David Horne Key Topics
Growing your business 25x means breaking the rules of organic growth
Most entrepreneurs are told that sustainable growth comes from selling more, hiring more people, and waiting patiently for results. But for founders who want to build significant enterprise value, relying solely on organic growth can become the biggest barrier to scaling. David shares how combining funding, acquisitions, and disciplined integration allowed businesses he helped lead to grow from £1 million to nearly £28 million in just three years, and why ambitious founders should start thinking like strategic buyers rather than simply better sellers.
The funding gap female founders meet before the term sheet
Female founders are still building companies in a funding market where access can look open while outcomes remain deeply uneven. The easy explanation is that too few women enter the pipeline, but the harder question is what happens when they do show up and pitch. David looks at the gap through the lens of capital allocation, asking where credibility, pattern recognition, and investor assumptions start shaping who gets taken seriously.
Why brilliant female founders are still being overlooked by investors
Despite producing exceptional businesses, female founders continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital investment worldwide. David explores the published data that first sparked his own investigation into this issue, why the problem extends far beyond individual pitch quality, and what investors, female founders, and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem need to change. Having become a vocal and award-winning ally while advising high-growth companies, he offers practical insights that help founders better navigate fundraising while encouraging a more balanced investment landscape.
The finance function isn't there to keep score, it's there to help you win
Many founders see finance as something that reports what happened last month, when in reality it should be shaping every major growth decision. As businesses scale, weak financial foundations quietly limit hiring, investment, acquisitions, and ultimately the founder's freedom. Drawing on decades as a CFO who has raised more than £120 million and completed 33 M & A transactions, David explains why finance should become one of the three core pillars supporting every successful business, not an afterthought managed once problems appear.
Building a business that can thrive without you is the ultimate measure of success
Many entrepreneurs unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in the businesses they've worked so hard to build. David shares why, after decades of scaling companies, raising capital, and leading growth, he made the decision to transition from CEO into a chairman role, and why every founder should be preparing for that moment long before they think they're ready. Listeners will discover how creating systems, strengthening leadership, and letting go of day-to-day control not only increases business value but also gives founders back the freedom they originally set out to achieve.
Key topics
Growing your business 25x means breaking the rules of organic growth
Most entrepreneurs are told that sustainable growth comes from selling more, hiring more people, and waiting patiently for results. But for founders who want to build significant enterprise value, relying solely on organic growth can become the biggest barrier to scaling. David shares how combining funding, acquisitions, and disciplined integration allowed businesses he helped lead to grow from £1 million to nearly £28 million in just three years, and why ambitious founders should start thinking like strategic buyers rather than simply better sellers.
The funding gap female founders meet before the term sheet
Female founders are still building companies in a funding market where access can look open while outcomes remain deeply uneven. The easy explanation is that too few women enter the pipeline, but the harder question is what happens when they do show up and pitch. David looks at the gap through the lens of capital allocation, asking where credibility, pattern recognition, and investor assumptions start shaping who gets taken seriously.
Why brilliant female founders are still being overlooked by investors
Despite producing exceptional businesses, female founders continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital investment worldwide. David explores the published data that first sparked his own investigation into this issue, why the problem extends far beyond individual pitch quality, and what investors, female founders, and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem need to change. Having become a vocal and award-winning ally while advising high-growth companies, he offers practical insights that help founders better navigate fundraising while encouraging a more balanced investment landscape.
View all topics →
Key topics
Growing your business 25x means breaking the rules of organic growth
Most entrepreneurs are told that sustainable growth comes from selling more, hiring more people, and waiting patiently for results. But for founders who want to build significant enterprise value, relying solely on organic growth can become the biggest barrier to scaling. David shares how combining funding, acquisitions, and disciplined integration allowed businesses he helped lead to grow from £1 million to nearly £28 million in just three years, and why ambitious founders should start thinking like strategic buyers rather than simply better sellers.
The funding gap female founders meet before the term sheet
Female founders are still building companies in a funding market where access can look open while outcomes remain deeply uneven. The easy explanation is that too few women enter the pipeline, but the harder question is what happens when they do show up and pitch. David looks at the gap through the lens of capital allocation, asking where credibility, pattern recognition, and investor assumptions start shaping who gets taken seriously.
Why brilliant female founders are still being overlooked by investors
Despite producing exceptional businesses, female founders continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital investment worldwide. David explores the published data that first sparked his own investigation into this issue, why the problem extends far beyond individual pitch quality, and what investors, female founders, and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem need to change. Having become a vocal and award-winning ally while advising high-growth companies, he offers practical insights that help founders better navigate fundraising while encouraging a more balanced investment landscape.
View all topics →