Tessa Clarke

Tessa Clarke is cofounder and CEO of OLIO

A startup’s most essential hire is no longer a coder — but a clear thinker
Opinion
March 10, 2026
A startup’s most essential hire is no longer a coder — but a clear thinker
Startups used to be powered by engineering velocity. Now they’re powered by sharp, decisive thinkers
Tessa Clarke
DIY AI: Sometimes the smartest thing to build is nothing at all
Opinion
June 17, 2025
DIY AI: Sometimes the smartest thing to build is nothing at all
For founders diving headfirst into DIY AI, here’s why you may want to pause first
Tessa Clarke
Customer support’s hot: How AI is changing who’s most valuable in tech
Opinion
January 29, 2025
Customer support’s hot: How AI is changing who’s most valuable in tech
Will customer support leapfrog from tech's most undervalued department to most valued department this year? Tessa Clarke thinks so
Tessa Clarke
5 mistakes not to make as a climate tech founder
Opinion
December 4, 2024
5 mistakes not to make as a climate tech founder
Olio cofounder Tessa Clarke shares what not to do
Tessa Clarke
How to remain in Founder Mode as your company scales
Opinion
September 10, 2024
How to remain in Founder Mode as your company scales
“In effect there are two different ways to run a company: founder mode and manager mode”
Tessa Clarke
The founder ‘scar tissue’ from the last two years will run deep
Opinion
May 22, 2024
The founder ‘scar tissue’ from the last two years will run deep
Founders don’t forget — and investors have a long way to go to rebuild their trust
Tessa Clarke
Is it time for new heroes?
Opinion
March 13, 2024
Is it time for new heroes?
The age of large businesses, profit maximisation, growth at all costs and a ruling class of predominantly white men is ending
Tessa Clarke
Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?
Opinion
September 19, 2023
Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?
There’s nothing wrong with being a mercenary founder — as long as your investors and cofounder feel the same
Tessa Clarke
Founders need to take a stand against VC's 'dirty money'
Opinion
April 19, 2023
Founders need to take a stand against VC's 'dirty money'
The anonymity of the sources of VC funding can raise some ethical concerns — here's why founders should be more inquisitive about investments
Tessa Clarke
Startups need new metrics for a tough new era
Opinion
January 17, 2023
Startups need new metrics for a tough new era
In an era when VC capital is scarce, startups must embrace metrics that show the true health of their business
Tessa Clarke
Building a founder brand is your job. Here’s how to do it
Opinion
November 7, 2022
Building a founder brand is your job. Here’s how to do it
CEO of food waste startup OLIO, Tessa Clarke, quickly realised how important a founder brand is to the success of your startup
Tessa Clarke
Founders, do you have an Earth Overshoot plan?
Opinion
August 4, 2022
Founders, do you have an Earth Overshoot plan?
Tech founders are uniquely well placed to come together and bend the arc of consumption back in the right direction.
Tessa Clarke
Founders, what’s your cockroach plan?
Opinion
May 30, 2022
Founders, what’s your cockroach plan?
Why you need a plan for the absolute worst-case scenario, or a ‘cockroach plan’ because of the cockroach’s legendary ability to survive against all the odds
Tessa Clarke
Forget KPIs, there’s a new goal startups should focus on — and it’s hairy as hell
Opinion
May 9, 2022
Forget KPIs, there’s a new goal startups should focus on — and it’s hairy as hell
Having a big, hairy audacious goal can give your team motivation and clarity.
Tessa Clarke
Female founders need money, not more mentoring
Opinion
February 8, 2022
Female founders need money, not more mentoring
It's not that female founders aren't up to scratch on pitching, but that the VC industry is structurally biased
Tessa Clarke

Tessa Clarke

A startup’s most essential hire is no longer a coder — but a clear thinker

DIY AI: Sometimes the smartest thing to build is nothing at all

Customer support’s hot: How AI is changing who’s most valuable in tech

5 mistakes not to make as a climate tech founder

How to remain in Founder Mode as your company scales

The founder ‘scar tissue’ from the last two years will run deep

Is it time for new heroes?

Founders, motive matters. What’s yours?

Founders need to take a stand against VC's 'dirty money'

Startups need new metrics for a tough new era

Building a founder brand is your job. Here’s how to do it

Founders, do you have an Earth Overshoot plan?

Founders, what’s your cockroach plan?

Forget KPIs, there’s a new goal startups should focus on — and it’s hairy as hell

Female founders need money, not more mentoring