VC-backed, or bootstrapped?
Chris (CEO, Paddle) and Marcus started their companies at the same time – but unlike Marcus, Chris raised $100M. In this interview, they discuss the pros and cons of both paths for growing tech companies.
WatchMarcus Taylor
Founder, Venture Harbour
Marcus is an Oxford-based serial entrepreneur
Marcus founded Venture Harbour in 2012, while only 21 years old, as a sandbox for building online ventures.
He's built a new company every year for 14 years following one rule – each must be more ambitious than the last. While six failed, two companies have been acquired, three still operate and three are in incubation.
Marcus has been featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30, and in 2022 he became the youngest Patron and Enterprise Fellow of the King's Trust in its 50-year history.
Marcus is currently building ventures in agentic AI and shares what he's learning here. You can contact Marcus here.
Featured in
- Deloitte Fast50
- Forbes 30 Under 30
- BBC
- The Guardian
- Campaign
- Inc
Media Appearances
-
Bootstrapping nine businesses to millions in revenue
Abadesi Osunsade on what £500 and a broken laptop turned into — and why VH has never raised outside funding.
Listen -
Levelling Up with Marcus Taylor
Eric Siu on building Venture Harbour, the operator's playbook for compounding portfolios, and the bets paying off now.
Listen -
Measuring comfort zones
In 2013, Marcus developed the World's first scientifically-valid method of measuring artificial mental barriers.
Watch
Articles by Marcus · page 1 of 8
Marketing Automation · Featured
10 Best CRMs with Marketing Automation in 2026
We've sent 124,000 emails through ActiveCampaign, 640,000 through Brevo, and tested every other CRM in this guide with real customer lists. Here's what actually holds up.
Marketing Automation
10 Best Email Marketing Software & Tools for 2026 (Tested)
We spent 400+ hours testing 50+ email marketing platforms and tools. See which we recommend for 2026 — and the 3 big names I'd avoid.
HR Automation
6 Best BambooHR Alternatives for Hiring in 2026
I ran hiring on Breezy for five years. If you're buying BambooHR mainly to recruit, here are six dedicated ATS options that do the job better for less.
- 04 HR AutomationJul 2026
7 Best Greenhouse Alternatives in 2026 (Cheaper & Simpler)
I compared seven Greenhouse alternatives on price and setup. Breezy HR is my pick for small businesses — Ashby if you still want structured hiring at scale.
- 05 HR AutomationJul 2026
6 Best Lever Alternatives in 2026 (Transparent Pricing)
Lever won't publish its prices. Here are the six alternatives I'd pick instead — with real pricing, led by the ATS we ran our own hiring on for five years.
- 06 HR AutomationJul 2026
7 Best Workable Alternatives in 2026 (We Tested Them)
I tested seven Workable alternatives after five years running our hiring on an ATS. Here's what I'd switch to — and when Workable's $299/mo is worth it.
- 07 Marketing AutomationJul 2026
8 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives in 2026 (Honest Take)
I use and recommend ActiveCampaign — but it isn't right for everyone. Here are the 8 alternatives I'd actually switch to, and when to stay put.
- 08 HR AutomationJul 2026
5 Best Free Applicant Tracking Systems in 2026
We ran our hiring on Breezy for five years. Here are the five free applicant tracking systems worth using in 2026 — and the real limits of each.
- 09 Sales AutomationJul 2026
HubSpot vs Salesforce (2026): Which CRM Should You Choose?
I've used HubSpot for eight years and trialled Salesforce at Venture Harbour. Here's which CRM wins on pricing, usability, AI and cost in 2026.
- 10 Marketing AutomationJul 2026
7 Best Klaviyo Alternatives for eCommerce in 2026
I've tested every serious Klaviyo alternative across our eCommerce ventures. Here's which platforms beat it on price, features, and switching cost.
- 11 AI AutomationJul 2026
Synthesia vs HeyGen (2026): I Tested Both — Here's the Winner
I tested Synthesia and HeyGen head-to-head for months, making the same videos on both. Here's which AI avatar tool wins for your use case.
- 12 Marketing AutomationJul 2026
WebinarJam vs EverWebinar (2026): Live or Evergreen?
I compare WebinarJam and EverWebinar — sibling tools for live selling and evergreen automation — to help you pick one, or run both together.