This week we speak to green banking start-up, Tred. Peter & will discuss where the idea of a green bank account came from, the secret tip that worked for improving their network connections, how the first round of testing changed the business strategy, the positives and negatives of a wait list and what it feels like to secure £1m of funding. We also get taught how to reduce the carbon footprint of your business. Win a Tred water bottle. Listen to the episode then answer the question at www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com/tred/ INTRODUCING PETER KIRBY & WILL SMITH Peter Kirby keeps Tred running! He ensures customers love their green business current account, develops a happy and high performing team, and owns the compliance function. Before Tred, he worked with the UK's largest companies to improve their operations, like developing the UK’s COVID shielding programme and revolutionising the procurement process in a £5bn clothing brand. Will Smith owns Tred's growth and finances. He makes sure every business wants, and has, a Tred green current account. Selected by Forbes as a ‘30 under 30’, he brings experience from both the start-up and corporate world. He's managed global product launches, negotiated commercial contracts worth over £500m and much more. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:30] What is Tred? [00:01:00] Introducing Will & Peter [00:05:30] Where did the idea for Tred come from? [00:09:00] The first step on the start-up journey and testing the hypothesis [00:11:00] The funding journey and lessons learnt [00:16:00] Starting the business properly [00:23:00] A banking platform not a bank and let’s talk ‘Bank of Dave’ [00:32:00] The current situation for Tred [00:36:45] How do you evaluate a ‘green’ banking card? [00:38:15] How to reduce the carbon footprint of your business [00:41:15] The biggest learning from a mistake 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS • Find the cheapest and quickest way to test your hypothesis • Ask people for introductions. Almost everyone says yes • Hire the people with skills you are most useless at • Entrepreneurs are not taking enough risks because of a fear of failure 3 BEST MOMENTS “Please can someone be the Spotify for home 3D printing” “We spent months building an app. Did we need it? Probably not” “There’ll be bugs a plenty come squash them with us” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com Website: https://tred.earth/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrhsmith/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlkirby/ Shout out tags: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-baker-8700399/ DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’ My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE. Your half of the deal has two simple steps; 1) Share this episode with just ONE person who you think will get value from it 2) Post a review of the show or give this episode a ’thumbs up’ SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on; LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/leedspod Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leedsbusinesspodcast/ YOU MAY ALSO LIKE a...