Andrew Jervis is a serial entrepreneur and currently founder / CEO of ClickMechanic, who as you will discover, are setting out to complete disrupt the automotive repair market – and are backed by some incredible investor such as the former CEO of JustEat, to name just one. Andy was part of the very first cohort of Entrepreneur First (EF), a highly regarded start up accelerator born out of a McKinsey Consulting. Throughout this episode we discuss: – Tips on raising investment – How Andy attracted investment from the founder & CEO of JustEat – High growth start ups, and how they differ from running a lifestyle business – Viral guerrilla marketing Subscribe Quotes Ultimately if you want a big corporate career, when are you actually ever going to be the boss? I’ve always been a massive advocate for testing while doing I’m not a big fan of researching your area, spending tonnes of time doing it and speaking to loads of people – there’s almost no substitute for doing I’m definitely an advocate for being focused There’s no substitute for jumping in and learning by doing I’m not a big fan of Eureka moments because I think you have to test and iterate towards your product Early start ups soul purpose should be growth Be positive, be yourself, know your shit and know your numbers You just gotta stay the course not matter how tough it is, and it can be really tough It’s all about persistence, not quitting If you believe ultimately that it can be big, then it can be big You’ve got to have the stomach to be in it for the long haul You’re the kind of founders I call cockroach founders, because you just won’t die You’ve got to be a cockroach founder, you’ve got to be hard and you’ve got to take the hits and just keep going The key is just keep going at it, don’t die There are so many different ways to live your life There are no rules, just go out and live life the way you want too There are no rules to life, follow what you want to follow and be who you want to be Links & People Klaus Just Eat, former CEO https://www.linkedin.com/in/klaus-nyengaard-184bb27 Lopo Champalimaud, CEO Wahanda / Treatwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/lopochampalimaud Entrepreneur First www.joinef.com/ Matt Clifford, CEO of EF https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcliffordef McKinsey Consulting http://www.mckinsey.com/ The Lean Start Up, by Eric Reis (book) http://amzn.to/2aVvzdQ From Good To Great, by James C. Collins (book) http://amzn.to/2btQyD8 Steve Jobs – The Exclusive Biography, Walter Isaacson (book) http://amzn.to/2btQRhu Eat The Big Fish, by Adam Morgan (book) http://amzn.to/2btR4kH Paddy Power www.paddypower.com/ Christian Woolfenden, CMO for Paddy Power https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianwoolfenden Nicklas Bendtner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicklas_Bendtner Nicklas Bendtner & Paddy Power stunt http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/euro-2012/9339035/Euro-2012-Nicklas-Bendtner-banned-and-fined-80000-fines-by-Uefa-after-exposing-sponsored-underwear.html Pie Boy flash mob vids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6mUou_Zu4w Pie Boy Valentines vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGaTXqtEqVg Paul Graham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Graham_(computer_programmer) Y-Combinator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Combinator_(company) ‘Why you should start your own business at University’, by Andrew Jervis in The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/student-life/9677644/Why-you-should-start-your-own-business-at-university-even-if-youll-probably-fail.html Time Stamped Notes 00:03:10 – Andy explains what ClickMechanic is an what is does 00:05:49 – Graduation to first job to entering entrepreneurship 00:08:40 – Very first business ‘CLICKHUBS’ 00:10:08 – Quick testing and spending (virtually) no time on market research 00:13:22 – Setting up Pie Boy Clothing, first profitable University company 00:30:02 – Education vs real world experience 00:31:14 – Important books for Andy 00:33:40 – On challenger brands 00:38:07 – Viral videos and guerrilla marketing 00:45:31 – On ClickMechanic 00:50:32 – On Co-founders 00:54:48 – Getting ClickMechanic off the ground with only £10 investment 00:57:23 – Tips on raising early capital 01:01:41 – Early ‘growth metrics’ for the ClickMechanic 01:02:14 – on engines of growth 01:04:48 – Attracting investment from Just Eat founder 01:08:34 – Dealing with fear and self doubt 01:13:20 – On meditation The Rebel Wrap Up Round What is the one generally agreed upon rule, or conventional piece of wisdom that you disagree with? 01:15:57 The convention of the life we live in the west. You’re born, you go to primary school, go to high school, go to University, you get a career, get a partner, get married, have some kids, kids grow up, you retire, have a couple of years to chill and then you pass on. Who do you nominate to be a guest on the RebelHead Entrepreneurs podcast? 01:20:16 Humphrey Flowerduew Subscribe
