Ben Taylor Podcast

David Kneen | Cornerstone Crew Management | Ben Taylor Podcast

David Kneen, director and head of crew employment at Cornerstone Crew Management, joins the Ben Taylor Podcast to discuss why professional crew management is far more than payroll. The conversation explores superyacht crew employment, HR support, contracts, SEAs, travel, visas, insurance, repatriation, crew welfare, and the risks owners face when employment decisions are handled incorrectly. David explains why captains need specialist support, how independent crew management protects owners and crew, and why strong HR processes can improve retention, reduce operational risk, and create a better onboard culture. For yacht owners, captains, managers, and family offices, this episode highlights the commercial cost of getting crew operations wrong. Key Points: - Crew management is not just payroll. - Poor HR decisions create serious owner risk. - Happy crew improves the owner experience.

Tytti Sirola | Bluet Floating Solutions | Founder Podcast

Tytti Sirola, CEO and co-founder of Bluet Floating Solutions, joins the Founder Podcast Series to discuss how floating infrastructure can help marinas, waterfront developers, hospitality operators, and coastal cities solve one of their biggest constraints: lack of land. The conversation explores floating pools, spas, saunas, beach clubs, event platforms, utilities, crew facilities, and wellness-led marina development. Tytti also explains why floating construction requires serious engineering, how permitting and stakeholder education shape each project, and why modular floating solutions can create long-term commercial value without the environmental impact of fixed or piled structures. Bluet is a Finnish company specialising in floating construction solutions, founded in 2016 and led by Tytti Sirola and Kimmo Saharinen.  This Founder Podcast Series is produced in collaboration with Yachting Ventures and Marine Industry News. Thank you to @Hill Robinson for hosting us onboard M/Y SHEERGOLD. Key Points: * Floating infrastructure solves marina land constraints. * Wellness amenities can transform waterfront commercial value. * Quality engineering defines long-term floating performance.

David Rose | LOOKOUT | Founder Podcast

David Rose, founder of LOOKOUT, joins the Founder Podcast Series to discuss how AI, computer vision, augmented reality, and sensor fusion could transform marine navigation and collision avoidance. The conversation explores why boats have lagged behind cars in safety technology, how LOOKOUT detects vessels, debris, swimmers, whales, and other hazards, and why the future helm experience may feel more like Tesla-style software than traditional marine electronics. David also shares lessons from building partnerships with trusted marine brands, integrating with existing onboard systems, and using AI to make boating safer, clearer, and more intuitive. LOOKOUT develops AI-powered marine vision technology for hazard detection and situational awareness. This Founder Podcast Series is produced in collaboration with Yachting Ventures and Marine Industry News. Thank you to Boatsters Black for hosting us onboard the beautiful M/Y ON TIME for this series. Key Points: - LOOKOUT brings AI vision to marine safety. - Sensor fusion could redefine helm decision-making. - Brand partnerships accelerate marine technology adoption.

Nicolo Pasini | Pasini Yachts | Founder Podcast

Nicolo Pasini, founder of Pasini Yachts, joins the Founder Podcast Series to discuss how automotive engineering, integrated technology, and customer-led design could reshape yacht ownership. Drawing on experience at Automobili Lamborghini, BMW Group, and Automobili Pininfarina, Nicolo explains why Pasini Yachts is building electric Smart Yachts around a proprietary integrated platform designed to simplify maintenance, improve reliability, and give owners more time on the water. The conversation explores product-market validation, stealth-mode entrepreneurship, the difference between building a boat and building a platform, and why the future of yachting may depend on making technology feel invisible. Pasini Yachts describes its mission as democratising luxury yachting through electric Smart Yachts.  This Founder Podcast Series is produced in collaboration with Yachting Ventures and Marine Industry News. Thank you to Boatsters Black for hosting us onboard the beautiful M/Y ON TIME for this series. Key Points: * Pasini Yachts targets yacht ownership complexity. * Automotive platforms could transform marine reliability. * Invisible technology may unlock broader boating adoption.

Jack Molyneux | IDOSY | Founder Podcast

Jack Molyneux, founder of IDOSY, joins the Founder Podcast Series to discuss the future of luxury yacht charter and why the industry needs a more digital, transparent route to booking. The conversation explores IDOSY’s live pricing, live availability, instant booking model, and how its marketplace could open yacht charter to a new generation of clients. Jack also shares his journey from wooden boatbuilder and master mariner to founder, why charter has lagged behind other luxury travel sectors, and how crew insight can improve the post-booking guest experience. This Founder Podcast Series is produced in collaboration with Yachting Ventures and Marine Industry News. Thank you to Boatsters Black for hosting us onboard the beautiful M/Y ON TIME for this series.  Key Points: * IDOSY targets friction in yacht charter booking.  * Live pricing could widen charter market access.  * Crew insight strengthens post-booking guest experience.