In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Richard Fitzgerald, the founder of Augustus Media, an award-winning modern media company in the UAE and KSA, publishers of Lovin Dubai, Lovin Saudi, and Smashi TV. With a background in media and advertising since 2006, Richard worked at agencies in Ireland, England, and the UAE before building a regional social media department at Mindshare MENA and later becoming Managing Director of a creative technology start-up. In 2015,...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 23Ep. 407
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Greg Bradley, founder of BLK BOX, one of the leading gym equipment manufacturers in Europe. Greg shares his journey from bootstrapping a startup with no engineering background to building a business that supplies some of the world’s top sports teams—including Irish Rugby and 75% of the Premier League clubs. Greg opens up about the challenges of scaling a manufacturing business, the rollercoaster ride of COVID-19, and why he ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 23Ep. 406
The Entrepreneur Experiment Live Special with The Local Enterprise Offices: Lessons from Ireland’s Top Founders. To celebrate Local Enterprise Week, we sit down with Tom Keogh of Keogh’s Crisps and Noreen Hackett of Advanced Cosmetics to uncover the real stories behind building globally recognised brands from Ireland. Tom shares how his family farm transformed from market gardening to a premium snack brand sold in over 20 countries, including on international airlines. Noreen reveals how she wen...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 23Ep. 405
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Sean Blanchfield, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Demonware, PageFair, and Jentic, to unpack his journey from student entrepreneur to scaling and selling tech companies. Sean shares candid insights into the early days of launching startups in Ireland, how Demonware became a critical player in multiplayer gaming, and the bold pivots that led to success. He also dives into his later ventures, PageFair, which tackled ad b...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Season 22Ep. 404
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Aimee Connolly, the powerhouse founder behind Sculpted by Aimee. From working on makeup counters at 16 to building one of Ireland’s most successful beauty brands, Aimee shares her incredible journey of bootstrapping her way to the top. She reveals the bold steps she took—cold emailing manufacturers, self-funding her first product launch, and scaling from a solo founder to leading an international beauty empire. If you're an ...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 22Ep. 403
Two of our all-time favourite guests return to the pod to announce their $36 million fundraising round! In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dan Hobbs & Ciarán O’Mara, the co-founders of Protex AI, a startup using computer vision to prevent workplace accidents before they happen. They first appeared on the podcast in 2023 after raising $18M. One year later, per Gary’s prediction about how their 2024 would go, they’ve just closed a $36M Series B, expanded fr...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 22Ep. 402
Sahil Bloom went from private equity investor to one of the most influential creators and investors in the world—without a plan. In this episode, he shares his founder formula for success, why money isn’t the answer, and the hidden struggles behind entrepreneurship. We discuss defining your own version of wealth, battling imposter syndrome, and the power of taking action over planning. If you’re searching for clarity in business, body, and brain—this one’s for you. Show Notes In this episode, we...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 22Ep. 401
In this episode, we sit down with Colin Harmon, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed Ireland’s coffee culture. From starting as a barista to building 3fe, one of Ireland's most respected coffee brands, Colin shares his journey of entrepreneurship, branding, and the shifting landscape of social spaces. We explore: Why traditional social spaces like banks, pubs, and churches are declining The power of community in business How Colin built 3fe from a single café to an industry leader The busine...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 22Ep. 400
With 400 episodes under my belt, I'm turning the mic on myself to share the origins of this passion project that started as a side experiment and grew into a full-fledged business. This is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode where I answer all the questions you sent in over the last few weeks. How does the pod make money? What do I look for in a guest? Discover the pivot from property management to podcasting and the invaluable lessons learned along this unpredictable entrepreneurial path. From the...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 22Ep. 399
Join Gary as we sit down with Mary Sadlier, the powerhouse behind Coole Swan, the premium Irish cream brand taking the world by storm. From navigating challenges to owning 3% of the U.S. market, Mary shares her journey of resilience, innovation, and growth. In this episode, you'll discover: How Mary overcame setbacks to scale Coole Swan globally. The art of balancing quality and profitability in a competitive market. The entrepreneurial mindset that turns challenges into opportunities. Lessons i...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 22Ep. 398
In this brain special of The Entrepreneur Experiment , we dive deep into the world of mental mastery with renowned brain hacker Keith Barry. Known for his groundbreaking work in hacking the human mind, Keith helps individuals and corporations achieve sustainable, meaningful change at a neurological level. In this episode, Keith shares: The art and science of hacking your own brain to unlock peak mental performance. Strategies to overcome mental barriers and build resilience. The surprising ways ...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 22Ep. 397
Welcome to the final podcast of 2024. In this special episode recorded live at the first-ever guests reunion in Dublin, I sit down with two of my most popular guests, Nadia Adan and Michael Corcoran. We look back on the highs and lows of 2024 sharing the lessons, wins and learnings from the year. With over 70 founders in the audience, we also delved into the trends and predictions that will shape the next 12 months. Shot live with a studio audience at Baseline in Dublin City. --- Thanks to my se...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 21Ep. 396
What does it take to create a unicorn startup? Jack Pierse, co-founder of Wayflyer, and now co-founder of HappyStack joins us to discuss the thrilling journey of building one of the most successful startups in recent years. From securing millions in funding to scaling operations across the globe, Jack shares invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial highs and lows, including the pivotal moments that shaped Wayflyer’s meteoric rise. Jack opens up about his life before and after Wayflyer, inclu...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Season 21Ep. 395
Imagine selling your startup for $18 million in less than a year—only to watch it vanish into thin air when the dot-com bubble burst. Sounds like a wild ride? That’s just the beginning of John Dennehy’s incredible journey. John is one of Ireland’s most successful (and underrated) serial founders. He’s the only entrepreneur I know who’s managed to sell the same company twice . Yes, twice! In this episode, John shares how his journey went from massive wins to gut-wrenching losses—and back again. I...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Season 21Ep. 394
Every great founder needs a mentor. That is why every single week, I bring you a new one. In this Mentor Moment, James Whelton dives into the importance of finding joy in the process over just chasing outcomes. He shares a key insight: if you're spending 90% of your time on the journey, it only makes sense to enjoy it. James reflects on his own experiences and how this mindset shaped his approach to work and success. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on aligning passio...
Dec 03, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 393
What does it take to build the backbone of one of the biggest gaming franchises in history and revolutionize digital safety for kids? In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment , Gary Fox sits down with Dylan Collins, the mastermind behind Demonware and SuperAwesome. Dylan shares the story of creating Demonware, the tech infrastructure that powers the online experience for games like Call of Duty, before selling it to Activision Blizzard in a landmark deal. But his journey didn’t stop there....
Nov 28, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Season 21Ep. 392
Today's mentor is serial founder & investor, Ray Nolan. Ray built and sold Hostelworld for one of Ireland's biggest tech sales at the time for $500 million. He gives us a brutally honest assessment of the entrepreneur ecosystem in Ireland and the faults in the political support or lack of it. If you want to listen to the full episode with Ray, go back to episode 304. --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21 Find out more about digitalisation ...
Nov 24, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 391
In this episode, I sit down with Phillip McGlade, the CEO of Therapie Clinics, to uncover the secrets behind building Europe’s largest aesthetics chain—a business turning over €100 million annually. With 77 clinics across the globe, Therapie has become a household name in beauty and wellness. But Phillip isn’t stopping there; he’s now expanding into fertility clinics, tackling deeply personal and impactful challenges. We dive into the mindset that fueled 14 years of relentless growth, the sacrif...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 21Ep. 390
In this episode, Gary sits down with Conor Sheridan, the mastermind behind Mad Egg & Nory, to dive into the nitty-gritty of the restaurant world and how he's shaking things up. This is the second time Conor has been on the pod and we catch up on a whirlwind few years for Conor as he raised $25 million to build Nory, the operating system for restaurants. Conor is building the ultimate operating system for restaurants to help them thrive, not just survive. We chat about why so many restaurants...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 21Ep. 389
Today, we have a world exclusive. Will O'Brien unveils his stealth startup to the world for the first time. Will is my pick for the rising star of season 22 and this episode will clearly show why. Not only is he backed by some of the hottest investors in the world, he is solving a problem that could potentially save the world. Will shares the rationale behind keeping his company under wraps for so long, focusing on engineering challenges away from the public eye. Our conversation then turns to t...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 21Ep. 388
Every great founder needs a mentor. That is why every single week, I bring you a new one. Bad writing and communication is holding your business back. Learn how to unlock this marketing superpower in today's Mentor Moment. Eamon Fitzgerald has used writing and in particular email newsletters to grow a business worth millions. Eamon is the founder of WineSpark. --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21 Find out more about digitalisation for your bu...
Nov 04, 2024•14 min•Season 21Ep. 387
Today, we sit down with Briain Curtin, the Irishman leading the marketing behind one of my favourite brands, Whoop. I've been using Whoop since 2019 to elevate my fitness, help recovery and guide me on my longevity journey. As VP of Global Marketing, Briain is the brains behind campaigns with global superstars such as Rory McIlroy, Christiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. Briain shares how Whoop has carved its unique path in the wellness industry through relentless innovation, a commitment to scie...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 21Ep. 386
Every top founder needs a great mentor. Each week, I bring you a brand new mentor who can help you on your journey. This week is a great friend of mine, my real-life mentor and accountability buddy, James McCormack. In this raw episode, he shares the moment when he knew his life must change and the dramatic steps he took to reshape his entire world in the last 5 years. To listen to the full episode, go to episode 302. --- Thanks to my season partners Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/E...
Oct 26, 2024•13 min•Season 20Ep. 385
In this episode, I sit down with David Jelly, founder of Property Bridges, to explore his fascinating transition from the fast-paced world of banking to becoming a trailblazer in PropTech. David shares his journey of becoming disillusioned with the traditional financial system and his bold leap into entrepreneurship. He reveals the critical moments and insights that pushed him to start Property Bridges, a platform transforming how people invest in property. Through candid reflections on risk, fa...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 20Ep. 384
Every succcessful founder I've met has a mentor. Each week I bring you a new mentor so you can access some of the world's best founders and have them for 10 minutes each week to guide you for the week ahead. Your mentor this week is health and fitness entrepreneur Rob Lipsett. Rob is a regular guest on the pod as he represents a new breed of location-flexible, works off his own schedule, and has built a highly profitable business while doing it. This week, we delve into why you just need to make...
Oct 20, 2024•13 min•Season 20Ep. 383
Paul Quigley, the founder of Newswhip, shares his extraordinary journey from the legal world to becoming a trailblazer in media analytics. We analyse the early days of the Irish startup scene, where camaraderie and a post-economic crash environment gave rise to companies like Intercom and Boxever. Drawing parallels to today's world, Paul discusses the potential for groundbreaking startups emerging from global shifts like the COVID-19 pandemic and the advent of hybrid business models. With an eve...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 20Ep. 382
Will and Adrian, the innovative minds behind Sons, a trailblazing men's healthcare brand, share their journey of transforming male pattern hair loss treatment with honesty and accessibility. Their personal experiences with subpar hair loss clinics drove them to create a brand that not only delivers evidence-based solutions but also shatters the stigma surrounding hair loss. With backgrounds in business and science, they offer a fresh perspective on making hair loss treatments relatable and affor...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 20Ep. 381
In this week's Idea Lab, I share the progress from our finance experiment. Every day for 12 months, I am investing €10 into Bitcoin and €10 into the stock market. Today, I reveal the one-month update and share the progress so far. Have we made a profit or loss, and what has he learned so far. I also share the three books that have shaped my philosophy for this experiment. --- Thanks to my season partners Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepro...
Oct 08, 2024•20 min•Season 20Ep. 380
Each week I bring you a brand new mentor to guide your founder journey. This week, it's Charlie Butler, the CEO & co-founder of Bounce Insights. Charlie's episode was one of the most popular from 2023. Today, he teaches us the art of having radically honest conversations and how this is the bedrock for building trust. Check out the full podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsg_1O8x0l8&t=524s --- Thanks to my season partners Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO Property Br...
Oct 06, 2024•14 min•Season 20Ep. 379
Meet my Rising Star pick for season 20, Luke Joyce, the founder of The Cleaning Company. Each season, I pick one founder I believe is an exceptional talent and who I believe will go all the way to the top. Luke ticks every box I look for in a founder: hard-working, self-aware, with unstoppable ambition. His journey from creating a simple college job for himself to a thriving business offers a powerful testament to the impact of a positive outlook and innovative thinking. Despite multiple setback...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Season 20Ep. 378
