Your mentors today are John & Joe, two of the most impressive people I've had the pleasure to meet on this podcast adventure. In April 2023, they sold their company to Zoom for an undisclosed figure, rumoured to be over $400 millon. In this episode, they possibly share the most important lesson every aspiring founder should learn. How to launch your company, before you even have a product. This is a bite-sized episode, to listen to the full interview, go back to episode 218. --- Join my free...
Dec 17, 2023•14 min•Season 16Ep. 317
In this dynamic and insightful discussion, we sit down with Fiona O'Carroll, an esteemed business leader and CEO advisor, to explore the crucial shift to a digital mindset in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Fiona has been a leader in companies such as Riverdeep, Independent News & Media and Vivendi Games. Fiona brings her extensive experience as an "intrapreneur" to the table and shares her wisdom on the challenges that companies face as they transition from the industrial era t...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 16Ep. 316
Your mentor today is Norman Crowley, the founder of Cool Planet & Ava. He was 2 hours away from selling his business for $1 billion. We talk about how that feels, the power of intention and how he completely shifted his life goals after retiring at 28. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- My Season Partners EIIS Innovation Fund: https://bit.ly/3sxFdLp ADHD Now: https://bit.ly/49uzd6N Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23...
Dec 12, 2023•12 min•Season 16Ep. 315
Unlock the secrets of securing investment, scaling a business, and overcoming the obstacles faced by female entrepreneurs in our insightful discussion with Chupi Sweetman, founder of Chupi Jewellery, and James Doody, a director with IBI Corporate Finance. This was filmed with a live audience at my studio in the private cinema in the Greenway Building by Iconic Offices Expect to be inspired by Chupi’s journey, raising a remarkable €3.75 million last year, and James's expert advice on fundraising ...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 16Ep. 314
Mark Abraham, the founder of Shackle, sits down with Gary Fox. Shackle is the global travel app of the future. They have raised ove $20 million with the ultimate ambition of building a business bigger than Airbnb! Originally from Tullamore, Mark now lives in Dubai after a career that has spanned the globe. In this episode we discuss: His calculated decision to move to the Middle East How Shackle can be bigger than Airbnb Why Mark believes work life balance is a myth How he secured some of the wo...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 16Ep. 313
Speed of execution is what seperates entrepreneurs from wantrepreneurs. Aonghus developed his very first product version using a cardboard box! Your mentor today shares with us the power of executing fast and how momentum is everything when building your first product. Aonghus Shortt is the CEO & founder of Food Marble. You can go back and listen to the full episode at EE 125. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- My Season Partners EIIS Innovation Fund: h...
Nov 26, 2023•14 min•Season 16Ep. 312
Michael Corcoran walked away from one of the most coveted jobs in marketing after building one of the world's most respected social media brands. Why? We hear the real story of the explosive split that caused Michael and most of his team to walk out on their jobs at Ryanair. Michael also gives us a masterclass in the secrets that generated 2 billion organic impressions in just 18 months. Ever wondered how to craft content that truly resonates with your audience? Michael spills the beans on how t...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 16Ep. 311
In today's episode we go behind the scenes of last week's Wealth Summit and my time with Steven Bartlett. I share the insights & lessons he revealed both on stage but also behind the scenes as we hung out backstage. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- My Season Partners Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23 EIIS Innovation Fund: https://bit.ly/3sxFdLp ADHD Now: https://bit.ly/49uzd6N...
Nov 21, 2023•17 min•Season 16Ep. 310
Your mentor today is Rena Maycock, the founder of Cilter. Rena shares with us how she quit a high-paying CEO job to earn her freedom by becoming her own boss. We chat about the pros and cons of starting your own venture and how you know if you are ready to start. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- My Season Partners EIIS Innovation Fund: https://bit.ly/3sxFdLp Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23 ADHD Now: https://bit.ly/49uzd6N...
Nov 19, 2023•12 min•Season 16Ep. 309
Join me in a compelling conversation with Sharon Keegan, the unstoppable force behind Peachy Lean. Our chat uncovers the raw truth of navigating the entrepreneurial landscape as a woman, highlighting Sharon's unyielding grit in the face of obstacles. From the overwhelming surge of customer demand to the striking differences in the UK and Irish markets, Sharon's resilience is truly inspirational. Our conversation doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of entrepreneurship. Listen in as we delve...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 16Ep. 308
Our mentor this week is Matthew Coffey, the co-founder of Squid Loyalty. Matthew shows us how to tackle a massive problem and develop the niche of your business. Squid Loyalty is going after a global problem so in this episode, we break down the logical plan Matthew and his co-founder Katie used to carve out their niche. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- My Season Partners EIIS Innovation Fund: https://bit.ly/3sxFdLp ADHD Now: https://bit.ly/49uzd6N Iconic...
Nov 14, 2023•14 min•Season 16Ep. 307
James was just 17 when he hacked the Apple iPod Nano. This act of creativity catapulted him into the world's spotlight. His next massive success was establishing CoderDojo to teach kids about technology & coding. What began as a small group in Cork soon spread all over the globe. James gives us a compelling account of his exceptional journey. We also shed light on the emotional toll of his period, delving into the burnout he experienced, the self-reflection that followed, and the significanc...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 16Ep. 306
Our mentor today is Sonia Deasy, the co-founder of Pestle and Mortar. This is one of our earliest episodes in the podcast, way back in episode 21. Sonia shares with us the level of work that goes into what can seem like an overnight success story of when she appeared on QVC in America. This was a massive tipping point for the brand. They sold out all inventory and it launched the brand into the American market. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Pa...
Oct 28, 2023•17 min•Season 15Ep. 305
Get ready to be captivated as we sit down with Ray Nolan, a self-made and self-taught tech genius who has carved a niche for himself in the entrepreneurial world. Ray built and sold Hostelworld for one of Ireland's biggest tech sales at the time for $500 million. Nolan is now the powerhouse behind eDesk Software. Our conversation explores his remarkable journey from a teenage coder to his current achievements and the highs and lows that punctuated his path to success. We discuss the importance o...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 15Ep. 304
In the Lab today, I answer one of the most common questions I get sent by listeners. When should I quit my job and how will I know its the right time to leave? I share the lessons from over 300 episodes and the exact plan I used to boot strap my business from €500 to €500k. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo - Location Partner: Iconic O...
Oct 24, 2023•17 min•Season 15Ep. 303
Embodying personal growth and self-belief, today's episode promises to be nothing short of inspirational. We sit down with James McCormack, an entrepreneur who's carved out a niche in the coffee sector, transforming lives via Dublin Barista Institute, and delighting taste buds with his performance coffee, Oyl. James' story of turning his life around, from grappling with obesity and alcoholism to becoming the healthier and more focused person he is today, is something we all can learn from. Our c...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 15Ep. 302
Your mentor today is Rhona Togher, co-founder of the Lios Group. How do you know when to go all in on your business? That is the question that haunts most first-time founders. Many never get past this stage. Rhona tells us her story of quitting college and risking everything she had to make the business work. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/...
Oct 15, 2023•14 min•Season 15Ep. 302
To celebrate a landmark episode, I invited back 4 of the best entrepreneurs I've had the pleasure of meeting over the last 300 episodes for a special live episode. We go deep on how early-stage businesses access capital, what early strategies they used to grow during turbulent environments such as Covid and what innovative plans they have to expand even during uncertain financial markets. If you are an early-stage entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen for practical insights and financial p...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 15Ep. 300
Today is a different episode. It is an honest story about the journey I've been on with mental health over the last 3 years. Warning: I talk about difficult issues such as miscarriage and suicide so if either of those topics might upset you, please consider not listening to this one. You can revisit it at another time. This is not expert advice or claiming to have the answers. This is simply me sharing my own journey in the hope it might help one other person. --- Join my free weekly email newsl...
Oct 11, 2023•29 min•Season 15Ep. 299
My most requested topic to cover is failure. However, it's not so easy. Rarely do people want to talk about it and when they do, their memories can be less than honest. Connor Murphy was one of the few people to speak openly on failure and what it truly taught him. Connor was the founder of Datahug which was sold for $13 million in 2016 and is now the founder of Bridge. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 Sponsored by Square -...
Oct 09, 2023•14 min•Season 15Ep. 298
Ever wondered how entrepreneurs adapt and thrive, even in the midst of a global pandemic? Our favourite returning guest, Rob Lipsett, gives us his on the art of adapting to become location-flexible, financially independent, and most importantly, time-free. As we catch up with him, Rob reveals how he orchestrated his escape from the 9 to 5 grind and ventured into the exhilarating world of entrepreneurship, all while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nurturing real-world interactions. Rob's jour...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 54 min•Season 15Ep. 297
In the Lab today, I share the number 1 reason why people won't meet you for coffee and why your message goes unread. I give you the full playbook on how to reach out to busy people and get their attention or time. Most people approach networking in the completely wrong way. I share the experience of how I've connected with and built valuable connections with some of the world's best founders. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 1...
Oct 04, 2023•16 min•Season 15Ep. 296
Our mentor today is Jennifer Rock AKA The Skin Nerd. Jennifer will teach us how to let go of perfectionism struggles and her key tips for managing a business, setting realistic goals, trusting decisions, and balancing pressures. We also look at the power of listening to your gut and how to build systems that help you make the leap from an employee mindset to an owners mindset. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 Sponsored by S...
Oct 01, 2023•15 min•Season 15Ep. 295
Today is a special episode for me personally as I first met Charlie back in 2019 at my live podcast in Dublin city when he was in the very first days of his entrepreneurial journey. To now see him build a world-leading company is a beautiful milestone in both Charlie's journey and the journey of this podcast. This is a business chat but it's filled with honesty, warmth and deeper exploration of why we become founders. We navigate his journey, from college days to launching a company that's resha...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 15Ep. 294
In the Lab today, I delve into the new trend of going into Monk Mode and why is it getting so popular? Next Sunday marks the start of the last quarter of the year. This gives you the perfect opportunity to try Monk Mode. But what is it and how can it help you become super productive? Find out on today's episode. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 - Location Partner: Iconic Offices - Claim your exclusive pod offer: https://bit...
Sep 26, 2023•23 min•Season 15Ep. 293
Your mentor today is Oisin Hanrahan and he's going to give us a rapid lesson on the power of focus. As founders, we can get distracted by the next shiny thing. However, Oisin has strict rules he enforces on himself and his team to ensure maximum focus and productivity. Oisin started Handy which raised over $100 million before being aquired by Angi. Oisin become the CEO of Angi which at the time of recording had a valuation of $5 billion and over 5,000 staff. You can go back to episode 136 to lis...
Sep 24, 2023•11 min•Season 15Ep. 292
Richie Collins, the founder of The Wealth Summit and Walfrid Private joins me on the pod. He has dedicated his career to managing the money of some of Ireland's best founders. I sit down with Richie to ask him to tell me about the money habits and traits of the best founders. How do they make it and most importantly how do they invest it and spend it? Important note: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. None of the content in today's episode is to be taken as investment advice...
Sep 21, 2023•51 min•Season 15Ep. 291
Today in the Lab, I explore a single topic of immense power for your business. Leverage. How can we apply the law of leverage to our business, our body and our brain? Each Tuesday, I share my breakdown of a topic or theme that can help us improve as founders. --- Join my free weekly email newsletter here: https://bit.ly/40TgDkq --- Visit My Partners for Season 15 - Location Partner: Iconic Offices - Claim your exclusive pod offer: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23 - Wealth Summit - Use code fox150 to ge...
Sep 19, 2023•16 min•Season 15Ep. 290
Our mentor today is Niall Harty, the co-founder of All Real Nutrition. Niall was my first-ever pick as rising star and he has lived up to my prediction. He teaches us how to get scrappy. After their relaunch, he trained their entire staff to become sales people and they went across Ireland selling from store to store. This is secret of every successful young startup. They focus on the only thing that matters, early sales to customers. To listen to the full episode with Niall, go back to EE 151. ...
Sep 17, 2023•13 min•Season 15Ep. 289
Join Gary as he sits down with Kealan Lennon, founder of Clever Cards, and discuss his revolutionary approach to online payments. Listen in as we unpack how this innovative system allows employers to gift their employees up to 1,000 euros tax-free in the form of a digital Mastercard. We hear the rollercoaster journey of how a Facebook algorithm change forced him to completely transform his business model within a few months. A chance visit to China was the lightbulb moment and Clever Cards 2.0 w...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 15Ep. 288
