10 minutes with… Felix Winstone, Talkative

Felix is a co-founder at Talkative, a tech startup that helps business increase their website conversion rates. The Talkative product uses voice, video, chat, and cobrowsing to let website visitors easily contact companies from within their website.

Lone wolf or team player?

All about the team!

What gets you out of bed on a Monday morning?

The idea that the fate of our team and company is in our hands… the opportunity is there to be grasped!

Morning or night?

Morning! I used to be a night person, but I’ve just about managed to become an early riser.

Apple or Samsung?

Apple.

What’s one quality you think an entrepreneur needs to possess?

I think there are lots of qualities that entrepreneurs ‘need’. If I had to pick just one, it would be having belief in your ideas. It sounds corny, but if you don’t truly believe in what you’re doing, you won’t commit the resources required to make it happen.

It’s kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy in that respect. Conviction in your entrepreneurial venture may not be sufficient for success, but it’s surely necessary. You need to sell yourself before you can sell anyone else.

Winter or summer?

Summer.

What would you say to your 16 year old self?

Question the well-trodden path more. Why are you doing A-Levels? Why are you going to university? Life is short, what are you going to do with it?

What is your greatest achievement?

The one yet to be achieved!

Big night out or quiet night in?

BNO

What do you do in your spare time?

Working at a start-up doesn’t leave me with much spare time! I enjoy reading, playing football, and spending time with our new puppy!

Tea or coffee?

Coffee.

What inspires you?

I love learning about people who have started amazing businesses. Listening to Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Marc Andreessen makes me feel like I should be doing a lot more.

Indoors or outdoors?

Outdoors.

What's your favourite part about your job?

Getting great feedback from our clients. Building a new product is full of setbacks, headaches, and technical complexity – but it’s all worth it when your idea is validated by real users in the real world.

Home-cooked meal or takeaway?

Home-cooked, as long as I’m not in charge of cooking. Actually, make it sushi.

What is your favourite film, TV show or Podcast?

Goodfellas, Breaking Bad, and the Tim Ferriss Show.