Duncan built a broadband company from the worst point in his life - and most founders won't tell you a story like this one.

After burning out running his first business, Duncan was diagnosed with anxiety and depression just as lockdown hit. During a broken therapy session - interrupted by the very broadband provider that had been overcharging him for months - he decided to build something better. That became Brillband, a Glasgow-based broadband provider built around fairness and transparency.

In this episode, Duncan talks about what it took to raise £670k pre-revenue, why he thinks VC funding is the wrong path for most founders, and what it actually felt like to sell the business he'd poured everything into - walking away with nothing.

This is a founder conversation about mental health, resilience, investment mistakes, and what success really means.

With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl.

dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products,with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection.This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl's Founder,Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community.

Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

Jared Keir, founder of Fellow Humans, joins Focus on Founders to discuss building a global community movement designed to tackle modern loneliness through real-world events.

From growing up near Glasgow to launching events across 20+ cities, Jared shares how rejection, travel, and self-reflection led him to build a business centred around connection.

This episode explores:

• The loneliness epidemic
• Community as a scalable business model
• Founder resilience and mindset
• Scaling events internationally
• Why belonging is becoming the next major industry

Hosted by Matthew Adams.

With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. 

dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. 

Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

Joshua Adams started a tutoring business at 17 while still in school.

In this episode of Focus on Founders, we break down:

• How to start a tutoring business as a teenager
• Getting your first paying clients
• Building trust with parents
• Managing school and business
• Lessons from launching an education startup

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, tutoring, or starting a business young, this episode gives a realistic breakdown of what it takes.
With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. 

dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. 

Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

Adam Stewart, founder of Waves the Agency, joins Focus on Founders for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to build a marketing agency - without pitching, cold outreach, or traditional networking.Adam didn’t set out to start a business. He fell into social media at 17, built relationships before he understood their value, and quietly created an agency powered by collaboration, community, and trust - not funnels or sales scripts.In this episode, Adam breaks down the parts of agency life most founders don’t talk about.We cover:- Why Adam removed his own name from his agency - and why it was necessary- How Waves grew without ever pitching a single client- Why most networking events feel empty (and what actually works instead)- The hidden downside of personal-brand-led businesses- Why founders struggle to say no and when it finally becomes possible- The biggest mistake brands make on social media: posting without community- Why time freedom, not money, is the real end goal- How collaboration replaced competition in Adam’s business modelYou’ll also hear how:- Early freelance work with media brands shaped his entire career- COVID accelerated the agency faster than any strategy ever could- One relationship changed the trajectory of Waves almost overnight- Most founders massively underestimate the long-term value of genuine connections🎧 Focus on Founders goes beyond surface-level success - exploring how businesses actually work behind the scenes.👉 Subscribe for weekly founder conversations👉 Share this episode with a founder who’s tired of playing the “sales game”Guest: Adam Stewart - Founder, Waves the AgencyHost: Matthew AdamsWith thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

What does it really take to build a modern consumer brand?

In this episode of Focus on Founders, Matthew Adams sits down with Ricardo Napolitano, co-founder of 2B Tanned, to unpack a founder journey defined by risk, resilience, and radical honesty.

Ricardo shares how he went from growing up with very little, struggling in school, and rejecting traditional work, to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing social commerce brands. Along the way, he survived heart failure after being told he had just one year to live, an experience that permanently reshaped how he views money, time, and success.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The real story behind scaling 2B Tanned through influencers and TikTok Shop
• The viral moment that took daily orders from double digits to the thousands
• Why early success destroys more businesses than failure
• How to spot real opportunities - and when to say no
• The realities of working with family as co-founders
• What founders should focus on if they want to build something that lasts

This episode isn’t about overnight success or motivational soundbites. It’s about how businesses actually work, the mistakes founders don’t talk about, and the mindset required to keep going when everything is on the line.

If you’re an aspiring founder, early-stage operator, or experienced business owner, this episode will make you think differently about how you build.

With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

What happens when the one thing you’ve built your identity around disappears overnight?

In this episode of Focus on Founders, host Matthew Adams sits down with Marc O’Brien - serial founder and the force behind Make It Happen, MOBO Sports Arena, and MOBO Sports Academy - to explore the reality of rebuilding from zero and creating momentum when there’s no obvious path forward.

Marc was on the verge of turning professional as a footballer when a career-ending back injury forced him to walk away from the sport entirely. With no degree, no plan B, and no clear direction, he had to start again - entering the corporate world before eventually building multiple successful businesses across sport, education, and consultancy.

This conversation goes far beyond surface-level motivation. Marc shares the behind-the-scenes decisions, frameworks, and mindset shifts that helped him turn setbacks into systems - and why execution, not ideas, is where most founders fall short.

In this episode, we explore:
• Losing your identity and starting again from scratch• How elite sport mindset translates into business execution• Why most founders don’t fail - they stall• Building and scaling multiple businesses in parallel• The realities of building a business with family• Clarity, road-mapping, and accountability as growth drivers• Why motivation is overrated and systems matter more• Cutting through overwhelm in early-stage and scaling businesses

Marc also breaks down the philosophy behind Make It Happen - a practical approach to helping founders and operators gain clarity, focus on what matters, and actually follow through. Drawing on years of consulting experience, elite sport psychology, and real-world business building, his work is grounded in integrity, discipline, and long-term thinking.

This episode is for founders, operators, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want honest insight into how businesses really work - not just the wins, but the pivots, doubts, and execution required to keep moving forward.

🎙 About the podcast

Focus on Founders dives deep into the journeys of business founders across marketing, technology, and services - exploring the behind-the-scenes details of how businesses actually operate. Each episode aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs while offering practical insight to those already building.

Guest: Marc O’Brien - Founder, MOBO & Make It Happen
Host: Matthew AdamsWith thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

What does it really take to leave a successful corporate career and build a brand from nothing?

In this episode of Focus on Founders, Matthew Adams sits down with Fraser Wilson, founder of dussl, a fast-growing UK skincare brand redefining simplicity, UV protection, and gender-neutral skincare.

Fraser opens up about:

• ​ Walking away from a high-level corporate role
• ​ Burnout, pressure, and the mental reality of founding
• ​ Building a product-based business from day one
• ​ Naming, branding, and finding real consumer insight
• ​ The hidden work founders never post on Instagram
• ​ Why resilience matters more than motivation

Focus on Founders goes beyond the highlight reel - exploring how businesses actually work, and what it truly means to be a founder.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, aspiring founders, and operators building something of their own.

With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl.

dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community.

Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

In this episode of Focus on Founders, we sit down with Gareth Sandler, Founder & CEO of ORRJO, to break down how he bootstrapped a B2B sales and marketing business to seven figures in annual recurring revenue in under three years.About Gareth:Gareth Sandler is the Founder and CEO of ORRJO, a B2B sales and marketing organisation based in Glasgow and London. Since launching in 2022, he has grown the business from a one-person consultancy into a 25+ strong team, supporting 30+ clients across 11 countries, with international expansion planned for 2026.In this conversation, we unpack:- How Gareth transitioned from operator to CEO- Scaling a B2B agency without external funding- Building a high-performance sales and delivery model- Hiring, leadership, and culture at speed- The mistakes, lessons, and decisions that mattered most

This episode is for founders, agency owners, and B2B operators looking to scale sustainably without burning out their team or their culture.Hosted by Matthew Adams.

With thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl.Dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. Dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community.Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.

In this episode of Focus on Founders, host Matthew Adams sits down with Aditya Mahapatra, founder of Augmentum Media, to unpack the real journey behind building a 7-figure health & wellness influencer management agency before the age of 21.

Aditya’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin with a business plan — it began with a serious injury that forced him to question his future, his identity, and what came next. That turning point led him to build an agency now working with global brands including Lululemon, Huel, Nestlé, Fabletics, and Fussy.

In this conversation, we go beyond surface-level success and talk honestly about:
– Starting a business at a young age
– Turning adversity into momentum
– Building and scaling a creator-led growth agency
– Operating in the health & wellness space
– Leadership, pressure, and staying in the game as a founder

Aditya is a two-time Scottish EDGE winner, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a TEDx speaker, regularly sharing insights on youth entrepreneurship, leadership, and building meaningful businesses from scratch.

This episode is for first-time founders, agency owners, and anyone navigating change while trying to build something they genuinely care about.

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