Connectd

What did you do before you embarked on a portfolio career?

I worked with KPMG for 37 years and in the last nine years there, I had two executive roles: Global head of insurance and then global head of clients and markets.

I loved my time at KPMG but felt it was the right time to step down towards the end of 2022. At that time, I already had a couple of NED roles in organisations loosely associated with KPMG. After travelling for a few months, I turned my thoughts back to work and rather serendipitously, one of the Connectd team got in touch with me on LinkedIn.

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Why did you join Connectd?

A platform which brings startups together with NEDs and Advisors for mutual benefit definitely resonated with me but I think my main driver was the desire to really make an impact. Having spent my whole career working with large global organisations, I saw the complex governance structures in place, and it struck me that it could be difficult to really make your mark in an advisory capacity. With smaller, early-stage organisations, I felt I had something to offer that could be of more value to them.

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Tell us more about how you found your role with After Cloud through the Connectd platform

I discounted a few opportunities with startups in the Connectd network who were SaaS or tech-led as I’d decided it wasn’t an area I was interested in. However, After Cloud, a digital storytelling platform, was advertising and I just loved what the company was doing.

I was drawn to the purpose of the company as I’m very interested in ancestry and family history.I spoke with the founder, Darren Evans, who explained that the initial application had been as a digital memory box people could create for their bereaved family and friends to remember them by once they’d passed away.

At this point, he’d also identified applications for the technology within the healthcare sector, providing a storytelling application to terminally ill patients and people with dementia to help nurture cognitive care. He was looking for two to three NEDs to help him continue the journey; he was really impressed by my experience and how much After Cloud’s mission resonated with me.

Darren’s passion for his product and compassion for those it could help was what really drew me to the role, and I joined as an NED. I came to love the company and believe in what we’re doing so much that I also invested a small amount.The company has gone from strength to strength, and alongside those health and social care applications, we’ve forged partnerships with a diverse range of organisations, from classic car groups to social care providers, and even heritage organisations.

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How have you found transitioning your skills to a portfolio career, especially working with startups?

There’s a big learning curve in terms of adapting to a more dynamic and fluid way of working. Darren works incredibly hard but he's very respectful of my time, so my focus has remained mostly strategic. However, one of the ways I can offer more is to leverage my contacts which can be a huge part of your value as a NED or advisor in an early-stage business.

This is as much about mindset as skillset, but I've learned to trust in my own experience and expertise; Darren’s belief in me, and the support of the other NEDs has been instrumental.

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How has Connectd helped your portfolio career?

Simply put, if it wasn’t for Connectd, I wouldn’t be in this position, working with an organisation I’m passionate about. The platform allows matches like the one between myself and Darren possible; I really can’t see how else we would ever have connected with one another in a more ‘conventional’ way. It’s also offered me the work-life balance I want. Unlike my fellow After Cloud NED and Connectd member James Hunt, I don’t want to be working a full-time portfolio, but the fact that we have the freedom to choose our commitment levels is such a positive.

Connectd is a place for small businesses with great ideas, looking to tap into the expertise of people, like me, who want to give something back and learn about working with entrepreneurs and fledgling businesses. I’ve recommended the Connectd platform to a lot of people; it’s been such an enriching experience for me to work in a totally new way, I’ve already learnt so much, and I’m still learning even now.

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Our Trustpilot reviews...

I'm delighted to have joined Connectd, a platform that brings together start-ups, investors and advisors/NEDs – the latter being my interest. Having left full-time employment, I became a founding Non-Executive Director of a Community Interest Company and a Trustee of a local charity. I had also been looking for additional Non-Executive roles when I was introduced to Connectd. I was impressed by the sophisticated nature of the ecosystem, which enables searches for roles through detailed filters, as well as providing training through the NED Academy, help with CV writing, mentoring, template documents and other resources. Connectd also guarantees a placement with a business.

An additional feature of the platform is the Connectd Investor Community, where investors can interact, conduct due diligence, share deal-flow and learn together. The functionality allows like-minded investors to connect, with separate groups for each; to share deal flow (not just with companies on the platform) and to co-invest; to access partnerships such as Crunchbase membership and Vauban discount codes; and to create public or private groups.

I'm now working with a start-up that I was introduced to through Connectd, initially pro bono. There's a lot going on and a lot to do - we're raising funds and there's an exciting future in prospect!

Steve Hutchings