A Different Perspective

This week Nick talks to Martin Higginson, Founder & CEO Huddled Group plcMartin is a seasoned Technology, Media, and Telecoms (TMT) entrepreneur with a history of founding, selling, and listing multiple businesses. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1982 with the sale of his first business, a BMX magazine, to IPC Magazines. After three years with IPC, he established the publishing and telecoms company Megafone, which he later sold to Scottish Power plc. At Scottish Power, he became Managing Director of the Internet and Interactive division of Scottish Telecom, overseeing Demon Internet. Martin then founded Monstermob Group plc, which listed on AIM in 2003 and grew to a Top 50 AIM listed business with a market capitalisation of £192m before its sale to Zed Worldwide in 2006. He has since founded Cityblock plc, NetPlayTV plc, and Digitalbox plc, which was ranked as a FastTrack 100 Company in 2016 and 2017. Martin is now Founder and CEO of Huddled Group plc. Nick and Martin discuss his career to date,Martin's book choice was: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwellhttps://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/malcolm-gladwell/outliers/9780141036250This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Dr Daniel DanielDr Daniel Daniel has over 24 years in dentistry and a deep understanding of cryptocurrency. Daniel specialises in teaching busy professionals, like dentists, how to invest in crypto confidently. His journey started at Dalhousie University, where he developed a passion for math and finance before his Dentistry Degree and founding EMC Dental, initially focused on dentistry education. Lately Daniel's interest in crypto grew, and created The Crypto Investing Program, a one-week course designed to simplify crypto investment for busy professionals, making it accessible and profitable. In this episode Nick and Daniel discuss Daniel's career path and the pivot to crypto. They delve into the Bull-Run Method, a strategy for making significant crypto returns with just 10 minutes of daily effort and discuss why the upcoming six months could be the final bull run in crypto and how to capitalize on it. Daniel's book choices where:Chasing the Scream by Johann Harihttps://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/johann-hari/chasing-the-scream/9781408857823Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwellhttps://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/malcolm-gladwell/talking-to-strangers/9780141988498This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week, Nick talks to Magnus Houston. Magnus has diverse career background that spans professional motorcycle racing for Suzuki GB, where he competed in a support race to the World Superbikes, and self-taught creel fishing. He has founded and managed multiple seafood companies and has experience in the alternative investment sector. Additionally, Magnus is a graduate of MIT's Sloan School of Management.With Magnus’ previous company, Fishbox, he digitized a traditional business model, creating a system with four times as many data collection points as Tesco Club Card Points. The real driver of subscription numbers was his comprehensive approach to marketing; handling every aspect of the process, from crafting the brand to creating aspirational videos, working with influencers, and managing social media posts.  Nick and Magnus talk about his extraordinary career to-date, including a serious accident in his motorcycle racing career that put him in a wheelchair, to then becoming a fisherman without any prior experience.Magnus' book choices where:The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers Hardcover by Ben Horowitz https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205The Pyramid of Lies: Lex Greensill and the Billion-Dollar Scandal Hardcover by Duncan Mavin https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pyramid-Lies-Greensill-Billion-Dollar-Scandal/dp/1529088887The World for Sale by Javier Blashttps://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/javier-blas/world-for-sale/9781847942678This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Marc AdamsMarc Adams is the CEO of Acquisitions4you, a specialized business consultancy firm that focuses on facilitating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for small to mid-sized companies. They provide end-to-end support throughout the acquisition process, ensuring that their clients achieve strategic growth objectives. The firm's services include identifying potential acquisition targets, conducting comprehensive due diligence, negotiating terms, and managing the integration process post-acquisition. By leveraging their extensive network and industry expertise, Acquisitions4you helps businesses navigate the complexities of M&A transactions, ensuring that both the financial and operational aspects are thoroughly addressed to maximize value and minimize risks.Before Acquisitions4you, Marc served as an Advisor at Flatworld Solutions, having significantly enhanced client profitability by outsourcing specialized tasks in financial service and insurance, creating over $100M in value. As a NED at JBTM Group, Marc achieved similar value creation through strategic growth and productivity improvements. As MD EMEA at RSA Security, Marc led a team to deliver $25M in software sales with significant year-over-year growth. Marc's tenure at Thomson Reuters involved turning around the EMEA business and expanding in emerging markets. Earlier roles include senior sales and engineering positions at Centennial Software, Clearswift, EMC Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Monotype, and Intersolve, where they consistently drove successful mergers and acquisitions, brand equity, and exit strategies.Nick and Mark talk about Marc's life and his career and focus on Marc's new book - Secrets to 10xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax-Free, the book gives guidance on how you can reshape the destiny of your business with strategies proven to not only multiply its worth but also to ensure a lucrative exit when the time is ripe. They cover chapters from the book, Power of Digital Marketing and Tax-Free Selling: Preparing for the Exit.  Marc's book choices where -  Secrets to 10xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax by Marc Adamshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-10Xing-Your-Business-Tax-Free/dp/B0CRXPBB4TDotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunsonhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/DotCom-Secrets-Underground-Playbook-Growing/dp/1630474770This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to long time friend of the show, Hugh Hendry the Acid Capitalist.Hugh Hendry is a prominent investor and hedge fund manager, best known for founding Eclectica Asset Management. Hendry gained considerable attention for his contrarian investment style and outspoken personality. He began his career at Baillie Gifford before moving to Credit Suisse, where he honed his skills in asset management. Hendry's reputation for making bold, unconventional bets was solidified during the 2008 financial crisis when his fund profited significantly from positions that anticipated the market downturn. His ability to foresee economic shifts and his willingness to take high-stakes risks have marked him as a distinctive figure in the world of finance.Despite stepping back from active fund management, Hendry remains an influential voice in finance, leveraging his deep understanding of market dynamics and his contrarian mindset to provide a unique perspective on economic developments as the Acid Capitalist. Hugh guides Nick through a macroeconomic maze, exploring the markets, gold, the Kobayashi Maru test, Dollar/Yen, Euro/Dollar, the Federal Reserve, Japan's devaluation and yelling at Yelland plus where Hugh invests his money. Fancy a ACID CAPITALIST SUMMER CAMP MACRO RETREAT with Hugh? Click here for details. This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

In the 50th episode of A Different Perspective, Nick talks to Mark Sheppard. Mark is a certified chartered accountant with previous experience at Deloitte and ABN Amro Hoare Govett. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Exeter and a BSc (Honours) in Computing & IT from the Open University.  Mark is the Co/Founder of Manchester and London Investment Trust. Manchester and London Investment Trust is a global equities fund with a bias towards blue chip, high quality, global, growth stocks that are primarily developed market listed.In this episode, Nick and Mark explore the transition from human labour to automation and all aspects of AI. Leveraging Mark's expertise in computing, he guides the conversation beyond the usual news headlines, providing deep insights into the stages of the Ai landscape and its effects. Mark says we need to pay attention, the world changes when we sleep. Mark's book choices were Investing with Keynes: How the World's Greatest Economist Overturned Conventional Wisdom and Made a Fortune on the Stock Market by Justyn Walsh and The World without Work by Daniel Susskind.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

Brian R. Cook is a seasoned entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience, having launched close to 200 locations for various boutique fitness brands. He holds a B.S. in exercise physiology from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. from Babson College. His latest venture is StretchMed, a franchise specialising in 1-on-1 stretching sessions, which he established in November 2019. StretchMed now operates over 20 locations across five states, focusing on relieving chronic pain, enhancing mobility, rejuvenating the body, and promoting better movement.Outside of work, Brian, a former hockey player, divides his time between Boston and Puerto Rico and enjoys boating.Brian and Nick discuss Brian's career and work in the fitness space. Brian's book choices where - E-Myth Mastery by Michael E. Gerber, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter and Good to Great by Jim Collins.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

In this week's episode Nick talks to Houman AshrafzadehHouman is a serial entrepreneur with diverse experiences in business, finance, and management consulting, Houman has developed a unique skill set and a problem-solving approach to business challenges. Houman has current roles as Co-Founder of Urban Greens and CEO & Founder of Padium. Nick and Houman discuss his career start moving from Sweden to London to study and Houman’s move into finance and brokering. Houman later found that he needed to strike out on his own setting up his brokerage firm 360 in 2013.  Now in 2024 Houman partners in Urban Greens, a salad bar franchise, with 4 locations across London. Recently, Houman launched Padium, a pay and play club for padel in Canary Wharf. Padel was invented in the 1960s in Mexico and is a racquet game that combines the tennis scoring system with the tactical ricochet shots of squash.Houman's book choice was The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries. This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

Giles and his brother Nick co-founded the Bremont Watch Company in 2002, specialising in the creation of luxury mechanical watches. As one of the select British watch manufacturers,  Bremont was, in 2008, awarded the title of Best British Emerging Luxury Brand. By 2009, Bremont’s reputation for crafting classic aviation-inspired watches propelled them to become the 20th largest chronometer manufacturer globally, reflecting the growing demand for our distinctive designs. Last year Giles and Nick sold a stake to the US hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. Nick and Giles delve into Giles' early business ventures, highlighting his passion for flying. They recount Giles' initial foray into the financial sector, followed by the bold move of reviving a struggling aircraft business alongside his brother, Nick. The brothers' early involvement in an internet business, which concluded with a successful exit, paved the way for them to establish Bremont. This venture was deeply rooted in their lifelong fascination with clocks, watches, and timepieces, a passion inherited from their father, whose tragic death in an aircraft accident served as a poignant inspiration.  Giles book choice was Gipsy Moth Circles the World by Francis Chichester. This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week, Nick talks to Judith Batchelar OBE. Judith Batchelar OBE is a distinguished figure with over 35 years of experience in the food and drink industry. Her career began in manufacturing before she transitioned into retail, working at Marks and Spencer. From 2004 to 2021, she was pivotal at Sainsbury’s as the Director of Sainsbury’s Brand, overseeing all aspects of the company's product offerings, including policy formation on ethical and sourcing issues, product technology, development, safety, and packaging, as well as corporate responsibility and public affairs. Batchelar's academic background includes being a biochemist and nutritionist, holding an Honorary Doctorate in Agriculture from Harper Adams University, and affiliations as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturers​​​​.Nick and Judith discuss Judith's career in the food industry, Judith's passion for food and dietary improvements and the reduction in ultra processed foods. Judith also looks at how the UK needs to adapt for climate change and the effect on our food production, and finally the recent IPO of Micrsosalt, of which Judith is chair. Judith's favourite book choices were: Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week, Nick Searle talks to Sid Lall, Fund Manager.After joining Giles Hargreave in 2007 to work on the Marlborough Special Situations Fund, Sid was instrumental in the design and launch of the Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund in 2011 and has remained its lead manager. The Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund was the first among their funds to surpass £1bn in assets under management (AUM) for both Marlborough and Hargreave Hale. Hargreave Hale was acquired by Canaccord Genuity in 2017. It was ranked at the top of its peer group in 2013 and in the top quartile for total returns over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years by the end of 2021. Sid's expertise has primarily been in small to mid-cap stocks, but it has expanded from UK small mid cap income to leverage his original expertise in European small mid cap (at DSP) and build on global equities, which are also held in the non-qualifying quota within the Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund.Nick and Sid talk about Sid's life and career journey from growing up in Calcutta to leaving India for the UK, with scholarship under Lord Inchcape.  Study at Edinburgh University and his first steps into business and finance, working with Giles Hargreave and what makes a good company stock to invest in. Sid's book choices were Maestro: Greenspan's Fed and the American Boom, The Contender - The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. Mann, My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand and Hedgehogging by Barton Biggs. This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Zeke Faux, Investigative Reporter and Author. Zeke Faux is an investigative reporter for Bloomberg and author of the 2023 book "Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall". The book examines the wild characters of the cryptocurrency world. Nick and Zeke discuss the downfall of the FTX exchange in 2022 led by Sam Bankman-Fried, purchasing a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT, Jean Chalopin the co-creator of Inspector Gadget and his role in the Tether story as well as touch on the darker side of crypto.Zeke’s book choice was The Lost City of Z by Davin Grann.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

In this week's episode Nick talks to friend of the show Hugh Hendry.Nick and Hugh talk through Hugh’s thoughts on the outlook for 2024 and go on a macro Acid Capitalist trip along the way. They discuss when will the Fed cut interest rates, the 1970s and Hugh's white paper on the parallels between the monetary landscape and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, suggesting that attempts by central banks to control economic temperature may lead to unintended consequences. They also cover Hugh’s view of Japan, Greyscale, Bitcoin and the price of Gold. Hugh also discusses arguing with his 'AI version of himself'. Nick's book suggestion is The Creative Act by Rick RubinThis content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week, Nick speaks to Mark Mills, Entrepreneur and Advisor.Mark is an Advisor who has built and sold businesses throughout his career. Mark set out to build and exit Cardpoint plc which he grew from a start-up in 2000 to revenues of £100m annually in 2006 with resulting EBITDA of £19.8m in that financial year. Mark’s expertise is derived from his own experiences and since 2007, Mark has been applying his unique process to other businesses and helping the owners to exit.Recognizing common denominators of successful businesses, Mark emphasizes the importance of great customers, suppliers, teams, and stakeholders. With an entrepreneurial spirit deeply rooted in his DNA, Mark has served as the Founder and Chairman of www.mark.co.uk since August 2013.In this episode, Nick and Mark discuss how Mark started in business, his journey, his business principles and how he aids business owners in preparing for sale and maximizing capital value upon exit.Mark's book choice was Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week, Nick speaks to Graeme Carling, Chairman & Co-Founder of The Carling Group.Graeme is a notable entrepreneur, with a reputation for successfully negotiating deals in his own inimitable style: bold, direct, and uncompromising. He has decades of experience in bringing together fragmented markets and successfully negotiating high-value deals.  In 2019 Graeme, as CEO of investment company United Capital, began acquiring multiple businesses in the UK building services sector, growing group turnover to £40 million. With Graeme leading his expert team, United Capital continues to make significant acquisitions, with a potential acquisition pipeline value of over £1 billion.Nick and Graeme discuss Graeme’s business journey, The Carling Group’s portfolio at present and some of the sectors that interest Graeme.Graeme's book choices were - Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki and three books by Steven Pressfield - Do The Work, Turning Pro and War of Art.This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.