EPISODE 20: Tom Oates from MyDaas - Validation stage, data as a service and how to know you've got a real problem to solve

Sheaf Valley: a show about Sheffield's startups is a podcast dedicated to Sheffield's startup ecosystem, its fantastic founders, investors, program managers, etc., aiming to increase the connectedness and visibility of the ecosystem within the city.

Sheaf Valley celebrates a significant milestone with this episode, coming in at number 20!

In the episode I spoke with Tom Oates, founder of MyDaas. Tom built a career in tech having last created a thriving consultancy company. Last year around the pandemic and after the Cambridge Analytica scandal + the forming of a wider movement around data ethics and safety, he decided to finally pursue a life-long dream - build his own startup around data. But building a startup isn't as easy as deciding it, especially when you are in a moment of your life where your family depends on you.

That is why Tom went on the long and difficult road of validating his business first - is the problem I want to solve actually a problem, do people care about that problem, what would they use to solve that problem? Tom uncovers the secrets that no one in the startup world wants to talk about - validating is hard and if you don't succeed with it, you're wasting time and resources.

Tom also shares a nice spot in Sheffield to visit as the weather gets better and better, two fantastic books to read and ends on a high note with a goal that embodies the 'Big, Hairy, Audacious' principle.

Sheaf Valley is changing! From next episode I will start by telling two startup stories - a local one and a global one and then would proceed with a conversation which will either be founder-focused on topic-focused (e.g. talking about validating rather than talking for validating through talking about MyDaas). This is the best moment to subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, make sure to follow Sheaf Valley on Twitter or connect with my personal LinkedIn account.

Sheaf Valley is supported by Sheffield Technology Parks. Thank you for listening and let's connect Sheffield's startup ecosystem 20! episodes at a time!