclusively on Northern California, at age 48. Most investors actually declined to back his search, possibly d…

Jacqui Gale's arrival in the world prompted the temporary closure of Edinburgh Airport and, since embarking on the world of business, her impact has been no less striking. This Scots-Canadian has brought her considerable drive and qualities to global brands from Estee Lauder and Revlon, to Crabtree & Evelyn and Arran. Jacqui's a natural storyteller…

Alexandra Lawson’s potential was spotted back in 2018 when she was presented with a One to Watch Award by Women in Science & Engineering (WISE). A Saltire scholar and ambassador, she’s now realising that potential in her current role with Shell, championing renewable energy solutions. A keen advocate of tackling the climate change crisis, Alex is p…

Jake Cervilla wanted to be a business owner since age 12. Now he is owner and CEO of Interland Design. In this episode, Jake remembers the business owners he looked up to throughout his career before making an acquisition only months before the COVID lockdown. Reflecting on entrepreneurial dreams, he says that being a business owner is harder than …

Martin Cawley is a popular and influential figure in Scotland’s third sector. From the early stages of his career at the NHS and then at the family support charity Quarriers, he’s been excited by innovation, committed to inclusion, and driven by a desire to help people realise their full potential. Martin's now bringing his experience to Beatson Ca…

In this episode, Tiago recounts a conventional corporate journey turned unconventional. He and his partner acquired two businesses about a year apart, marking the first acquisitions in Portugal's budding search fund market. Now helming TECLENA and JUNCOR as co-CEO, Tiago shares the thinking that spurred him into the search fund space, and how his r…

In this episode, Guido recounts the journey he's been on to realise his entrepreneurship dream and eventually become CEO of Farmoderm. Guido shares the struggles he’s faced and doggedly overcome in raising a search fund in Italy where no one had even heard of one. Even as he juggled key family milestones, fielded several major roadblocks post-acqui…

From humble but happy beginnings in north London, Ray Perman has been a popular and much admired figure in the Scottish business world since permanently moving to Edinburgh in 1975.The former Scotland correspondent for the Financial Times, went on to found the successful Business Insider publishing group before becoming Chief Executive of Scottish …

In this episode, Manny recounts his journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, a path that landed him in the CEO seat of Contract Sweeping Services. Manny acquired two companies from the same owner, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses how he recognized and realized synergies across both companies and how he has driven valu…

Professor Calum MacRae, a GP's son from the Isle of Skye, has been based in Boston in the USA for more than 30 years and is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.As well as being a physician and a scientist, he is extraordinarily influential and well-connected in Boston’s buoyant life sciences, medical and technology sectors. And in this …

Damian Riley-Smith grew up in Norfolk but has strong family connections with Jura – both the island and the whisky. A born entrepreneur, he avoided studies during his time at Cambridge University because he was busy running three enterprises he had started up – a magazine, a nightclub and boxer short business. Yep – it was the 80s!After a brief spe…

As a school-leaver, Philip Grant went straight to work in a branch of Bank of Scotland and, 40 years on, his career continues within the same group.He's now Chief Operating Officer for Insurance & Wealth at Lloyds Banking Group, as well as being Chair of Scottish Financial Enterprise. However, despite all that has happened since, Philip still remem…

In this episode, Mia recounts her unique transition, from engineer by training to management consultant to self-made entrepreneur. From running an African art exhibit as an undergrad to simultaneously launching both her consultancy practice and a beauty startup, Mia's certainly no stranger to the entrepreneurial world. One year into her acquisition…

After a happy childhood in South Africa, Shona Fleming was brought back to Glasgow by her parents and found the transition difficult. Life at school became uncomfortable with taunts about her background – her education stalled and Shona abandoned any thoughts of higher education.A series of junior jobs followed, in which she always worked hard, but…

In this episode, KT recounts his entrepreneurial journey, from management consultant to CEO of a leading multi-brand Thai company. Faced with challenges from long-established competitors along the way, and his commitments to a three-generation-old family business in Malaysia, KT discusses the importance of a strong, effective search partnership and…

If you only ever listen to one episode of the Scottish Business Network podcast, make it this one. To round 2021 off, Fraser Allen dips into the archive to unearth some wonderful contributions from guests over the past two to three years.In particular, we hear from people who have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity, as well as …

In this episode, Sumit Aneja recounts his entrepreneurial journey from luxury shaving start-up founder at Yale to search fund entrepreneur in Canada. Sumit outlines his unique experience acquiring a tech company, raising capital amidst competing searchers, and dealing with the pressures of closing, all while juggling key family milestones, culminat…

When Todd Walker was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Highlands and Islands in February 2021, he started the role in the strangest of circumstances. Based in Australia, lockdown prevented his relocation to Inverness, so he spent several months leading the university from a desk at his home on the other side of the wo…

Building on a highly successful business career, Aberdeenshire-born Jackie Waring founded Investing Women, a Scottish community of women angel investors, women entrepreneurs seeking growth, and those who want to help both.Scott Dalgleish takes over the reins from Fraser Allen in interviewing Jackie for this fascinating episode, exploring the unexpe…

In this episode, Martin recounts his entrepreneurial journey from management consultant to launching a search fund in Mexico. Martin highlights the importance of tapping into the search fund ecosystem, dealing with the pressures of closing, and strategies for value creation while discussing what it’s like to follow your passion, culminating in his …

To mark the opening of Scottish International Week on 2 November 2021, Fraser Allen considers the global Scottish diaspora and interviews a fine example of this inquisitive and adventurous breed. When Argyll-bred Caroline Finkel first visited Turkey as a student in 1971, she fell in love with the country and has spent much of her life since then li…

In this episode, Corbin Butcher recounts his unique journey from German Literature graduate to launching the first search fund in the Czech Republic with his wife, outlining his transformation from US marine to pioneering search fund entrepreneur. Corbin highlights the importance of operating experience and a good partner while discussing what it’s…

Aberdonian Iain Anderson began his career working as a journalist for the Courier and the Herald before becoming a founding shareholder of Incisive Media, a B2B publishing company that has evolved into digital media and events.It was a wise move as his shareholding grew considerably due to a subsequent sale and flotation. That enabled him to found …

In this episode, Daniel Muzquiz recounts the 20-year journey that has taken him from oil rigs in Texas to launching three successful search funds, outlining his transformation from mechanical engineer to serial search fund entrepreneur. Daniel highlights the importance of a good partner and acquisition framework while discussing his three successfu…

Honorary Scot Liz Barclay has a long history of campaigning for consumer justice and financial inclusion through her days at Citizens Advice, a distinguished career as a journalist and BBC Radio 4 presenter, and her seat on the Financial Inclusion Commission.Then in July 2021, Liz was revealed as the new UK Small Business Commissioner. The commissi…

In 2012, a 21-year-old Aberdeen University student called Blair Bowman created a global celebration called World Whisky Day. Hundreds of thousands of people got involved, and the initiative continues to flourish. Meanwhile Blair has gone on to establish himself as one of the UK’s leading writers, experts and consultants on whisky. As we begin an oc…

It’s often been said that, here in Scotland, we underestimate just what a wonderful place this is to live and work in – particularly compared to many people looking on admiringly from overseas. Take the fintech entrepreneur Gopal Hariharan. He was so impressed by the Scottish business eco system that he moved his Black Arrow app start-up from Sydne…

Growing up on a Californian farm, Eric McAfee’s horizons were broadened by global travel, including extensive tours playing trumpet in a band. Yet running parallel to this, he and his brothers started a business at an early age called McAfee Farms managing agricultural properties. And at the tender age of 23, while he was still at college, Eric was…

We now hear the phrase ‘mental health’ in the media just about every day, but it wasn’t always that way. People – and businesses – have become far more comfortable discussing issues such as stress, anxiety and depression – even more so in the wake of the pandemic crisis.And while a lot of people are understandably keen to throw themselves back into…

David Brown may well be Scotland's most successful fintech entrepreneur. However, in a Glasgow accent undimmed by many years of living in London and the Middle East, he self-deprecatingly describes himself as a 'lunatic'.Well, if that's the case, he’s the lunatic behind the hugely successful Oxygen Finance and now Hi55 Ventures, which is revolution…

Dr Marie Macklin is on a mission. As the driving force behind the ambitious regeneration of the old Johnnie Walker bottling plant in her home town of Kilmarnock, Marie has developed a new model for creating vibrant communities for the benefit of everyone – and it’s a model she’s set on taking well beyond Scotland.The founder of HALO Urban Regenerat…

In this special episode, entrepreneur and Scottish Business Network co-founder Russell Dalgleish quizzes podcast host Fraser Allen about seven key leadership insights that he's gathered from interviewing 60+ Scottish business leaders in the series to date.Recorded in front of a live audience as part of the Scottish Business Network's celebration of…

For rugby fans of a certain age, the abiding memory of David Sole is of the Scottish captain leading the team out for the 1990 Grand Slam triumph against England. Yet as well as an outstanding rugby career, that also encompassed a World Cup semi-final and a victorious Lions tour of Australia, David has built a highly successful business career. He …

At the age of just 23, Louise Worrall was a navigator in the Royal Navy, guiding a minehunter around the globe. It was her dream job. But just a year so later, her naval career was cut short by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Previously undiagnosed in Louise, the effects of this disability rapidly escalated before she knew what was happening to her. Louise…