Social mobility, opportunity and identity – a conversation with Joe Seddon

Описание: How does someone build a tech startup from scratch when the odds are stacked against them, and help thousands of other young people improve their access to opportunity across the UK?

In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Joe Seddon, Founder and CEO of Zero Gravity, a tech platform supporting students from low-opportunity backgrounds into top universities and high-impact careers.

Joe built Zero Gravity from his student bedroom with the last £200 of his student loan. Today, the platform has supported over 15,000 students into leading institutions and careers, deployed millions in scholarships, and partners with some of the UK’s biggest employers.

But Joe’s journey also reveals the personal trade-offs and identity questions that often come with social mobility.

As Joe puts it: “Everyone talks about imposter syndrome. What we don’t talk about enough is social mobility guilt.”

This conversation explores how Joe identifies talent early, why community and long-term support matter as much as access, and what it takes to build systems that level the playing field at scale. Helen and Joe also discuss employer partnerships, geographic mobility, and how AI could reshape opportunity for the next generation- for better or worse.

Key Moments:

02:42 What Zero Gravity does and who it’s for
07:36 The four factors that shape opportunity
11:16 Imposter syndrome vs social mobility guilt
18:23 Natalie’s story: Oxford, Tesco and a US law firm
25:59 Why opportunity is concentrated in London
36:43 Who gets to build startups (class and founders)
43:35 AI, education and the future of early careers
48:50 Final reflections

Music written by Joseph McDade

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LinkedIn:⁠   / ⁠  

Website: www.zerogravity.co.uk

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