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Gosbert is the co-founder of the Startup Discovery School, an innovation consultancy which builds bespoke incubator and accelerator programmes to evolve technology tackling the climate change agenda. Having spent his career supporting and building mission-driven businesses in Europe & Africa, he has considerable experience in the startup ecosystem investing, building and scaling these ventures worldwide.
Hi Gosbert! tell us about what you do?
My name is Gosbert Chagula, I am one of the co-founders at Startup Discovery School. We design and roll out acceleration and incubation programmes for early-stage businesses that are focused on sustainability and the climate emergency.
I spent the last ten years working with a range of early-stage businesses. I started working with young people 12 years ago supporting them taking their first steps into business, from selling clothes at market stalls to selling on apps. We provided training, mentoring, funding and that gave me the first taste of working with early-stage businesses, some of whom were ideas on paper, so watching them come to life was a great experience.
I went on to work for a social network which was ahead of its time, we were just too early. It was like LinkedIn meets Meetup meets Instagram. It was a social network that was focused on helping people meet those that can help them in their job search face to face. We grew the network to a few thousand but struggled with the monetisation aspect, but I learnt so much across the marketing, sales, business development and user testing. Then I went to work for an NGO based in Ghana, helping female entrepreneurs both grow and sustain businesses. Following that I came back to the UK and worked exclusively for Exeter Velocities, an acceleration programme which was focused on supporting businesses that were sustainability themed. That led me to where I am now with Startup Discovery School, which is an amalgamation of everything I have done over the last 12 years.
What role does clothing play in your day-to-day life?
This is a bad example but I was watching those old wrestling clips of the early 90s and I remember as a kid I was amazed by the colours. An outlandish costume gave an indication about their personality. I think clothing is your flag, a representation of not just who you are, but your aspirations and where you are going. I have always had an interest in one-off pieces. I wear a lot of pin-badges and it is always something people are intersted in.
It is also about comfort and recognising the audience I am in front of. If we are attending a conference and there is an ‘understated-ness' about the event, I take into account the environment, comfort and message I am trying to send.
How do you think about sustainability?
The way I think about sustainability is 'what choices do I have within my own power to make?' I like to think in terms of choices and micro-choices here and now. I think of it in terms of employment, are the products I use providing people with a stable employment from which they can build a future? How is it benefiting the planet, how is it benefiting individuals? It would be great to have net-zero right now but we are still far off so what are the transition options I have? I try to think of it all the way from clothing, to the brands I engage with and how I can reuse items I no longer use.
What is the best piece of career advice you would give?
Double down on the things which for some reason you happen to be good at. Sometimes those are quantifiable things such as maths, for which you can get a certificate. For others it's skills such as the ability to go into a room and talk to strangers, to get to know people. We spend a lot of time focusing on our weaknesses which are important to improve, but ensure you double down on what makes you special. Those things are where you find opportunities.
I've often had to speak to young people that didn’t want to speak with me so it was my job to bring them on board. I had a stint working with younger children in primary schools and they are ferocious, you need to entertain them and I found I was good at it.
I hosted a panel recently on a prickly subject around council investment and there were residents in attendance who were disgruntled and it was my ability to keep the residents on side whilst giving council employees a chance to speak and facilitate conversation that is my unique skill and what I have focused on.
