Confounded TV

• Meet David Edmonston - the founder of PistonHeads

  Welcome back to Confounded, where we dig into the untold stories behind building businesses—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Today, I’m joined by someone whose name might not be immediately familiar, but whose influence on the UK’s automotive and tech scenes is undeniable.David Edmonston is the founder of the legendary PistonHeads.com, one of those rare founders who built something before the world was ready for it, and made it work anyway.Pistonheads was a site that not only transformed the way car enthusiasts connected in the early 2000s but did it before social media was even a thing. He built it from the ground up, bootstrapped the whole way, and eventually sold it to Haymarket Media in 2007.Since then, David’s been quietly shaping some of the biggest names in the automotive and auction world—building platforms like Collecting Cars and Watch Collecting, and most recently launching Driving Masters, a project aimed at bringing the joy of advanced driving to petrolheads everywhere.We talk tech, the grit behind going solo, what it takes to stay relevant across decades of change—and of course, a few tales from the road along the way.In this episode of Confounded, we talk about:• How he built PistonHeads from scratch in a pre-social media world• Why he still loves bootstrapped businesses• The inside story of Collecting Cars• What drives him now, with his latest venture Driving MastersThis one’s for anyone who’s ever built something from nothing—and wants to do it again.

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• Meet David James (Total Car Check / Motorway) – Building with Purpose, Scaling with Grit

  In this episode of Confounded TV, Alastair sits down with David James, founder of Total Car Check and now Director of Special Projects at Motorway. What starts as a conversation between friends turns into a masterclass in building lean, lasting businesses — fuelled not by hype, but by persistence and purpose.David shares how Total Car Check began with a personal crisis: his parents unknowingly bought a stolen car, losing over £4,000. Frustrated by the lack of affordable tools for car buyers, he set out to fix it — not to build a business, but to solve a problem. That mindset turned into one of the UK’s biggest car data platforms, delivering 50 million checks per year — all built solo, with zero marketing budget and a borrowed laptop.We explore:How David bootstrapped from a personal project into a real business.Why giving away value (free stolen car checks) built long-term trust and growth.The role of SEO, user trust, and daily discipline in his success.Why persistence is the greatest competitive advantage.The real risks of chasing investment too early.His transition into Motorway, and how he applies small startup thinking at scale.What AI and no-code mean for today’s founders — and why understanding first principles matters more than ever.We also get real about:Burnout, bootstrapping, and the mythology of overnight success.The danger of meetings, committees, and corporate theatre.Why most ideas fail not because they’re bad, but because people give up too early.David’s advice to new founders?“Pick something you genuinely care about. Stick with it longer than anyone else. Most people quit just before it gets good.”Whether you’re building your first app with no-code tools, bootstrapping a SaaS, or just wondering how to turn a painful problem into a meaningful product — this episode is packed with lessons, humour, and real-world insight from someone who’s done it the hard way.

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• Revving Up the British Motor Show: A Tale of Resilience and Innovation in the Face of a Pandemic

  Meet Andy Entwistle CEO of The British Motor ShowPrepare to be taken on a journey of automotive revival, as Andy, a true veteran of the car industry, joins us to recount the adrenaline-fueled adventure of breathing life back into the iconic British Motor Show. Discover how he steered through the unpredictable roadblocks and high-speed turns of reinventing the illustrious event, which vanished in 2008. From securing the legendary name to crafting a show that drove nearly 50,000 fans wild with excitement, Andy's tale is one of passion, perseverance, and the power of four wheels.Buckle up for an exploration into the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, throwing a wrench in the gears of event planning. Andy opens up about the momentous decision to hit the brakes and postpone the show, a strategic pit stop that led to a roaring comeback, defying the odds of the industry's pandemic paralysis. We celebrate the event's success, highlighting the last-minute ticket surge that crowned the show a phenomenal spectacle, reinforcing our belief in the magnetic allure of motor events.As the episode shifts gears, we address the electrifying topic of EVs and their pivotal role in the future of driving. With Andy's insights, we learn how transforming car shows into an immersive playground, where petrol heads and the EV-curious can get hands-on with the latest electric models, is accelerating the shift toward greener wheels. We wrap up pondering the delicate balance between scaling up and keeping the authentic charm of the show, much like tuning a classic car for modern-day performance. It's an episode that drives home the value of innovation, experience, and the timeless love for automobiles.

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• Harnessing Technology to Support Displaced Ukrainians Worldwide

  Iman Fadaei is helping the estimated 10 million displaced Ukrainians find work worldwide. From a standing start, he and his team are helping get Ukrainians into work wherever they end up, which helps them with accommodation, mental well-being, and quickly integrating into society.The platform was initiated in response to the situation of their CTO Igor, who is Ukrainian and still based in Ukraine. The suddenness of his plight during these first days of the war and the severity of the situation his family and friends are still experiencing has inspired the team to contribute however they can. From over 100 countries, they have posted 2000+ vacancies from companies looking to help. And this is just the beginning – staggeringly, employukraine.org has only been live for 30 days and has already been covered by Forbes, CNBC, Sifted, SIA, REC and others.Here’s how you can help:Post a job. Do you have a job you can post? Go to employukraine.orgPromote. Can you share employukraine.org with your business network and invite them to post their jobs? Feel free to tag employukraine.org on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok. Volunteer.employukraine.org need help with PR, translations, social media, partnerships, research, development and more.If you’re able to volunteer please send your LinkedIn details and (any) availability to [email protected] out more at https://employukraine.organd find Iman on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/in/imanfadaei/ 

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• Meet Shannon Peerless, MD of 10Yetis.co.uk

  Shannon, now 31, joined 10 Yetis when she was just 18-years-young and worked her way up through the PR ranks to the helm of the agency. She has previously been awarded accolades such as PR Week’s 30 under 30, The Drum’s UK’s Top 50 Digital Women Under 30 and a place on B2B Marketing’s Top 10 30 under 30 list.She has led campaigns for the likes of Confused.com, Gocompare, Just Eat, carwow, Totaljobs, WaterAid, Optical Express and Hillarys Blind and is passionate about delivering creative campaigns for brands that drive phenomenal results.From helping start-ups sky-rocket to success through clever PR tactics, to making a splash with stunts and “hero” content, Shannon shares how things have changed over the years in the world of PR and the impact of digital media and SEO on client and journalist expectations.   10 Yetis works with start-ups right through to global brands on PR, social media, web, design, video and SEO campaigns.Find out more at www.10yetis.co.ukFind Shannon on Linked In

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