Trust your Vision: A Tech Startup Journey with Trust Verified
In industries where credibility is often built online, it’s difficult to separate real competence from polished perception. This episode of Tech Startup Stories takes a closer look at that problem.
Natalie Binns speaks with Chloe Scott, founder of Trust Verified, about creating a verification-led platform for the property investment space. Chloe shares how gaps in regulation, due diligence, and accountability shaped the product, and why she’s focused on evidence, compliance, and long-term trust rather than rapid, hype-driven growth.
Listen to the Podcast
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
From idea to early traction Trust Verified is still in its early stages, but Chloe Scott has moved deliberately and efficiently to turn an idea into momentum. She spent months validating the concept by talking to hundreds of people in the property investment space, gathering feedback, and refining the platform before building anything.
Rather than waiting for investment or a fully polished product, Chloe launched a lean MVP focused on the core needs: ID verification, compliance documents, and professional references. Early engagement with prospective users gave her proof that the problem was real and that people were willing to pay for a solution, showing that momentum could be built without perfection.
Why trust needs structured systems A key theme of the episode is Chloe’s view that trust in business, particularly in unregulated spaces, is often assumed rather than verified. Many property deal sources operate without oversight, leaving investors exposed and making credibility difficult to assess.
Trust Verified tackles this by providing a centralised, evidence-based platform where ID, compliance, and references are verified. For Chloe, the goal isn’t just to create a tool, but to embed trust into the fabric of professional interactions making competence visible and reducing risk for everyone involved.
Navigating funding and partnerships Chloe shares openly about the challenges of securing investment and working with strategic partners. While she had interest from investors early on, delays in funding forced her to adapt and continue building momentum independently.
She also highlights the importance of working with people who align with her vision and values, rather than simply chasing the quickest route to funding or growth. Strategic partnerships, like lending partners, are being integrated gradually, ensuring that every addition strengthens the product and maintains credibility.
Community-led product development Rather than building in isolation, Chloe has taken a community-first approach. She created a group of 100 founding members to actively shape the platform, providing feedback, suggesting features, and validating assumptions before scaling.
This approach allowed Chloe to iterate efficiently, ensuring the product solves real problems while avoiding unnecessary features. It also strengthened early relationships and created buy-in from the very people who would become the platform’s first advocates.
Personal growth and founder challenges Chloe talks candidly about the personal hurdles she has faced, particularly around confidence and taking risks in public-facing situations. She shares how putting herself in uncomfortable positions, like speaking at events and posting online, has helped her rewire her mindset and build resilience.
She emphasises that self-belief is crucial, and that operational and technical challenges can be learned, but without confidence, even the best ideas struggle to gain traction.
Listen to the Podcast
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Connect with Chloe Scott or learn more about Trust Verified.