The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this insightful discussion, venture capitalist DC Cahalan shares his journey from entrepreneur to a key player in Ireland's startup scene. He reveals the strong community ties underpinning Irish entrepreneurship and highlights the role of Enterprise Ireland in supporting growth. DC addresses the evolving work-life balance for entrepreneurs and the impact of the pandemic on business practices. He also shares wisdom on funding strategies, emphasizing the importance of community and networking while navigating the complexities of the venture capital landscape.

I am joined by the distinguished Professor Stephen Kinsella, a leading economist with a deep understanding of the Irish economy. Professor Kinsella brings Economics 101 to our founders, answering the pressing questions on how the economy operates, the intricacies of inflation, and the practical implications for businesses. Whether you're an early-stage founder or an established entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on navigating economic cycles, understanding monetary policies, and optimising your business strategies in 2024 and beyond. Tune in to learn how to keep your business thriving amidst changing economic conditions and leverage economic principles to your advantage. Stephen is Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Limerick's Kemmy Business School, Co-Director of Immersive Software Engineering and Economic Advisor to An Taoiseach, Simon Harris. --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Your Mentor Moment this week is with Ian Browne. Ian Browne is the MD at NRDC. In this episode, we learn the key secrets to turning ideas to reality by truly understanding your customer problems. --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Special episode with Paul Grewal, the Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase. I've been a user and fan of Coinbase since 2016 so to get the opportunity to sit down with Paul was incredible. We talk about why Ireland is perfectly placed to become a global fintech & crypto hub.  We also do a deep dive into the broader crypto world.  This was recorded at Dublin Tech Summit with a live audience.  --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Today our mentor is Ciaran Crean the co-founder of MicksGarage.com and WaveOMS. We discuss whether Ireland is simply the wrong place to start certain types of businesses.  To hear the full interview with Ciaran, go back to episode 243.  --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF  

Unlock the secrets of entrepreneurial success and personal growth with Andy Mackin, the founder of the Mackin Group.  In this engaging episode, Andy shares his incredible journey from a Navy officer global entrepreneur. Discover how calculated risks, a growth mindset, and celebrating small wins can transform your business trajectory, no matter where you start. Listen to Andy as he takes us through the pivotal moments of founding and scaling his business. He opens up about the challenges of transitioning from a solo entrepreneur to managing a team, the importance of nurturing client relationships, and the unforeseen adventures of international expansion.   Andy’s candid reflections on balancing personal health and business demands, leveraging external perspectives, and understanding the true value of tasks will provide invaluable insights for any business owner. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of personal development icons and the power of consistent daily routines.   Andy discusses how works by Richard Branson, Darren Hardy, and Tony Robbins have influenced his journey, and shares his own practices for maintaining mental and physical well-being. As we wrap up, Andy teases exciting future projects, making this episode not just a treasure trove of knowledge, but also an anticipation-filled look at what’s to come. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!     --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Your mentor today is Aidan O'Shea, the co-founder of Otonomee. He is going to teach us how to build a fully remote company from the ground up. We cover everything from hiring to sales. If you are struggling to adapt to hybrid working or want to improve your remote company, this is for you. If you want to listen to the full episode, go to episode 253. --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Gary Lavin is the founder of VITHIT, Europe's leading health drink.  In this episode, Gary reveals how he grew the brand from going door to door in Ireland to now selling over 50 million bottles per year. He shares his founder philosophy, marketing secrets and why he believes VITHIT could not be started in 2024. From a bootstrapped tiny business to a global leader taking on and beating massive corporations, Gary's story will inspire and motivate you to do great things!  --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Today, our mentor is Dan Fox, the founder and CEO of Johnson Hanna.  He walked away from life as a barrister to disrupt the entire legal industry. By applying a layer of tech & leverage, Johnson Hanna are forging an entirely new career path for legal professionals worldwide. His lessons is around raising money and why he thinks you should always take the money if you can. Johnson Hanna has raised €15 million and is backed by AIB.  --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF

Barry Napier joins Gary Fox for a deep dive interview on his founder formula for success. Barry sold 51% of his company, Cubic Telecom, for €473 million in November 2023. This valued the company at over €900 million or over $1 billion dollars. He reveals how he secured deals with Audi and Tesla, which transformed Cubic's direction. His story is not just about financial success but about the grit and determination required to achieve it. We hear Barry's leadership philosophy and how he executes on a strict roadmap based on accountability and clarity.  This episode is the perfect mix of actionable advice and inspiring anecdotes for anyone on the entrepreneurial path. --- Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF