The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with one of Ireland’s most recognisable business voices, Bobby Kerr — founder of Perk, former CEO and Chairman of Insomnia, investor, broadcaster, and champion of Irish enterprise.Bobby shares his remarkable journey from starting his first business at 39 — remortgaging his house with a newborn at home — to building Insomnia into over 800 locations across Ireland through smart partnerships, relentless drive, and a willingness to bet on himself.He reveals the lessons learned from navigating the arrival of Starbucks, the power of merging with competitors to scale, and why focusing on multiple revenue streams saved the business more than once. Bobby also opens up about selling in 2018 after a cancer diagnosis, the freedom he’s designed for himself since, and the businesses exciting him today, from Bread 41 to Irish tourism.Whether you’re an early-stage founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Bobby’s story is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and knowing when to play the long game.Show NotesIn this episode, we cover:☕ How Bobby spotted Ireland’s coffee culture shift before it happened🏪 The first Perk café on Grafton Street — and why a turnover-based rent deal was a game-changer📉 Surviving Starbucks opening next door (and why it helped sales)🤝 The three-way merger that became Insomnia — and why owning 30% of something bigger was better than 100% of his own📈 Growing from 5 cafés to 200+ shops and 600 convenience store locations💡 Creating three revenue streams: high street, concessions, and convenience retail🛑 The importance of multiple revenue streams to de-risk a business⚡ Why Bobby sold in 2018 after recovering from cancer🍞 Why Bread 41 is his “most exciting” current project🌍 Opportunities in Irish tourism and the bakery market🎯 What he looks for when backing founders (and why it’s “the jockey, not the horse”)📚 Bobby’s top book recommendations, daily habits, and best investment adviceLinks & ResourcesBread 41 – Award-winning Irish bakery: https://bread41.ie/Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred LansingThe Spider Covenant by Brian Klein----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

Áine Kerr is an award-winning journalist and serial entrepreneur, co-founding Storyful and Kinzen. She shares her unique journey from teaching to tech entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of resilience and radical transparency. Áine dives into the emotional rollercoaster of startups, detailing her experiences with both companies' acquisitions by major players. She emphasizes creating purpose-driven businesses, the significance of high-performing teams, and finding one's 'why' to inspire meaningful change in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Fran Quilty, co-founder and CEO of Conjura, shares insights on navigating the e-commerce landscape. He discusses the shift from consulting to a scalable product, emphasizing AI's role in analytics and business operations. The conversation highlights the importance of focusing on core products and the rise of marketplaces in driving revenue. Fran sheds light on the evolving consumer behaviors post-COVID and stresses the need for data integration in decision-making. He offers valuable advice for founders aspiring to thrive in a competitive marketplace.

Barry Napier's journey is anything but ordinary. He transitioned from trading phones globally to founding Cubic Telecom, which he sold for €473 million. His insights on resilience shine as he navigated the challenges of mobile network building. A pivotal moment came with a partnership with Tesla, propelling the company into new markets like China and Hong Kong. This narrative is a masterclass in grit, strategic vision, and relentless execution.

Kevin O’Loughlin, founder and CEO of Nostra, shares his inspiring journey from being €1M in debt to leading a tech giant that serves over 1,000 businesses. He discusses how a recession led him to self-reflection and the importance of personal discipline in his comeback. O'Loughlin highlights the transformative power of AI in enhancing efficiency while retaining company values. He also emphasizes daily meditation, visualization, and the need for robust cybersecurity, offering profound insights for entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty.

In this weekend's Mentor Moment, Conor Sheridan, founder of Nory, shares the mindset shift that helped him go from startup operator to scaling a global restaurant tech company.From embracing boldness in a culture that often discourages it, to mastering the underrated power of “the next logical step,” Conor breaks down the thinking that led to raising $26 million and building a 10-year roadmap.This is a must-listen for any founder struggling with imposter syndrome, over-planning, or self-promotion. It’s also a reminder that telling your story with conviction isn’t arrogance - it’s your biggest marketing opportunity.Want more? Listen to the full episode [Ep. 389].—-Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1---Visit my partnersEnterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIrelandAzure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEENostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

Dive into the world of AI bookkeeping as Ross and David unveil Outmin's groundbreaking journey! They tackle the art of navigating funding, raising €4M while rejecting vanity metrics. With a focus on automating bookkeeping, they share insights on competitive advantages through data and the importance of robust testing. Discover how they transformed accounting and the role of AI in business, making complex tasks easier and more efficient. This discussion blends personal health insights with powerful entrepreneurial lessons!

In this Mentor Moment from Episode 372, David O’Meara, CEO of Greenman Group, unpacks the surprising reality of post-COVID retail: traditional supermarkets aren’t just surviving—they’re evolving. While many predicted the death of brick-and-mortar retail with the rise of e-commerce, David explains why food retail continues to thrive, especially in Germany where shopping habits, cost-conscious consumers, and smart infrastructure keep people coming back in person.He also touches on the bigger picture: how sustainability is shaping the future of retail real estate. From carbon capture tech to smarter building design, Greenman is betting on supermarkets not just as shops, but as future-proof community assets.This clip is a must-listen for anyone in retail, property, or future-focused business strategy.—-Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1---Visit my partnersEnterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIrelandAzure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEENostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Cait and Cillian, the powerhouse duo behind Luxury Exchange - the Irish-born fashion resale platform that’s redefining pre-loved luxury.From humble beginnings selling designer pieces on Instagram between her shifts at Brown Thomas, Cat grew her side project into a business projected to do over €4 million in turnover this year. Joined by her fiancé and co-founder Cillian, the pair share a raw and inspiring look at what it really takes to scale a customer-first business - from running daily Instagram Lives to bootstrapping every aspect of growth with zero external funding.They open up about the early mistakes (hello, 10% commission), pivotal turning points like their first €6k live sale from a holiday home in Waterville, and the relentless work ethic that powers their mission today. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or operator wondering how to build a cult brand through trust, taste, and total obsession with your customer, this one’s for you.-----Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1---Visit my partnersEnterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIrelandAzure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEENostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this Mentor Moment from The Entrepreneur Experiment Episode 378, Luke Joyce shares how he’s transformed the traditional window cleaning business using technology, subscriptions, and automation. Luke reveals his vision to scale nationwide, break into the UK, and ultimately build systems that could apply to any home service — all while solving pain points and staying miles ahead of the competition.-----Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1---Visit my partnersEnterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIrelandAzure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEENostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo