I help founders get ready and connect with investors • Seasoned entrepreneur • Building tech startups for 25yrs (zero→£mil ARR, twice)

With 29 years in startups, I now run the Gipity AI Dev Studio: Expert help to launch your MVP in 30 days. www.gipity.com

𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲... 👇

1968 BC (Before Computers): Born into analogue world

1982-86: Discovered computers! Vic 20, BBC micro, ICL 2900 mainframe & more

1986-89: Computation degree, UMIST (University of Manchester, Institute of Science & Technology)

1989-99: IT consultant/project manager: Logica, IBM, Reuters, Bankers Trust & Deutsche Bank

1994-97: first side hustle: scuba diving instructor & own London dive school

1996: published first website & first ever disk-mounted website on a UK magazine cover

1999: developer/project manager at 2 early London digital agencies

1999: vision/architect/investor. created first UK under-a-tenner domain name business, Easily

1999: built+launched early/successful dot-com: domain/email/web hosting ISP

1999-2001: ceo. managed growth from 0 to 2,000 daily domain sales & 30+ staff in under 2yrs

2000: invented the web-based DNS dashboard for domains

2000: created early no-code solution for one-page websites: £100k ARR

2000: highly commended "Entrepreneur of the Year": European E-commerce Association E-business 2000 awards

2001: 64th in Sunday Times "Top 100 pre-IPO e-businesses in Europe" E-League

2001: ran one of the first successful web affiliate schemes, generating 40% of rev

2004: hit 400,000+ domain registrations, 30,000+ websites & 40,000+ email accounts

2004: 3,500 commission earning affiliates & word of mouth to 100,000+ customers

2004: negotiated successful multi-million pound dot-com exit/sale of Easily

2002: vision/investor. launched one of the first ever B2B mobile text marketing services: SMS Expert

2007-11: early digital nomad: B2B Saas startup from beach/desert

2007-19: ceo. ran leading text marketing B2B Saas: zero to multi-million turnover

2007-19: cto/architect. developed 850k lines of code & supported 1mil daily transactions/API calls

2020... consultancy/advice/support for early-stage tech startup founders

2022... helping hand-picked founders find the right investors

• 2018: vision/architect/investor/cto...
Clickacall: instant video calls from anywhere with single click
Nearevo: proximity discovery for internet of things
Scan+Click: contactless business cards
Secly: personal online security

• 2021 l2o: supporting next generation of startups
• 2022 Venture Cards: all startups, in one place • connecting the right founders and investors

• 2024 The Gipity AI Dev Studio: Expert help to launch your MVP in 30 days

Steve Procter

CONTROVERSIAL: If you're ready to create an internet/mobile based startup in 2026, you do not need investment. What's that I hear: "but there are a few setup and running costs". Well, no shit Sherlock! That's how business works.

If you expect it to be a free ride and for someone else to take the risk before you've even started, this game aint for you. Your idea, your risk.

Five years ago, sure, it was tough back then. You needed the app ready just to discover if there was even a market. And the developers who would build it saw you coming and demanded £150k just to get out of bed.

But those days are over. Building your MVP is cheap. Signing up to a handful of AI-driven marketing/growth platforms is even cheaper. Your costs for getting from day 0 to day 1 are minimal, and should come out of your pocket.

If your savings account can't cover it, then give up Netflix, or your 2nd annual holiday, or a meal out and bottle of wine each week.

Take your own risks if you are so convinced the idea is that great. And, according to page 17 of your pitchdeck, it is going to be massive and hit a $1bn market within 5 years!

So what's a year without Netflix or dining out when that's the goal? You will be too busy building and making sales for a social life anyway.

Investment is for scaling. Not for creating the damn thing on day 1.

---

* smallprint: yes, sure, we know that if you're in quantum something or other, or deeptech, or need a van to deliver your mince pies to factories, or to buy stock, or do medical research, [or insert 1,000 other ideas], then you are special and this post does not apply to you. So please, walk on by, nothing for you to see here. This is for people building apps, websites and stuff like that.

Launch your MVP in 30 days | 30yrs in startups (exited. 0→£mil * 2)

I just read an expert's idea of a "5 yr plan for startups". More theoretical tosh! As a founder you need to be out in much less than 5 yrs, sat on the beach with a piña colada, and planning your next startup.

Let's be honest, for most founders, if you are still in at the 5 year mark, you've probably missed the exit ramp and are a zombie startup, kidding yourself you're still capable of "scaling" and reaching mythical unicorn status.

The speed of startups in this mad new AI-backed world means, if the business is doing well at 2-3 years, you should find someone bigger who knows how to launch it into the next orbit. For most founders, this is not you.

Exit at 2-3 years. Low £millions. Go again. Repeat until the care home calls.

Oh, and by the way, that exit money needs to be hard cash. And it goes to founders only - no investors to take any cream off the top.

If you spent 6-12 months of those 2-3 years faffing about finding an investor, then you've wasted the most critical period of a startup's early life.

You can disagree all you like, and spend half your days on here, talking the talk and arguing with AI-written posts.

The startup process is simple: Build, sell, sell-out.

If any part fails, then pivot or find a new idea, and go again.

JFDI !

Hey Linkedin algorithm, send this to everyone subscribed to my newsletter. Ask them to let me know if I should start writing it again.

Hey all, I've just remembered I have this newsletter. It was set up about 300 years ago, and somehow it has collected 6,720 of you 😊 So my big questi

Open article: Hello, is anybody seeing this? by Steve Procter • 1 min read

Startup circus 'experts' say "build it and they will come" is wrong. Really? Post daily on social, grow your followers & fans, then give them a little nudge when you launch something new. Watch them come. Selling has never been easier.

Someone asked me if they should create a business plan, pitchdeck, and financial projection for their brand new startup and app idea? My answer is simple: Hell no! Real founders fly by the seat of their pants.

Sure, write down a few pages of ideas and notes. But otherwise, just focus on building, making sales, and pivoting.

That last one, pivoting, is what makes too much planning a complete waste of time. Don't kid yourselves your idea is so solid you won't need to. You will be pivoting so much, you'll feel like a ballerina practicing her pirouettes.

So stop talking the talk. That's what Linkedin armchair experts do.

It's time to build fast and make sales. Which is what real founders do.

I saw this post recently: "has anyone managed to create a profitable startup yet from vibe coding?" Such a stupid question. AI-assisted dev doesn't make sales, that's your job. But it does help you start selling much sooner.

Oh good grief! Can we stop blaming AI dev tools whenever we see a crappy vibe coded app. Platforms like Replit are fantastic and work great when you know how to control them and feed them the right information. But if you don't, then, as us old-schoolers like to say: Garbage In, Garbage Out.

Educational Intelligence

Our company, Educational Intelligence, is founded on the principles of educational psychology and aims to create a fresh "Blueprint" for adult learning.

We use cutting-edge technology, including AI, where it counts, to ensure that the learner is always at the forefront of our approach.

By shaping technology to meet learners' needs, we can create personalized and immersive experiences that empower individuals to reach their full potential.

We are a dedicated team of psychologists, data scientists, and technology leaders committed to transforming digital learning for adults.

Founder and CEO

Founder

E-Numeracy limited

E-Numeracy helps build confidence in numbers. It is a subscription-based maths learning platform with patent-pending technology. It is designed for those with maths anxiety and who struggle with numbers and uses AI to create a truly personalised learning journey.

We focus on 20million working-age adults (16+) that struggle with numeracy in the UK

CFO | COO

blinkbox music

Acquired by Tesco:

If you love your music, we think you'll love we7. It’s like having a Personal DJ, creating free, personalised radio stations that only play the music you love.

With a library of over 11 million songs, we've got something for everyone. And, our unique ad-funded model means that while you listen for free, the artists and rights owners still get paid.

This principle sits at the heart of we7. Co-founded by ex-Genesis front man and digital pioneer Peter Gabriel, we’re a team of music industry professionals, developers and technologists with a common obsession - discovering and sharing great free music

WE7 was acquired by Tesco in June 2012 and in now part of Tesco Digital Entertainment.

Commando Bootcamps Limited

At Commando Bootcamps we run residential weight loss and fitness bootcamps and non residential fitness weekends in cities across the UK. 

We provide a focused boost for individuals who either want to lose weight, move their fitness levels up a notch or get back into a fitness regime that has been interrupted by life's major events. 

Our structured program of exercise, nutrition, and education works well and allows individuals to continue their chosen fitness regimes with renewed vigour when they return home.

Active Health Partners

Acquired by FirstCare

Active Health Partners help organisations improve organisational productivity through the promotion of a healthy workforce and reducing absence. We provide an evidence based approach to tackling Health issues in the workplace.

Our Day 1 Absence service, supports employees and managers alike in dealing with unplanned absences in a fair and consistent fashion.

Our case management service supports early access to multidisciplinary support for employees, such as services like counseling and physiotherapy.

We allow organisations to manage down the absence risk in an organisation through targeted evidence based actionable information.

Respond Group Limited

Acquired by CDC

Respond is the market-leading enterprise software for complaints and feedback management. Respond software has been chosen by the leading players in markets such as financial services, government and the commercial sector. Customers include Barclays, AXA, AIG, Aegon and Mellon.

At Respond I was successful in the Sales Director and Finance Director roles. In 2005 I was part of the management team who successfully completed an MBO.

Platform Computing

Acquired by IBM

Platform Computing™ is a pioneer and the global leader in High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure software. The company delivers integrated software solutions that enable organizations to improve time-to-results and reduce computing costs.

At Platform I supported the European MD(Mike Fish) in starting a European Sales Organsiation with direct offices in UK, France and Germany and  with Indirect Channels across Europe.

European Finance Director

Computer 2000

Finance Manager

As the Founder and CEO of Educational Intelligence, I lead a dedicated team of psychologists, data scientists, and technology leaders who share a common vision: to create a fresh "Blueprint" for adult learning. We use cutting-edge technology, including AI, where it counts, to ensure that the learner is always at the forefront of our approach.

With over 8 years of experience as a founder and 1.5 years as a CFO and COO of a successful maths learning platform, I have developed core competencies in venture capital, fundraising, business growth, digital transformation, and innovation. I am passionate about applying educational psychology principles and technology solutions to empower individuals to reach their full potential and overcome maths anxiety and numeracy challenges.

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