Startups Decoded S2E18: Stop Running Your Startup Like a Hobby. Build It to Sell. With Luke Tobin
Startups Decoded - Presented by Morrison Foerster - mofo.com.
Luke Tobin has built seven businesses across hospitality, e-commerce, and agencies. Three exits. One of them: an eight-figure agency sale that started with £100, no funding, and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome.
Today, Luke sits at the messy intersection of founders, capital, and exits, backing businesses, fixing broken agency models, and coaching operators to turn self-doubt into fuel instead of friction.
In this episode, we get brutally practical on what actually drives profitable growth, why most agencies never become exit-ready, how to price for margin (not ego), and why thinking like a buyer early changes everything. This is an operator conversation, not “founder vibes”. If you want a business that works without you sweating through every Monday, press play.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Exits
- 10:31 The Journey of Building and Selling Businesses
- 19:14 Structuring for Success: Frameworks and Control
- 22:02 Uncovering Unique Value in Startups
- 23:27 Prioritizing Impactful Outcomes
- 25:39 Balancing Human Intelligence and AI
- 27:25 Effective Automation Strategies
- 29:06 Navigating Growth Stages in Business
- 31:56 The Importance of Agility in Startups
- 34:09 Cultural Dynamics in Team Growth
- 37:32 Hiring Smart: The Founder’s Dilemma
- 39:31 Investment Insights and Founder Evaluation
Luke Tobin is a founder, investor, and operator with three exits and seven businesses built across hospitality, e-commerce, and agencies. He scaled his most recent agency from £100 to an eight-figure exit in five years with no external funding.
Today, he’s the founder of Unusual Group, owner of Tobin Capital, partner at A-Frame Venture Studio, and author of The Success Method newsletter read by 100,000+ founders weekly. Luke advises founders on pricing, operations, hiring, and exits with a relentless focus on building businesses that actually work.
Who Should Listen
- Agency owners who want better margins (and a real exit path)
- Founders dealing with imposter syndrome while scaling
- Operators building without funding and without delusion
- Investors who care about operator-led growth
- Anyone who wants the real playbook behind profitable businesses
Access All Areas.
- Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTube
- Subscribe: Substack
- Community & Events: Founders Circle
- Connect: LinkedIn
- Socials: TikTok || Instagram || X
- Web: startupsdecoded.com
Music Credit