E93: VC funding and building a life with intention with Kira Mahal, founder of MotivatePT

Kira Mahal has never taken the conventional route - from holding a marketing event in lieu of interviewing for jobs, to leaving a lucrative finance career with no plan, no savings and no clear vision.

Self-described as "barking mad", Kira and her husband went all into their business. On the cusp of a life and business changing corporate contract, the world went into lockdown and they lost £1.8million in VC funding. Pivoting back to their B2C business, Kira turned to the journals she'd been keeping along the way and put into practice what she learnt from her experience.

If you're thinking about taking the leap without a clear plan, VC funding, or the endless tension that is being a founder and a mum, listen in.

Takeaways:

• Kira's career journey from Young Enterprise, always taking the unconventional route to the idea for MotivatePT

• Going all in without a clear vision or plan - both Kira and her husband!

• VC funding - the barriers and why it isn't for everyone

• Crystalising your business vision by making mistakes and testing the market

• Starting a second corporate arm, VC funding and the pandemic

• Refocusing on the original business and growing more sustainably

• Journalling and the insights it gave Kira, reality v rose tinted glasses of the moment

• Kira's personal, and the wider culture's, changing attitude to wellness

• We're not just building a business, we're building a life

Resources:

Young Enterprise: www.young-enterprise.org.uk/

Chapters:

00:30 Introduction to Kira Mahal and MotivatePT

02:36 Kira's Journey from Banking to Entrepreneurship

05:32 The Birth of MotivatePT: A Personal Mission

08:14 Navigating the Challenges of Bootstrapping a Business

11:02 The Shift to Women-Centric Wellness

13:51 The Impact of the Pandemic on Business Growth

16:34 Funding Challenges and the VC Landscape

19:24 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

24:15 Navigating Postpartum Challenges

26:28 The Rollercoaster of VC Funding

28:20 The Impact of the Pandemic on Business

30:31 Journaling Through Uncertainty

31:58 Pivoting During Crisis

36:33 Building a New Business Model

37:06 Balancing Motherhood and Ambition

42:14 Finding Joy in Wellness

45:44 Future Plans for Motivate PT

Links:

Website: https://www.bumptobusinessowner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Kira Mahal

Kira Mahal is the founder and CEO of MotivatePT, a tech-enabled fitness platform helping women build strength, confidence, and long-lasting wellness through every stage of life. From launching her business in a ski chalet to rebuilding it during the pandemic while pregnant, Kira's journey is full of resilience, reinvention and raw honesty. Her story speaks to every mother who's tried to hold a baby with one hand and a business with the other. Motivate PT is now a leading UK wellness company with over 40 female-focused coaches delivering 1,300-plus sessions monthly. But behind the scenes is a deeply personal mission to make fitness accessible, empowering and sustainable for women, particularly those navigating pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause.

Kira Mahal's Links:

Website: https://motivatept.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiramahal/

Instagram(Kira): https://www.instagram.com/kiramahal/

Instagram(Motivate PT): https://www.instagram.com/motivatept_uk/

Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1705419713

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/