Episode Details

What does it really take to build and scale an agency alongside Steven Bartlett at just 23 years old?

In this episode of Business Class, Vicky Owens sits down with Tom Lewis, co-founder of Metastat, the agency he built in partnership with entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett.

Tom's entrepreneurial journey started at just 16, from writing travel articles on Fiverr and importing American sweets to experimenting with dropshipping, learning Facebook ads and eventually building a successful paid social agency.

Today, Metastat helps creators turn their audiences into scalable businesses, building creator-led brands and business ecosystems through paid advertising, marketing and strategy.

Tom opens up about how he got his foot in the door with Steven Bartlett, the persistence that led to their partnership, and what it was like scaling an agency from just two people to a team of ten in its first year.

Vicky also explores the differences between organic and paid social, how creators can monetise their audiences, and what businesses need to understand about building a brand that lasts beyond advertising.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Tom started his first businesses at just 16
• From Fiverr freelancing and dropshipping to building a paid social agency
• How Tom got his first opportunity working with Steven Bartlett
• The story behind building Metastat with Steven Bartlett
• What it's like working alongside one of the UK's best-known entrepreneurs
• How Metastat helps creators turn their audiences into successful businesses
• The difference between organic social media and paid advertising
• How paid social can help businesses scale and acquire customers
• Why creators need to think beyond brand deals and build their own businesses
• The importance of creator-product fit when launching a product
• Why community is essential for building a successful brand
• How to build a business that isn't completely dependent on its founder
• The challenges of scaling an agency and managing a growing team
• Losing a major client and navigating a significant drop in monthly revenue
• What Tom has learned about leadership, hiring and managing people
• Why being kind isn't always the same as being nice
• The AI personal assistant Tom uses to manage his business

Tom also shares his advice for creators thinking about launching their own products, why building a community should be a non-negotiable, and how the best business opportunities often come from being persistent and putting yourself out there.

Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, content creator, agency founder or interested in the world of influencer marketing and paid social, this episode offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to build a modern business.

Follow Tom: Instagram – @_tomlewis
Follow Metastat: @metastat.agency

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