Riding Unicorns: Venture Capital | Entrepreneurship | Technology

• Dylan Collins, Founder @ SuperAwesome (acq. Epic Games)

  Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by legendary repeat founder Dylan Collins, known for building and exiting three companies—including SuperAwesome, acquired by Epic Games.Dylan takes us on a fascinating journey from founding middleware for Call of Duty at university, to building tools that made the internet safer for kids, and now backing the next generation of Gen Z and Gen Alpha startups through his investment company, LFG Holdings.We dive deep into: 🎮 The early days of multiplayer gaming infrastructure📱 Building SuperAwesome and why kids’ digital safety became his mission⚡️ Emotional fuel: why desperation and revenge can drive great founders🧠 Survivorship bias and staying sharp as a repeat entrepreneur📈 Why most VCs still don’t understand M&A—and why that’s about to change💸 How the next wave of liquidity will be unlocked in venture🌍 Why today’s 20-year-olds live in a completely different world from 30-year-olds🧪 His bullish take on agent middleware and the future of AI-powered interfacesThis episode is a masterclass in longevity, startup psychology, and identifying generational shifts before anyone else. Dylan brings humour, honesty, and razor-sharp insight throughout.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

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• Mark Beeston, Founder @ Illuminate Financial

  Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.In this episode of Riding Unicorns, James Pringle and Hector Mason are joined by Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Financial—a thesis-driven venture capital firm investing in B2B FinTech and enterprise technology companies that are redefining the future of financial services.With offices in London, New York, and Singapore, Illuminate is deeply embedded in the global financial ecosystem. Its strategic LPs—ranging from major banks to market infrastructure providers—offer more than just capital; they provide meaningful insight, early validation, and go-to-market support for portfolio companies. For more, visit www.illuminatefinancial.com.Mark takes us through his remarkable three-decade journey in financial markets—from trader at Deutsche Bank, to entrepreneur, to operator, and now VC. He shares how these experiences shaped the Illuminate model and its unique position at the intersection of venture and financial institutions.We dive into:💸 Mark’s journey from Deutsche Bank to launching Illuminate🏦 The rise of institutional FinTech and why B2B was overlooked in 2014🌍 The complexity of selling into financial institutions—and how to overcome it🧠 How VCs stay relevant and avoid anchoring in past trends🤖 Where AI fits (and doesn’t) in heavily regulated environments🛡 Reality Defender and the arms race against deepfake fraud🧩 The slow death of legacy infrastructure and promise of microservices🚗 Mark’s passion for cars and his dream dinner party lineupDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

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• Staffan Helgesson, General Partner @ Creandum

  Subscribe to the Reading Unicorns newsletter here.Follow Riding Unicorns on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to the Riding Unicorns YouTube channel here.This episode sees James Pringle and Hector Mason sit down with Staffan Helgesson, General Partner of Creandum. Creandum is one of Europe's top early stage investors focused on Seed and Series A across a range of sectors from fintech to SaaS to devtools to climate tech, consumer tech and, of course, AI. Breakthrough companies that Creandum backed early include Spotify, Depop, iZettle, Klarna, Bolt and Trade Republic. n this wide-ranging conversation, Staffan shares the incredible story of Creandum’s origin, starting in the Nordics over 20 years ago, and how it became one of Europe’s most successful and respected venture franchises. From early challenges to establishing a long-term vision, we explore what it takes to build an enduring VC brand.In this episode:🇺🇸 How a trip to Stanford in 1999 inspired Staffan to build a VC firm in Europe🎵 The early days of Creandum and backing Spotify pre-hype💰 The strategy behind holding long and building funds for 17+ years🧠 Advice for emerging managers on picking LPs and thinking long-term🏦 Building a venture franchise vs. just a firm⭐ Brand-building in VC and leveraging the power of the portfolio🤖 The inside story on investing in Lovable, Europe’s hottest new startup🇪🇺 Why Staffan remains bullish on European innovation despite structural challengesA masterclass in longevity, strategy, and humility in venture capital—this is one for fund managers, founders, and startup ecosystem nerds alike.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

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• Joseph Pizzolato, Managing Partner @ Defiant VC

  Subscribe to our newsletter here. Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.Joseph Pizzolato is the Founder & General Partner at Defiant VC, a newly launched venture fund bringing a tech-first approach to investing.Joseph shares his journey from engineering to venture capital, his experiences at Vitruvian Partners and Felix Capital, and what led him to take the leap and launch Defiant. He explains how the fund is using data-driven insights, deep thematic research, and proprietary software to build a new model for venture investing.We also discuss:The future of venture capital and why it needs to evolveThe role of proprietary technology in sourcing, selecting, and supporting startupsHow to structure a portfolio thoughtfully and avoid ‘groupthink’ in VCJoseph’s views on AI investing and why it may be overhypedLessons from raising a first-time fund in one of the toughest VC marketsThis is a must-listen for VCs, LPs, and founders interested in the future of venture capital and how emerging funds can differentiate in a crowded market.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

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• Aidan Rushby, Co-founder & CEO @ Carmoola

  Subscribe to our newsletter here.Follow us on LinkedIn here.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here. In this episode of Riding Unicorns, we’re joined by Aidan Rushby, Founder & CEO of Carmoola, a fintech company reinventing the way people buy used cars through a seamless, mobile-first car finance experience.Aidan shares his journey from running a property rental marketplace to identifying a massive opportunity in car finance, how he validated his business model before launching, and the lessons he learned from raising over £250m in debt and equity funding.We also dive into:How Carmoola is leveraging automation and behavioral economics to create a superior lending experienceThe challenges of building a high-growth, capital-intensive fintechWhat it takes to scale a fully automated lending platformThe importance of validating key business assumptions before committingThe future of car finance and Carmoola’s expansion plansThis is an insightful conversation for fintech founders, investors, and anyone interested in disrupting traditional industries with technology.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄

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