The Founder's Gambit

Ben Furtado walked away from millions as President of Zendrop, one of the fastest-growing ecommerce platforms in the US, after helping 10x revenue and complete a merger… to start from zero on a pre-revenue startup called Moonlite Money.In this episode we get into:

• Why he walked away from millions in salary, bonuses, and equity
• The idea of “strategic luck” and how to actually increase your luck surface area
• How he helped 10x Zendrop by doing fewer things, not more
• Why big companies are just as messy as small ones (and why you should still sell to them)
• The real reason most people fail at dropshipping and side hustles
• What Moonlite Money is, and how it plans to expose scammy “make money online” offers
• How to pivot fast without ego: “marry the problem, date the solution”
• Identity, ego vs self, and finding work you’d do even if you didn’t need the money

If you’re stuck in a “comfortable” job, thinking about your own leap, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of The Founder’s Gambit, Gabriel sits down with John Martin, founder of Paid Ads, a Google Ads agency that has managed campaigns generating more than $100 million in client sales.

John’s journey started in a traditional 9-to-5 marketing job in the UK, where he first discovered the power of digital advertising. After seeing one young digital marketer outperform an entire traditional marketing team, John became obsessed with mastering Google Ads. He taught himself the platform from scratch, began freelancing on Upwork, and eventually quit his job before he was even earning half his salary, trusting he could make it work.

Over the years, John went from taking on free projects to building a global remote agency based in Thailand. He shares how he found his very first client (who’s still with him a decade later), the mistakes he made hiring too early, and why niching down to Google Ads only became their biggest competitive advantage.

In this episode, John opens up about what it really takes to scale a service business without losing your integrity. He explains why most clients come to him after a bad agency experience, the red flags business owners should look out for, and why he refuses to lock anyone into long-term contracts. John also breaks down the biggest mistakes brands make with Google Ads, how AI is reshaping the industry, and why “set and forget” is the fastest path to wasted ad spend.

You’ll also hear John’s thoughts on deep work, remote-team culture, productivity, and building systems that keep clients happy for years. From managing time zones to running an agency from Thailand, he shares the habits and mindset that keep him focused, grounded, and constantly improving.

If you’re an agency owner, freelancer, or operator looking to build a long-term business with trust, transparency, and real results, this episode is full of practical insights, honest lessons, and stories you’ll relate to instantly.

In the very first episode of The Founder’s Gambit, host Gabriel sits down with Michael Gardiner, founder of Done For You Meetings, a B2B lead generation agency he scaled to over $2 million in revenue while traveling to more than 60 countries.Michael started building online businesses as a teenager, accidentally launching his first influencer marketing agency at just 14. Over the years, he’s become an expert in cold email, Upwork outreach, and direct mail, helping B2B companies generate high-quality leads through creative, personalized campaigns.In this episode, Michael opens up about what it really takes to grow a successful lead generation agency in 2025. He shares how he uses social proof to build trust, why direct mail still works better than ever, and how he’s managed to run a multi-million dollar business while living part-time in Thailand and exploring the world.You’ll also hear Michael’s thoughts on the rise of AI in B2B marketing, the importance of networking through masterminds and conferences, and his philosophy on building a business that supports your lifestyle, not the other way around.If you’re an agency owner, entrepreneur, or digital nomad looking to build a profitable business with real freedom, this episode is packed with valuable insights, honest stories, and practical advice from someone who’s done it.