In this episode of the DevReady Podcast host Andrew Romeo sits down with Nathan Spiteri, Co-Founder, Shopfront, to explore his remarkable journey from Australia’s shores to the fast-paced fintech landscape of the UK. Nathan shares insights into his role in growing a successful startup, his return to Australia, and the exciting challenges of launching his own business. Tune in to hear about the importance of impact-driven innovation, the complexities of startup life, and the future of automated online selling.
Nathan shares his fascinating journey from Australia to the UK, where he delved into the fintech industry. Despite the challenges of securing a job as an expat during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nathan eventually joined Plend, a fintech startup, where he played a pivotal role in its growth. Over four years, Nathan helped Plend raise over £40 million and achieve B Corp certification, positioning the company as a key player in providing ethical, lower-interest loans to individuals in the subprime market.
Nathan’s experience at Plend underscores his commitment to impact-driven lending, a departure from the traditional profit-first approach in fintech. This focus on ethical practices not only attracted the right partners but also established trust with customers. However, the high cost of living and the difficulty of achieving financial goals in London prompted Nathan to return to Australia, where he joined the Antler program. This decision was fueled by his desire to maintain the fast-paced excitement he experienced in London while avoiding a return to a corporate environment.
During his time with Antler, Nathan faced the challenges of starting a business, particularly the process of finding the right co-founder. He likens this experience to dating, emphasising the importance of complementary skills and a shared vision. Nathan’s proactive approach in reaching out to potential technical co-founders before the program started helped him quickly form a successful partnership with Drew Flaherty, with whom he shared a passion for impact-driven projects. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on finding a co-founder who is willing to grow together rather than seeking perfection.
Nathan also discusses the intricacies of launching Shopfront, a platform designed to automate product listings across multiple online marketplaces. He highlights the inefficiency of manual listings and how Shopfront‘s solution boosts product visibility through algorithmic relisting. The importance of omnichannel selling is emphasised, as relying on a single marketplace can be risky due to potential account suspensions. Nathan further shares the lessons learned from the initial focus on the product rather than solving specific problems, which led to a pivot and the development of a loyal early adopter base. With a planned beta launch on the horizon, Nathan outlines Shopfront‘s vision to become the go-to platform for selling items across various marketplaces.
Topics Covered
- Nathan Spiteri’s journey from Australia to the UK fintech industry
- Growth and success of the fintech startup Plend
- The impact-driven approach to ethical lending in fintech
- Challenges and experiences of living in London
- Decision to join the Antler program and start a new business
- Co-founder selection process and the importance of complementary skills
- Strategies for listing products across multiple online marketplaces with Shopfront
- The significance of product validation and early adopter engagement
- Challenges and future plans for launching Shopfront
Important Time Stamps
- Navigating the Startup World: Lessons from Nathan Spiteri’s Fintech Adventure (0:07 – 5:23)
- Building Trust in Fintech: How Impact-Driven Lending Raised £40M (5:46 – 7:07)
- Finding the Right Co-Founder: Nathan Spiteri’s Pre-Antler Strategy (7:10 – 11:43)
- Commitment is Key: Lessons from Nathan Spiteri’s Startup Journey (11:44 – 14:03)
- Revolutionising Reselling: How Shopfront Simplifies Multi-Marketplace Selling (14:04 – 19:37)
- Boost Your Sales: Automate Listings Across Multiple Marketplaces with Shopfront (19:38 – 23:31)
- Building Loyal Fans Before You Even Launch: The Shopfront Story (23:32 – 30:05)
