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On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Jonathan Aberman, Founder and CEO of Hupside, a venture capitalist turned entrepreneur who has spent more than 25 years helping launch over 40 technology companies and advising founders on what separates good businesses from truly exceptional ones.
LEVEL 2: $1M-$3M Dollars. First Teams, First Systems
After decades investing in innovation, Jonathan returned to the founder's seat with a bold mission: to prove that in a world increasingly powered by AI, the greatest competitive advantage isn't artificial intelligence, it's human originality.
We asked him whether AI is really replacing people, why originality is becoming the most valuable business asset, the common traits shared by successful founders, why self-awareness matters more than confidence, and what it takes to build a company that stands out instead of blending in.
Let's dive in,
With Jonathan Aberman:
If you're a founder, entrepreneur, business owner, or anyone trying to understand how AI will reshape business over the next decade, this episode is packed with practical insights, thought-provoking ideas, and a refreshing perspective on why humans still matter most.
Connect with Jonathan Aberman:
Website: https://www.hupside.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanaberman/
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Miranda McLennan, Founder of Those Who Dare Agency and what many would call the queen of reinvention.
Level 1: STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE: $0M – 1M
After spending more than 15 years building businesses across hospitality, fashion, aviation, construction and business consulting, including co-founding an award-winning restaurant in the Italian Dolomites, Miranda has built a career by saying yes to opportunities, trusting her intuition, and reinventing herself whenever life called for it.
Today, she's launching Those Who Dare Agency, helping creators, brands and media personalities build meaningful long-term commercial partnerships while proving that sometimes the biggest opportunities come when you take the leap before you're ready.
We asked her about pivoting careers, walking away from successful businesses, building community, launching a business prematurely, and why having great people around you matters more than having the perfect plan.
Let's dive in,
With Miranda McLennan:
If you're a founder who's considering a pivot, waiting for the perfect time to launch, or wondering whether it's too late to reinvent yourself, this episode will give you the confidence to back yourself and take the next step.
Connect with Miranda McLennan:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/miranda-mclennan-2039b6166
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Darragh de Stonndún, CEO of Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR), a global automation company with more than 550 people across the US, UK, and Ireland.
Darragh is doing business at Level 7: $500M-$1B - The Global Expansion Stage
Over the past 25 years, Darragh has helped transform AIR from a collection of regional engineering businesses into a global automation platform. Today, he’s leading the company through its next phase of integrating acquisitions across multiple countries, embracing physical AI, and preparing for a future where the data generated by industrial robots could become more valuable than the robots themselves.
We asked him about scaling a company across borders, why AI doesn’t scare him, the biggest mistakes businesses make when adopting new technology, and how leaders can build organisations that thrive without them.
Let’s dive in,
With Darragh de Stonndún:
Connect with Darragh de Stonndún:
Website: https://industrialrobotics.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/darraghdestonndun
If you're a founder, business owner, leader, or simply curious about where AI, robotics, and manufacturing are heading, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, innovation, and scaling a business on a global stage.
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
On today's episode of The Business Game, we're sitting down with Yega Kumarappan, Founder and CEO of Paperflite, an AI-powered sales enablement platform helping enterprise sales teams close deals faster through intelligent content, conversation and deal insights. Over the past eight years, Yega has built a global SaaS company by staying ahead of rapid technological change... and he's convinced that in the AI era, your product is no longer your competitive advantage.
As artificial intelligence makes it possible for almost anyone to build software in days instead of months, Yega believes the real winners won't be the companies with the best technology – they'll be the ones who can distribute it the fastest. He shares why founders need to stop obsessing over features, embrace the "boring work" of execution, and build organisations that can move as quickly as technology itself.
We asked him about scaling a SaaS company in the AI era, why distribution has become more valuable than product, how leadership changes as companies grow, and why the future belongs to founders who can execute faster than everyone else.
Let's dive in,
with Yega Kumarappan:
Connect with Yega Kumarappan:
Website: https://www.paperflite.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yegakumarappan/
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Simon Bowen, founder of The Models Method and creator of the Genius Model, a visual thinking framework used in more than 30 countries to help founders, leaders and organisations make complex ideas simple, scalable and impossible to ignore.
After growing up in small country towns in Western Australia and spending decades consulting on billion-dollar infrastructure projects, military operations, government initiatives and corporate strategy, Simon discovered that the fastest way to align people, influence decisions and scale ideas isn't through more words... it's through better models.
We asked him about visual thinking, why most businesses struggle to communicate what makes them valuable, how founders can make their thinking scalable, and why the future belongs to leaders who can simplify complexity in a world increasingly dominated by AI.
Let’s dive in,
With Simon Bowen:
If you're a founder, business owner or leader trying to communicate more effectively, scale your thinking, or build a business that isn't dependent on you being in every conversation, this episode is packed with practical lessons on influence, leadership, communication and making your genius visible.
Connect with Simon Bowen:
Website: modelsmethod.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
Starting a business with $200 is impressive.
Rebuilding it three separate times after devastating setbacks is something else entirely.
In this Throwback Thursday episode of The Business Game, Dave Feinman shares the lessons behind scaling his video editing business Viral Ideas into a global creative venture with more than 90 employees. From losing 80% of his revenue overnight to building systems that allow creativity to scale, Dave explains why operational complexity – not finding customers – is the real challenge of growth.
If you're building a team, creating systems, or learning how to lead through increasing complexity, this conversation is full of practical advice you can apply immediately.
Let's dive in
with Dave Feinman:
Connect with Dave Feinman
Website - https://www.viralideamarketing.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-feinman-7a069255/
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
Level 5: $30M-$100M
Executive Layer and Division Growth
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Robert Indries, Managing Partner of Elkridge Advisors. Robert is an engineer turned powerhouse entrepreneur who has generated more than $500 million in business value, built a diverse parallel portfolio of companies, and successfully executed an eight-figure exit from an AI venture.
Robert’s path wasn't built on the typical "Instagram entrepreneur" fantasy. From growing up on a small Transylvanian farm to hitting absolute rock bottom, eating one Subway sandwich a day with only $100 left to his name. Robert learned the hard way that business operates on cold, hard math, not wishful thinking. Today, he looks at the world like a motherboard, designing systems with absolute redundancy so businesses can thrive entirely without him.
In this episode, Robert cracks open the playbook on Level 6 business growth, sharing why he views life and operations through a binary lens: it's either a one or a zero, there is no gray area.
Lets dive in,
With Robert Indries:
Whether you’re looking to untangle your operations, transition from operator to true owner, or figure out how to scale dozens of cross-border acquisitions a year, Robert’s unfiltered, mathematical approach to business excellence will fundamentally change how you view your company.
Connect with Robert Indries
Website - https://elkridgeadvisors.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertindries/
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
#TheBusinessGame #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SystemsEngineering #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ScalingBusiness #FounderMindset #AssetManagement
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
LEVEL 1: $0M-$1M
START UP AND SURVIVAL STAGE
In this episode of The Business Game, we sit down with Matthew Nowell, founder of MPAC Property Group, RentFinder Australia, and a new building company focused on cashflow positive investments.
Matthew shares how he had a $250,000 leadership role in the mining industry before making the life-changing decision to leave it all behind at 39. He opens up about the mindset that helped him embrace uncertainty, why he believes failure is one of the greatest teachers in business, and how networking, integrity and a long-term approach have fueled the rapid growth of his business.
We also dive into the changing property investment landscape, why Matthew believes cashflow-positive investing is the future, and the lessons he's determined to pass on to his children about backing yourself and creating your own path.
Whether you're thinking about changing careers, building a business from the ground up, or looking for a fresh perspective on property investing, you don't want to miss this episode.
Let’s dive in,
With Matthew Nowell:
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to The Business Game and leave us a review. New episodes every week featuring founders and business leaders sharing the lessons they've learned at every level of the game.
Connect with Matthew Nowell:
Website: https://www.mpacpropertygroup.com.au/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthew-nowell-93a05491
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
Level 3: $3-$8M
DELEGATION AND EARLY LEADERSHIP
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Phil Ohren, Founder and CEO of Intender, a growth marketing agency on a mission to make advertising useful, not annoying.
Like many founders, Phil spent years chasing growth, building teams, serving clients, and pushing for the next milestone. But behind the scenes, he found himself facing something he never expected: burnout so severe it left him with writer's block, strategy block, and a growing realisation that his identity had become tied to external validation.
In this episode, Phil shares the lessons that came from that experience, including why he believes many entrepreneurs are unknowingly people-pleasers, how learning to let go transformed his leadership, and the advice from a mentor who told him he was operating like "a genius with a thousand helpers". A mindset that simply doesn't scale.
Let’s dive in,
With Phil Ohren:
• Why founder burnout often starts with seeking validation from others
• The leadership shift required to stop being the bottleneck
• Why Phil would build a CRM before writing vision and values
• The power of accountability frameworks inside growing businesses
• How being "neuro-spicy" became one of his biggest strengths as a founder
• Why curiosity is a competitive advantage in business
• The future of AI and why Phil believes robots will transform advertising
• How small, consistent wins compound into massive growth over time
Whether you're trying to scale a business, build a stronger leadership team, or avoid the mistakes that lead many founders to burnout, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest reflections from someone who's lived through it.
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
Send us Fan Mail
LEVEL 4: $8M - $20M
GROWING PAINS AND OPERATIONAL COMPLEXITY
On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Skye Blanks, Chief Operations Officer at the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and founder of Herman Todd Consulting Group, to unpack what it really takes to grow a business beyond founder hustle and into something that can scale sustainably.
At this stage of the game, the challenge isn’t just getting customers or staying busy, it’s about building systems, delegating effectively, creating strategic partnerships, and turning a founder-dependent business into one that can operate without you in the room.
In this conversation, Skye shares how he built credibility as a young executive operating on the global stage, what small business owners consistently get wrong when they hit a growth plateau, and why the businesses that scale fastest are the ones willing to think beyond their industry, their local market, and their own four walls.
Lets dive in,
with Skye Blanks:
If you’re a founder trying to move from being the person who does everything to the person who leads a business that can grow, this episode will give you a clear look at what needs to change next.
Connect with Skye Blanks:
Website: https://icsb.org/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/skyeblanks
The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88
This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Support the show
Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business.
Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap.
For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework?
Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com
It's time to Level Up!
We’ll see you at the next level.
From the publisher's feed
The Business Game
The Business Game is not another highlight reel of overnight success. It is a structured, honest breakdown of what it really takes to build, scale, and…
We built The Business Game around a simple truth: business changes as revenue changes. The problems at $500K are not the problems at $5M. The mindset at $5M is not the mindset at $50M. That is why every conversation is grounded in our 10-Level framework, from Level 1 Startup and Survival through to Level 10 Legacy and Exit.
If you are:
• Trying to get your first consistent revenue
• Building your first real team
• Breaking through the messy middle
• Scaling toward eight or nine figures
• Or preparing for exit
There is an episode that meets you where you are.
Hosted by Steve Plummer and Kalena Stano, who speak to founders operating at every stage of the game. No gatekeeping. No hype. No recycled advice. Just real numbers, real mistakes, real strategy, and real decisions that moved the needle.
Each week, we publish two episodes every Monday and Thursday at 6pm AEST, featuring global founders, operators, and investors who break down what actually works at their level and what does not.
The Business Game exists to give you clarity. To help you identify your current level. To show you the moves required to reach the next one.
Because scaling is not random. It is a game. And every level has different rules.
Find your level. Play it properly. Then level up.
Watch video episodes on YouTube and explore more at thebusinessgamegroup.com