Episode 11: Merry-Go-Round Club – The Business of Baby Equipment Rental

Episode 11: Merry-Go-Round Club – The Business of Baby Equipment Rental

What if the pram, carrier, cot and breast pump you’ll use for a few months didn’t have to live in your loft forever? In this episode of The 99% Club – The Small Business Podcast, Aaron meets Femke, founder of Merry-Go-Round Club, a fast-growing service that lets parents rent high-quality baby kit instead of buying it. Born from lived experience (two kids, lots of kit, limited space) and a sustainability mindset, the model extends product life, cuts waste and cost, and adds something parents crave at 3am: trust.  Inside the episode: * Why rental beats “buy, outgrow, store” for new parents (cost, clutter, carbon) * The try-before-you-commit approach: carrier bundles and short-term breast-pump rentals * Newborn essentials, simplified: a curated 6-month newborn bundle delivered up front * From B2C to B2B benefits: partnerships and employer-subsidised bundles for new parents * Building a bootstrapped logistics engine for multi-material products (cleaning, safety, storage) * Cultural lessons from Hong Kong and Scandinavia on reuse and status – and how UK attitudes are shifting * The “3am order” moment: solving real problems, right when parents need help

Episode 10: The Empowering Entrepreneur – Property, Petitions and Confidence with Michelle Niziol

What happens when a people-first mortgage broker decides “good rates” aren’t enough – and sets out to change lives, industries and policy? In this episode of The 99% Club – The Small Business Podcast, Aaron speaks with Michelle Niziol – founder of seven businesses, King’s Trust ambassador for Women Supporting Women, and creator of The Empowering Entrepreneur.  Michelle shares how early hardship pushed her into work, property-investing at 18, and building a client-education model that’s retired customers early. She also explains her petition to make childcare a legitimate business expense for self-employed founders, and her wider views on rebuilding UK business confidence. Inside the episode: * From nearly homeless at 17 to first home at 18 – the origin of a problem-solving operator * Why her mortgage practice is really a client education engine: equity, portfolios, and financial freedom * The “give, give, give” growth loop – building a referral-only business by changing outcomes, not just rates * The Empowering Entrepreneur: a passion project to boost women’s confidence, skills and momentum * Policy talk: childcare as a business expense, funding gaps for women, and a call for a business-rates amnesty to revive high streets * The lettings landscape: regulation good, NI on rental income risky, and why PRS still matters for mobility * Culture over convenience: buying a premises post-Covid to build team cohesion and community 🎧 Listen on Spotify • Apple • YouTube 🌐 The Empowering Entrepreneur 👥 Enterprise Nation

Episode 9: Handmade by Tinni – From Stall to Retail with Love & Joy

Can a childhood love of jewellery, a mountaineering knot, and a £45 craft-fair table kickstart a brand? In this episode of The 99% Club – The Small Business Podcast, Enterprise Nation’s Aaron Asadi talks with Paulomi Debnath, founder of Handmade by Tinni, the bold, biodegradable textile-jewellery brand turning rope-knot craft into statement pieces.  Paulomi shares how she went from a sold-out stall in Kolkata as a teen to launching in London, why cotton cords and sustainability are non-negotiable, and how a move from B2C to B2B changed the trajectory of her business. Inside the episode: * The origin story – trekking knots meet colour, confidence and craft * The £45 stand that returned £300 – and the proof of product it gave * How press features and community collaborations compound visibility * Moving from B2C into B2B – first wholesale orders, museum stockists, and realistic pacing for a handmade brand * Positivity, persistence, and staying authentic when the economy bites 🎧 Listen on Spotify • Apple • YouTube 🌐 Handmade by Tinni 👥 Enterprise Nation

Episode 8: Linger – Designing the Trip of a Lifetime

What does it take to plan a sabbatical that actually changes how you feel, not just where you are? In this episode of The 99% Club – The Small Business Podcast, Enterprise Nation’s Aaron Asadi speaks with Steve Wilson, founder of Linger, a boutique travel company creating bespoke, experiential journeys for couples and families – with a special focus on sabbaticals. Steve shares how he launched just before the pandemic, kept the vision alive, and then grew with the post-COVID rebound in travel. Drawing on 20+ years of global travel experience, he explains how Linger blends deep on-the-ground knowledge with a client-first process to design journeys that are as restorative as they are adventurous. Inside the episode: * Why sabbatical travel is growing, and how Linger designs it around contrast, pacing and downtime * How to turn planning itself into part of the joy of the journey * The behind-the-scenes scaffolding – from contingency planning to boutique family-friendly stays * Building voluntourism into trips through short, ethical conservation projects * The challenges of scaling a highly bespoke service and the IT and FX hurdles small businesses face 🎧 Listen on Spotify • Apple • YouTube 🌐 Linger 👥 Enterprise Nation

Episode 7: Photon Therapeutics — Overtaking Antibiotics in the Fight Against Infection, with Dr Mark Leddy

What if a beam of safe UVC light could do the job of antibiotics for infections? In this episode of The 99% Club – The Small Business Podcast, Enterprise Nation’s Aaron Asadi talks with Dr Mark Leddy, CEO of Photon Therapeutics, about a handheld UVC device designed to treat eye infections without accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Mark explains how a precise UVC wavelength disrupts bacteria, fungi and viruses at the corneal surface, why bugs develop resistance to antibiotics and even share resistance genes with other bugs, and how a startup with limited resources is rolling out devices to veterinary ophthalmology first while preparing the path to human clinical use. Inside the episode: * Why antibiotic resistance is rising and why “reserve” drugs are not the long term answer * How targeted UVC can reduce or replace antibiotics in eye infections and why eyes are the ideal first use case * Early real world results from veterinary clinics across multiple continents * Recruiting A-players in a resource-constrained startup and shipping before “perfect” * The surprising regulatory route that lets a tiny team get to market and iterate fast 🎧 Listen on Spotify • Apple • YouTube 🌐 Photon Therapeutics 👥 Enterprise Nation