The Unlock with Oliver Bruce

AI voice agents are not replacing contact centre jobs. They are answering the calls businesses stopped picking up years ago.

In this episode, Oliver Bruce sits down with Nikola Mrkšić, co-founder and CEO of PolyAI, the London-founded company building AI voice agents for customer service. PolyAI answers the phone for FedEx, Metro Bank, NatWest, Caesars and Gordon Ramsay's restaurants, and around 80 percent of its revenue now comes from the US. Nikola joined Apple's Siri team when it acquired his previous startup, then left to build something smaller that actually worked.

He explains how an AI...

Most AI rollouts fail because businesses try to automate everything at once. The fix is to start with one tiny test.

Oliver Bruce gives the exact step-by-step playbook for rolling out AI inside a business, testing it without burning budget, and building a system that gets smarter every day.

The problem is not the tools. Founders open a blank chat window, type a generic prompt, get a generic answer, waste twenty minutes fixing it, then repeat the same thing tomorrow. AI has zero compounding value without a system around it.

Oliver walks through...

Predictive analytics fails at exactly the moments that matter most, and this episode explains what to use instead.

Every predictive model ever built is trained on historical data. It looks backwards to tell you what happens next. That works brilliantly right up until something happens that has never happened before, and then the model has nothing. Oliver walks through the last decade of black swan events that no algorithm saw coming, and the operators who felt them arriving anyway.

This is not an argument against data. Oliver runs PinPoint Media, a performance marketing agency that...

Building an AI agent starts with one thing most people skip. Purpose. Get that right and the platform choice becomes obvious.

In this episode of The Unlock, Oliver Bruce walks through the workflow he has refined over six months of building agents and platforms on OpenClaw, Manus and Lovable, all anchored in a single Claude project.

It starts with the Three Ps Framework. Purpose is what your agent is for. Product is how you package that into something you could explain to a client. Prompt is the detailed brief that drives the build. Skip the...

Stop starting from zero every morning. Build a Claude project that acts as a living knowledge bank for your business and every piece of copy, strategy and decision gets better the longer you use it.

In this episode of The Unlock, Oliver Bruce breaks down why most businesses get zero compounding value from AI, how to build a Claude Projects workspace that acts as a second brain, and the iteration loop that makes that knowledge bank smarter over time.

Most businesses use AI like a search engine. Every morning you open a new chat, spend 20...

Stop trying to make one perfect ad. The brands winning on paid social are building a machine that makes 50 or 100 good videos and letting the data decide what scales.

In this episode of The Unlock, Oliver Bruce breaks down why the old model of one big hero ad is dying, how AI tools like Opus Clips have changed the economics of creative production, and the exact testing framework for deploying high volume creative on Meta.

The old paid social playbook was simple. Build one hero video, put your budget behind it, let it run for...

Treat YouTube as your most powerful evergreen sales asset, not an entertainment channel, and it becomes a discovery engine that generates high intent leads on autopilot.

In this episode of The Unlock, Oliver Bruce breaks down why YouTube is the most underused channel for B2B and high ticket B2C sales, and how to turn it into a revenue generating asset using a simple four step playbook.

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, owned by the largest. A long form video that solves a high value problem gets indexed and...

Oliver Bruce breaks down the biggest shift in marketing since the internet: you are no longer writing only for humans. You are also writing for AI agents. Google crawlers, ChatGPT web readers, Perplexity indexing systems and autonomous procurement bots that research vendors before a human is ever involved.

The problem is these two audiences want opposite things. Humans buy on emotion. They respond to story, humour, design and a little ambiguity. AI agents have no emotion. They want clarity, structured facts, verifiable claims and consensus across the wider internet. Optimise only for the human and AI cannot...

Oliver Bruce breaks down the real difference between SEO, AEO and GEO: search engine optimisation, answer engine optimisation and generative engine optimisation. Most marketers and most agencies treat these as the same thing with different names. They are not. They work on different surfaces, need different strategies and are measured with completely different KPIs.

The stakes are simple. In the first four months of 2026, 68% of Google searches ended without a single click. Across 680 million AI citations, just 15 domains captured 68% of all citation share. This is a winner takes all environment. If your brand is not in the...

If you are a founder preparing to raise capital, this episode is a practical guide to getting investor-ready before you ever walk into the room.

Oliver Bruce sits down with Connor Wells, founder of Caplia. Connor spent eight years inside one of the world's largest beauty businesses, moved into engineering-led innovation at Dyson, then ran PrimeTime as MD before building Caplia to fix the problem that nearly broke him: fundraising.

The venture ecosystem is more fragmented than ever. Capital is flooding in. Founder numbers have tripled since the nineties. Yet rounds are still run like...

How to turn one 20 minute recording into 100 pieces of content that actually cut through.

Content is king. Distribution is the kingdom. But volume only works when it stays engaging and native to each channel. In this episode of The Unlock, Oliver Bruce walks founders and business owners through the exact versioning workflow that takes you from producing no content to producing volume content that performs, without spamming your audience or burning your time.

Record once. Version everything. One 20 minute sitting becomes one long form video, 50 plus shorts, one podcast, one piece of audio, and one...

AI agents only work when you build them with a clear framework. This episode gives founders, CMOs and business owners the exact process, tested over six months, for shipping agents that actually do the job.

Oliver walks through the Three Ps Framework: Purpose, Product, Prompt. Define the purpose of the agent. Shape it into a product you could explain to a client. Write the prompt that briefs the platform. Skip any of the three and the agent breaks.

He then shows how to set up a Claude project as the brain of every build, so...

Most founders think you need funding to build something worth selling. Oliver Bruce just proved otherwise.

In this episode of The Unlock, the tables turn. Oliver is interviewed by Bruno Artis, content lead at sponsor Incard, on the full arc of Pinpoint Media. From a £50 gym video shot at college, to a multimillion pound agency, to the exit signed on 23 December 2025. No funding. No backing. Just a decade of compounding decisions.

This one is built for founders who want the actual playbook, not the highlight reel.

Oliver lays out the Four Founder Pillars e...

From rock and roll stage designer, to opening a million pound restaurant on credit, to sitting on the original Dragons' Den panel, and now launching his memoir Yo Man at 74.

Simon Woodroffe  operating principle is simple. Say Yes first, figure out how to deliver second. He also breaks down the Three Fs funding model: friends, family and fools. Why he put 100 percent of his own money on the line before raising. Why selling 30 percent to a VC quietly saved Yo! Sushi from running out of cash. And why a 1 percent royalty has earned him more than every s...

Oliver Bruce sits down with Callum Woodcock, founder and CEO of WineFi, to unpack how he turned a Wix landing page and a LinkedIn post into a venture-backed fine wine investment business.

Callum walks through the real numbers. £470k raised at pre-seed. £1.5m pre-money valuation. A seed round closed off the back of ten-minute investor calls. He shares why he treated WineFi like an FCA regulated business from day one even though he was not required to, and why that decision is now compounding into one of the most credible names in fine wine investing.

Th...

Oliver unpacks what actually makes an agency acquirable, why retained revenue shifts your valuation, and how he now thinks about AI agents, creative at volume and the skills that will still matter in five years. The through line: founders who use AI will replace those who don't, but empathy, taste and judgement stay human.

Key topics covered:

If you are creating content but not learning from it, you are leaving money on the table. Every post you publish is a question you are asking your market, and the answers are already there if you know where to look.

In this episode, Oliver Bruce breaks down why content is the most powerful and most overlooked form of market research available to entrepreneurs today. He explains why most founders get stuck chasing perfection instead of publishing, why your audience's attention is more honest than any survey, and how a simple weekly rhythm can turn raw content...

While most entrepreneurs are fighting for attention on Instagram, TikTok and X, LinkedIn has quietly become the single most underused sales and branding platform on the internet.

In this episode, Oliver Bruce breaks down why LinkedIn is a genuine cheat code for entrepreneurs in 2026, how a brand new AI system called 360 Brew has completely rewritten the algorithm, and exactly how to start using the platform to build an audience, generate inbound leads and grow your business, even if the last thing you posted was updating your job title three years ago.

Oliver unpacks how 360 Brew...

What if the next unfair advantage in business wasn’t more budget, more people, or more content, but understanding how AI decides who to recommend?

In this episode, Oliver Bruce breaks down the five-step framework behind GEO: Generative Engine Optimisation, the new discipline helping businesses show up in answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Claude and other AI search tools.

Search is changing fast. Traditional traffic is getting squeezed, AI-generated answers are becoming the new front door, and the brands that move early will have a serious advantage. The opportunity is that the rules are...

This episode explores how to create higher-quality leads, improve landing page performance, reduce hesitation in the buying journey and build flows that are easier to scale. Oliver also touches on ICP clarity, pre-qualifying prospects through ad creative, simplifying forms, and creating a customer journey that feels obvious from first click to final action.

Oliver Bruce breaks down why broad messaging, generic websites and cluttered customer journeys quietly kill conversion, and why the real unlock is building focused ads and landing pages that speak to one audience, one problem and one promise.

Key topics covered:
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If you are trying to grow a direct-to-consumer business with limited cash, this episode is a practical blueprint for doing exactly that.

Oliver Bruce breaks down the COPPER Framework a simple but powerful growth model for founders who have already built the product, launched the Shopify store and now need traction without burning through budget. It is honest, actionable and built for real-world operators, not theory.

The framework is straightforward:

Capture. Organic. Paid. Performance. Educate. Repeat.

Key topics covered:

In this episode, Oliver breaks down the realities of scaling Meta ads, when to push harder, when to pull back, and how to avoid the costly mistakes many founders make (including his own).

Oliver dives into how to identify winning creative, refine your CTA, and choose the right attribution window, all while protecting your budget and managing burn effectively. Expect practical, actionable insights you can apply immediately.

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Louise Hill is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of GoHenry, a groundbreaking financial education app and prepaid debit card designed to empower kids and teens with essential money skills. Launched in 2012 after Louise spotted a gap in children’s understanding of digital spending, GoHenry now supports over 2 million users across the UK, US, and Europe.

With a background in e-commerce and operations at major retailers like John Lewis and Debenhams, Louise brought a wealth of experience to the fintech space. Under her leadership, GoHenry has pioneered youth financial literacy, raised millions through record-breaking crowdfunding, and recently merged wi...

In this episode, we sit down with Lucas London, the dynamic founder and CEO of Lick, the brand that’s shaking up the outdated world of home decor and paint. From launching during a pandemic to building a purpose-driven business that champions sustainability and customer empowerment, Lucas shares the bold vision behind Lick’s rise—and what it takes to disrupt a centuries-old industry.

We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling a DTC brand in a traditional market, and how Lick is using community, content, and color to inspire a new generation of decorators. Whether you’re...

Tugce Bulut is a distinguished entrepreneur and data expert, renowned for her contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and consumer intelligence. She is the co-founder and CEO of Eloquent AI, a company dedicated to advancing AI technologies to revolutionise human-computer interactions. ​
Prior to her role at Eloquent AI, Bulut founded Streetbees in 2015, serving as its CEO. Streetbees is a global intelligence platform that analyzes real-life moments from users worldwide to provide deep insights into human behavior, surpassing traditional survey methodologies. 
Bulut's academic background includes a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge, where she specialised in poverty all...

In this episode, we sit down with Sokratis Papafloratos, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor renowned for his significant contributions to the tech and digital health sectors. 

Sokratis's journey began with an academic foundation in electronic engineering from the University of York, followed by a master's in information processing from King's College London. He commenced his career at Vodafone Group, focusing on strategy and business integration. 

His entrepreneurial ventures include:

TrustedPlaces: Co-founded in 2006, this local reviews platform achieved profitability and was later acquired by Yell Group, where Sokratis served as Head of Social Products, st...

James Griffith, CEO and co-founder of Mous—a tech accessories brand renowned for its innovative approach to product design. Founded in 2014, Mous emerged from a desire to revolutionise the tech accessories market by offering products that seamlessly blend functionality, performance, and style. Under James's leadership, the company has grown exponentially, captivating a global audience with its commitment to quality and innovation.​
James's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence have been instrumental in Mous's success. His vision has led to the development of products that not only protect but also enhance the user experience, setting new standards in the industry. Beyo...

​George Taylor is the visionary founder and CEO of Frive, formerly known as Lions Prep, the UK's leading chef-cooked meal plan service. Established in December 2016, Frive has delivered over seven million meals, evolving from a brand initially catering to gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts to one that appeals to a broader audience seeking convenient, nutritious meal options. ​
Under George's leadership, Frive underwent a significant rebranding in 2024, collaborating with creative agency Among Equals to transform its identity. The rebrand aimed to position Frive as a mainstream ready-to-eat meal brand, moving beyond its original fitness-focused image. The new name, an abbreviation of 'foo...

Co-founder of Misfits Henry hasn't always been an entrepreneur, in fact in a previous life he worked for Aston Martin, so why the jump into entrepreneurship?

From a passion for fitness Henry and his co-founder forged a career in the indulgent protein market but nearly lost it all when focusing exclusively on female only nutrition. A quick pivot in 2020 saw Misfits re-strategi​s​e and refocus and in 2021 sold over 7 million protein bars with the vision "to create indulgent, plant-based snacks that EVERYONE can enjoy"

​With annual revenues in excess of £10m and an untapped Misfits market...

Marietta Hickman recently founded Cheeky Nibbl​e whilsy working out of a disused RAF hanger​. UK Young Innovator of the year winner, Marietta​ produc​es​ her delicious​ handmade cereal with little more than an idea, a big bowl and spoonfuls of passion! ​Marietta admits "this is ​the first time in my life I have not been bored​!​"

So, how difficult is it as a solo, female entrepreneur with autism and a passion ​for ​baking to bring a product to market​?​ With Cheeky Nibble's striking packaging and the generous portions that come in a box, the flavour development through to the illustration and bran...

From being able to focus on tasks that matter through to benefiting from a good night's sleep, Damien Bryne and his co-founders at Hux Health have developed and brought to market one of the 'coolest' and most accessible superfoods, nootropics, sleep and beauty supplements around.

From undergoing investment rounds through to developing a product that not only works but is designed to also look great when sat on your kitchen shelf to boys at Hux Health spanned varying walks of life before coming together to go into business.

With varying personalities at the top but a...

The behemoth that is Huel started off as a convenience idea and fast became a necessity for so many. James Collier a former NHS Dietitian was wholly responsible for the formulas and nutritious benefits of Huel in the early days.

A nutritionist by trade James joined Oliver to discuss how Huel was once just an idea around his co-founder Julian Hearn's  kitchen table before becoming the recognised 'go to' brand it is today. James also reveals the title, background and context of his new book 'Thought for food' which is available to buy late 2023 early 2024.

In a...

Co-founder of Mixtons, Xav struggled with Dyslexia from an early age, ultimately discovering music as his form of expression as a teenager. With Dyslexia forming Xav's unique outlook on life he tried, and sometimes failed in business, that was, until the 3 co-founders of Mixtons came together...

One third of Mixtons, Ranj, trained as an engineer before becoming a cocktail mixer in a local bar ultimately finding his love for hospitality and the perfect pour.

It wasn't until the 2019 pandemic that Mixtons took off. From making the perfect cocktail in their co-founder Sim's kitchen, Ranj and Xav...

From Africa to Spain and everywhere in between, co-founder of UniTaskr Joe Black has had a varied life from an early age. Part of an entrepreneurial family, Joe found himself at a young age plotting the line of lost golf balls from a Spanish golf resort, cleaning and re-selling those same balls to the players. 

Realising that students and peer-to-peer work stems innovation, gives experience but is an often overlooked resource by business and individuals alike, UniTaskr launched and recently became a Startup 100 business in 2023. The model of UniTaskr is simple. Enable students with no money to monetize t...

Beer But Better, it's true! Oliver Bruce sits down with Harvy Armstrong and Sam Holmes to discuss why Harv left his highflying job in the city and Sam decided to give up working with private jets with a clear vision to bring caffeine infused and low calorie lager to the UK. 

First time founders but with entrepreneurial backgrounds, Harvy and Sam who notably have appeared on reality TV show Made In Chelsea have, off their own backs, raised capital, built a brand and become listed in some of Londons most loved venues, but how?   

Series Sponsor Hub...

From over 100 staff with Design My Night and an 8 figure exit to building what could be a unicorn Oliver speaks with Nick Telson now of Trumpet.app 

Exiting a business and starting again takes some doing, however, Nick and his 2 co-founders have been on a warpath of funding, development and scaling since late 2022 for their new vision and venture Trumpet, the sales app. 

Nick a serial investor himself talks to Oliver about what he looks for when investing his own money in others, what he suggest founders look for from their co-founders and how he managed to...

From living in America as a child and shovelling show to earn some extra pocket money Jesse had very little entrepreneurial heritage but that doesn't seem to have stopped him growing a brand that can now be found in pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK.

With Jesse's Dad being a Vicar and his mum a French teacher, how did Jesse build such a strong beer brand with such little knowledge.

Jesse graduated from University and ended up working for Mars, this however wasn't for him. An idea he baked up on his Uni ski trip...

Founder of GRIND Coffee David Abrahamovitch grew up watching his dad build multiple businesses as a child ultimately inspiring him to go it alone. It didn't however start with coffee! 

Having turned his Dad's business around and pivoted it into new sectors, David speaks to Oliver about how there's a seismic culture shift in today's world about what being an 'entrepreneur' actually is. 

David started his first 'proper' business at University at aged 22 whilst studying UCL. David and his co-founders found themselves pitching for seed capital around a boardroom table before even graduating, the business he wa...

Ecologi, one of only a few businesses in the world genuinely striving for economical change. Planting over 100,000 trees PER DAY, Elliot came up with the idea for a subscription based environmentally focused business whilst on his morning commute. He thought, "what is the cost of a coffee per day could be put into changing the planet?" The rest was history. 

Having suffered from burnout in his previous job Elliot never set out to become an entrepreneur but had an idea that he believed would make a genuine difference and change the world. He wasn't wrong. 

Oliver sp...

In this live on location recording, Oliver caught up with Andy Shovel co-founder of vegan food brand THIS at their London HQ. 

A born entrepreneur Andy’s hit the headlines recently for his slightly ‘out there’ marketing stunts, one of which included a life size naked statue of Piers Morgan in Leicester Square with his ‘THIS’ product housed around Piers’ nether regions… That said, the self proclaimed ‘un-cool’ entrepreneur that is Andy, co-created his first business with a group of mates whilst at University. Ironically quite a ‘cool’ clubbing night called ‘cash throw events’ and yes the clue is in the name, it didn’t t...