Moonpig Founder: How I took it from a Near Failure to a £120M Exit | Nick Jenkins (Dragon's Den)

Nick Jenkins, founder of Moonpig and former Dragon’s Den investor, joins Personable to unpack the darkest moments behind building Moonpig, how close the business came to failure, and what it really takes to keep going after a major exit.

In this episode, Nick reflects on his early career trading commodities in post Soviet Russia, the unlikely origins of Moonpig, and the period when even his own investors warned him to stop putting money into the business. From personalization as a competitive moat to the realities of organic growth, fundraising pressure, and selling a company, this conversation cuts through startup mythology and focuses on what actually sustains a business over decades.

This is an essential listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, surviving near failure, building real businesses, and finding purpose after success.

He discusses:
◽️ The early years in post Soviet Russia and lessons from trading
◽️ How Moonpig was born and the period it nearly failed
◽️ Why personalization and organic growth built a defensible business
◽️ Lessons from Dragon’s Den and common founder mistakes
◽️ Selling Moonpig for £120M and finding purpose after the exit

00:00 Introduction and Nick Jenkins background
02:16 Studying Russian and early career in Russia
08:45 Trading, culture, and competitive advantage
13:54 Choosing entrepreneurship over traditional careers
17:09 Organic growth vs venture capital
23:59 Lessons from Dragon’s Den investing
29:25 Distribution, media, and owning the customer
39:49 The origins of Moonpig and near failure
42:49 Selling Moonpig and finding purpose after exit
45:24 Final advice on entrepreneurship as a career

Nick Jenkins:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-jenkins1/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_
◽️ Newsletter: https://personable.substack.com/
◽️ Website: https://www.personable.media/

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ Fundraising: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/donate

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023. 

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.