The Hidden Hustle Podcast

The $180 million Irish tech company you may never have heardof but one that helped revolutionise mobile phone billing worldwide from Park West in Dublin 12.

In this episode, we sit down with Joe Hogan, founder of Openet, to hear the incredible 22-year rollercoaster journey of building one of Ireland’s biggest tech success stories before Openet sold the company to NASDAQ-listed Amdocs for $180 million in 2021.

Joe explains how Openet solved the complex challenge of mobile data billing, winning major global contracts with companies like AT&T and Vodafone. At its peak, Openet grew to $110 million in revenue with 86 customers worldwide, competing against some of the biggest telecom giants through elite engineering talent and relentless innovation.

We discuss:

• Building Openet from startup to global telecom leader.
• Winning massive contracts with AT&T and Vodafone.
• Why Joe never became CEO and stayed focused on product.
• Scaling a company relied on by hundreds of millions daily.
• A 7-year gruelling legal battle with NASDAQ listed Amdocs, before eventually selling to them a few years after the legal battle was settled.
• Nearly floating on NASDAQ before Facebook disrupted the market.
• Nearly selling Openet for $360 million in 2014… twice the valuation it eventual sold for!
• The difficult decision to lay off 110 staff.
• Joe’s investments in Irish startups across space tech, food, and automotive sectors.
• His role as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year judge and what he’s learned from Ireland’s top founders.

Links & resources:

Openet: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openet/?originalSubdomain=ie

Follow Joe on Linkedln: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joehogansocial/

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Description

We had a brilliant conversation on the podcast with Connor McCandless from Energystore a company transforming construction through innovative insulation products that help homes stay warmer, more energy efficient and quicker to build.

Connor shared the incredible journey of scaling the familybusiness from £4M turnover to £50M, expanding into the US market, completing 5 acquisitions, and navigating the challenges that come with rapid growth while still protecting the culture that made the business successful in the first place.

What stood out most was the balance between ambition andhumility. From supplying products used in major projects like Battersea Power Station, Fulham FC Stadium and Everton Stadium, to helping tackle the housing crisis with innovative R&D-led products that allow homes to be built moreefficiently. The growth story is remarkable.

We also discussed:

• Running a business through a global pandemic and two global wars
• His first big sale that he made but never got paid for!
• Why becoming a parent made Connor more efficient as a leader
• The challenge of professionalising a family businesswithout becoming a “big corporate”
• How luck both good and bad has played a huge role inEnergystore’s journey

A fascinating conversation about leadership, resilience,innovation and building a business that still feels personal, even at scale.

Show Notes

• Energystore designs and manufactures insulation systems for floors, walls and roofs to improve energy efficiency in buildings 
• Connor helped scale the business from £4M turnover to £50M
• The company expanded operations into the United States and his plans for the US.
• Energystore products have been used in projects including Battersea Power Station, Fulham FC Stadium and Everton Stadium.
• Their R&D team is developing products that helphousebuilders deliver homes faster and more efficiently.
• The business has completed 5 acquisitions under Connor’s leadership.
• Connor discussed the reality of integrating acquisitionswhile maintaining company culture.
• Energystore successfully navigated the challenges ofCOVID, supply chain disruption and geopolitical instability.
• Becoming a father helped Connor become more focused and efficient with his time.
• Despite major growth, Connor is determined toprofessionalise the business without losing the family-business feel that made it successful in the first place.

Links & resources:

Energystore: https://www.energystoreltd.com/

Follow Connorr on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-mccandless-03918322/

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Imagine not listening to your customers. That’s exactly whatmost companies are doing online.

This week, we sat down with Stephen O’Leary, Founder and CEO of Olytico—a company that has spent the past 17 years helping brands truly understand what’s being said about them online.

Stephen is also an ex-President of the Dublin Chamber ofCommerce and sits on Advisory Boards and Committees for Munster Rugby and the GAA.

After this conversation, you won’t look at your social mediastrategy the same way again.

For nearly two decades, Olytico has helped companiesworldwide refine their strategies by listening to, monitoring, analysing, and reporting on online conversations—insights that most brands completely overlook.

Here’s the reality: if you’re only paying attention to whatcustomers say in response to your posts, you’re missing up to 90% of the conversation.

In today’s digital landscape, understanding your audiencemeans going far beyond likes and comments. In this episode, Stephen breaks down how social media listening unlocks real business value—sharing practical insights and real-world examples from companies like Monzo, WHOOP, and Dovethat are using it to gain a competitive edge.

The good news? With the help of Olytico companies of all sizes can take advantage of these insights.

Social media listening isn’t just about tracking mentions—it’s about understanding conversations, identifying opportunities, and ensuring your customers feel heard. Done right, it allows brands to connect with people who are actively looking for what they offer—even if they do not know they exist yet.

If social media is part of your company’s strategy, this is not an episode you can afford to miss.

Show Notes

• Overcoming early challenges.

• The importance of Dublin Chamber of Commerce in the early years.

• How hiring a coach changed the trajectory of both the company and Stephen personally.

• The value of the Irish Entrepreneurs community.

• Effective social media strategies.

• Listening to customer needs online to drive innovation.

• How Monzo, WHOOP, and Dove use social listening to stay ahead.

• The positive side of social media.

• A year as President of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

• The evolution of social media beyond the “old guard” .

• The untapped opportunity in platforms like Reddit.

• Stephen’s vision for Olytico over the next five years.

Links & resources:

Olytico: https://olytico.com/

Follow Stephen on Linkedln: ⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenoleary/ 

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

What does it really take to build a billion-dollar business from the ground up?Description

We recently sat down with Phillip McGlade, whose journey from one clinic to building Thérapie Clinics into Europe’s largest aesthetic provider is packed with lessons for anyone looking to grow a business, lead a team, or think bigger.

Phillip shares his ambition to create a billion-dollar global business, with plans to open 200 more locations in the coming years while proudly flying the Irish flag internationally.

But this conversation is about far more than growth numbers. It’s about spotting opportunities when others hesitate, scaling during difficult times, learning from mistakes, building loyal teams, and knowing when the right time is to expand. Some of Thérapie’s biggest moves came during recessions, with 25 clinics opened during COVID and 24 more the year after.

If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, leader, or someone with big ambitions, this episode will give you real insight into what it takes to grow successfully in uncertain times.

One reminder from Phillip that everyone needs to hear: every business starts small.

Tune in for a conversation full of practical lessons, honest advice, and big-picture thinking.

Show notes

• How Thérapie became the largest aestheticprovider in Europe
• Current footprint: 85 clinics worldwide acrossIreland, the UK, and the US
• Why some of the biggest growth happened duringthe recession and after COVID
• Opening 25 clinics during COVID and 24 moreimmediately after
• The importance of spotting opportunities whenmarkets are uncertain
• Lessons and mistakes from expanding at speed
• Why businesses should dominate their home marketbefore going international
• Rising demand for treatments like Botox and theshift in consumer trends
• Thérapie’s impact beyond aesthetics as Ireland’slargest fertility provider, helping create thousands of families
• Growth of Optilase in laser eye and cataractsurgery
• Leadership stories of team members who joined in2008 and now lead major operations
• Why every entrepreneur should remember: everybusiness starts small.

Links & resources:

Thérapie Clinic: ⁠https://careers.therapieclinic.com/⁠

Follow Philip on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-mcglade-03699840/

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/

linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with PaulMerriman and this one is packed with practical advice every Irish ear needs to hear.

Why is over €180 billion sitting idle in deposit accounts?

Are you making the most of the Small Gifts Exemption?

What’s actually the smartest way to invest €10k right now?

And… are Irish banks quietly costing you more than youthink?

In this episode, we get into the real conversations peopleoften avoid:

– The hidden risks of borrowing money

– The biggest financial mistake Irish people keep making

– Pension vs investment what actually makes sense for you

– And why that “go-to” property purchase might not be thesafe bet you think it is

– Simple Financial Planning wins

This is honest advice you can actually use.

If you’re trying to make smarter financial decisions (andavoid costly ones), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Links & resources:

Fairstone: https://www.fairstone.ie/

Follow Paul on Linkedln: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merriman-...

Follow on all the socials – AskPaul.ie 

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Description

We recently had an incredible sit-down with Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland and founder of AskPaul.ie.

We’ve split the conversation into two episodes, and this week’s release focuses on Paul’s incredible journey building his business.

From not making it past Rag Week in college to now running a business managing €3 billion in assets, employing 250 people, and operating across 60 offices.

Paul shares how the AskPaul brand was central to that growth, and why personal branding played such a pivotal role in his success. He also speaks honestly about the criticism he faced early on for doing things differently and why he stuck with it anyway.

We dive into how he went on to dominate the financial planning space in Ireland (almost without realising it), which ultimately led to Fairstone acquiring the business a deal that, as Paul tells it, handshakes were made after a few drinks in Asador.

Next week’s episode shifts gears into practical advice about everyone about investing, mortgages, pensions, rent vs buying, why €180 billion is sitting in deposits in Ireland, and how to approach investing your first €10k.

Show notes

• Paul’s journey from not making it past Rag Week in college to managing €3 billion in assets, leading a team of 250 people across 60 offices

• Why personal branding was a game-changer and how AskPaul became the foundation of his success

• The reality of the grind working from 6am to 1am every day during Covid to meet demand and scale the business

• Facing criticism and industry “stick” early on for doing things differently and why he ignored the noise

• How passion for what you do, combined with consistently doing the right thing, compounds over time

• The story behind the sale of the business

• Why Fairstone was the right fit and how alignment in values/vision played a key role in the decision to sell

• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

• Dealing with rejection and setbacks, and using them as fuel rather than barriers

Links & resources:

Fairstone: https://www.fairstone.ie/

Follow Paul on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merriman-cfp%C2%AE-48152b17/

Follow on all the socials – AskPaul.ie

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/

linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Alex Fox and Johnson Hana have fundamentally changed the legal industry in Ireland.

We had an incredible conversation with Alex Fox, Co-Founder of Johnson Hana and now General Manager of Eudia, which acquired Johnson Hana for $50 million in July 2025.

Alex shares how he left his sales job after recognising alongside his brother that the legal industry was broken. What followed was a challenging early journey, including the struggle to land their very first customer.

He explains how the company went from strength to strength, achieving 50–100% year-on-year growth from inception through to acquisition.

Alex also discusses his strong belief in raising as much funding as possible, and how that process forces founders to develop a wide range of critical skills.

This is a real Irish success story and a must-listen for anyone looking to build, scale, and disrupt an industry.

Show Notes

• How he quit his sales job to pursue the idea behind Johnson Hana

• How they leveraged UK business models to disrupt the Irish legal industry

• The role of funding in their journey featuring both major setbacks and big wins

• How to scale a company at speed

• The importance of key mentors throughout the Johnson Hana journey

• The acquisition, and why Eudia was the perfect fit

• Some extremely interesting and unconventional answers in our “Question for the Road” segment

Links & resources:

• Eudia: https://www.eudia.com/

• Follow Alex on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-fox-473b4bb4/

Our Sponsors:

• Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/

linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Sometimes you need to fire your entire management team…including yourself.

Meet the man who successfully stepped out of his ownbusiness.  Going from working long hoursevery week to becoming the “1-Hour CEO” by completely rebuilding his management team.

Paul Ryan is the CEO of Temple and EDL, an 8-figure datacommunications and electrical distribution business he started with his fatherover 40 years ago.

Today, Paul helps entrepreneurs work on themselves — what he calls “The Inner Entrepreneur.” He teaches business owners how to step back from day-to-day operations, build a strong leadership team, and refocus on what truly matters — so they can create both a better business and a more fulfilled life.

Paul is also a fellow podcaster. His podcast, The InnerEntrepreneur, has over 20,000 subscribers.

This episode is packed with perspective shifts onleadership, culture, and how to build a great business while being fulfilled in life.

Show notes

• Overview of Paul’s Business Ventures
• Early Years and Growth of Temple and EDL
• The Decision to Fire Himself and 4 out of 5 ofhis management team
• Building a Strong Management Team
• Cultural Fit and Hiring Practices
• Addressing Bad Behaviour and Culture in Business
• His current role being the 1-hour CEO
• The Importance of Fulfilment
• Understanding Unique Personal Drivers
• How Paul helps other CEO’s step away and becomefulfilled
• Investment Strategies for a Fulfilled Life
• Becoming a podcaster
• The Role of Meditation in Daily Life

Links & resources:

Temple Connectivity: https://www.temple.ie/

EDL: http://edl.ie/

Follow Paul on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ryan-9a98774/

Follow Paul on Twitter: https://x.com/paulryanwrites

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/

linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Introduced to us by the legend Paul McCarthy, who described him as a ‘National Treasure’, Denis O’Reilly more than lived up to the title.

Denis is the founder of Wild Wicklow Tours, ranked second globally on TripAdvisor and number one in Ireland before selling it to Tony Doyle Coaches in 2023. But what truly sets him apart is how he has channelled that success into meaningful, lasting social impact.

Through Difference Days, Denis partners leading organisations such as Smurfit Kappa, Aer Lingus, SMBC Aviation Capital and many more with DEIS and Special Needs schools to deliver transformational improvements from revitalised classrooms to restored gardens. Every DEIS school in Ballymun has benefited, and in partnership with Dublin City Council, he mobilised 300 volunteers to create a brand new community park in Dolphins Barn.

During Covid, after learning that many children were going hungry, Denis launched Good Grubs, delivering up to 5,000 fresh food packs per week. To date, more than 750,000 packs have been distributed nationwide. He also founded Outdoor Spaces where he currently works, creating safe outdoor learning environments that continue to support schools across the country.

This is a powerful conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the real impact business can have on communities.

Show notes

- Denis built Wild Wicklow Tours into a globally recognised tourism brand.

- Entrepreneurship can be a powerful vehicle for social change.- Difference Days connects corporate teams with schools that need support most.

- All DEIS schools in Ballymun have benefited from the initiative.

- Large-scale community projects are possible through strong partnerships.

- Good Grubs was created in response to child food poverty during Covid.

- Over 750,000 fresh food packs have been delivered to schools nationwide.

- Outdoor Spaces continues to provide long-term educational impact.

- Business, when guided by purpose, can create lasting societal change.

Links & resources:

https://wildwicklow.ie/

https://differencedays.ie/

https://outdoorspaces.ie/

https://www.goodgrub.ie/

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

Our Sponsors:

Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/

linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

This week’s guest is Dr Harriet Treacy, Founder and CEO of Beyond BMI, tackling one of Ireland’s biggest health challenges: obesity, a chronic disease affecting 1 in 3 adults and costing the state over €2 billion each year.

Beyond BMI is a medically led, science-backed online weight management programme for those struggling with Obesity.

Harriet’s journey began while working in emergency medicine, where she saw first-hand the lack of support for obesity and the many chronic diseases it causes.

Frustrated by the system, Harriet built a comprehensive and holistic weight loss solution that has already helped thousands of people achieve real, lasting results.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The global obesity crisis 🌍

• Why weight loss education often misses the mark 📚

• A comprehensive weight loss approach, including Ozempic 🩺

• The benefits of Ozempic when used correctly 💉

• How social media shapes our view of health 📱

• Pivoting her original business idea with guidance from mentor John Purdy 🔄

• Funding and strategic growth 💼

• Real-life customer success stories 🌟

• Hiring the right team using psychometric testing 🧠

• Different leadership styles 👥

• A masterclass in understanding your own weaknesses 🎯

• Future growth plans, including expansion into the UK 🇬🇧

• Ozempic myths and truths 🚫✅

A must-listen for anyone interested in tackling one of the world’s biggest chronic disease challenges.

This week’s guest is Dr Harriet Treacy the Founder and CEO of Beyond BMI - tackling a chronic disease effecting every 1 in 3 adults in Ireland, Obesity.

Beyond BMI is a scientifically and medically backed online weight management programme led by doctors.

A staggering stat of every 1 in 3 adults in Ireland have obesity costing the state directly 2 billion a year!

This incredible story started while Harriet was working as a doctor in emergency medicine and how frustrated she became with the lack of support for Obesity while seeing the other chronic diseases it was causing for patients.

Harriet has created an amazing comprehensive weight loss solution struggling with obesity designing a holistic approach to loosing weight. With thousands of incredible success stories. In this episode, we dive into:

• The global health problem of obesity

• How education around weight loss is often wrong

• Comprehensive weight loss solution using Ozempic

• The benefits of Ozempic if used correctly

• Social media influences public perception of health.

• Pivoting from her original business idea with the advice from a great mentor John Purdy

• Funding and strategic growth

• Real life customer success stories

• Hiring the right team using psychometric tests

• Different forms of leadership

• A master class of being aware of your weaknesses

• Future growth plans including expanding services and tackling the UK.

• Ozempic myths and truths.

A must listen for those interested in solving one of the worlds biggest chronic disease problems.

Links & resources:

Beyond BMI: https://beyondbmi.ie/

Follow Dr Harriet Treacy on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-harriet-treacy-36580695/

Our Sponsors:Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy