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In this episode of "Made It with Connor Tomkies," Nick Telson-Sillett shares his journey from founding "Design My Night" to exiting for over £35 million. Nick talks about the challenges of scaling a company in a competitive market, the importance of financial freedom, and how to navigate earn-outs. He also discusses his ventures in angel investing through Horseplay Ventures and his efforts to support the LGBTQ+ founder community. Tune in for insights on business growth, exit strategies, and the evolving startup landscape.
Join Our Community
Chapters:
[00:00:00] Introduction and Competitors Wise Up
[00:00:14] Naming Companies: Trumpet and Design My Night
[00:01:21] Nick’s Post-Exit Life and Identity
[00:02:06] Transitioning After a Big Exit
[00:02:52] Growing Design My Night to £35M
[00:04:10] Creating the Market for Bar Reservations
[00:05:26] Selling the Vision: Bar to Bar
[00:06:34] Selling to The Access Group
[00:08:00] Why It Was Time to Sell
[00:09:33] Navigating the Earn-Out Period
[00:12:19] Structuring the Earn-Out Deal
[00:14:24] Managing Post-Acquisition Relationships
[00:18:39] Horseplay Ventures: Angel Investing
[00:21:14] Supporting LGBTQ+ Founders with Proud Ventures
[00:25:36] Launching the Pitch Deck Podcast
[00:28:31] VC vs. Bootstrapping Startups
[00:31:39] Honest Mobile: Revolutionizing Mobile Contracts
[00:33:54] Fanbase: iOS for Sports Teams
Nick's Stuff:
Proud Ventures: https://www.proud-ventures.com/
Trumpet: https://www.sendtrumpet.com/?ref=nicklinkedin
Horseplay Ventures: https://horseplay.ventures/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicktelson/
My Stuff:
Podcast: https://www.madeitpod.com/
Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/
X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/
Join Our Community
Chapters:
[00:00:00] Introduction and Competitors Wise Up
[00:00:14] Naming Companies: Trumpet and Design My Night
[00:01:21] Nick’s Post-Exit Life and Identity
[00:02:06] Transitioning After a Big Exit
[00:02:52] Growing Design My Night to £35M
[00:04:10] Creating the Market for Bar Reservations
[00:05:26] Selling the Vision: Bar to Bar
[00:06:34] Selling to The Access Group
[00:08:00] Why It Was Time to Sell
[00:09:33] Navigating the Earn-Out Period
[00:12:19] Structuring the Earn-Out Deal
[00:14:24] Managing Post-Acquisition Relationships
[00:18:39] Horseplay Ventures: Angel Investing
[00:21:14] Supporting LGBTQ+ Founders with Proud Ventures
[00:25:36] Launching the Pitch Deck Podcast
[00:28:31] VC vs. Bootstrapping Startups
[00:31:39] Honest Mobile: Revolutionizing Mobile Contracts
[00:33:54] Fanbase: iOS for Sports Teams
Nick's Stuff:
Proud Ventures: https://www.proud-ventures.com/
Trumpet: https://www.sendtrumpet.com/?ref=nicklinkedin
Horseplay Ventures: https://horseplay.ventures/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicktelson/
My Stuff:
Podcast: https://www.madeitpod.com/
Website: https://www.connortomkies.com/
X: https://twitter.com/ConnorTomkies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortomkies/
Creators & Guests
What is Made It with Connor Tomkies?
"Made It" is a podcast hosted by Connor Tomkies that delves into the journeys of successful entrepreneurs who have not only built and exited their companies, but who are writing the next chapter of their journeys. The show focuses on the unique challenges and lessons learned while moving beyond the exit, offering insights and strategies for listeners aiming to grow their own businesses. Through engaging conversations with various guests, the podcast provides a blend of motivational stories, practical advice, and insider tips on entrepreneurship, business growth, and personal development.