In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast, Gary Lafferty interviews Nick Tietz—Founder of ILT Academy and serial entrepreneur—to uncover why many tech startups struggle to scale and what separates the successful ones.

Nick shares the lessons behind launching 7+ ventures, how underestimated founders can thrive without VC pressure, and why focusing on solving one powerful problem beats chasing massive valuations.

Ideal for tech founders, startup CEOs, and enterprise consultants looking to accelerate growth with clarity, action, and authority.

Episode Highlights:

• The “zero to one” mindset shift every founder must make

• What investors actually look for (and what to avoid)

• How to build a problem-led business instead of a product-first one

• From stuck to scaling: the 4-box clarity exercise

• Why standing out as a tech founder requires building authority, not just expertise

Links: https://iltacademy.io

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicktietz/

https://garylafferty.com

https://growthfocus.io

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startup founder podcast, tech founder advice, startup growth, scaling your business, venture capital, startup funding, ILT Academy, Nick Tietz, Gary Lafferty, The Growth Focus Podcast, entrepreneurship, startup leadership, problem-solution fit, tech consultancy growth