The Secrets of a Bootstrapped Founder

𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵...𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵

If you're a CEO, founder, or ambitious professional who wants to: ✅ Sell more effectively ✅ Command more influence ✅ Get promoted and paid what you’re worth... …this episode is your shortcut to learning 𝘩𝘰𝘸.Leah Kim Brighton isn't your average communication coach. She's a 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 with a background in linguistics, psychology, and executive hiring and her approach removes the fluff and guesswork. With her 𝗩𝟴 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, she breaks down the 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 behind how to sound confident, earn trust, and get results whether you're in the boardroom, leading a team, or pitching a client.𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: ❌ Why “speak with confidence” is terrible advice unless you know 𝘩𝘰𝘸 ✅ Two simple but powerful techniques to instantly improve how you're heard❓ How your 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 could be the reason you're not getting promoted ✅ Why your “echo” in the room 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 you leave matters more than what you say in it❓ What really earns respect, trust, and influence in leadership🎯 If you've ever been overlooked, underestimated, or unheard this episode will change the way you think about communication forever.👉 Watch this episode of the Business Alchemists Podcast now and 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹.

The Secrets of a Bootstrapped Founder

Think raising $6M guarantees startup success? Think again! In this raw, no-BS conversation, J.Y. Delmot, co-founder of BuddiesHR and ex-Y Combinator alum reveals the real lessons behind the flashy headlines. From building a SaaS that hit $60K MRR on the side, to losing it all when Instagram shut them down, to raising millions and learning the hard way… this is a masterclass in founder reality.What you'll learn:Why VC money often kills more startups than it savesThe 3 rules that changed his life at Y CombinatorHow to build a startup before writing a single line of codeWhy most founders burn out — and how to avoid itHow J.Y. scaled BuddiesHR from scratch with just a Slack appIf you’re building, funding, or fumbling through startup life, this is the playbook you didn’t know you needed.

Brain Tumour to Mission for Human Connections

In this episode of the Business Alchemist Podcast, Phil Akilade speaks with James Mays, founder of Rodeo and asks, What drives someone to build a new startup after selling their last one, and surviving a brain tumour diagnosis? They explore the importance of community and events in today's polarised world. They discuss the evolution of event technology, the significance of in-person connections, and the mission behind Rodeo to create a new platform that supports community organisers. James shares his personal journey, including health challenges and the drive to build a customer-centric community. The conversation emphasises the need for discovery in event planning and the potential for monetising community data to sustain and grow these initiatives. In this conversation, James discusses the journey of developing a platform aimed at enhancing community engagement through events. He shares insights on the importance of user feedback, and the evolving nature of technology in event organisation. The discussion also touches on societal issues like loneliness and the resurgence of in-person events post-COVID, emphasising the role of technology in facilitating genuine human connections. James outlines the competitive landscape, barriers to adoption, and the future growth plans for the platform, Rodeo.

AI: Just another Hype Cycle?

In this episode of the Business Alchemist podcast, Phil Akilade speaks with Nick Sales, a fractional CTO with 35 years of experience in AI. They explore the reality of AI, discussing whether it is genuine innovation or merely hype. Nick shares his mixed feelings about the current AI landscape, emphasising the importance of data in AI applications and the need for businesses to navigate the hype cycle carefully. They also delve into the practical applications of AI in business, highlighting the potential for productivity gains while cautioning against unrealistic expectations. In this conversation, Nick Sales and Phil Akilade delve into the evolving landscape of AI, discussing its implications for productivity, job dynamics, and ethical considerations. They explore a structured approach for business leaders to adopt AI, emphasising the importance of understanding data and technology. The discussion also highlights the current applications of AI in manufacturing, the rise of no-code development, and the critical need for security in AI-generated code. Ultimately, they stress the importance of human collaboration in the future of AI. In this conversation, Phil and Nick delve into the complexities of AI in software development, the practical applications of technology in business, and the mindset required for leaders to embrace these changes. They discuss the limitations of AI, the importance of understanding technology, and the challenges businesses face in implementing new solutions. Nick shares his journey from philosophy to technology, emphasising the need for a balanced approach to technology adoption and the importance of human insight in the process.

The Future of Lead Gen Isn’t AI. It’s THIS.

What if the next great sales breakthrough isn’t artificial intelligence but actual warm introductions? In this episode of the Business Alchemist Podcast, Phil Akilade sits down with Mike Adams, founder of Start-Up IntroStars and self-proclaimed King of Networking, to expose the inconvenient truth about cold outreach, AI-driven spam, and what really works in B2B sales today. Mike shares his powerful journey from a struggling sales rep relying on cold emails, to building a £5M pipeline using zero cold outreach with just human connections. Now, he’s launched a SaaS platform to scale the one strategy that never fails: warm referrals. In this episode, you’ll discover: * Why cold outreach is dying, even if it’s “personalised” by AI * How AI spam bots and AI spam filters are cancelling each other out * The real reason buyers don’t respond to automated messages * Why trust and reputation still dominate high-ticket B2B deals * How Mike built IntroStars to help businesses incentivise referrals, legally and at scale * Advice for introverts: how to network and build influence without ever leaving your screen * The surprising reason AI still has a role but only if used properly Whether you're a founder tired of cold outreach, a sales leader looking for high-value leads, or an introvert who’s always hated networking, this episode will shift your thinking about Lead Gen on its head.