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Scott Ellam started with a £13,000 basic salary, cold-called his way into closing a company acquisition at 22, and then built a thriving international executive search firm from his kitchen in 2014.

Then he did something almost no UK founder has done - he put Bitcoin on his business balance sheet, and then took the whole thing public - listing it on the stock market.

In this episode, Scott tells the full story:

• Why he believes the £230 billion sitting in UK business bank accounts is quietly losing value every year,
• How he held his nerve watching Bitcoin drop from £60k to £16k while still buying daily,
• Why he believes the IPO structure he’s built solves one of recruitment’s oldest problems - attracting and retaining top billing talent.

This isn’t really a Bitcoin episode. It’s an episode about what you do with the profits you’ve worked hard to build - and whether cash in the bank is actually as safe as it feels.

Whether you agree with the strategy or not, this conversation will challenge how you think about incentives, capital allocation, and long-term value creation.

What’s the “don’t get poor slowly strategy” for your business?

Links

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/scott-p-ellam-5a097449

https://www.spencer-riley.com/about-us/meet-the-team/scott-ellam

https://xce.io/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YtFOxNbmD38

https://bitcoincollective.co/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Bitcoin-Technology-Economics-Philosophy/dp/023122012X

This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

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Episode Overview

Rachel Murphy sold her company during lockdown. While building the national COVID-19 digital service. Without ever meeting the buyers in person.

This conversation is equal parts masterclass and madness - covering everything from selling timeshare at 13, to negotiating 50% equity in a struggling business, to achieving an eight-figure exit in under three years, to why every founder her acquirer bought has since left.

Rachel now runs The Grafter, helping entrepreneurs navigate exits with the playbook and emotional support that didn't exist when she needed it.

Guest Bio

Rachel Murphy is a multi-exited entrepreneur and founder of The Grafter, a business that helps entrepreneurs build, scale, and exit their companies. After building and selling her first company in her 20s, she spent 10-15 years as a high-level interim executive (CIO for Department of Education, leading NHS.UK digital transformation and launching the NHS app).

In 2015, she negotiated 50% equity in consultancy Difference and sold it for eight figures in 2020 - during lockdown, while simultaneously building the national COVID-19 digital solution.

She now leads a community of 200+ entrepreneurs and has helped facilitate 5 exits, 12 revenue doublings, and a £44M non-dilutive raise in just 38 months.

Key Takeaways

1. Build Your Exit Strategy Before You Need It

Rachel had a complete sell pack ready 18 months into the business. When unsolicited buyers called, she didn't scramble - she sent comprehensive documentation immediately, putting her in a position of strength.

Action: Start documenting your strategy, financials, and exit roadmap now - even if exit is years away.

2. Creative Deals Beat Starting From Scratch

Instead of building from zero, Rachel negotiated 50% equity in an existing struggling business by bringing her expertise, network, and turnaround strategy. One plus one equalled ten.

Action: Look for businesses adjacent to your skillset that need what you have. Equity partnerships can accelerate your journey.

3. Use Objective Frameworks for Emotional Decisions

Rachel used Wardley mapping to objectively assess three acquisition offers. The result: she chose the best fit for her team, not the highest bidder or her personal preference.

Action: Remove emotion from major decisions with frameworks. Work backwards from outcomes. Be brutally objective.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachthegrafter/?originalSubdomain=uk

The Grafter

The 5 Types of Wealth: The life-changing international bestseller, a guide to building a happier, healthier, wealthier life

This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

Send us a text

The Autumn Budget landed last week - and while the headlines were busy talking about ‘black holes,’ and ‘fairness,’ the fine print tells a very different story.

Nimesh Shah, The CEO of leading tax advisers, Blick Rothenberg didn’t mince words calling it “the most damaging Budget in living memory”

If you own a business, if you’re scaling your company, or if you’re even thinking about an exit in the next few years, this Budget will affect your future wealth more than you realise.

And most founders have absolutely no idea.

So I’ve brought back one of the sharpest tax brains in the country - Malli Kini - to unpack the traps, the opportunities, and the moves you need to make right now to stay ahead.

We’re talking;

• The stealth tax hikes nobody’s mentioning

• The dividend and pension changes that hit founders hardest

• The EOT crackdown and what it means for succession

And so many other issues that didn't make the headlines.

This is one of those episodes where a single insight could save you six figures - or more - over the next few years.

If you’re a business owner, buckle up.

If you’re planning an exit, take notes.

And if you care about keeping more of what you’ve built… this one’s for you.

Let’s get into it.

Ladies and gentlemen, Malli Kini

This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management