Responsible entrepreneurs and investors are the only hope for a better future
The CEO Retort with Tim El-SheikhShow Notes
A pioneer of British streetwear and impact investing, Roger Wade founded Boxfresh in 1989 and launched the world’s first pop-up mall, BoxPark Shoreditch, in 2010, which has since expanded to Croydon and Wembley.
After achieving successful exits from both businesses, Roger founded and became chairman of Boxfund VC, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, purpose-driven consumer brands with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values.
Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:04:02) – The big problem with today's investors and VCs and their obsession with hype over longevity (00:13:13) – Why UK-based investors pushing for quick exits and selling to US corporations is a bad idea for sovereignty (00:18:21) – Can Europe challenge US investment dominance, especially under the Trump Administration? (00:21:00) – How is Brexit the real catalyst for the UK's economic chaos and empowered US vulture capitalists (00:23:32) – Why business sectors and professionals need to start understanding and scrutinising current geopolitics (00:36:00) – How our political leaders allowed major US corporations to destroy the British economy (00:46:00) – Roger Wade's remarkable story, from poverty and racial attacks, to one of the UK's most pioneering entrepreneurs and VCs (00:58:17) – The courage to challenge the status quo for business professionals, and why they must start speaking out now! (01:04:23) – How powerful US corporate lobbying groups have a dangerous influence on UK politics and business (01:11:50) – Have the current broken, divisive politics and the Middle East conflict exposed the weakness of the status quo (01:17:34) – Roger's hopeful view of the future: Are you a lover or a hater?
Episode Notes & Citations: https://ceoretort.com/podcast/guest/2025/11/10/roger-wade-responsible-entrepreneurs-and-investors-are-the-only-hope-for-a-better-future/
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