The Hard Truth About Building a $100M Startup ft. Christian Facey (Audiomob)

What does it actually take to build something from scratch, when no one’s watching, no one’s funding you, and the world’s falling apart? In this conversation, Christian Facey, the founder of Audiomob, breaks down the truth behind entrepreneurship, the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and the resilience it takes to survive when everything goes wrong. From losing revenue overnight during Covid to raising millions and leading a global team, he shares the hard lessons most founders only learn the painful way. It’s not about hustle quotes or quick exits, it’s about focus, failure, and finding your own way through the chaos. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something real, this one will hit home. Follow Christian Facey: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-facey/ Website(Audiomob): https://audiomob.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host: I’m Abhinav Sinha, host of “Funds & Founders”, a podcast for Austin entrepreneurs navigating early-stage startups. I explore the highs, lows, and breakthrough moments of local founders through candid conversations. I also sit down with VCs to uncover how they evaluate early-stage companies and share practical insights. I create an intimate space for guests to share authentic stories, inspiring aspiring founders along their journey. Contact me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhinavbsinha/ Newsletter: https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 – Trailer 01:48 – Intro 03:17 – Reflecting on five years and starting again. 05:28 – Why resilience defines successful founders. 07:14 – Staying focused amid constant distractions. 09:32 – Taking risks and embracing failure. 14:28 – The untold struggles behind startup success. 18:53 – Legal lessons from a real founder story. 22:15 – Why founders must understand finance basics. 26:01 – Always know what’s happening in your business. 26:42 – Why relying on contractors doesn’t scale. 29:02 – Learning to let go of failed ideas. 32:07 – How big clients can derail your product. 39:44 – Rebuilding company culture and managing change. 41:28 – Team reactions to cutting back perks. 42:31 – Spotting who’s passionate vs paycheck-driven. 46:01 – Hiring right by setting expectations early. 50:40 – Showing investors adaptability and insight. 54:10 – What he looks for when investing. 54:59 – The mindset shift behind massive growth. 56:11 – Lessons from mentors and mentees. 57:22 – Why fast execution beats big ideas. 58:40 – AudioMob’s potential in mobile gaming ads. #EntrepreneurJourney #StartupLife #FoundersStory #RealEntrepreneurship #BuildFromScratch #ResilientMindset #FocusAndFailure #HustleReality #BehindTheStartup #EntrepreneurMindset