Founders Unplugged

By Greg McCallum

Founders Unplugged is a web series capturing long-form conversations with founders, entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world.... more

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FAQs about Founders Unplugged:

How many episodes does Founders Unplugged have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.

Founders Unplugged episodes:

June 18, 2025Why Big Companies Can't Compete With Focused Startups w/ Vasilis Stoidis - Part Two
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
If you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them.
🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In Part Two of this conversation, Greg McCallum and Vasilis Stoidis, founder of 7L International, go beyond business tactics to explore the philosophy and responsibility of entrepreneurship.
From reframing legacy as responsibility to unpacking how startups should approach market targeting and feedback, this is a thoughtful and practical guide to building a business that matters—without losing your edge.

🎧 In this conversation:
The balance between self-care and societal contribution
Why focusing on value always beats chasing vanity
The pitfalls of vague messaging and spray-and-pray marketing
How to use early sales conversations to define your ICP
Why specificity is the growth hack no one talks about
The symbiotic relationship between sales, marketing, and product
How to create honest messaging without being off-putting
If you're navigating the messy middle of startup building, this one will help you reset and refocus.

🔗 Follow Vasilis StoidisLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stoidis/
🌐 Learn more about 7L International → https://7linternational.com/

💬 Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
44min
June 16, 2025The 10X Rule: How Successful Startups Solve Problems w/ Vasilis Stoidis - Part One
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
If you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them.
🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In this episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Vasilis Stoidis, serial tech founder and CEO of 7L International, to break down what separates real innovation from noise.
From navigating generational shifts to staying relevant in the age of AI, Vasilis brings a clear-eyed, first-principles view to building products that actually solve problems—at scale.

🎧 In this conversation:
Why your solution must be 10X better, not just different
How to build long-term value in fast-changing markets
Why creativity can derail focus if left unchecked
The real reason free speech and pluralism matter in business
Ethics, space tech, and the psychology behind enduring companies
How complacency, not competition, kills most startups

Whether you’re building, scaling, or just trying to avoid the same traps as others—this one hits deep.

🔗 Follow Vasilis Stoidis
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stoidis/
🌐 Learn more about 7L International → https://7linternational.com/

💬 Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
1h 4min
June 11, 2025AI Agents vs. Human Sales Teams: Finding the Balance w/ Frank Sondors - Part Two
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
If you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them.
🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In Part Two, Greg McCallum sits down again with Frank Sondors, CEO of Salesforge, to explore the next phase of AI in sales—and the looming question: Where do humans still fit?
From the rise of autonomous agents to the loss of nuance in hyper-efficient systems, this episode explores the delicate balance between scale and soul in the modern sales stack.

🎧 In this conversation:

How AI agents are changing the shape of sales teams

Agent-to-agent communication and the future of workflows

Why companies should focus on data quality, not just quantity

The danger of removing too much friction from customer interactions

What “human intuition” still does better than any model

Where AI companies (like 11x) are pushing boundaries—and hitting limits

The real future of AI isn’t automation—it’s orchestration
Whether you’re building with AI or adapting to it, this is a must-listen for anyone in sales, tech, or leadership.

Follow Frank Sondors
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksondors/
Explore Salesforge → https://www.salesforge.ai/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
52min
June 09, 2025Building a $3M Business in 4 Months with AI Sales Agents w/ Frank Sondors - Part One
Sponsored by FounderCatalystIf you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them.🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

What happens when you apply ruthless efficiency, strategic delegation, and AI-powered SDRs to a broken sales model?
You get Salesforge.ai—and a startup that scaled to $3M ARR in four months.

In this episode, Greg McCallum sits down with Frank Sondors, CEO of Salesforge, to unpack how he’s building a smarter, leaner sales machine—and how founders can apply the same thinking to their teams, tech stack, and time management.

🎧 In this conversation:

Why sales is broken—and how AI can fix it

Delegation, dopamine, and building around founder energy

How consultants can outperform full-time hires

SEO, brand, and content as levers for compounding growth

The challenges of SaaS pricing and how to stand out

What makes an A-player in sales—and how to scale them

If you're a founder, sales leader, or just tired of bloated teams and slow growth—this one’s for you.

Follow Frank Sondors
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksondors/
Explore Salesforge → https://www.salesforge.ai/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
1h 1min
June 04, 2025Why Understanding 'Why' Matters More Than 'How' in the AI Era w/ Olivier Soucy - Part Two
Sponsored by FounderCatalystIf you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them. 🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

Why Understanding 'Why' Matters More Than 'How' in the AI Era w/ Olivier Soucy – Part Two
In Part Two, Greg McCallum and Olivier Soucy, founder of Okube, explore the evolving role of developers in a world dominated by AI tools and LLMs.
This episode isn’t just about new technology—it’s about a shift in mindset. From over-reliance on automation to the quiet erosion of creativity in software, Olivier breaks down what’s really happening under the surface of today’s hype cycle.

🎧 In this conversation:
Why soft skills now matter more than technical fluency
The looming risk of homogenised software and cookie-cutter products
How data mismanagement derails innovation before it starts
The impact of AI agents on business operations
Why developers must stop chasing “how” and start understanding “why”
And the real risk of replacing vision with automation
If you’re building, hiring, or just trying to stay relevant in this next wave of AI-native development, this is essential listening.

Follow Olivier Soucy:LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/olisoucy/Explore Okube → https://www.okube.ai/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
1h 3min
June 02, 2025From Building Flight Simulators to Data Engineering w/ Olivier Soucy - Part One
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
If you're raising capital in the UK, don't do it without them.
🎯 Get 5% off their services → https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

Olivier Soucy went from building helicopter flight simulators to designing open-source data tools that engineers actually want to use.

Now the founder of Okube and creator of Lactory (an open-source ETL framework), Olivier joins Greg McCallum to share his transition from specialist to product builder—and why he values community, clarity, and clean documentation over rapid monetization.

From crypto trading failures to open-source culture, this episode dives deep into the real-world decisions behind technical product development.

🎧 In this episode:

Leaving the flight simulation industry behind

Why data engineers are more essential than ever

The tough balance between consulting and product building

How open source changes the rules of engagement

Why “useful” beats “fundable” when you’re building for devs

What actually went wrong with that crypto trading bot

This one’s for the builders, tinkerers, and technical founders trying to keep their product focused and their freedom intact.

Follow Olivier Soucy:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/olisoucy/
Explore Okube → https://www.okube.ai/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
53min
May 28, 2025How PodPlay Reached $1.5M ARR with No Sales Team w/ Ben Borton - Part Two
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
Get 5% off their services via this link:
https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In Part Two, Greg McCallum sits down again with Ben Borton—Co-Founder of PodPlay—to unpack how a content-first go-to-market strategy helped them grow to $1.5M in ARR without a sales team. Ben shares how PodPlay’s user-initiated video replay feature created viral momentum, the role fun plays in both product design and mission, and why franchising is their next big bet.

🎧 In this conversation:

How replay tech became part of the club culture

Turning short-form video into inbound demand

Why PodPlay chose content over cold calls

Fundraising lessons from Sequoia and beyond

Scaling vertically by solving real estate problems

Balancing customer happiness with ruthless prioritisation

Franchising as a model for community-led growth

Lessons learned from mistakes in locations and roadmap

This is a rare look at what it takes to grow a vertical SaaS platform from scratch, build a movement around joy and autonomy, and rethink how people play.

Follow Ben on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/borton/
Check out PodPlay:
https://podplay.app/
Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
49min
May 26, 2025How Autonomous Technology Is Changing Sports Venues Forever w/ Ben Borton - Part One
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
Get 5% off their services via this link:
https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In this episode, Greg McCallum is joined by Ben Borton—Co-Founder of PodPlay Technologies—to explore how autonomous, tech-driven venues are reshaping the way people play and connect through sports. Ben shares his unexpected journey from cultural criticism and hedge funds to building a vertically integrated SaaS platform powering venues like PingPod, Sharks, and more.

They dive into the origin story behind PodPlay, the explosion of pickleball, and why removing staff from sports clubs isn’t a drawback—it’s a strategic advantage. From self-service models to video-enabled replays and licensing out the platform, this is the future of sports infrastructure.

🎧 In this conversation:

How table tennis sparked a startup

The cultural importance of sports and shared stories

Launching a physical venue just before the pandemic

Why autonomous venues work better for customers

How pickleball became a nationwide phenomenon

Using tech to drive community, content, and scale

Why the “human touch” isn’t always a good thing

The early vision behind licensing PodPlay to other industries

This is a conversation about building something niche, sticky, and scalable—and doing it with purpose, creativity, and precision.

Follow Ben on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/borton/

Check out PodPlay:
https://podplay.app/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
58min
May 21, 2025Finding Product Market Fit Across Borders with Esteban Quintero - Part Two
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
Get 5% off their services via this link:
https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In Part Two, Esteban Quintero returns to share the tough lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey—building a ticketing platform that scaled fast but collapsed during the pandemic, navigating legal and compliance issues, and learning how to start again stronger. That reset led to his latest venture, Abroad—a payment solution designed for travellers facing cashless systems abroad.

From crypto payments to QR-code challenges in Latin America and Southeast Asia, Esteban explains why some problems haunt you until you solve them—and why many founders walk away from comfort to chase them down.

🎧 In this episode:

Building software after success in ecommerce

Selling 5,000 tickets in one minute—and what went wrong

Legal landmines in fintech and lessons learned

How travel pain points inspired Abroad

The myth of job security vs. the founder mindset

Learning to lead teams across age and experience gaps

Why young founders must let the product do the talking

Staying resilient and optimistic through the chaos

This is a story of reinvention, conviction, and the creative madness that keeps founders moving forward—no matter how many times they’ve had to start again.

Follow Esteban on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinteroesteban/

Check out Abroad:
https://www.abroad.finance/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
54min
May 19, 2025Spotting Market Gaps: How Esteban Quintero Built a $1M Business at Age 20 - Part One
Sponsored by FounderCatalyst
Get 5% off their services via this link:
https://2ly.link/1zDIJ

In this episode, Esteban Quintero—serial entrepreneur and founder of Abroad—shares how he turned a curiosity for tech and a passion for travel into a $1M smartphone business while still at university. From selling toys as a child in Colombia to launching global ventures across Asia, Europe, and Latin America, Esteban breaks down how he finds market gaps, builds fast-moving businesses, and navigates the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

🎧 In this conversation:

How Esteban started selling ice cream and electronics as a kid

What led him to build a 7-figure smartphone import business

The importance of market research and identifying emerging demand

His personal journey through challenges, relocations, and failures

Why the UK became his base for global business

How he’s transitioned to passive income—and what’s next

This is a candid and inspiring conversation about grit, growth, and global thinking from a founder who’s just getting started.

Follow Esteban on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinteroesteban/

Check out Abroad:
https://www.abroad.finance/

Book a free 1-hour advisory session with host Greg McCallum:
https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/meetings/gmccallum?uuid=c8f5cecd-0222-4c6e-92d1-ea9f224a60fd
...more
1h 1min

FAQs about Founders Unplugged:

How many episodes does Founders Unplugged have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.