The Entrepreneur Experiment

Michael Dwyer, the founder of Pigsback.com joins Gary Fox on the pod.

In 2019, Michael sold Pigsback for €25 million in cash.

For almost 20 years he survived dot-com crashes and economic turmoil making Pigsback a true Irish e-commerce story.

Michael's career has spanned the international food industry, dotcom entrepreneurship, a book, and now investment and advisory in start-ups, tech and blockchain and, in between, taking on the poker pros.

In this episode you will learn:

• The grit & tenacity it takes to survive in business
• How he battled & beat companies such as Groupon & Grab One
• Why adaptability is the critical skill for success in the online world
• Being early can be fatal if you can't ride out the storm until your time arrives
• How he ended up at the final table of the World Series of Poker! 

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Our mentor today is serial entrepreneur and investor, Brian Caulfield.

Brian started his career with multiple exits in the tech space and is now one of Ireland's best-known venture capital investors.

Today, he teaches us what he looks for in an exceptional entrepreneur and how he spots world-changing startup ideas.

Brian's episode is number 202 if you want to go back and listen to the full conversation.

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Joining Gary Fox on the podcast this week is Ian Browne, the MD of the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) which invests in high-growth companies across Ireland as well as supporting entrepreneurs from the idea stage right up to Series A.

Originally, Ian founded My Surgery Website, a MedTech SAAS business which grew to almost 5000 customers and millions of users before being acquired by NASDAQ-listed Stericycle.

Post-acquisition he helped establish IgniteNI, focused on revitalising the Northern Irish startup ecosystem, strengthening ties with Europe and North America and propelling startups to raise over £100m in venture capital funding. He holds non-exec and chairman positions at venture-backed companies and is an angel investor.

In this episode we learn:

• How fear holds people back from their full potential
• What Ian looks for before investing in a founder
• How to spot a great market opportunity
• The power of storytelling as a founder
• How to take and give feedback at a high-level.

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In 2018, Ciaran Mulligan sold his company, Blue Insurance for a reported €70 million. The entrepreneur is now a serial investor & adventurer! 

As our mentor today, he teaches us the value and power of following your gut and being true to your convictions.

Ciaran taught me so much about the power of being open to change & adapting rapidly in the ever-shifting landscape of business. 

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Andy Noonan is festival director, curator and owner of Big Grill, Me Auld Flower and Baste (soon to be Scorchio).

He started out life in events as a DJ and nightclub promoter at the age of 16. Since then he has successfully organised Europe's Biggest BBQ & Food Festival, Big Grill, Baste a BBQ catering & events company 

In this episode, we explore a huge variety of topics including:

• The complete guide to developing a festival
• The harsh reality of why most food businesses flop
• Is it possible to make a food business profitable in 2023?
• How Irish people's culinary tastes have changed
• Why Covid altered peoples festival going behaviour
• The cult of the BBQ & why he believes it's an emerging trend
• Why you must give people an Instagram-worthy experience now

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In the Lab today, I share my experience of speaking at The Wealth Summit last week and give you a breakdown of the talk I delivered.

I've studied and identified the 4 traits that all top-level entrepreneurs have and the dark passengers they carry as a result of having those traits.

Essential listening for founders who want to improve their self-awareness.

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Don't build a CV, build a portfolio.

Today's mentor is Barry Lunn, serial entrepreneur and founder of Provizio.

He teaches us today there is no single path to becoming an entrepreneur. Pursue your passions, work hard and just keep going.

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Aidan is a self-confessed accidental entrepreneur.

He led Voxpro, the highly successful outsourcing company founded by well-known entrepreneurial husband and wife duo, Dan & Linda Kiely, until their sale for $150 million in 2019.

Aidan was taking a well-deserved sabbatical when the world changed. Covid happened and inspiration struck. His former business model of filling offices with customer service agents could be reimaged for the remote world.

His company Otonomee, has never had an office and never will. Their entire business lives online and in the homes & hot desks of their customer service agents all across the world.

This is a story that defines business in 2023.

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Music by Andrew Applepie

In the Lab today, I reveal the results of my latest experiment.

In April, I took 23 entrepreneurs & set them a challenge. They must exercise for 30 minutes for the 30 days of April. 

To hold each other accountable, they must update a Whatsapp group each day.

The winner who did it without fail, would win €500 and develop a new core habit.

So how many people completed the challenge and rebuilt their relationship with exercise? Find out on today's pod/ 

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Music by Andrew Applepie

Serial entrepreneur John Tuohy, gives us a masterclass today in finding & executing brilliant business ideas.

Ideas are worth nothing without execution and your mentor today gives you the blueprint on both finding new ideas & then putting a rapid plan in place to make them happen.

If you've been struggling to come up with your first idea or you have the idea but no plan on how to make it a reality, today's episode is for you.

John built Nightline & ParcelMotel before selling to UPS in 2017. His latest venture is called OOHPOD. 

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Music by Andrew Applepie