Ep 345 - Ben Alderson - The Hustle Behind BA Mentor

EPISODE INTRODUCTION

In this episode of Hustleshare, we talk with Ben Alderson—startup mentor, angel investor, and founder of BA Mentor, a platform supporting early-stage founders with practical, no-fluff guidance. With a career spanning engineering, management consulting, startup founding, and venture capital, Ben unpacks the uncommon path that gave him a uniquely grounded lens for helping founders succeed. He shares hard truths about fundraising in the Philippines, the difference between real traction and noise, and why execution—not theory—separates the winners. Candid, deeply tactical, and full of firsthand insights, this is a must-listen for any founder serious about making better decisions, faster.

Episode Timeline: 

[00:02:45] – Ben’s hustle: Mentorship and coaching early startups

[00:03:53] – Ben’s childhood and early influences

[00:09:35] – Ben’s initial career after graduating from university

[00:15:11] – Lessons from his consulting career

[00:22:57] – Taking advice as a founder: Biased advice vs Quality advice 

[00:28:00] – IHG Stint in the UK and in Singapore

[00:32:26] – Unexpected turn of starting a company: AppSell

[00:36:25] – Dynamics of being husband-wife co-founders

[00:40:51] – The journey through IdeaSpace and founding AppSell

[00:44:50] – The challenges faced and lessons learned in AppSell

[00:55:47] – Taking on mentorship and investing in IdeaSpace

[00:58:52] – How being a founder shaped Ben’s approach to investing

[01:07:29] – Inside look at the VC and investment committee process

[01:18:22] – What pitch competitions really mean (and don’t)

[01:21:38] – Ben’s 4-point checklist for pitch decks: problem, team, town, traction

[01:28:20] – Fractional founders and solo founders

[01:37:40] – Differences between a VC and angel lens

QUOTES
“I don't promote burnout culture. You've got to have a little bit of an outlet and you've got to be able to stay healthy. But you have to be obsessed with the problem and you have to be obsessed with the customer. And you have to prioritize the most important activities at the right stage of your growth journey.” - Ben Alderson

CONNECT WITH BEN:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-alderson-mentor

Website: https://www.bamentor.online/

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