Hello.

This post was originally published on Linkedin at:

The End of an Era: Reflections on Venntro Media Group
Hello. August 2024 marked the end of an era for me and many others, as Venntro Media Group —my 21-year-old venture — was placed into administration.

There are some absolutely wonderful comments on the post so I would encourage you to view the original post but I'm including here for completeness.

August 2024 marked the end of an era for me and many others, as Venntro Media Group —my 21-year-old venture — was placed into administration.

This decision was incredibly difficult, coming after years of navigating an ever-changing industry and mounting challenges that ultimately proved insurmountable.

The last few years were a real struggle. Despite our best efforts, fighting fires on multiple fronts became overwhelming. We overextended ourselves - we stalled - and, in the end, we couldn’t recover.

However, as I reflect on our journey, there’s so much to be proud of.

At its peak, Venntro Media Group was a testament to what can be achieved with dedication, innovation, and a remarkable team. We employed nearly 200 talented individuals, generated revenues of almost $50 million per year, and achieved an EBITDA of nearly $8 million—all bootstrapped without any external investment.

Reaching such heights without the backing of angel investors, venture capitalists, or private equity is an incredible achievement. This success is a tribute to the strength of our culture and the exceptional abilities of the hundreds of people who were part of our team over the years.

We were a multi-award-winning technology business, featured multiple times in the Sunday Times Fast Track, Profit Track, and International Track lists. I was personally honoured with awards like the Institute of Directors Young Director of the Year and EY Entrepreneur of the Year. These accolades were not just mine—they reflected the collective hard work, passion, and brilliance of everyone at Venntro.

Yet, as the industry evolved, we faced challenges that we couldn’t overcome. Despite our efforts to adapt and innovate, the business closed in August 2024.

I want to take this moment to clearly acknowledge my role in this outcome. This was down to decisions that ultimately as CEO come down to me.

I want to deeply apologise to our shareholders, staff, and creditors who have been affected.

In particular, I want to recognise the creditors - especially our partners - who lost significant sums of money as a result of this closure.

Many of you placed your trust in me, and I failed to deliver on that trust.

For that, I am deeply sorry.

I fully understand the anger and frustration this situation has caused - and the actions you're taking as a result - and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here. Until the administration process is completed, I am restricted as to what I can say and do. Rest assured I will carry these lessons with me and they will not be repeated. And I hope that one day I will be in a position to make up for these mistakes.

In the final months, I believe I genuinely did everything I could to keep the business afloat, including injecting all my personal funds into the company.

By the time we entered administration, I was owed just under £200,000 from money I had personally injected into the business and as a guarantor of the business debts. In addition, my wife had to use up her savings to support payroll in the final month before administration.

We have been wiped out - I share this not for sympathy, but because only a few others in the business knew this at the time. I lost all my savings and it has been over 6 months since I had any income - all of this is recorded in the administration documents. This has been the hardest 6 months of my life. And that's saying something.

Recognising the Team

First and foremost though, I want to recognise and thank our incredible team. We really had some of the most wonderful people.

Over the last six months—and indeed, throughout our history—they demonstrated unwavering dedication, resilience, and excellence.

They were absolutely blameless in this situation and deserved a better outcome.

Their commitment in the face of adversity was nothing short of inspiring, and I am honored to have worked alongside such outstanding professionals.

I also extend my sincere apologies to our shareholders, particularly my business partner Steve who entrusted me with leading the company when he chose to step back a few years ago. I gave it my all, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough. I didn't do enough, soon enough.

I was irrationally optimistic and when the tide turned, it turned quickly.

A New Chapter for Venntro

Looking ahead, there is hope on the horizon.

The assets and operations of Venntro have been acquired by another company that I will continue to support. Despite the rocky road we’ve traveled, I believe this new venture will go from strength to strength, and I’m committed to contributing to its success and ensuring the team behind it will flourish.

Looking Ahead

In time, I plan to share the lessons I’ve learned over the past 20+ years. I’ve kept diaries throughout this journey (which are particularly detailed over the last six months) and will be dedicating time to write and share more in due course on this about the journey, what happened and my thoughts on the actions of myself and others during this time. So much went on over the last 20 years, maybe there's even a book in it for publication if these lessons can help others in the future avoid the mistakes I made.

For those seeking exceptional talent, I wholeheartedly encourage you to reach out to members of my former team—individuals including David Adams , Emma Newman, Jessica Buckland, Russell Estcourt, Matt Harman, Andrew Levett, Ewa Kowalska, Grant Bunyan , Ellis Woods, Liberty Caton, Faye Ogden and Keith Clark amongst others are still open to work so please reach out if you have some roles going.

They have been through immense challenges and have emerged with invaluable experience and unwavering determination.

Their skills and resilience would be an asset to any organisation.

New Ventures

As for me, I will continue to support the new business that has taken on many of Venntro’s sites. It has had a strong start and I'm determined to help support the new business along with the other shareholders and team.

Additionally, I’m working on new ventures in AI, fractional recruitment and weight loss (semaglutide and related medicines). See my updated profile for the full list.

I am also now offering consulting services to businesses looking to benefit from my experience in online subscriptions, online marketing, product vision, and scaling operations.

Building a company from nothing to $50 million in annual revenues without external investment has equipped me with unique insights that I’m eager to share with forward-thinking organisations.

To everyone who was part of Venntro’s journey—thank you.

Your contributions, support, and belief in what we built will always be a source of pride for me.

Your contributions made our accomplishments possible, and I’m profoundly grateful for the time we shared. While this chapter has ended, I’m optimistic about the future and the opportunities it holds for all of us.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

In Closing

As I close this chapter and step into the next, I’m reminded of some simple but powerful truths, beautifully put by Snoop Dogg in The Affirmation Song which I play to my children every day (try it - Snoop Dogg and positive affirmations - you can't go wrong).

There is no one better to be than myself, and today—and every day—is an opportunity for growth. While the journey has had its challenges, I choose to feel happy, to care about others, and to learn from my mistakes. Every problem has an answer, and I’m committed to finding those answers for myself and for the businesses I work with.

I’m surrounded by love—from my family, my friends, and the incredible team members who have stood with me. Anything is possible, and I believe in myself and the value of the experiences I bring. As I move forward, I will take responsibility for my path, continue learning, and focus on creating amazing days ahead.

If you’re looking for someone who has been through it all, learned from their mistakes, and emerged stronger, or if you want to work with a team of incredible individuals who care deeply about what they do, I’d love to connect.