🚀 Your Weekly Slice of UK Consumer Startups #9

Simon Squibb got roasted this week for being cringe, here's what you can learn from itđź’ˇ

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The Startup Slice
June 29, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hey đź‘‹

Welcome back!

This week we saw Simon Squibb get roasted on LinkedIn for being “cringe”, but there’s actually a solid playbook lesson in it which we’ve discussed later on.

Plus, we’ve spotted brands getting bolder with their marketing, ditching the formulas and trying fresher, weirder things. We love to see it and absolutely encourage it!

Let’s dive in.

Keep an eye out on our LinkedIn, as we have been notified of an exciting new launch from Scandinavia đź‘€

📱 From the Feed

What we posted on our socials this week:

Mull It Over hit the courts for new launch.

🔥 MOTH pop-up with their own “MOTH license” store in MCR.

🎾 Make Rum Great Again. Mull It Over releases epic video for new product launch.

🚀 London’s Fastest 15 Startups are out, and we picked out some standouts.

🍸 Pimentae raises ÂŁ1.5M to supercharge the RTD margarita brand’s growth.

🥫 SAUCERER partners with Graso for a very saucy collab.

đź‘€ ICYMI: Brand Moves Worth Watching

All aboard the Hip Pop Express.

đźš‚ Hip Pop launch competition with TransPennine Express. To celebrate their launch on TransPennine Express trains, the two have joined forces launching a competition for winners to receive Hip Pop and ÂŁ20 off trains. A win win for both brands to celebrate an incredible achievement for Hip Pop!

🍕HOMESLICE and Nice are giving free pizza slices and cans of wine. All you have to do is show up wearing pink this Wednesday. Two food & drink brands joining forces to maximise reach đź’Ş

đź’ˇ Bitesize Playbook

Simon Squibb got roasted on LinkedIn and it went viral.

This week, Henry Hayes (Head of Marketing @ Passionfruit) hit the streets Simon Squibb style (in a playful imitation). He walked up to strangers and boldly shoved a mic in their face and hit them with the classic Squibb lines:
👉 “Do you have a dream?”
👉 “£10,000 or my book?”

The post went LinkedIn viral (900+ likes) and had people chuckling at how Squibb’s content can come across as… well, a bit cringe.

But here’s why it’s worth paying attention.
Simon Squibb doesn’t care. In fact, he joined the comments and replied:
"Love this, very funny!"

That’s the lesson here. Whether you’re a founder or an operator:

  • When you’re doing something new, you might get roasted at some point. It’s the harsh reality of putting yourself out there.

  • Someone will think your marketing is cringe, your product is mid, or your vision is naive.

  • And? Who cares.

Squibb’s approach reminds us that if you actually want to drive change, build something meaningful, or stand out - you have to be willing to look silly sometimes.

Simon Squibb’s getting laughed at, and he’s still winning.
Be more like that!

đź“Ś The Noticeboard

Your weekly list of things to check out:
đź“Ł Events

  • BCB London 30th June - 1st July: where the bar and beverage community gathers to shape the future of drinks. Celebrating premium spirits, innovative products, and international trends, this vibrant event connects UK and global industry professionals through unmatched networking, cutting-edge education, and a showcase of the best in the world of beverages.

  • MAD//Fest London 1st July - 3rd July: The UK's biggest, buzziest + boldest marketing festival is back for 3 explosive days of superstar speakers, networking, brand innovation pitches, masterclasses, experiential activations, food, drinks, parties, DJs + evening entertainment.

  • Bread & Jam Fest 15th - 16th July: 400+ pitching slots available to pitch to buyers including Iceland, British Airways, easyJet, Ocado, Harrods & many more.

đź“š Read / Listen

  • Boxseat podcast hosted by Founder of BOXPARK, Roger Wade. This episode is the 2nd of a new series Boxseat Heroes. Roger sits down with ex-CEO of Sainsbury’s, Justin King where he shares led through crisis, how brands have to justify their existence and the real future of UK retail.

Thanks for reading this week’s edition! 🥳 

Check out our LinkedIn and Instagram for more regular updates.

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🚀 The Startup Slice