Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen cover art

Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

By: Mike Allen
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About this listen

Our aim is to provide you, our listeners – whether you’re a budding founder, a keen investor, or simply an enthusiast of business innovation – with unique insights and perspectives that can only come from those who have truly walked the path of success. At Cambria Private Capital, we believe in more than just investment; we believe in nurturing potential, sparking growth, and building lasting relationships. Each episode is a step towards uncovering the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that define today’s business landscape. So, whether you're here to find your next investment opportunity or to gather inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey, you’re in the right place.Cambria Private Capital Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Breaking Growth Ceilings: How Founders Can Build Boards That Truly Scale
    Jun 18 2025

    🔥 Episode Overview:

    In this high-impact episode, Mike sits down with Ashley Tott—entrepreneur, investor, and one of Sweden’s most sought-after scale-up advisors. With a background in corporate finance, private equity, and board leadership, Ashley brings sharp insight into how founder-led businesses can break through the €10m turnover ceiling and achieve repeatable, structured growth.

    From recruiting his first Chair at just 27 to helping dozens of businesses install world-class board frameworks, Ashley shares why governance done right isn’t boring—it’s a growth weapon.

    🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    • Why so many founder-led businesses stall at the 100M SEK (~£7.5m) revenue mark
    • The three core elements of a high-performance board
    • What Ashley learned from private equity (3i) and global brands (Specsavers, Andersen)
    • How to balance founder freedom with structure—and avoid burnout
    • Why founders should treat the board as an accelerator, not a blocker
    • How to spot (and fix) the biggest governance blind spots in your business
    • Practical advice for CEOs: how to choose the right Chair, and when to bring one in

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    “You can’t fix everything. Focus on what matters—and work relentlessly on it.” – Ashley Tott


    • Scaling isn’t just about sales—it’s about structure.
    • Founders don’t need to be ‘controlled’ by boards—they need to be supported by them.
    • A great Chair is your growth co-pilot, not a corporate cop.


    👤 About Ashley Tott:

    Ashley is Co-Founder at Scalex Growth Partners, where he helps Swedish small businesses scale past 100M SEK through structured board development and founder enablement. A qualified chartered accountant and former private equity investor, Ashley brings 20+ years of cross-sector experience to his advisory and Chair roles. He’s known for his fun, entrepreneurial energy—and for making governance both accessible and impactful.

    🔗 Learn more: www.scalexgp.se

    🔗 Connect & Subscribe:

    Follow Ignite & Scale for more conversations with founders, operators, and growth leaders who’ve built and backed great companies.
    🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms
    🌐 Learn more at: www.cambriaprivatecapital.com


    © Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

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    18 mins
  • Scaling Smarter in Automotive SaaS – with Angela Montacute, CEO of Digital INNK
    Jun 9 2025

    In this powerful kickoff to Series 3 of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen sits down with Angela Montacute, the CEO of Digital INNK, to explore what it takes to scale a SaaS business in one of the most challenging sectors: automotive.

    Angela shares the origin story behind Digital INNK, the moments that proved real product-market fit, and the hard-won lessons of building a lean, effective team while serving some of the industry’s biggest names.

    If you’re a founder, operator, or investor in the auto-tech ecosystem, this is one not to miss.

    🎧 In this episode, we cover:

    • Why solving real operational pain matters more than tech hype
    • How Digital INNK approached product-market fit in a resistant sector
    • The smart decisions that shaped scale without burn
    • What other SaaS founders can learn from Angela’s journey
    • What’s next for automotive software in the UK and beyond


    👤 About Angela:

    Angela Montacute is one of the founders and CEO of Digital INNK, a fast-scaling SaaS platform transforming the way automotive operators manage cost, compliance, and communication. Her background in automotive and technology gives her a unique edge in solving real problems with pragmatic, elegant solutions.


    📌 Links & Resources:

    • Learn more about Digital INNK
    • Connect with Angela on LinkedIn
    • Visit www.cambriaprivatecapital.com

    © Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

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    15 mins
  • Ignite & Scale – Final Episode of Series 2 with Dave Timmis, Founder of Leasing.com
    Feb 14 2025

    Ignite & Scale – Final Episode of Series 2

    In the final episode of Ignite & Scale Season 2, Mike sits down with Dave Timmis, founder of Leasing.com, to discuss his 25-year journey in the UK car leasing industry. From the early days of ContractHireAndLeasing.com to leading the UK’s largest car leasing comparison platform, Dave shares valuable insights into:
    • The Evolution of Leasing.com: How the industry has shifted from classified ads in car magazines to a fully digital marketplace that connects millions of UK lessees with leasing providers.
    • Navigating Industry Shifts: The impact of Brexit, COVID-19, supply chain shortages, and how Leasing.com stayed ahead through technology and market adaptability.
    • The Growth of EV Leasing: Despite reduced subsidies, electric vehicles (EVs) now make up 26.4% of leasing enquiries—why more consumers are making the switch.
    • Consumer Trends in 2024: Shorter leasing terms, rising demand for used car leasing, and why compact SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson dominate the market.
    • What’s Next for Leasing.com: The future of car leasing, growing demand for subscription-based vehicle ownership, and why Dave believes leasing is the future of mobility.

    Key Insights from the Leasing.com 2024 Insights Report

    We also dig into Leasing.com’s 2024 market report, covering:
    • Average monthly leasing costs have dropped from £373 in 2023 to £342 in 2024, making leasing more attractive.
    • Top leased models: The Nissan Qashqai, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.3 lead the rankings.
    • Business vs. Personal Leasing: 79.5% of leases are personal (average £322/month), while business leasing remains resilient (average £420/month).
    • Fuel Type Trends: Petrol leads at 49.8%, but EV adoption is growing rapidly, rising from 19.9% in Q1 to 31.1% in Q4 of 2024.
    • Rise of Used Car Leasing: More drivers are opting for pre-leased vehicles, benefiting from lower costs and immediate availability.

    👉 Download the full Leasing.com Insights Report 2024 for a deeper dive into these trends.

    The best way to reach Dave Timmis is via LinkedIn:
    🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-timmis-265468b/

    Final Thoughts & What’s Next

    This marks the end of Season 2 of Ignite & Scale. Thanks for tuning in! Stay connected via:

    🌍 Website: www.cambriaprivatecapital.com
    📢 LinkedIn: Follow for updates on Season 3!

    🚗 If you’re interested in the latest leasing deals, visit Leasing.com

    This episode is packed with actionable advice for founders, investors, and anyone looking to scale with intention.
    © Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

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    35 mins
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