The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this episode, host Gary Fox sits down with Eamon Leonard, the visionary behind Broadstone Baseline and This Next Thing for an inspiring deep dive into the world of impactful event curation, startup investing, and the intricacies of the entrepreneurial journey.

Discover how Eamon, alongside Paul Campbell and Abby Phoenix, masterfully orchestrates transformative events in Switzerland, turning venues like the stunning Grand Hotel Kronenhof into hubs of innovation and connection. Learn the art of crafting memorable experiences where professional networking meets family-friendly atmospheres, offering insights into creating environments that foster genuine, lasting relationships.

Eamon also pulls back the curtain on his approach to early-stage startup investing—sharing how he evaluates founders, their motivations, and their ability to solve problems. Gain a fresh perspective on navigating the crowded AI landscape and spotting real opportunities beyond the hype.

The conversation shifts to the Irish startup ecosystem, where Eamon and Gary explore the role of exited founders, government policies, and what it takes to fuel entrepreneurial ambition locally. They also dive into the pivotal moments of Eamon’s journey from consulting to product development, offering valuable lessons in leadership, conviction, and navigating early-stage ventures.

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure

 

Episode Chapter Timestamps

(00:00) Building Connections (13:21) Creating Memorable Shared Experiences (17:35) Networking at Family-Friendly Tech Event (23:02) Early Stage Investment Strategies and Relationships (32:33) Navigating Startup Ecosystems and Trends (39:25) Irish Startup Ecosystem Challenges and Solutions (49:46) Entrepreneurial Journey and Startup Success (54:48) Founder Reflections on Failure and Resilience (01:00:32) Startup Projects and Global Expansion (01:04:27) Founder Insights on Business Direction (01:15:56) Founder Challenges and Community Support (01:20:55) Navigating Trust and Gray Areas (01:24:26) Exploring Broadstone, Baseline, and Next Thing

Each week, I bring you a new mentor.

This week, your mentor is Alice Carroll, co-founder of Foxes Bow Irish Whiskey.

Today, she teaches us how to dominate an industry, by turning your perceived weakness into a superpower.

Listen to full episode with Alice: https://rebrand.ly/mmalice

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, host Gary Fox sits down with Oonagh O'Hagan, the dynamic founder of Meaghers Pharmacy.

Oonagh shares her inspiring journey from running a single pharmacy to expanding to ten locations in a short span, while also building a thriving online presence.

She discusses the importance of embracing mistakes, fostering a fearless mindset within her team, and continuously learning along the way.

Packed with insights on scaling a business and adapting to change, this conversation is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders alike.

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Each week I bring you a new mentor.

This week, your mentor is former pro golfer Jeff Hopkins, founder of New Dimensions Active.

Jeff gives us an insight into the lessons he learned from the world of professional elite sports and how he applies them to win in the business world. 

To listen to the full episode with Jeff, go back to episode 285. 

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Enter Growing Further Awards Here: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn   Unlock the secrets of thriving in sustainable real estate with industry expert David O'Meara from the Greenman Group and the Growing Further Awards.   From his humble beginnings on a farm to leading innovative supermarket-anchored property investments in Germany, David takes us through his remarkable journey and strategic insights.    Learn how Greenman’s focus pivoted from apartments and auto service centers to supermarkets.   Explore the dynamic landscape of retail strategies and energy solutions, including the concept of reverse charging and its potential impact on supermarkets.   David sheds light on the cultural factors slowing the adoption of online grocery shopping in Germany and the resilience of food retail post-COVID-19. We also tackle the complexities of urban development, the hurdles in converting traditional office spaces, and the striking contrast between urban and rural areas in Ireland, illustrating the ongoing challenges young professionals face in the rental market.   David's ventures go beyond real estate, as we delve into the Growing Further Awards, which champion innovation in sustainability and food supply chains.   Additionally, we reflect on the importance of balancing business success with personal well-being, the transformative power of collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Greenman Group to continually innovate and grow. 

 

--- Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

 *Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

The Founder Formula for success covers six areas.

Today, I give you the six books you must read to master each area.

Watch the video for my full reviews but if you can't wait, here is the full list.

Brain: Atomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/4dUFdHP

Body: Outlive by Dr Peter Attia https://amzn.to/3XrVJbA

Business: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries https://amzn.to/3AX29YF

Finance: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel https://amzn.to/4gkHXjp 

Family/Friends: The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Green https://amzn.to/3zdSqwj 

Fun: Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson https://amzn.to/3ZlICem 

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO 

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure 

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge 

*Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Unlock the secrets to skyrocketing your business sales by leveraging social media with insights from Nadia of Ashford Motors, a powerhouse in the luxury car market.   We delve into why sex still sells, how she uses Instagram to sell and why buying an electric car is a terrible investment.    Nadia left behind a promising finance career to start from scratch as a motor dealer. She soon realised the power of controlling her own marketing and became a social media star. She has 200k followers on TikTok and 114k on Instagram with a weekly audience of millions. 

Nadia opens up about handling online criticism, the value of transparency, and the mental health impacts of being in the public eye.

We learn about the importance of consistency and staying true to your brand, whether you’re creating content, dealing with customer service, or making bold business decisions.

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO 

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure 

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge 

*Use code Fox20 to get a 20% discount with Azure.

Over the last 5 years, I've interviewed hundreds of founders to uncover the founder's formula for success.

I’ve taken the learnings from all my interviews and shaped a framework for success across six key areas.

Brain, Body, Business, Family/Friends, Finances and Fun.

This podcast is about creating experiments for ourselves so that we can devise our ultimate founder formula.

Today's podcast introduces you to The Founder Formula concept and our plan for season 20 of the podcast.

---

Thanks to my season partners

Local Enterprise Office: https://rebrand.ly/EELEO

Azure Communications: https://rebrand.ly/eeazure

Property Bridges: https://rebrand.ly/eepropbridge

*Use code Fox20 to get 20% discount with Azure.

Each week, I bring you a brand new mentor to help you build your own Founder Formula for success.

Today, your mentor is David Hartigan, the founder of Hemp Heros.

He teaches us when to commit everything to your business and give up your safety net.

 Check out the Full Podcast Episode with David Hartigan, CEO of Hemp Heros - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZeJRHBZPSM&t=1727s

 ---

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 to smarter, more efficient public transport systems with our guest, Brian O'Rourke, CEO & co-founder of CitySwift.

From running buses to concerts in Croke Park & Slane, Brian and his co-founder Alan Farrelly, have see all sides of the bus transport infastructure. This led them to strike gold with their idea to unlock the millions of terrabytes of data created by buses each year.

Discover how CitySwift harnesses extensive data analytics to tackle the unique challenges of bus operations, from traffic unpredictability to varying schedules. Learn about the historical reluctance in the public transport sector to embrace innovation and how that mindset is changing, illustrated by a compelling story about a major UK bus company's initial resistance to adopting data-driven strategies.

Explore the balancing act of improving bus schedule accuracy and efficiency, especially in the constantly evolving post-COVID travel landscape. Brian explains the specific challenges private operators face in minimizing delays without causing overcrowding or underutilization of services. Using Transport for Wales as a prime example, we discuss how strategic infrastructure improvements like bus lanes and cutting-edge data analytics are revolutionizing congestion management and bus priority planning.

Get an insider's perspective on the entrepreneurial journey behind CitySwift, from the founders' initial vision of creating an "Uber for buses" to their pivot towards scalable solutions. Hear firsthand accounts of the early days, strategic connections, and crucial decisions that propelled CitySwift forward. Plus, gain insights into the future of sustainable urban transport and the transformative potential of anonymized people movement data in redefining city planning post-COVID. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, public transport, and sustainability.

 ---

Thanks to my Partners - Visit them to support the podcast

Growing Further: https://bit.ly/3Lia2tn

Iconic Offices: https://bit.ly/3vPQAzF