Start Your Own Business podcast interviews SimVenture CEO
SimVenture CEO, Peter Harrington, sat down this month with Fiona Prior, host of the Start Your Own Business podcast.
Since SimVenture was founded by brothers Paul and Peter Harrington, Fiona wanted to understand what it was like for siblings to start, run and grow a business in partnership.
“From the seed of an idea, so much has happened to us over the last 21 years”, said Peter.
“Back in 2004, Paul and I both knew that we wanted to address the startup failure rate problem and build innovate learning technology. But it’s only on occasions like this that you take time out to think and reflect on your own business and the actual partnership journey.”
For the record, SimVenture launched its first offline business simulation, Classic, in 2006. Since those humble beginnings the company has grown globally and now supplies award-winning business and entrepreneurship digital learning products in over 30 countries.
Evolution is considered to be the most sophisticated and in-depth digital business simulation on the market. Validate is one of the world’s most popular online business idea and development platforms. The software can also now be made available in any language.
Disagreement when you start your own business in partnership
Whilst you will have to listen to the full podcast epidsode to hear what Peter said about the 20+ years working with his brother, he does acknowledge that the time together has not been without disagreement.
Peter added, “Paul and I have very similar values which are obviously based on our family upbringing when we lived in Nottingham throughout our school days. Our vision to change peoples’ lives for the better through high-quality learning technology is as strong as ever too.
“However, there are differences and one of them concerns our tolerance of risk. Having started and grown businesses for 36+ years I tend to be less risk averse than Paul. As a person, I am also outwardly optimistic as I typically see the positive possibilities first when engaging with any activity.”
“On the other hand, Paul has much more of an engineering background and software expertise. He naturally looks for what might go wrong from the outset when considering commercial projects and the build of new products.
“This different approach to thinking means we often consider issues and decisions in meetings with opposing points of view. It can be frustrating and at times things can get heated. But being able to air and share strong feelings always means important issues don’t stay under the table.
“It is also fair to say that learning how to work in partnership as brothers has brought to life some invaluable advice I received when I started my very first business in 1989.”
As you will hear on the podcast, Peter quotes his longtime friend and mentor, Frank Dawson who advised:
“Two people of absolute integrity can see different truths in the same set of circumstances.”
“Over the years,” Peter added, “This advice has proved to be absolutely right. It is so easy to think as you get older and wiser that you know what you are talking about – until you realise you clearly don’t.”
Together but separate
From the very earliest prototyping days when SimVenture was still just an idea, Paul and Peter have lived and worked in different geographical locations. Paul lives in Guildford in Surrey. Peter lives just south of the historic city of York in North Yorkshire.
For over 20 years therefore, the partnership between the brothers has been forged on working together but separately. Initially, Peter and Paul spent hundreds of hours discussing the first product over the phone, but things quickly moved to Skype and then Zoom. Following the pandemic the company invested in the Microsoft Teams platform.
“In terms of work, I only meet with Paul three or four times a year”, said Peter. Paul is very happy working this way and I know his software development team operate all over the UK – so they rarely meet in person.”
“Looking back to how my first company started and grew in 1989, business is very different now. But it’s nearly 20 years since we first launched, and our digital products now support hundreds of clients all over the world. As brothers, there is much to be proud about.”
Listen to the full conversation
Peter’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the realities of founding and growing a business with a sibling – from balancing risk and optimism to building world-class learning technology from two different corners of the country. If this story has sparked your interest or you’d like to hear more of the candid insights Peter shared, don’t miss the full interview.
Tune in to go deeper into the Harrington brothers’ 20-year journey, the lessons learned along the way, and what continues to drive SimVenture forward.
