Shows
Chin-wag Business ShowThe Brutal Truth Behind Scaling to £1.3M: the YaYa story is one of burnout, determination & triumphWhat if the only thing standing between your startup and success… was clarity?Phil Keaney-Bolland is the co-founder of YaYa — the UK’s Best Start-Up Consultancy and one of the fastest-growing companies in its space, as listed on the 2024 Fast Growth Index.With over $1.2M in revenue and clients ranging from cybersecurity to AI, YaYa helps early-stage founders cut through noise and build brands that actually grow their business — no fluff, no vague storytelling, just strategy that works.He reveals:▫️Why most early-stage branding is a distraction.▫️What to do when you lose...2025-06-171h 14
Cult ProductsHow Cult Products Win Big: Mastering Crowded Markets and Building Devoted FansLinksModern House: https://www.themodernhouse.com/SummaryIn this conversation, the hosts discuss the challenges of standing out in competitive markets, particularly in the context of product differentiation. They introduce the Cult Products Framework, emphasising the importance of having a revolutionary vision and a unique value proposition. The discussion highlights the significance of niching down and creating a unique customer experience, as well as the balance between growth and maintaining brand integrity.takeawaysYou will always struggle to get people's attention in a crowded market.Standing out requires...2024-12-0340 minCult ProductsBrand Part 3: From Plan to Impact - The Journey of Turning Strategy into Branding SuccesssummaryIn this episode, the hosts discuss various topics ranging from the organisation of bookshelves to the intricacies of branding and the recent rebranding of Jaguar. They explore the importance of strategy in branding, the creation of brand narratives, and the balance between creativity and strategic goals. The conversation culminates in a critique of Jaguar's new branding approach, highlighting the potential disconnect between the brand's traditional customer base and its new target audience.takeawaysOrganizing bookshelves can reflect personal style and chaos.Branding requires a clear strategy to be effective...2024-11-2655 minCult ProductsBrand Part 2: Unstoppable Branding - Crack the Code with Blue Oceans & Archetypes🎙️ Does your brand stand out, or is it lost in the pack?In this episode of the Cult Products Podcast, we explore what makes a brand truly effective—and spoiler alert: it’s not about flashy graphics or catchy slogans. We dive into the Blue Ocean Strategy to show you how to make your brand the obvious choice in a crowded market.Key Takeaways:🎮 Learn how Nintendo created a "category of one" and redefined its market.💡 Discover what David Attenborough can teach us about brand storytelling.🖌️ Understand why copying competitors is a dead end—and what to do instead...2024-11-1941 minCult ProductsBranding Part 1: Before the Flashy Logos - The Must-Know Foundations of Branding!In this episode, the hosts discuss the intricacies of branding, emphasizing the importance of a well-defined value proposition and understanding target audiences through detailed personas. They explore the challenges of balancing buyer and user personas, and the necessity for brands to remain adaptable in a fast-paced market. The conversation highlights the evolution of branding practices and the need for continuous engagement with brand identity.takeawaysThe first step in branding is defining the value proposition.Clients often want visuals before understanding their brand's strategy.Understanding your target audience is crucial for effective branding....2024-11-1239 min
Cult ProductsWhy thinking like a designer is key to solving founder challengesIn this episode Phill talks to Finn, the founder of Both &, and discusses the journey of creating a fashion brand specifically designed for trans and non-binary individuals. The discussion covers various themes including the importance of community engagement, the challenges of designing an entirely new approach to clothing ecommerce, becoming a figurehead in the community, and the future of the brand. Finn shares insights on navigating visibility in the fashion industry, the iterative design process, and the importance of building a diverse network. The conversation concludes with his personal reflections for aspiring founders.TakeawaysHow Finn...2024-11-051h 16Cult ProductsHow the Right Accountant Can Make or Break Your Startup!LinksIn this episode of the Cult Products podcast, host Phill Keaney-Bolland and accountant Dave Sellick delve into the often-overlooked world of accounting and finance for startups. They discuss the emotional journey of founders, the creativity involved in accounting, and the importance of having a trustworthy accountant. Dave shares practical advice for early-stage startups, emphasising the need for financial literacy and the value of having an accountant from day one. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding the emotional and practical aspects of running a business, and how the right financial guidance can lead to better decision-making...2024-10-221h 12Cult ProductsThis is How Mastering the Art of Adaptability will Make Your Start Up ThriveIn this episode of the Cult Products Podcast, hosts Adam Yaya-Durrant and Alexandra Pointet discuss the challenges and experiences of transitioning from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. They delve into topics such as imposter syndrome, the importance of mentorship, adaptability in roles, and the dynamics of building a team. The conversation emphasizes the need for continuous learning and the inevitability of change in the entrepreneurial journey.takeawaysImposter syndrome is a common challenge for entrepreneurs.Adaptability is crucial when transitioning from employee to entrepreneur.Mentorship can provide invaluable support and guidance.It's important to...2024-10-1534 minCult ProductsThe Origin Story: How Two Founders Turned Their Startup Dreams into a Reality!In this episode of the Cult Products podcast, host Alexandra Pointet interviews Phill Keaney-Bolland and Adam Yaya-Durrant about their journey in starting and growing their agency, Yaya. They discuss their initial meeting, the challenges they faced in the startup world, the pivotal moments that led them to launch their own business, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation also touches on the impact of the pandemic on their growth and the importance of continuous learning in entrepreneurship.takeawaysStarting a business is one of the most mentally and physically challenging things you can do.2024-10-081h 02Cult ProductsThoughts on creating a predictable lead gen machine.In this episode of the Cult Products podcast, host Phill Keaney-Bolland discusses the evolution of his design agency, Yaya, focusing on the challenges and strategies involved in business growth, client relationships, and lead generation. He reflects on the importance of delivering quality work, the difficulties of scaling sales efforts, and the need for a predictable marketing strategy. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of personal wellbeing and health in sustaining business success.Delivering good work for clients is essential for growth.Building trust with clients leads to referrals and new opportunities.Scaling sales efforts can create significant pressure on...2024-10-0139 minCult ProductsFrom Personal Growth to Startup Success: The Founders Journey of Entrepreneurship and Hard-Earned Lessons!In this episode of the Cult Products podcast, host Phill Keaney-Bolland speaks with Natalie Peire, a former co-founder of a startup focused on sexual wellbeing, GASM. They discuss Natalie's journey from personal development to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from running a startup, the importance of emotional investment, and the dynamics of co-founding a business with a partner. Natalie shares insights on finding the right advice, the significance of prototyping, and the challenges faced in the early stages of a startup. The conversation emphasises the need for clarity in goals, the evolution of branding, and the importance of focusing on...2024-09-241h 17Cult ProductsTraction first: How to get product market fit before you have a product.SummaryIn this episode of the Cult Products podcast, hosts Phil Keeney-Bolland and Adam Yaya-Durrant are joined by JP, a seasoned expert in B2B tech startups. They discuss the critical importance of value proposition testing before launching a product. JP shares his journey in product development, emphasizing the need for clarity in value propositions and understanding user struggles. The conversation covers the iterative process of testing ideas, the significance of waiting lists, and how to effectively structure interviews for feedback. They also explore the challenges startups face in balancing features with actual value and the necessity...2024-09-171h 11Cult ProductsExpert Tips to Build a Game-Changing Website for Your B2B Tech StartupDownload your free Ai-powered prototyping toolkit: https://cultproducts.yaya.co/downloadApply to our beta program: https://form.typeform.com/to/hohOIRT5Join our community: https://www.skool.com/cult-products-4664In this episode, Phill and Adam discuss the practical steps required to create a website for a B2B tech startup. They emphasise the importance of not jumping straight into website builders without first defining objectives, value propositions, and brand differentiation. They recommend looking at competitors to gain inspiration and identify common threads. They also discuss the need for a conversion strategy and different conversion...2024-09-1047 minCult ProductsWhy Ignoring These Website Design Basics Could Be Killing Your Online SuccessDownload your free Ai-powered prototyping toolkit: https://cultproducts.yaya.co/downloadApply to our beta program: https://form.typeform.com/to/hohOIRT5Join our community: https://www.skool.com/cult-products-4664Encarta 97: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSaTf_NTq0oCD-ROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-ROMsummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Phill discuss the importance of starting with a clear strategy and objective when building a website for a B2B tech startup. They caution against simply imitating popular websites like Apple's, as those sites are designed for specific...2024-09-0351 minCult ProductsThe Surprising Edge in Sales That Could Transform Your Start-upIn this episode, the hosts are joined by a special guest, Ben, to discuss the transition from being a subject matter expert to a salesperson in a B2B tech startup. They explore the misconception that sales is a dirty word and discuss the importance of curiosity, empathy, and problem-solving in the sales process. The conversation also touches on the advantages that founders have in sales, the impact of introversion and extroversion on sales ability, and the value of small talk and building relationships. The hosts and guest share their personal experiences and insights on sales and provide...2024-08-271h 06Cult ProductsUnlocking Start-up Marketing Success: Why Most B2B Tech Founders Fail to Stand Out—and How to Avoid Their Mistakes!In this episode, Phill and Adam interview Steevan Glover, a marketing consultant and director. They discuss the importance of focusing on the outcome and value that your product or service provides, rather than just the features. They also emphasise the need to target specific customer segments and avoid wasting time on customers who are not a good fit. They discuss the importance of having a clear brand message and story, and the need to iterate and adapt as the business evolves. They also touch on the role of influencers and the importance of having a human face for the...2024-08-201h 19Cult ProductsFrom Contacts to Contracts: Getting started with start-up salesIn this episode, Adam and Phil emphasize the need for a clear value proposition and the importance of generating leads before diving into product development. In this conversation, the hosts discuss the importance of leveraging personal networks and referrals in the early stages of a business. They emphasize the need to be strategic and organized in reaching out to contacts and maintaining relationships. The hosts also share their experiences with imposter syndrome and the transition from being an employee to a salesperson.Generating leads is crucial for every business and should be part of product development.A...2024-08-1351 minCult ProductsUnlock the Secrets of B2B Tech Product Design: How to Prototype Like a Pro!In this episode of the Cult Products podcast, Phil and Adam discuss the process of product design and prototyping for B2B tech start-up founders. They emphasize the importance of understanding the problem space and the needs of the users before developing a product. They also highlight the value of creating prototypes and testing them with users to iterate and improve the product. The conversation touches on the role of designers in setting the direction and concept of the product, as well as empowering developers to make design decisions. They also discuss the benefits of rough prototyping and the...2024-08-061h 00Cult ProductsBe marmite, not butter: Why divisive brands attract the biggest fans.SummaryIn this episode, Adam and Phill are joined by Roland Gurney from Treacle for a live critique of the Cult Products proposition and initial website. They discuss their new proposition and the target audience for their program with Roland. They talk about the importance of understanding the target customer and narrowing down the focus. They also discuss the challenges of repositioning a business and the need for a clear and concise message. The guest suggests a three-step approach to the program and emphasises the importance of simplicity and structure. They also discuss the different options and...2024-07-3049 minCult ProductsStealth mode or build in public? The hidden benefits of hiding nothing.Links Download your free Ai-powered prototyping toolkitApply to our beta programJoin our communityWatch this episode on YouTubeCan you name the Marvel theme tune?System Of A Down and Eminem tracks mentioned A Clockwork OrangeSummaryIn this conversation, Phill and Adam discuss their new product and the community they are building around it. They talk about the importance of targeting a specific audience and creating a niche in the market. They also mention the value of personas in designing a brand and understanding the needs of the target audience. They share their vision of helping startup fo...2024-07-231h 03Cult ProductsNarrow Focus, Broad Success: Why Your B2B Start-up Brand Needs to Pick a Lane.Links Download your free Ai-powered prototyping toolkitApply to our beta programJoin our communityWatch this episode on YouTubeSummaryIn this episode, Phill and Adam discuss why you can't be both a B2B and B2C business. They emphasise the importance of focusing on a single specific customer persona and delivering value to that target market. They also highlight the need for a clear and compelling value proposition that clearly communicates what the business does and the value it provides. Additionally, they discuss the concept of high brand moments, which are the e...2024-07-1634 minCult ProductsDifferentiate or die: B2B Branding 101Links Download your free Ai-powered prototyping toolkitApply to our beta programJoin our communitySummaryIn this conversation, Phill Keaney-Bolland and Adam Yaya-Durrant discuss the importance of branding for B2B startups. They define brand as an emotional connection that users have with a product or company's differences, going beyond just a logo or name. They emphasize that brand is everything and should be at the center of a startup's strategy. They also discuss the misconception that branding is a separate entity from the product and the need for marketing and product teams to work t...2024-07-0942 minCult ProductsIs Your Big Idea Worth the Risk? When to start-up and when to shut up.Summary In this episode, Phill Keaney-Bolland and Adam Yaya-Durrant discuss their new podcast and the product they are creating for start-up founders. They talk about the importance of being revolutionary and creating a radical brand when deciding whether you're up for the challenge of giving years of your life to make your dream of running a successful B2B start-up a reality. They also emphasise the need for founders to have a clear vision and to make decisions that align with that vision. They discuss the challenges of scaling a start-up and the importance of maintaining the fo...2024-07-0139 min