“I Lost Money – It Was Beautiful” – Brad Channer on Why You Should Fail at a Startup at Least Twice

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Apr 10, 2025

Brad Channer, CFO of UBIO and former actor, offers a unique perspective on the entwined worlds of finance and creativity. He candidly discusses how early failures in startups become invaluable lessons, emphasizing resilience and adaptability. Channer shares insights on neurodiversity, advocating for diverse leadership styles to enhance team dynamics. He also reflects on the cultural differences in the tech scene between the UK and the US, and amusingly recounts bizarre expense claims that highlight the lighter side of financial management.

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ANECDOTE

Free Beer App Failure

Brad Channer's first company, the Free Beer app, was a disaster.
Despite losing money, he considers it a valuable learning experience.

ADVICE

Importance of Failing

Embrace failure in startups as a learning opportunity.
Fail at least twice to truly understand what not to do in the future.

ANECDOTE

Career Shift

Brad Channer transitioned from acting to accounting after his kids' TV show was canceled.
He bought a one-way ticket to the UK with minimal notice and funds.

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In this episode, CJ Gustafson sits down with Brad Channer, the CFO of UBIO and possibly the world's most interesting CFO and accountant. He describes his unconventional career path from acting to accounting and the he lessons learned from some entrepreneurial failures along the way. Brad also discusses communication and leadership, including how his acting background shaped his style in the boardroom. He breaks down the biggest mistakes CFOs make when explaining financials and why some accountants struggle to reach the C-suite even if they’re brilliant on paper. He shares insights on neurodiversity in the workplace and how to unlock its advantages before unpacking why the UK has produced fewer tech giants than the US and the one regulatory shift that could potentially supercharge the industry.

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@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(02:32) Sponsor - NetSuite | Planful | Subscript

(05:39) From Actor to Management Accountant

(10:25) Brad’s Bold Move to the UK

(13:02) His Journey into Entrepreneurship and Accounting

(16:07) Sponsor - Rippling Spend | Vanta | Tropic

(20:08) Reclaiming the F Word: Failure

(23:37) Communicating Like a Human

(25:42) Acting Lessons for Accountants

(29:49) How to Understand Your Audience

(35:36) Navigating Neurodiversity in Business

(36:35) How to Adapt Your Communication for Founders

(38:30) Why Some Accountants Don’t Make it to the C-Suite

(40:38) Learning to Ask Questions

(43:29) Leadership in Large Companies Versus SMEs or Scale-Ups

(45:24) The UK Versus US Tech Scene

(47:10) Tall Poppy Syndrome in the UK

(51:38) Long-ass lightning round: Do Your Research

(55:14) Advice to Younger Self

(56:15) Finance Software Stack

(56:58) Craziest Expense Story

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