Chris Sheldrick: The Founder Taking on the World

Today’s guest is Chris Sheldrick , co-founder and CEO of what3words – the startup which is quite literally mapping the world. Listen here.

Chris Sheldrick grew up as a gifted musician who thought his music career was all mapped out but sadly, Chris suffers from a sleep disorder which saw him sever the very parts of his body required for such an illustrious career.?

Not deterred by this life-changing experience, Chris started a company that would later lead to founding what3words with his some of his best and brightest friends to forge a completely new standard in a field as old as time.?Listen here.

Chris story is one of courage, determination, na?ve optimism and grit – the golden traits of all great entrepreneurs.

And in this conversation, Chris talks me through how he did it. How what3words is dividing the entire world into 57 trillion 3 by 3 meter squares using a unique combination of three words to ensure there isn’t a place on earth where someone cannot get what they need whether it is a bank account, an emergency service or a way to their destination.

Quite the feat for a classically trained bassoonist. Listen here.

The above image is from Chris today, after a segment on UK's Crimewatch series - he says, "Gary and I sharing a moment coming off air after our live interview just now on BBC1 Crimewatch. Gary had a heart attack in his car on an unnamed road near Bromsgrove with the ambulance unable to find him for 12 minutes, until his son Joe, who was with him, remembered he had what3words on his phone and gave the 999 operator their 3 word address and the ambulance was there 3 minutes later. On BBC iPlayer now."

This is the startup of startup stories with so many great lessons on how to get your startup from an idea to a business, how to find your first investors and commercial partners, why PR is important for businesses like this and what a tech entrepreneur learned from a musician.

I thoroughly enjoyed what was rather a unique conversation and I am certain you will too.

Listen here or wherever it is you get your podcasts from.

Enjoy!

Danielle

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Chris on?Twitter?/ LinkedIn?and?Instagram

What3Words?website?and on?Twitter

Danielle on Twitter?@daniellenewnham?and?Instagram?@daniellenewnham???/ Newsletter?

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Let us know what you think of this episode and please rate, review and share - it means the world to me and helps others to find it too.