Inside the episode
The school of life
Andy Evans skipped university and started work at 16. In 2005 he launched the UK's first podcast production company. He went on to build and sell three businesses and invest in 22 more.
Today he runs content company ElevenWriting. He has sat on both sides of the table, as a founder asking for money and as an investor deciding who gets it.
What investors really look for
A shiny pitch deck won't win you investment. You will. Andy looks for founders who respect money and spend it carefully.
His favourite sign? A founder who gets on their knees with a screwdriver to build a table at an exhibition. People who roll up their sleeves are people worth backing.
The jam sandwich
Andy has a simple picture for AI. Think of it as the bread. It can help at the start and the end of a task.
The jam in the middle, the important bit, should come from a human. That is where your thinking, your voice and your value live.
Be useful, not just seen
Personal branding only works when it helps your audience. In sales, everyone is interested in one thing: themselves. So share what you know in a way that helps them.
And stay focused. Andy admits he once chased every shiny thing. Building three businesses taught him that focus and resilience beat excitement every time.
