We delve into the world of entrepreneurship and the essential role of financial guidance in start-up success. Our host, Matt Wickham, invites Matthew Dreaper, a seasoned Business Adviser from Chilcomb, to share his experience in providing financial and business advice to early-stage companies.
Matthew, backed by three decades of diverse business experience, has made it his mission to provide pivotal assistance to daring start-ups, connecting them with vital resources and advice. His hands-on approach goes beyond the basics of ensuring legal compliance and accounting needs; he becomes part of the teams he assists, fostering an environment conducive to sustainable growth.
Not just a problem solver, Matthew is the “angel on the shoulder” who prompts entrepreneurs to pause, reassess, and take calculated risks. Join us as we unpack Matthew’s journey, explore his unique business philosophy, and gain insights into his contribution to the start-up ecosystem.
Harnessing Passion to Propel Startups: A Candid Discussion with Matthew Draper
Matthew Draper delves into the core of what makes his operation tick in a recent candid chat. He defines his role in simple yet profound terms. Central to his operation lies an undeniable passion for bolstering those bold enough to embark on new ventures, even when the dice of success is loaded with uncertainty. He doesn’t merely provide the financial backbone that early-stage companies need to survive, but extends his role to becoming an integral part of their team. Through their journey, he offers critical compliance support, challenges their ideas, and, importantly, connects them to the right resources, from funding to HR.
In an insightful snippet from the interview, Matthew shares, "It's about helping people work out whether they should [start a new venture] in the first place. And then helping people get set up… much more importantly, helping connect them with all the resources they need. This is a team activity, you're always going to do better as a team."
Matthew’s commitment to aiding startups transcends beyond his office hours. His daily life is intricately woven into the very fabric of the companies he nurtures. His hands-on leadership and steadfast commitment have proven vital in both pivoting his own business model and guiding others through their growth trajectory. He is motivated by the long-term goals, yet he swiftly adapts his strategies to address short-term hurdles.
Matthew’s financial prowess plays a dual role in his success story. On one hand, he ensures that businesses stay afloat by complying with tax regulations and other local laws. On the other, he leverages his extensive experience across diverse companies to offer a unique perspective. Matthew aptly put it, "I think I've got a quite a good range… I can give the benefit of a different perspective… to be able to come in, you can give that perspective, I think that's where I've helped people."
Overall, this interview shone a spotlight on Matthew’s unwavering dedication to promoting startup success. His ability to bridge the gap between finance and business strategy indeed sets him apart as a remarkable mentor in the vibrant landscape of entrepreneurial ventures.
The Fine Line of Flexibility and Tenacity in Startups: A Candid Conversation with Matthew
Matthew, a seasoned entrepreneur and an inspiring figure in the startup world, doesn't shy away from discussing the underlying realities of venturing into the uncertain world of startups. For Matthew, the biggest challenge lies not in drafting a well-thought-out business plan, but in getting a team together, instilling them with a shared vision, and remaining flexible enough to evolve when required.
"The balancing act is a demanding one," Matthew expresses. "Having an unyielding attachment to your original idea might hinder you. You need to be open to variances - maybe it's a slightly different product or a different market. But equally, if you don't have the passion, this ain't gonna happen." The role of passion, in his eyes, cannot be underestimated. However, the caveat remains - one must be willing to adapt when the circumstance demands.
The balancing act is demanding. Having an unyielding attachment to your original idea might hinder you. You need to be open to variances. But equally, if you don't have the passion, this ain't gonna happen
Matthew DreaperBusiness Adviser at Chilcomb
In a world that seems to be increasingly supportive of startups, with more people trying their luck in entrepreneurship, Matthew perceives the availability of collective wisdom as an advantage. However, he acknowledges the stark truth that many startups fail to cross the first or second-year hurdle. "The world's growing up, people are getting better and better, generally, at sharing emotions with each other, listening to each other, and then taking account of those different feelings and views to move forward. If you do that, you're gonna have something more powerful," Matthew suggests.
A crucial part of Matthew's advice comes in the form of his views on compromise and team unity. "If you're going to start a business, and actually you want to take it forward in any meaningful way, it's a team sport as a group activity. And particularly at the early stages, people are taking big risks, you've got to kind of build some sort of team unity, and passion behind an idea. And that's going to mean some compromises."
Unearthing the Secret Sauce: Matthew's Approach to Startup Success and Collaborative Finance
The road to triumph for any budding business is strewn with numerous challenges. A keen sense of balance, flexibility, and wisdom is essential. Matthew, a seasoned finance professional, offers his insights into this journey. His key takeaway? Surround yourself with a small, reliable group of people ready to give honest advice, even if it's not what you want to hear. The group may evolve over time, but having those people around you, coupled with a willingness to listen and change your views, is integral to success. He advises, "Having a group that you respect and are willing to listen to, that's going to be a key ingredient for success."
In his long and diverse career, Matthew has observed that startups cannot realistically have an in-house finance director during their early stages. Here's where he and his team step in to bridge this gap. They offer services beyond what traditional accountancy firms do by providing a much deeper, strategic financial perspective. "We make sure you get all the cool kind of accounting services, but also do what a finance director in a bigger company would do - we're part of your management team, giving you perspective on all sorts of things from dealing with customers, pricing, handling shareholders, to even strategizing joint ventures."
However, Matthew's engagement with startups is not merely transactional. It's an involved process that sees him getting invested in the journey of these businesses. Making the choice of which startups to collaborate with is a delicate balancing act, but one that he navigates thoughtfully. He compares startups to children, noting, "Just like a little kid falls over quite often, pick up, start again, startups also face crises frequently. Having a limit on the number of companies I work with helps manage these emergencies more effectively."
Just like a little kid falls over quite often, pick up, start again, startups also face crises frequently. Having a limit on the number of companies I work with helps manage these emergencies more effectively
Matthew DreaperBusiness Adviser at Chilcomb
In the end, it’s about carving out a unique path and nurturing relationships. In the words of Matthew, "Once or twice a year, maybe somebody manages to twist my arm, and we begin a new journey together." It’s this fusion of acumen, dedication, and passion that sets Matthew apart in the world of collaborative finance.
Thriving in the Age of Multitasking: Matthew on Mastering the Work-Life Rhythm
With a cheeky smile and energetic demeanor, Matthew spoke about the change of work dynamics in the modern era, no longer constrained by the traditional 9 to 5 framework. Remember when we'd stroll into the office, leisurely sift through emails, and then pack up and leave? Well, those days are long gone. Now, in the digital age, work is a series of intense bursts – hopping on sudden calls, replying to urgent emails, juggling back-to-back meetings. Matthew wove this tale with a sense of pride, demonstrating how he relishes the pace of modern work-life.
However, he was quick to address the flip side of this coin – the potential dangers of feeling enslaved to our devices and the subsequent impact on our productivity. "You will not have complete control of your day…if you want complete control of your day and your life, you won't get anywhere," Matthew emphasized, underscoring the importance of balance, flexibility, and adaptability in managing our daily work. He advocated strongly for understanding our individual productivity rhythms and aligning them with our schedules, essentially playing to our strengths.
Despite the many challenges presented by our new work environment, Matthew remained optimistic about the future. He viewed the forced changes brought on by recent events, such as lockdowns, as an opportunity to re-evaluate and improve our working methods. His mantra? "Optimism, resilience, and self-awareness." And this quote, by our very own Matthew, seemed to encapsulate the entire conversation, "Recognise what you're really good at… you might lead all the way through, or you might not. There's no shame in that… every year it’s becoming more and more of a team sport, there'll be more compromising leaders, and it's that balancing act, that judgment."
Despite the odds, Matthew managed to make the modern work life seem not just manageable, but thrilling – an ever-evolving adventure that brings out the best in us. It's not just about ticking off tasks on a to-do list but about embracing the rhythm of work, the dance between solitary focus and team collaboration, and above all, thriving in the age of multitasking.
