From Engineer to Investor, Terry Hewett on Building Businesses That Last

Terry Hewett

In this episode of Profit Meets Purpose, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Terry Hewett, an experienced entrepreneur, successful investor, and founder of Copper Bottom Investments. Terry’s career began in the automotive sector as an engineer, before moving into technical publishing. He then spent 30 years building a leading B2B marketing and advertising agency. Through years of growing, merging, acquiring, and ultimately selling businesses, he has gained a clear understanding of what makes a company investable and what doesn’t.

Today, through Copper Bottom Investments, Terry works closely with founders and CEOs, helping them not just market better, but become fully investment-ready businesses. His passion lies in mentoring leadership teams, sharpening business structures, and ensuring companies can attract the right kind of capital.

Terry highlighted the transformations he's witnessed, from the dot-com bust, to the digital marketing revolution, yet emphasised that the core skills founders need to succeed, adaptability, realism, resilience, remain the same. One of the clearest themes from our conversation was the idea that business fundamentals never change even when technology does. 

When reflecting on some of the toughest transitions he managed, Terry spoke candidly about merging two businesses without integrating cultures properly, a mistake that cost talent and nearly compromised client relationships. It's a lesson he now passes on to founders he mentors, make the hard decisions early and own the integration process.

He noted that founders often fall into the trap of being so deeply attached to their ideas that they become resistant to feedback, something he colourfully referred to as "not wanting to be told their baby is ugly." Being coachable, listening more than talking, and showing real awareness of challenges as well as opportunities are non-negotiables when building a business.

"You have two ears and one mouth," Terry advised. "Use them in that order."

Terry had strong opinions on what is critical in the investment raising process. It isn’t just about a flashy product or visionary idea, it's about how well founders understand their market, their competition, and their path to profitability. Terry also stressed the reality that, especially in early stages, founders might spend 75% of their time fundraising. Getting 'investment-ready' from day one, with a professional deck, a clear vision, and a grounded valuation, is paramount for later success. 

Given the mission of Sustainable Times, it was particularly illuminating to hear Terry’s take on the current sustainability investment boom. While he's optimistic about the shift towards greener technologies, he warned against "sustainability at any cost."

"There’s too much greenwashing out there," he cautioned. "If a solution isn’t commercially viable, it won’t scale, no matter how good the intention."

Terry advocates for balanced, transition-focused innovation technologies that can realistically move industries forward without destabilising economies. He pointed to the development of synthetic fuels, small nuclear reactors, and hydrogen technologies as critical areas that deserve smart investment.

Despite the UK’s tougher economic climate compared to the bullish confidence Terry recently witnessed in the U.S., he remains hopeful. He believes the UK’s tradition of engineering excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and emerging collaborations between universities and startups will create fertile ground for future successes.

But for UK founders, thinking globally from day one is important. Investors are increasingly looking for businesses that can scale across borders, particularly into high growth markets.

Closing the conversation, we tackled the heart of this podcast, balancing profit with purpose. Terry’s view is simple but powerful - the first rule of business is to make a profit, but how you do it matters.

Creating jobs, building sustainable technologies, and driving social good should be an integral part of a company's success story, not an afterthought. Investors, he noted, are increasingly looking to back companies that deliver on both fronts but they still expect a solid, credible business case first.

With decades of experience as an investor and entrepreneur, Terry brings invaluable perspective. Listen to the full episode here.