Spotlight interview with...
Dan Bowyer
Partner and Co-Founder at SuperSeed
Spotlight interview with...
Dan Bowyer
Partner and Co-Founder at SuperSeed
How did you get started in your journey as a thought leader and prominent voice on LinkedIn?
It’s a double-edged sword. My business partner pushed me to start writing because we don’t have the marketing budget of a company like Nike, so we needed a voice. At first, I was resistant because there are already so many men like me in venture capital making noise, and I didn’t want to add to that.
However, I started writing and found two things: first, I enjoyed the process of writing to learn, and second, it actually worked.
PR, having a voice, and getting out there matters – whether people love you, hate you or think you’re smart, it drives engagement. I’ve made hires, invested in teams and even had investors back my funds because of it.
For founders and CEOs just starting out, how can becoming a thought leader help them with growth and investment?
It depends on the sector and the problem they’re solving. Thought leadership can seem more of an obvious course of action for consumer-facing businesses, crowdfunding efforts or areas like human psychology where having a voice aligns with the product.
For B2B companies like the ones I invest in – where people work on things like intraday bank liquidity or AI copyright protection – thought leadership can feel harder to execute, but it’s still incredibly valuable. If an investor sees that a founder is an authoritative voice in their niche, it adds credibility. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but writing to learn, connecting with others and building a voice is always beneficial.
How do you approach thought leadership in B2B and technical areas?
It comes down to choosing the right platform and timing. If a founder has a deeply technical story, it doesn’t make sense to share it broadly on LinkedIn. Instead, they should target niche trade publications where the right audience exists, and that’s where PR agencies and consultants become invaluable.
When it comes to timing, early-stage founders might need to focus on building their business first, then integrate PR, marketing, and storytelling when it becomes a priority, and that will be different for everyone.
You have a distinct style of writing. How did you develop that, and what do you think makes a good thought leader?
I consciously chose not to follow the usual engagement tactics – click-bait commentary, curated reposts or algorithm-friendly posts. Instead, I write from the heart, which doesn’t always get clicks, but it’s authentic.
Social media often thrives on quick dopamine hits and soundbites, but I’d rather write something meaningful that impacts a few people deeply rather than mass-producing content that just contributes to the noise. Thought leadership should be about authenticity and adding real value, which has helped me to build up a community and an audience of engaged followers that genuinely value the content I publish.
You also weave personal stories into your content. What’s the motivation behind that and how do you find the balance between professional and personal?
Regardless of the industry or subject matter, business is ultimately human-to-human, not just B2B. I try to ensure my posts provide shared learning or experience rather than just talking about myself, even if it is more of a personal piece. Sometimes, I share deeply personal things – like my recent humanitarian trip to Ukraine – but I always frame it with a work or business context to keep it relevant. And at the end of the day, if it helps someone or changes one person’s perspective or way of thinking about a problem, then that’s what I aim to achieve.
With AI-generated content becoming so common place, how do thought leaders maintain credibility and authenticity?
Simple – don’t use AI for writing thought leadership. I often get asked if I use it, but I don’t. AI can be a useful research tool, but you can always tell when content has been generated by it. The best approach is to write from your core, share candid experiences and keep practicing. The more you write, the better you get.
Are there any thought leaders you admire? What qualities make someone a great thought leader?
I respect people like Sam Harris and Scott Galloway. Whether or not you agree with them, they have a clear mission and are relentlessly authentic. They create engaging, insightful content, and they don’t try to intellectualise everything beyond their expertise. The key is self-awareness – knowing who you are, what you stand for, and consistently putting that out into the world. That really draws me in.
Compare that to the likes of Jordan Peterson or Elon Musk, people who are incredibly intelligent but have over intellectualised so much that they’re adding two and two but ending up with nine. In their own exceptional minds, they’ve worked things out and have ideas for everything, even if it’s way beyond their sphere. But there’s an inherent lack of self-awareness, and it doesn’t make for good thought leadership or a well-rounded individual.
What advice do you give founders about using their own voice to support business growth?
Timing is critical. Founders should start when they have the bandwidth to integrate storytelling into their business strategy. Consistency matters, and building an audience takes time. Experiment with different formats – whether it’s LinkedIn, Substack, or media placements – and see what resonates.
But be realistic about expectations. One thought leadership piece won’t make you a superstar overnight. It’s a long game. Some founders I work with write a lot but never publish, while others find their voice publicly. If you’re writing to engage, motivate, inspire, or educate another person, and there’s something valuable in what you’re saying, then you will always find an audience. The key is to figure out what works best for you and your business, then stay consistent.
Dan Bowyer
Dan is a 4x exited entrepreneur now investing in technical founders who are transforming how the world works. He loves working with founders to help them get out of problem-solution mode. Ensuring they get the right people on the bus, create the right energy, infrastructure & activity to get to their first £1m in recurring revenue. To him, it’s the most exciting stage for any tech startup and an honour to be part of their journey.
Dan is a tech entrepreneur, operator and investor with 25 years’ experience building businesses and implementing digital. Having enjoyed some spectacular failures, and some delightful successes.
News & Views
Get to Know: Alice Down, Content Executive
By Tom Webb, CEO In our Get to Know blog series, I’m posing a few questions to the Element team. Next up, we have Alice Down, Content Executive. What drew you to content and communications? What drew you to content and communications? After College,
Writer’s Toolbox appoints Element Communications to champion the future of how writing is taught in schools
Woking, UK – 9th July 2026: Writer’s Toolbox, the fast-growing EdTech company pioneering evidence-based writing improvement programmes that help schools transform literacy outcomes, has appointed Element Communications as its PR partner to support its next phase of growth and influence. At a time when schools continue to face
bit.bio appoints Element Communications to power global growth story following $50m raise
London, UK – 27 May 2026: Cambridge biotech company bit.bio has appointed Element Communications to lead an ambitious international PR campaign at a crucial stage of its growth journey. Earlier this year, the company raised a $50m Series
Get to Know: Alice Down, Content Executive
By Tom Webb, CEO In our Get to Know blog series, I’m posing a few questions to the Element team. Next up, we have Alice Down, Content Executive. What drew you to content and communications? What drew you to content and communications? After College, I started a Child Nursing degree. However, I
Writer’s Toolbox appoints Element Communications to champion the future of how writing is taught in schools
Woking, UK – 9th July 2026: Writer’s Toolbox, the fast-growing EdTech company pioneering evidence-based writing improvement programmes that help schools transform literacy outcomes, has appointed Element Communications as its PR partner to support its next phase of growth and influence. At a time when schools continue to face a writing crisis despite significant progress in reading attainment,