Inspiration and Product Creation

In our rapidly shifting landscape, the "normal" of work has been redefined. In fact, with the classic definition of "normal" - conforming to a standard, typical, or expected - there is and will be no more normal of work. My stint at Microsoft, surrounded by tech luminaries, served as a potent reminder of the delicate balance between our human need for structure and the ever-blurring lines of innovation and human ambition. From navigating the complexities of tech behemoths to the dynamism of startups, I feel I've been at the epicenter of transformative work experiences.



Today, as the co-founder and resident change management specialist at BillionMinds, I am part of a mission greater than any single role: to help individuals across the globe master the new normal of work. With distributed workplaces becoming commonplace, we find ourselves navigating more unstructured and ambiguous terrains than ever before. This new reality demands a fresh set of skills.



BillionMinds isn't just another platform—it's a culmination of 3 years of intensive research into what makes individuals excel in fluid work environments. Combining the scientific principles of experiential learning and organizational change management, we aim to embed sustainable modern work soft skills, integrating seamlessly into daily workflow, all in just a few minutes each day. Our approach? It isn't about teaching a monolithic "right way," but rather assisting people in uncovering the methods, habits, and routines that resonate with their neurodiversity while aligning with team, company, and family norms.



Every human interaction is a gift, and I'm here to learn with you and from you.

Supporting diverse early stage founders with developing their ventures. From early idea to launch and beyond, whilst gaining an MBA.

Supporting diverse early stage founders with developing their ventures. From early idea to launch and beyond, whilst gaining an MBA.

Founder & CEO of Sugar, a venture-backed technology company that helps apartment residents feel more at home. Sugar has raised over $3.5M in VC funding from some of the leading investors in the proptech sector. Prior to Sugar, I worked as a senior product engineer at Procter & Gamble on the upstream innovation team for Olay, Covergirl and Gillette.

Founder & CEO of Sugar, a venture-backed technology company that helps apartment residents feel more at home. Sugar has raised over $3.5M in VC funding from some of the leading investors in the proptech sector. Prior to Sugar, I worked as a senior product engineer at Procter & Gamble on the upstream innovation team for Olay, Covergirl and Gillette.

I'm Gus Bartholomew, the Co-Founder of Leafr, a vetted marketplace of top-tier freelance sustainability specialists.



At Leafr, we connect businesses with the talent they need to deliver their most pressing sustainability initiatives, be that overarching sustainability strategies, Life Cycle Assessments, B Corp certification guidance, Sustainability Software Procurement, or Emissions Calculations. The list is endless, but we have specialists for most companies' needs. Our mission is to empower companies with the talent, knowledge and resources needed to make impactful sustainability decisions.



My foundational entrepreneurial experience comes from SupplyCompass, a B2B SaaS platform I co-founded solving product development and supply chain management for fashion and retail businesses and their supply chains. We raised £2.5m in Venture Capital funding (Episode 1, Ascension & Angels) and grew the team to 30 across the UK and India. This venture was not just about streamlining operations but also about instilling sustainable practices within the industry. I lived and worked in India full-time for 2 years and on and off for 5, visiting over 300 factories which was one of the most fulfilling and enlightening experiences of my career.



After SupplyCompass I honed my skills as a Fractional Exec/Consultant/Advisor to companies in the UK, US, Europe & Asia where I guided B2B & B2C startups and scale-ups in refining their Go-To-Market strategies. My focus was on building optimised processes and teams across Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.



With a background in Civil Engineering and being a Chartered Surveyor in Project Management, my career has been a blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving. My industry experience spans across diverse sectors, including Supply Chain, Fashion, E-commerce, Retail, Sustainability, and more, embracing technologies like AI and SalesTech.

I'm Gus Bartholomew, the Co-Founder of Leafr, a vetted marketplace of top-tier freelance sustainability specialists.



At Leafr, we connect businesses with the talent they need to deliver their most pressing sustainability initiatives, be that overarching sustainability strategies, Life Cycle Assessments, B Corp certification guidance, Sustainability Software Procurement, or Emissions Calculations. The list is endless, but we have specialists for most companies' needs. Our mission is to empower companies with the talent, knowledge and resources needed to make impactful sustainability decisions.



My foundational entrepreneurial experience comes from SupplyCompass, a B2B SaaS platform I co-founded solving product development and supply chain management for fashion and retail businesses and their supply chains. We raised £2.5m in Venture Capital funding (Episode 1, Ascension & Angels) and grew the team to 30 across the UK and India. This venture was not just about streamlining operations but also about instilling sustainable practices within the industry. I lived and worked in India full-time for 2 years and on and off for 5, visiting over 300 factories which was one of the most fulfilling and enlightening experiences of my career.



After SupplyCompass I honed my skills as a Fractional Exec/Consultant/Advisor to companies in the UK, US, Europe & Asia where I guided B2B & B2C startups and scale-ups in refining their Go-To-Market strategies. My focus was on building optimised processes and teams across Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.



With a background in Civil Engineering and being a Chartered Surveyor in Project Management, my career has been a blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving. My industry experience spans across diverse sectors, including Supply Chain, Fashion, E-commerce, Retail, Sustainability, and more, embracing technologies like AI and SalesTech.

Bilal is the Founder & CEO of Rewind Bar, a retail medical spa launching in early 2024 that's aimed at making luxury laser and skincare treatments affordable and transparent for everyday people. Prior to Rewind Bar, he was the Global Head of Marketing at CEX.IO, a crypto exchange with 5M+ users as well as the Fractional CMO of various Seed, Series A, Series B companies across Consumer, Media, Fintech, B2B/B2C SaaS, Education technology, and more.

Bilal also founded two companies which both have been acquired; Master the Crypto, a media company aimed at simplifying crypto investing to the masses, and My Life Is Desi, a South Asian content platform to share curated stories, inspiration, and more (over 4MM+ users/month). He has raised millions of dollars in capital, spent close to $70MM+ on paid ads across his career, and have directly managed teams as small as 3 to as large as 70+.

Bilal is the Founder & CEO of Rewind Bar, a retail medical spa launching in early 2024 that's aimed at making luxury laser and skincare treatments affordable and transparent for everyday people. Prior to Rewind Bar, he was the Global Head of Marketing at CEX.IO, a crypto exchange with 5M+ users as well as the Fractional CMO of various Seed, Series A, Series B companies across Consumer, Media, Fintech, B2B/B2C SaaS, Education technology, and more.

Bilal also founded two companies which both have been acquired; Master the Crypto, a media company aimed at simplifying crypto investing to the masses, and My Life Is Desi, a South Asian content platform to share curated stories, inspiration, and more (over 4MM+ users/month). He has raised millions of dollars in capital, spent close to $70MM+ on paid ads across his career, and have directly managed teams as small as 3 to as large as 70+.

I am currently spearheading the growth of GreenlightGO, an enterprise space marketplace for content creators. At GreenlightGO, we empower professional creatives to bring their visions to life with curated facilities and services, enabling production anywhere, anytime.



In addition, I am mentoring early-stage startup founders through Oneday, sharing insights to help them navigate the startup landscape as they earn an MBA.



In my past role as a co-founder, I led a team in creating and scaling an alternative funding platform, which was later acquired in a deal valued at $15MM. Subsequently, I served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Citi Ventures incubating new business ideas.

As a professional with a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development, I am dedicated to supporting and advancing these areas. Throughout my career, I have actively contributed to the startup ecosystem and played a pivotal role in driving business growth.



As an Executive in Residence (EIR) at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), I have the opportunity to work closely with startup founders in scaling their businesses. Guiding them through our various programs, including the Founders Business Accelerator and the Innovator Program, I provided strategic coaching and support in areas such as strategy, sales, marketing, leadership, and finance. I also played a crucial role in reviewing new applications and identifying potential candidates for our Incubation and Market Access Program.



In addition, I served as a Venture Scout for The Venture City, actively seeking pre-seed SAS and marketplace startups globally. Identifying and connecting these startups to potential investments, I contributed to the growth and success of early-stage product-centric software companies.



One of my significant accomplishments was co-founding Hub101, a startup center and coworking space in Westlake Village, California. With a mission to encourage businesses to "create, launch, and grow," I helped bring the idea to life and fostered collaborations with government entities, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies. Through regional events, we facilitated interactions between our founders and these entities, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting their entrepreneurial journeys.



Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my contributions to the community and higher education, receiving certificates of recognition from various esteemed institutions. These accolades are a testament to my commitment to making a positive impact in the regions I operate.



With a track record of success in business development, partnership building, and talent nurturing, I am well-positioned to leverage my skills and expertise in supporting the growth of startups and fostering innovation. I thrive on connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations to create meaningful and lasting impact in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.