Lessons from Losing: Mike Tomkins, TopCashback

What does it really take to turn a good idea into a lasting business?

In this episode of Lessons from Losing, Mike Tomkins, co-founder of TopCashback, looks back on the 21-year journey behind one of the UK's biggest affiliate success stories - and the setbacks and difficult decisions that helped shape it along the way.

From an expensive attempt to expand into India to a blocked acquisition of one of TopCashback's biggest competitors, Mike reflects on knowing when to persevere, when to change course, and why entrepreneurs shouldn't always rush to follow the latest trend. Sometimes, he argues, it pays to let your competitors test an idea first.

Mike also explains why ethics and fairness have become fundamental to the way TopCashback operates, and why success today is about more than simply growing the business - it's about using that success to make a positive impact.

Lessons from Losing is an interview series from Awin, where we sit down with founders and business leaders to uncover the slip-ups, setbacks and struggles behind their success.

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