10K to £150K in 6 Months: The Quiqup Playbook with Founder Bassel El-Koussa

How do you scale a startup, secure investment, and build a sustainable business in a highly competitive market?

In this episode of Startup Spotlights, host Erica speaks with Bassel El Koussa, Co-Founder and CEO of Quiqup, about the realities of entrepreneurship, from early-stage startup growth and venture capital fundraising to business model pivots and financial sustainability.

Founded in London in 2014, Quiqup grew its monthly revenue from £10,000 to £150,000 in just six months before evolving into a technology-enabled B2B logistics business serving retailers and e-commerce brands in Dubai. Drawing on his experience building and scaling the company, Bassel shares practical insights into validating a business idea, understanding investor expectations, navigating competitive markets, and making difficult strategic decisions.

The conversation explores the challenges founders face when growth slows, cash runway becomes uncertain, and an original business model needs to change. Bassel also reflects on founder resilience, company leadership, and the role of unstructured thinking in driving innovation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Startup growth and validating a minimum viable product (MVP).
• Venture capital, startup fundraising, and investor expectations.
• Business model pivots and adapting to changing markets.
• Cash runway, financial sustainability, and startup survival.
• Scaling a logistics business across markets.
• Founder resilience, leadership, and lessons learned from setbacks.

Whether you're an entrepreneur launching a new venture, a founder raising capital, or a business leader navigating growth and change, this episode offers valuable perspectives on building a resilient and sustainable business.

Connect with Bassel El Koussa on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bassel-el-koussa-37576652