In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Dr. Raphael Sofoluke, founder and CEO of the UK Black Business Show.

Raphael didn’t start with funding.

He didn’t start with a team.

He didn’t even start full-time.

He had an idea, six months, and a belief that representation mattered.

From a 500-person event at the QE2 Centre to a week-long series attracting 16,000 attendees, Raphael shares the real story behind building one of the UK’s most impactful business platforms.

We talk about speed over perfection, juggling a full-time job while building something bigger, why being audacious matters, and how the new partnership with Stephen Bartlett and Flight Story aims to drive £100 billion in economic impact over the next decade.

This conversation is about execution, ambition, and refusing to think small.

Key Takeaways

Speed beats perfection. First to market with strong execution wins.
Learn and earn before you leap. Industry experience compounds.
Longevity matters more than hype. Execute with excellence consistently.
Impact is the real metric. Revenue follows vision and representation.

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Do It Before Someone Else Does | From 500 to 16,000 with Dr. Raphael Sofoluke

Screw It Just DO It with Alex Chisnall

Do It Before Someone Else Does | From 500 to 16,000 with Dr. Raphael Sofoluke