Dec 16 2024 61 mins
In this Teamcraft episode, Andrew and Mark are joined by Laura Wilming, Head of Portfolio Talent at Octopus Ventures, to explore the dynamics of startup teams and venture capital.
From handing out samples at a supermarket during BrewDog’s early days to scaling Harry’s from a team of of only twelve people, we hear about Laura’s journey culminating in her insights from working across the portfolio of one of Europe’s largest venture capital firms. Laura shares her stories and insights about building teams, leadership and culture in these unique, high-growth companies.
Key Themes from the Episode:
- How BrewDog’s “punk ethos” influenced its team dynamics and bold approach to brand building.
Lessons from Harry’s rapid growth, prioritizing curiosity, humility, and execution while scaling a team.
- Why psychological safety is essential and how to nurture it, even in high-pressure, fast-paced startups.
- The importance of consistent hiring processes and aligning teams with company objectives. Laura explains how founders should spend 20-30% of their time hiring and focus on culture, not just filling roles.
- How investors like Octopus Ventures evaluate and support startup teams to unlock their full potential.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, or team leader, this episode offers valuable insights into the craft of building high-performing startup teams, with lessons that are much more widely applicable in any team..
Pass it on material:
Chapters:
00:00 Punks, Pitches, and a Portfolio of Teams - Inside Venture Capital with Laura Wilming
07:34 Boozy Beers and Taxidermy
13:02 Harry's and rapid scaling
26:53 How startups can struggle with management
28:48 Going from building a product to building a team
30:35 Common Ground in Founding Teams
34:17 How do VCs look at founder teams and their teamcraft?
36:42 Advice for early stage teams
39:24 Support from Investors to founder teams
41:18 The importance of a great hiring process
45:41 How do you deal with a team that is 'just ok'?
57:43 Quick Fires
Thanks for listening!
Music by Tom Farrington