The podcast for those building the future 🚀
James and Suraj here! Friends since university with a shared passion for technology, business and learning.
We interview entrepreneurs, thought leaders and investors - exploring everything from starting and scaling businesses, to practical business tips and predictions for where the world is headed.
For founders, investors, tech enthusiasts, scientists, and the curious!
Startup Blueprint Podcast
Meet the Hosts
James Bannon
What’s good fellow podcast obsessive 🤝 James here
On a freezing London January evening I was lying on a mattress in the middle of my new unfurnished flat, listening to Jason and Molly of TWIST discuss the latest tech news. After losing myself for 2 hours, I realised - why should I be a consumer and not a creator? A quick text to my main man Suraj and our podcast was born 😁
I’m an Imperial College London Aeronautical Engineering graduate, owing to my lifelong obsession with cars and things that go fast. If I’m not listening to educational podcasts or researching the latest DeepTech breakthroughs, you can find me at the running track or in the gym (forever trying to convince myself I’m an athlete 🏋️♂️)
I’ve worked in investment banking, sales, as a freelancer, founded a profitable shoe reselling business, and now am advising and fundraising for DeepTech startups. I learned 2 vital things from these experiences: (1) Being proactive is the key to getting what you want out of life; (2) Don’t live anyone else’s dream 💪
Currently training like a maniac, meeting interesting people, and working on my solo projects - stay tuned 🌎
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Suraj Tirupati
"What's happenin' guys? I'm Suraj. I've had an insatiable desire for business and making money since I was very young - whether selling coke cans in school or meme t-shirts in uni - you name it! I always had to be moving something. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and opportunities.
I went to Imperial College London (where I met James) and studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I specialised in Signal Processing and Machine Learning. However, I always stuck out due to being an abnormally 'social' and 'extroverted' engineer 😃
I tried to launch a music collaboration start-up straight out of uni but decided to get more technical experience first. Once I started working I never quite fit the mould of the conventional 9-5 type! My progressional experience ranges from management consultancy internships, working in a London Seed to Series A VC, alumni member of a London-based entrepreneurship program called NEF, working as a software developer for Investment Banks and Asset Managers, and now I am currently contracting as a big data Python developer and touring the world 🌎.
Outside of work I love boxing, chess, philosophy, history, world cultures, and spirituality.
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