The Leap by Founders Collective Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-leap-by-founders-collective The Leap is a podcast for founders, creatives, and career-shifters who are bold enough to start something of their own. Hosted by Gavin Tye, each episode dives into the real stories behind people who’ve taken the leap...from launching startups and scaling side hustles to pivoting careers with purpose. Through candid conversations with early-stage founders, innovators, and changemakers, we explore the messy middle of entrepreneurship: the fears, breakthroughs, lessons, and mindset shifts that come with building something meaningful from the ground up. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or already deep in the trenches, The Leap will leave you feeling inspired, informed, and ready to take your next big step. © 2026 Gavin Tye 1862ee3d-340f-57cd-873f-b4615d19fd5d no en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:48:53 +1000 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:49:19 +1000 https://founderscollective.com.au/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/vYjyQbaJ4HZApQ7aSAyUDh6rIDjpS5jmlMOF2whxyOo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jYWFk/YWM5NTRkYTJiYTlm/NTRlNGVkMDVjZTdm/ZmNiYS5wbmc.jpg The Leap by Founders Collective https://founderscollective.com.au/ episodic Gavin Tye The Leap is a podcast for founders, creatives, and career-shifters who are bold enough to start something of their own. Hosted by Gavin Tye, each episode dives into the real stories behind people who’ve taken the leap...from launching startups and scaling side hustles to pivoting careers with purpose. Through candid conversations with early-stage founders, innovators, and changemakers, we explore the messy middle of entrepreneurship: the fears, breakthroughs, lessons, and mindset shifts that come with building something meaningful from the ground up. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or already deep in the trenches, The Leap will leave you feeling inspired, informed, and ready to take your next big step. The Leap is a podcast for founders, creatives, and career-shifters who are bold enough to start something of their own. entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business SixSides No No From homeless at 16 to building global communities with CJ Josic 12 12 From homeless at 16 to building global communities with CJ Josic full 48d0aafb-cff4-4790-9735-cf503aeeee9c https://share.transistor.fm/s/09c7c524 In this episode, Gav sits down with CJ (Craig Josic), a lifelong connector, entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, to unpack a journey that starts with homelessness at 16 and evolves into building thriving founder communities across Australia and beyond. 

CJ shares how connection, community, and a “give first” mindset became the foundation of everything he does - from launching Silicon Coast to now building an innovation powerhouse aimed at creating 100 companies worth $100 million each.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  CJ’s early life and becoming homeless at 16 
  •  The role of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people 
  •  Why connection and community are the real unfair advantage 
  •  The “give first” philosophy and how it compounds over time 
  •  Lessons from building and losing a business 
  •  Why founders shouldn’t go it alone 
  •  The importance of signal vs noise in decision making 
  •  Building Silicon Coast and creating a startup ecosystem 
  •  The evolution into Innovation Powerhouse 
  •  AI, community, and the future of human connection 
  •  Procurement opportunities and scaling Australian businesses 
  •  Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs 
  •  Legacy, family, and building generational impact 
  •  Why collaboration is the new competition 

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

CJ's links

Craig Josic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjosic/
Innovation Powerhouse: https://www.innovationpowerhouse.org
Global Entrepreneurship Network: https://www.genglobal.org/
Queensland AI Hub: https://www.qldaihub.com/
FWDFest: www.fwdfest.co


]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with CJ (Craig Josic), a lifelong connector, entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, to unpack a journey that starts with homelessness at 16 and evolves into building thriving founder communities across Australia and beyond. 

CJ shares how connection, community, and a “give first” mindset became the foundation of everything he does - from launching Silicon Coast to now building an innovation powerhouse aimed at creating 100 companies worth $100 million each.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  CJ’s early life and becoming homeless at 16 
  •  The role of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people 
  •  Why connection and community are the real unfair advantage 
  •  The “give first” philosophy and how it compounds over time 
  •  Lessons from building and losing a business 
  •  Why founders shouldn’t go it alone 
  •  The importance of signal vs noise in decision making 
  •  Building Silicon Coast and creating a startup ecosystem 
  •  The evolution into Innovation Powerhouse 
  •  AI, community, and the future of human connection 
  •  Procurement opportunities and scaling Australian businesses 
  •  Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs 
  •  Legacy, family, and building generational impact 
  •  Why collaboration is the new competition 

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

CJ's links

Craig Josic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjosic/
Innovation Powerhouse: https://www.innovationpowerhouse.org
Global Entrepreneurship Network: https://www.genglobal.org/
Queensland AI Hub: https://www.qldaihub.com/
FWDFest: www.fwdfest.co


]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:42:38 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3475 In this episode, Gav sits down with CJ (Craig Josic), a lifelong connector, entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, to unpack a journey that starts with homelessness at 16 and evolves into building thriving founder communities across Australia and beyond. 

CJ shares how connection, community, and a “give first” mindset became the foundation of everything he does - from launching Silicon Coast to now building an innovation powerhouse aimed at creating 100 companies worth $100 million each.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  CJ’s early life and becoming homeless at 16 
  •  The role of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people 
  •  Why connection and community are the real unfair advantage 
  •  The “give first” philosophy and how it compounds over time 
  •  Lessons from building and losing a business 
  •  Why founders shouldn’t go it alone 
  •  The importance of signal vs noise in decision making 
  •  Building Silicon Coast and creating a startup ecosystem 
  •  The evolution into Innovation Powerhouse 
  •  AI, community, and the future of human connection 
  •  Procurement opportunities and scaling Australian businesses 
  •  Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs 
  •  Legacy, family, and building generational impact 
  •  Why collaboration is the new competition 

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

CJ's links

Craig Josic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjosic/
Innovation Powerhouse: https://www.innovationpowerhouse.org
Global Entrepreneurship Network: https://www.genglobal.org/
Queensland AI Hub: https://www.qldaihub.com/
FWDFest: www.fwdfest.co


]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No From burnout to balance - Wayne Gerard’s founder journey 11 11 From burnout to balance - Wayne Gerard’s founder journey full daa0d37e-a144-4369-bf1c-83d9f4c5629b https://share.transistor.fm/s/ee182463 In this episode, Gav sits down with Wayne Gerard to unpack his ongoing founder journey - from army officer to building RedEye, one of Australia’s early enterprise SaaS companies, through to becoming an active investor and launching new ventures like My Planner and Cetana. 

This is not a story about what was - Wayne is still very much in the journey, continuing to build, evolve and back other founders while navigating the realities of business and life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, the pressure it entails and how it can impact your health if you're not careful. 


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  Why Wayne is still in the journey - evolving from founder to investor while continuing to build 
  •  Wayne’s early career in the army and transition into tech 
  •  The moment he decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship 
  •  Early business failures and lessons on timing and co-founder alignment 
  •  The origin story of RedEye and identifying a real market gap 
  •  What it was like building enterprise SaaS before cloud was widely adopted 
  •  The reality of founder pressure, burnout and panic attacks 
  •  Raising capital and the hidden toll it takes 
  •  Why founders must stop being the product to scale 
  •  Building a repeatable sales engine in enterprise SaaS 
  •  The difference between a demand problem and a sales problem 
  •  How to think about risk and make better decisions as a founder 
  •  The importance of deep customer relationships 
  •  Lessons on leadership, delegation and letting people grow 
  •  Why most startups are just apps - not real businesses 
  •  The transition from founder to investor and what changes 
  •  What makes a great founder in today’s environment 
  •  How AI is reshaping SaaS and enterprise sales 
  •  The importance of balancing health, wealth and longevity 
  •  What keeps Wayne motivated across multiple ventures 

Wayne Gerard:


]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with Wayne Gerard to unpack his ongoing founder journey - from army officer to building RedEye, one of Australia’s early enterprise SaaS companies, through to becoming an active investor and launching new ventures like My Planner and Cetana. 

This is not a story about what was - Wayne is still very much in the journey, continuing to build, evolve and back other founders while navigating the realities of business and life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, the pressure it entails and how it can impact your health if you're not careful. 


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  Why Wayne is still in the journey - evolving from founder to investor while continuing to build 
  •  Wayne’s early career in the army and transition into tech 
  •  The moment he decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship 
  •  Early business failures and lessons on timing and co-founder alignment 
  •  The origin story of RedEye and identifying a real market gap 
  •  What it was like building enterprise SaaS before cloud was widely adopted 
  •  The reality of founder pressure, burnout and panic attacks 
  •  Raising capital and the hidden toll it takes 
  •  Why founders must stop being the product to scale 
  •  Building a repeatable sales engine in enterprise SaaS 
  •  The difference between a demand problem and a sales problem 
  •  How to think about risk and make better decisions as a founder 
  •  The importance of deep customer relationships 
  •  Lessons on leadership, delegation and letting people grow 
  •  Why most startups are just apps - not real businesses 
  •  The transition from founder to investor and what changes 
  •  What makes a great founder in today’s environment 
  •  How AI is reshaping SaaS and enterprise sales 
  •  The importance of balancing health, wealth and longevity 
  •  What keeps Wayne motivated across multiple ventures 

Wayne Gerard:


]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:38:51 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3457 In this episode, Gav sits down with Wayne Gerard to unpack his ongoing founder journey - from army officer to building RedEye, one of Australia’s early enterprise SaaS companies, through to becoming an active investor and launching new ventures like My Planner and Cetana. 

This is not a story about what was - Wayne is still very much in the journey, continuing to build, evolve and back other founders while navigating the realities of business and life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, the pressure it entails and how it can impact your health if you're not careful. 


If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  •  Why Wayne is still in the journey - evolving from founder to investor while continuing to build 
  •  Wayne’s early career in the army and transition into tech 
  •  The moment he decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship 
  •  Early business failures and lessons on timing and co-founder alignment 
  •  The origin story of RedEye and identifying a real market gap 
  •  What it was like building enterprise SaaS before cloud was widely adopted 
  •  The reality of founder pressure, burnout and panic attacks 
  •  Raising capital and the hidden toll it takes 
  •  Why founders must stop being the product to scale 
  •  Building a repeatable sales engine in enterprise SaaS 
  •  The difference between a demand problem and a sales problem 
  •  How to think about risk and make better decisions as a founder 
  •  The importance of deep customer relationships 
  •  Lessons on leadership, delegation and letting people grow 
  •  Why most startups are just apps - not real businesses 
  •  The transition from founder to investor and what changes 
  •  What makes a great founder in today’s environment 
  •  How AI is reshaping SaaS and enterprise sales 
  •  The importance of balancing health, wealth and longevity 
  •  What keeps Wayne motivated across multiple ventures 

Wayne Gerard:


]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Backing yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed with John Webster 10 10 Backing yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed with John Webster full bc900739-5bbe-4e14-aaf1-5d2b8b929f8f https://share.transistor.fm/s/f2b5cab2 John Webster joins Gavin Tye on The Leap to unpack the less-glamorous truth of founder life - the long timelines, the constant pivots, and the pressure that never really disappears, it just changes shape.

John takes us back to his corporate life inside a high-stress NASDAQ-listed business, and the gut-punch moment that made him walk away - not because he didn’t like the work, but because he couldn’t stand the system: watching a team bust their hump and then being forced to rank them on a bell curve. 

That was the line in the sand.

From there, he shares how his first startup idea (born from his wife’s life as a shift-working nurse) turned into CoRoster - and then evolved into a broader planning engine used for massive, complex events, including back-of-house workforce planning at COP28 in Dubai. 

Along the way, John gets real about “innovation theatre”, the danger of startup romance, why most things take 10 times longer than you expect, and how a solid support network at home can make or break the whole journey.

You’ll also hear John’s practical take on building an ecosystem of products through Launchkey Lab, what he’s learned about selling when you’re not a “natural salesperson”, and why growth and learning matter more than the money.

Links:

Founders Collective and our businesses:

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.

Connect with us:

]]> John Webster joins Gavin Tye on The Leap to unpack the less-glamorous truth of founder life - the long timelines, the constant pivots, and the pressure that never really disappears, it just changes shape.

John takes us back to his corporate life inside a high-stress NASDAQ-listed business, and the gut-punch moment that made him walk away - not because he didn’t like the work, but because he couldn’t stand the system: watching a team bust their hump and then being forced to rank them on a bell curve. 

That was the line in the sand.

From there, he shares how his first startup idea (born from his wife’s life as a shift-working nurse) turned into CoRoster - and then evolved into a broader planning engine used for massive, complex events, including back-of-house workforce planning at COP28 in Dubai. 

Along the way, John gets real about “innovation theatre”, the danger of startup romance, why most things take 10 times longer than you expect, and how a solid support network at home can make or break the whole journey.

You’ll also hear John’s practical take on building an ecosystem of products through Launchkey Lab, what he’s learned about selling when you’re not a “natural salesperson”, and why growth and learning matter more than the money.

Links:

Founders Collective and our businesses:

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.

Connect with us:

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:42:14 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 2660 John Webster joins Gavin Tye on The Leap to unpack the less-glamorous truth of founder life - the long timelines, the constant pivots, and the pressure that never really disappears, it just changes shape.

John takes us back to his corporate life inside a high-stress NASDAQ-listed business, and the gut-punch moment that made him walk away - not because he didn’t like the work, but because he couldn’t stand the system: watching a team bust their hump and then being forced to rank them on a bell curve. 

That was the line in the sand.

From there, he shares how his first startup idea (born from his wife’s life as a shift-working nurse) turned into CoRoster - and then evolved into a broader planning engine used for massive, complex events, including back-of-house workforce planning at COP28 in Dubai. 

Along the way, John gets real about “innovation theatre”, the danger of startup romance, why most things take 10 times longer than you expect, and how a solid support network at home can make or break the whole journey.

You’ll also hear John’s practical take on building an ecosystem of products through Launchkey Lab, what he’s learned about selling when you’re not a “natural salesperson”, and why growth and learning matter more than the money.

Links:

Founders Collective and our businesses:

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.

Connect with us:

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Sabrina Guse started a business at 20 and has taught 6,000 kids about the planet already 9 9 Sabrina Guse started a business at 20 and has taught 6,000 kids about the planet already full 7eef9700-6222-47f4-b825-8b203e944524 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cf5f4ab2 In this episode, Gavin sits down with Sabrina Guse, the 20-year-old founder of Enviromentoring, to unpack how a casual job in outside school hours care turned into a fast-growing environmental education business reaching thousands of kids across Australia.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a purpose-driven education business from scratch - while still at uni and learning business fundamentals on the fly.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Spotting a real problem inside school holiday programs
  • Turning a passion project into a legitimate business
  • Leaving a secure job to back yourself
  • Learning business fundamentals the hard way
  • Hiring a team before feeling ready
  • Selling workshops face-to-face and overcoming fear
  • Scaling through DIY kits and navigating biosecurity challenges
  • Balancing uni, business, and endurance sport
  • Redefining success around values and impact
  • Why environmental education starts with kids

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a proven framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. He is also a co-founder of SixSides, a sales-led growth partner for B2B SaaS companies. At SixSides, Gavin and the team help founders move beyond hope-based selling by sharpening positioning, building repeatable sales systems, and creating go-to-market strategies that actually convert. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin works closely with founders to turn early traction into sustainable revenue growth.

Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Enviromentoring website: https://www.enviromentoring.com.au
Enviromentoring Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enviromentoring
Enviromentoring Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enviromentoring
 

Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

Chapter markers

00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet Sabrina and Enviromentoring
01:18 How a school holiday problem sparked a business
03:35 From first workshop to a growing team
05:00 Realising this was never the plan
06:38 Journalism, science, and choosing a path
08:10 Life before becoming a founder
10:16 Curiosity, climate change, and early influences
13:26 The real leap - quitting her job
15:43 Fear, excitement, and backing herself
16:32 Balancing uni, business, and training
18:41 Hiring a team and creating systems
19:49 Scaling challenges and pricing realities
21:46 Turning workshops into DIY kits
23:15 Sustainability, burnout, and the Messi effect
24:41 How entrepreneurship changed her
26:27 Learning sales the hard way
29:18 Redefining success through values
30:40 What she’s most proud of
31:55 What will keep her going long-term
33:22 Lessons she wishes she knew earlier
35:02 Advice for first-time founders
37:22 Courage, responsibility, and looking ahead
38:13 Where to find Sabrina and Enviromentoring

]]> In this episode, Gavin sits down with Sabrina Guse, the 20-year-old founder of Enviromentoring, to unpack how a casual job in outside school hours care turned into a fast-growing environmental education business reaching thousands of kids across Australia.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a purpose-driven education business from scratch - while still at uni and learning business fundamentals on the fly.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Spotting a real problem inside school holiday programs
  • Turning a passion project into a legitimate business
  • Leaving a secure job to back yourself
  • Learning business fundamentals the hard way
  • Hiring a team before feeling ready
  • Selling workshops face-to-face and overcoming fear
  • Scaling through DIY kits and navigating biosecurity challenges
  • Balancing uni, business, and endurance sport
  • Redefining success around values and impact
  • Why environmental education starts with kids

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a proven framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. He is also a co-founder of SixSides, a sales-led growth partner for B2B SaaS companies. At SixSides, Gavin and the team help founders move beyond hope-based selling by sharpening positioning, building repeatable sales systems, and creating go-to-market strategies that actually convert. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin works closely with founders to turn early traction into sustainable revenue growth.

Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Enviromentoring website: https://www.enviromentoring.com.au
Enviromentoring Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enviromentoring
Enviromentoring Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enviromentoring
 

Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

Chapter markers

00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet Sabrina and Enviromentoring
01:18 How a school holiday problem sparked a business
03:35 From first workshop to a growing team
05:00 Realising this was never the plan
06:38 Journalism, science, and choosing a path
08:10 Life before becoming a founder
10:16 Curiosity, climate change, and early influences
13:26 The real leap - quitting her job
15:43 Fear, excitement, and backing herself
16:32 Balancing uni, business, and training
18:41 Hiring a team and creating systems
19:49 Scaling challenges and pricing realities
21:46 Turning workshops into DIY kits
23:15 Sustainability, burnout, and the Messi effect
24:41 How entrepreneurship changed her
26:27 Learning sales the hard way
29:18 Redefining success through values
30:40 What she’s most proud of
31:55 What will keep her going long-term
33:22 Lessons she wishes she knew earlier
35:02 Advice for first-time founders
37:22 Courage, responsibility, and looking ahead
38:13 Where to find Sabrina and Enviromentoring

]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:12:34 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 2152 In this episode, Gavin sits down with Sabrina Guse, the 20-year-old founder of Enviromentoring, to unpack how a casual job in outside school hours care turned into a fast-growing environmental education business reaching thousands of kids across Australia.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a purpose-driven education business from scratch - while still at uni and learning business fundamentals on the fly.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Spotting a real problem inside school holiday programs
  • Turning a passion project into a legitimate business
  • Leaving a secure job to back yourself
  • Learning business fundamentals the hard way
  • Hiring a team before feeling ready
  • Selling workshops face-to-face and overcoming fear
  • Scaling through DIY kits and navigating biosecurity challenges
  • Balancing uni, business, and endurance sport
  • Redefining success around values and impact
  • Why environmental education starts with kids

Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a proven framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. He is also a co-founder of SixSides, a sales-led growth partner for B2B SaaS companies. At SixSides, Gavin and the team help founders move beyond hope-based selling by sharpening positioning, building repeatable sales systems, and creating go-to-market strategies that actually convert. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin works closely with founders to turn early traction into sustainable revenue growth.

Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Enviromentoring website: https://www.enviromentoring.com.au
Enviromentoring Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enviromentoring
Enviromentoring Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enviromentoring
 

Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

Chapter markers

00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet Sabrina and Enviromentoring
01:18 How a school holiday problem sparked a business
03:35 From first workshop to a growing team
05:00 Realising this was never the plan
06:38 Journalism, science, and choosing a path
08:10 Life before becoming a founder
10:16 Curiosity, climate change, and early influences
13:26 The real leap - quitting her job
15:43 Fear, excitement, and backing herself
16:32 Balancing uni, business, and training
18:41 Hiring a team and creating systems
19:49 Scaling challenges and pricing realities
21:46 Turning workshops into DIY kits
23:15 Sustainability, burnout, and the Messi effect
24:41 How entrepreneurship changed her
26:27 Learning sales the hard way
29:18 Redefining success through values
30:40 What she’s most proud of
31:55 What will keep her going long-term
33:22 Lessons she wishes she knew earlier
35:02 Advice for first-time founders
37:22 Courage, responsibility, and looking ahead
38:13 Where to find Sabrina and Enviromentoring

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Emily Price: Why good enough beats perfect in startups 8 8 Emily Price: Why good enough beats perfect in startups full 45d80ef3-021e-4908-868b-2c5398490341 https://share.transistor.fm/s/07a291fe In this episode, Gav sits down with Emily Price, co-founder of Tallystone, to unpack her journey from working as a startup lawyer to building a venture-backed company helping founders get deal-ready faster. 

Emily shares what she saw behind the scenes of countless capital raises, the problem that sparked Tallystone, and the realities of unlearning perfection to thrive as a founder.
 
Expect a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch.
 
Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • What a data room really is and why founders underestimate it
  • Emily’s career as a startup lawyer and working closely with founders
  • Why time kills deals in capital raising
  • The difference between “good” and “good enough” in startup execution
  • Seeing the same fundraising mistakes again and again - and wanting to fix them
  • How working in startups sparked the itch to build something of her own
  • Gradually transitioning from full-time work into founder life
  • The importance of personal runway, not just business runway
  • How Emily tested the leap before committing fully
  • Early founder challenges, from product development to positioning
  • The painful moment of realising the pitch wasn’t landing
  • Why clarity beats complexity when communicating value
  • How community feedback helped reshape Tallystone’s story
  • Learning to trust instinct over perfect information
  • Redefining success at different stages of the journey
  • Viewing mistakes as milestones, not failures
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap and meet Emily Price
01:00 What a data room is in plain English
02:00 What investors expect to see in a data room
03:10 Why data rooms shape investor trust
04:00 How long data rooms really take to build
05:10 Why time kills deals in fundraising
06:40 How founders handled data rooms before Tallystone
08:10 Tracking investor engagement and buying signals
09:00 Life before founding - Emily’s career as a startup lawyer
10:30 The shift from perfection to “good enough”
12:40 Working with startups and catching the founder bug
14:10 Early signs Emily would start her own business
15:50 Gradually transitioning into the startup ecosystem
17:20 Thinking about personal runway
18:40 Talking to friends, family, and mentors before the leap
21:00 Reality after going full-time - slower than expected
23:00 Early doubts and pitch confusion
25:20 Breaking down and rebuilding the value proposition
27:20 Community feedback and learning in public
29:40 How Emily has changed as a founder
31:40 Redefining success over time
33:10 Finding and choosing co-founders
35:00 Why communication matters between founders
37:00 What Emily is most proud of so far
38:30 What keeps her going through the hard years
40:10 Habits that keep her grounded
43:30 Mistakes as milestones
45:40 Advice for founders on the edge
48:00 Where to find Emily and Tallystone

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Tallystone: https://www.tallystone.com/

Connect with us:
Emily Price on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-price/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with Emily Price, co-founder of Tallystone, to unpack her journey from working as a startup lawyer to building a venture-backed company helping founders get deal-ready faster. 

Emily shares what she saw behind the scenes of countless capital raises, the problem that sparked Tallystone, and the realities of unlearning perfection to thrive as a founder.
 
Expect a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch.
 
Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • What a data room really is and why founders underestimate it
  • Emily’s career as a startup lawyer and working closely with founders
  • Why time kills deals in capital raising
  • The difference between “good” and “good enough” in startup execution
  • Seeing the same fundraising mistakes again and again - and wanting to fix them
  • How working in startups sparked the itch to build something of her own
  • Gradually transitioning from full-time work into founder life
  • The importance of personal runway, not just business runway
  • How Emily tested the leap before committing fully
  • Early founder challenges, from product development to positioning
  • The painful moment of realising the pitch wasn’t landing
  • Why clarity beats complexity when communicating value
  • How community feedback helped reshape Tallystone’s story
  • Learning to trust instinct over perfect information
  • Redefining success at different stages of the journey
  • Viewing mistakes as milestones, not failures
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap and meet Emily Price
01:00 What a data room is in plain English
02:00 What investors expect to see in a data room
03:10 Why data rooms shape investor trust
04:00 How long data rooms really take to build
05:10 Why time kills deals in fundraising
06:40 How founders handled data rooms before Tallystone
08:10 Tracking investor engagement and buying signals
09:00 Life before founding - Emily’s career as a startup lawyer
10:30 The shift from perfection to “good enough”
12:40 Working with startups and catching the founder bug
14:10 Early signs Emily would start her own business
15:50 Gradually transitioning into the startup ecosystem
17:20 Thinking about personal runway
18:40 Talking to friends, family, and mentors before the leap
21:00 Reality after going full-time - slower than expected
23:00 Early doubts and pitch confusion
25:20 Breaking down and rebuilding the value proposition
27:20 Community feedback and learning in public
29:40 How Emily has changed as a founder
31:40 Redefining success over time
33:10 Finding and choosing co-founders
35:00 Why communication matters between founders
37:00 What Emily is most proud of so far
38:30 What keeps her going through the hard years
40:10 Habits that keep her grounded
43:30 Mistakes as milestones
45:40 Advice for founders on the edge
48:00 Where to find Emily and Tallystone

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Tallystone: https://www.tallystone.com/

Connect with us:
Emily Price on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-price/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3035 In this episode, Gav sits down with Emily Price, co-founder of Tallystone, to unpack her journey from working as a startup lawyer to building a venture-backed company helping founders get deal-ready faster. 

Emily shares what she saw behind the scenes of countless capital raises, the problem that sparked Tallystone, and the realities of unlearning perfection to thrive as a founder.
 
Expect a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch.
 
Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • What a data room really is and why founders underestimate it
  • Emily’s career as a startup lawyer and working closely with founders
  • Why time kills deals in capital raising
  • The difference between “good” and “good enough” in startup execution
  • Seeing the same fundraising mistakes again and again - and wanting to fix them
  • How working in startups sparked the itch to build something of her own
  • Gradually transitioning from full-time work into founder life
  • The importance of personal runway, not just business runway
  • How Emily tested the leap before committing fully
  • Early founder challenges, from product development to positioning
  • The painful moment of realising the pitch wasn’t landing
  • Why clarity beats complexity when communicating value
  • How community feedback helped reshape Tallystone’s story
  • Learning to trust instinct over perfect information
  • Redefining success at different stages of the journey
  • Viewing mistakes as milestones, not failures
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap and meet Emily Price
01:00 What a data room is in plain English
02:00 What investors expect to see in a data room
03:10 Why data rooms shape investor trust
04:00 How long data rooms really take to build
05:10 Why time kills deals in fundraising
06:40 How founders handled data rooms before Tallystone
08:10 Tracking investor engagement and buying signals
09:00 Life before founding - Emily’s career as a startup lawyer
10:30 The shift from perfection to “good enough”
12:40 Working with startups and catching the founder bug
14:10 Early signs Emily would start her own business
15:50 Gradually transitioning into the startup ecosystem
17:20 Thinking about personal runway
18:40 Talking to friends, family, and mentors before the leap
21:00 Reality after going full-time - slower than expected
23:00 Early doubts and pitch confusion
25:20 Breaking down and rebuilding the value proposition
27:20 Community feedback and learning in public
29:40 How Emily has changed as a founder
31:40 Redefining success over time
33:10 Finding and choosing co-founders
35:00 Why communication matters between founders
37:00 What Emily is most proud of so far
38:30 What keeps her going through the hard years
40:10 Habits that keep her grounded
43:30 Mistakes as milestones
45:40 Advice for founders on the edge
48:00 Where to find Emily and Tallystone

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
Tallystone: https://www.tallystone.com/

Connect with us:
Emily Price on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-price/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Scotty Allen: From Disney parades to building the Product Bus 7 7 Scotty Allen: From Disney parades to building the Product Bus full 1b99a4f9-fd31-4948-95d3-eddc67e8d686 https://share.transistor.fm/s/47a2140a In this episode, Gav sits down with Scotty Allen, founder of the Product Bus, to unpack his leap from structured employment into the messy, high-stakes world of entrepreneurship and why so many founders get product decisions wrong in the early days.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:
- Scotty’s early career path from performing arts to education and leadership
- How a health event reshaped his view of identity, work, and risk
- Why traditional career ladders can quietly cap your growth and impact
- The moment he realised his contribution wasn’t being valued - and the push to leave
- Moving into edtech and product roles, and the mindset shift required
- What redundancy during COVID taught him about freedom, stability, and control
- Why contracting can become “too comfortable” and delay building your own thing
- How Scotty’s first consulting engagements evolved into the Product Bus
- The hard truth: many founders build with zero evidence anyone will pay
- Why false encouragement in the startup ecosystem can be genuinely dangerous
- Scotty’s approach to product thinking - learning fast, being wrong, and de-risking decisions
- The advice he gives founders about runway, risk appetite, and having a clear stop point

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and why scripted podcasts are annoying
00:40 Welcome to The Leap and meet Scotty Allen
01:50 Scotty’s Disney chapter and performing arts background
03:00 What the Product Bus does for early-stage founders
03:35 Vision vs delusion and the “build it and they will come” trap
05:10 Why “just ship it” is misunderstood startup advice
07:30 The myth of validation: “my mates love it”
08:50 Life before founding - teaching, tech, and school leadership
11:15 Hitting the ceiling in education leadership
12:35 The health event that reset everything
15:00 The moment Scotty realised he had to leave
19:00 Taking the leap into an edtech scale-up
21:40 The reality shift: freedom, ownership, and new work habits
23:55 Challenges of being the first non-technical leader
26:05 Why educators struggle with selling and power dynamics
27:00 Redundancy at the start of COVID and why it felt like freedom
29:05 The first business idea and why it was too comfortable
31:25 The problem founders kept repeating - and the start of Product Bus
32:40 When Product Bus started without a name
35:55 The “this might not work” moments and hard founder conversations
38:20 The dangers of false encouragement in the startup ecosystem
41:20 How Scotty has changed and why he’ll never be an employee again
43:40 Habits that keep him grounded
48:20 Advice for founders: risk appetite, runway, and a stop point
50:40 Where to find Scotty and his podcast
52:10 Closing and links in the show notes

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
The Product Bus: https://theproductbus.com/

Connect with us:
Scotty Allen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescottyallen/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with Scotty Allen, founder of the Product Bus, to unpack his leap from structured employment into the messy, high-stakes world of entrepreneurship and why so many founders get product decisions wrong in the early days.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:
- Scotty’s early career path from performing arts to education and leadership
- How a health event reshaped his view of identity, work, and risk
- Why traditional career ladders can quietly cap your growth and impact
- The moment he realised his contribution wasn’t being valued - and the push to leave
- Moving into edtech and product roles, and the mindset shift required
- What redundancy during COVID taught him about freedom, stability, and control
- Why contracting can become “too comfortable” and delay building your own thing
- How Scotty’s first consulting engagements evolved into the Product Bus
- The hard truth: many founders build with zero evidence anyone will pay
- Why false encouragement in the startup ecosystem can be genuinely dangerous
- Scotty’s approach to product thinking - learning fast, being wrong, and de-risking decisions
- The advice he gives founders about runway, risk appetite, and having a clear stop point

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and why scripted podcasts are annoying
00:40 Welcome to The Leap and meet Scotty Allen
01:50 Scotty’s Disney chapter and performing arts background
03:00 What the Product Bus does for early-stage founders
03:35 Vision vs delusion and the “build it and they will come” trap
05:10 Why “just ship it” is misunderstood startup advice
07:30 The myth of validation: “my mates love it”
08:50 Life before founding - teaching, tech, and school leadership
11:15 Hitting the ceiling in education leadership
12:35 The health event that reset everything
15:00 The moment Scotty realised he had to leave
19:00 Taking the leap into an edtech scale-up
21:40 The reality shift: freedom, ownership, and new work habits
23:55 Challenges of being the first non-technical leader
26:05 Why educators struggle with selling and power dynamics
27:00 Redundancy at the start of COVID and why it felt like freedom
29:05 The first business idea and why it was too comfortable
31:25 The problem founders kept repeating - and the start of Product Bus
32:40 When Product Bus started without a name
35:55 The “this might not work” moments and hard founder conversations
38:20 The dangers of false encouragement in the startup ecosystem
41:20 How Scotty has changed and why he’ll never be an employee again
43:40 Habits that keep him grounded
48:20 Advice for founders: risk appetite, runway, and a stop point
50:40 Where to find Scotty and his podcast
52:10 Closing and links in the show notes

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
The Product Bus: https://theproductbus.com/

Connect with us:
Scotty Allen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescottyallen/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3117 In this episode, Gav sits down with Scotty Allen, founder of the Product Bus, to unpack his leap from structured employment into the messy, high-stakes world of entrepreneurship and why so many founders get product decisions wrong in the early days.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch, completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:
- Scotty’s early career path from performing arts to education and leadership
- How a health event reshaped his view of identity, work, and risk
- Why traditional career ladders can quietly cap your growth and impact
- The moment he realised his contribution wasn’t being valued - and the push to leave
- Moving into edtech and product roles, and the mindset shift required
- What redundancy during COVID taught him about freedom, stability, and control
- Why contracting can become “too comfortable” and delay building your own thing
- How Scotty’s first consulting engagements evolved into the Product Bus
- The hard truth: many founders build with zero evidence anyone will pay
- Why false encouragement in the startup ecosystem can be genuinely dangerous
- Scotty’s approach to product thinking - learning fast, being wrong, and de-risking decisions
- The advice he gives founders about runway, risk appetite, and having a clear stop point

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and why scripted podcasts are annoying
00:40 Welcome to The Leap and meet Scotty Allen
01:50 Scotty’s Disney chapter and performing arts background
03:00 What the Product Bus does for early-stage founders
03:35 Vision vs delusion and the “build it and they will come” trap
05:10 Why “just ship it” is misunderstood startup advice
07:30 The myth of validation: “my mates love it”
08:50 Life before founding - teaching, tech, and school leadership
11:15 Hitting the ceiling in education leadership
12:35 The health event that reset everything
15:00 The moment Scotty realised he had to leave
19:00 Taking the leap into an edtech scale-up
21:40 The reality shift: freedom, ownership, and new work habits
23:55 Challenges of being the first non-technical leader
26:05 Why educators struggle with selling and power dynamics
27:00 Redundancy at the start of COVID and why it felt like freedom
29:05 The first business idea and why it was too comfortable
31:25 The problem founders kept repeating - and the start of Product Bus
32:40 When Product Bus started without a name
35:55 The “this might not work” moments and hard founder conversations
38:20 The dangers of false encouragement in the startup ecosystem
41:20 How Scotty has changed and why he’ll never be an employee again
43:40 Habits that keep him grounded
48:20 Advice for founders: risk appetite, runway, and a stop point
50:40 Where to find Scotty and his podcast
52:10 Closing and links in the show notes

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co
The Product Bus: https://theproductbus.com/

Connect with us:
Scotty Allen on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescottyallen/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Karren Jensen on building psychologically safe teams that actually perform 6 6 Karren Jensen on building psychologically safe teams that actually perform full 249b07ec-1b7e-435a-b1de-81af013c1649 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3c618a98 In this episode, Gav sits down with Karren Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Conductor Software, to unpack the misunderstood world of psychological safety and why it might be the biggest lever for performance most organisations are missing.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • What psychological safety really is - and what it isn’t
  • The biggest misconceptions leaders have about “soft stuff” at work
  • How fear, stress and silence quietly destroy performance
  • Why organisations struggle with values, trust and accountability
  • Karren’s career before Conductor and her grounding in neuroscience
  • The personal experiences that shaped her obsession with psych safety
  • The moment Conductor’s founders validated their hypothesis with a first client
  • Bootstrapping the business and landing early wins
  • How psychological safety translated into millions in revenue impact
  • Leading through COVID, AI disruption, and constant uncertainty
  • How Karren’s definition of success has evolved over time
  • Why protecting our humanity matters more than ever
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap
  • Why community and champions matter, especially for female founders

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and what The Leap is really about
02:00 What Conductor does and why psych safety is misunderstood
05:30 Why psychological safety isn’t about being “nice”
11:00 What happens when teams don’t feel safe
16:00 Leadership pressure, COVID, and decision fatigue
18:30 Karren’s career before founding Conductor
21:00 Experiencing psychological safety first-hand
26:00 Values, boundaries, and accountability at work
30:40 Feeling unfulfilled and early signals of change
34:00 The moment Conductor took shape
37:00 Bootstrapping and early wins
39:10 Surprises and challenges in the early days
41:10 How founding changed Karren as a leader
44:00 Redefining success and protecting humanity
47:40 What Karren is most proud of
50:10 What keeps her going during tough moments
53:00 Habits that keep her grounded
56:00 What she wishes she knew before taking the leap
58:20 Advice for founders on the edge
01:02:30 Pride, resilience, and legacy
01:04:00 How to connect with Karren
 

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin:
Conductor Software: https://www.conductorsoftware.com/

Connect with us:
Karren Jensen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karren-jensen-ceo/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with Karren Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Conductor Software, to unpack the misunderstood world of psychological safety and why it might be the biggest lever for performance most organisations are missing.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • What psychological safety really is - and what it isn’t
  • The biggest misconceptions leaders have about “soft stuff” at work
  • How fear, stress and silence quietly destroy performance
  • Why organisations struggle with values, trust and accountability
  • Karren’s career before Conductor and her grounding in neuroscience
  • The personal experiences that shaped her obsession with psych safety
  • The moment Conductor’s founders validated their hypothesis with a first client
  • Bootstrapping the business and landing early wins
  • How psychological safety translated into millions in revenue impact
  • Leading through COVID, AI disruption, and constant uncertainty
  • How Karren’s definition of success has evolved over time
  • Why protecting our humanity matters more than ever
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap
  • Why community and champions matter, especially for female founders

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and what The Leap is really about
02:00 What Conductor does and why psych safety is misunderstood
05:30 Why psychological safety isn’t about being “nice”
11:00 What happens when teams don’t feel safe
16:00 Leadership pressure, COVID, and decision fatigue
18:30 Karren’s career before founding Conductor
21:00 Experiencing psychological safety first-hand
26:00 Values, boundaries, and accountability at work
30:40 Feeling unfulfilled and early signals of change
34:00 The moment Conductor took shape
37:00 Bootstrapping and early wins
39:10 Surprises and challenges in the early days
41:10 How founding changed Karren as a leader
44:00 Redefining success and protecting humanity
47:40 What Karren is most proud of
50:10 What keeps her going during tough moments
53:00 Habits that keep her grounded
56:00 What she wishes she knew before taking the leap
58:20 Advice for founders on the edge
01:02:30 Pride, resilience, and legacy
01:04:00 How to connect with Karren
 

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin:
Conductor Software: https://www.conductorsoftware.com/

Connect with us:
Karren Jensen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karren-jensen-ceo/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:05:39 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3663 In this episode, Gav sits down with Karren Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Conductor Software, to unpack the misunderstood world of psychological safety and why it might be the biggest lever for performance most organisations are missing.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • What psychological safety really is - and what it isn’t
  • The biggest misconceptions leaders have about “soft stuff” at work
  • How fear, stress and silence quietly destroy performance
  • Why organisations struggle with values, trust and accountability
  • Karren’s career before Conductor and her grounding in neuroscience
  • The personal experiences that shaped her obsession with psych safety
  • The moment Conductor’s founders validated their hypothesis with a first client
  • Bootstrapping the business and landing early wins
  • How psychological safety translated into millions in revenue impact
  • Leading through COVID, AI disruption, and constant uncertainty
  • How Karren’s definition of success has evolved over time
  • Why protecting our humanity matters more than ever
  • Advice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leap
  • Why community and champions matter, especially for female founders

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and what The Leap is really about
02:00 What Conductor does and why psych safety is misunderstood
05:30 Why psychological safety isn’t about being “nice”
11:00 What happens when teams don’t feel safe
16:00 Leadership pressure, COVID, and decision fatigue
18:30 Karren’s career before founding Conductor
21:00 Experiencing psychological safety first-hand
26:00 Values, boundaries, and accountability at work
30:40 Feeling unfulfilled and early signals of change
34:00 The moment Conductor took shape
37:00 Bootstrapping and early wins
39:10 Surprises and challenges in the early days
41:10 How founding changed Karren as a leader
44:00 Redefining success and protecting humanity
47:40 What Karren is most proud of
50:10 What keeps her going during tough moments
53:00 Habits that keep her grounded
56:00 What she wishes she knew before taking the leap
58:20 Advice for founders on the edge
01:02:30 Pride, resilience, and legacy
01:04:00 How to connect with Karren
 

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice. They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of DealBuddi and co-founder of SixSides. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.


Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin:
Conductor Software: https://www.conductorsoftware.com/

Connect with us:
Karren Jensen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karren-jensen-ceo/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No From Y2K coder to ecosystem backbone with Peter Laurie 5 5 From Y2K coder to ecosystem backbone with Peter Laurie full 0b5e9f06-6e78-456b-a184-d4dd53e8718d https://share.transistor.fm/s/02b29823 In this episode, Gav sits down with long-time Brisbane ecosystem mainstay and Inductive founder, Peter Laurie, to unpack his journey from Y2K software engineer to helping founders become genuinely investor ready, not just pitch-deck ready. They talk about why a technically perfect project still collapsed, how VCs actually make decisions, the traits of coachable founders, and why you should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant when building product.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Inductive exists and what "investor ready" actually means
  • The types of founders and teams Inductive is designed for
  • How VC theses really work and why a good business can still get a no
  • The danger of the slow no in fundraising and how to spot it
  • Coachability, curiosity and the traits Peter looks for in early stage founders
  • Peter's early career in engineering and software through the Y2K era
  • The technically perfect project that still failed and what it taught him
  • Why he went back to do an MBA to understand what he "did wrong"
  • Starting a bespoke software business and the mistakes that came with it
  • Service-led product vs pure product-led growth
  • Building from first principles instead of cargo cult startup theatre
  • The startup industrial complex and "Veblen entrepreneurs"
  • Why founders should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant
  • Habits, longevity and how to stay in the game as a founder
  • Peter's advice for anyone standing on the edge of their own leap

Chapters

00:00 No edits, no filter
00:36 Welcome to The Leap and Peter intro
01:29 Who is Peter Laurie and what is Inductive
03:36 What "investor ready" really means
06:29 How VC funds actually work and why they say "you’re not ready"
10:37 Slow nos, fast nos and dating VCs
12:46 Life before founding - engineering and Y2K software days
16:47 Realising tech isn’t the real problem
20:25 The technically perfect project that still failed
23:17 Burnout, taking time off and starting an MBA
25:03 Starting a new consulting business with Dean
31:57 Early surprises and mistakes building software for others
34:20 Turning hard lessons into simple, pragmatic models
39:01 How entrepreneurship has changed Peter
42:42 Unlearning perfection - effective, then efficient, then elegant
47:31 Building Inductive and finding the real players
52:05 The startup industrial complex and Veblen entrepreneurs
55:15 Habits, longevity and staying in the game
59:31 What Peter wishes he knew before taking the leap
63:12 Advice for founders standing on the edge and where to find Peter

Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: https://call.sixsides.co

Inductive accelerator: https://inductive.au

Peter’s links:
Towards an Untrepreneurial Economy? The Entrepreneurship Industry and the Rise of the Veblenian Entrepreneur:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3479042

Peter’s tweet thread while reading it:
https://x.com/pjlaurie/status/1274180626782945281

Peter on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie
Peter’s video posts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie/recent-activity/videos/

Connect with us:
Roman Galkov on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> In this episode, Gav sits down with long-time Brisbane ecosystem mainstay and Inductive founder, Peter Laurie, to unpack his journey from Y2K software engineer to helping founders become genuinely investor ready, not just pitch-deck ready. They talk about why a technically perfect project still collapsed, how VCs actually make decisions, the traits of coachable founders, and why you should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant when building product.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Inductive exists and what "investor ready" actually means
  • The types of founders and teams Inductive is designed for
  • How VC theses really work and why a good business can still get a no
  • The danger of the slow no in fundraising and how to spot it
  • Coachability, curiosity and the traits Peter looks for in early stage founders
  • Peter's early career in engineering and software through the Y2K era
  • The technically perfect project that still failed and what it taught him
  • Why he went back to do an MBA to understand what he "did wrong"
  • Starting a bespoke software business and the mistakes that came with it
  • Service-led product vs pure product-led growth
  • Building from first principles instead of cargo cult startup theatre
  • The startup industrial complex and "Veblen entrepreneurs"
  • Why founders should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant
  • Habits, longevity and how to stay in the game as a founder
  • Peter's advice for anyone standing on the edge of their own leap

Chapters

00:00 No edits, no filter
00:36 Welcome to The Leap and Peter intro
01:29 Who is Peter Laurie and what is Inductive
03:36 What "investor ready" really means
06:29 How VC funds actually work and why they say "you’re not ready"
10:37 Slow nos, fast nos and dating VCs
12:46 Life before founding - engineering and Y2K software days
16:47 Realising tech isn’t the real problem
20:25 The technically perfect project that still failed
23:17 Burnout, taking time off and starting an MBA
25:03 Starting a new consulting business with Dean
31:57 Early surprises and mistakes building software for others
34:20 Turning hard lessons into simple, pragmatic models
39:01 How entrepreneurship has changed Peter
42:42 Unlearning perfection - effective, then efficient, then elegant
47:31 Building Inductive and finding the real players
52:05 The startup industrial complex and Veblen entrepreneurs
55:15 Habits, longevity and staying in the game
59:31 What Peter wishes he knew before taking the leap
63:12 Advice for founders standing on the edge and where to find Peter

Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: https://call.sixsides.co

Inductive accelerator: https://inductive.au

Peter’s links:
Towards an Untrepreneurial Economy? The Entrepreneurship Industry and the Rise of the Veblenian Entrepreneur:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3479042

Peter’s tweet thread while reading it:
https://x.com/pjlaurie/status/1274180626782945281

Peter on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie
Peter’s video posts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie/recent-activity/videos/

Connect with us:
Roman Galkov on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:48:09 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3871 In this episode, Gav sits down with long-time Brisbane ecosystem mainstay and Inductive founder, Peter Laurie, to unpack his journey from Y2K software engineer to helping founders become genuinely investor ready, not just pitch-deck ready. They talk about why a technically perfect project still collapsed, how VCs actually make decisions, the traits of coachable founders, and why you should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant when building product.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!


In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Inductive exists and what "investor ready" actually means
  • The types of founders and teams Inductive is designed for
  • How VC theses really work and why a good business can still get a no
  • The danger of the slow no in fundraising and how to spot it
  • Coachability, curiosity and the traits Peter looks for in early stage founders
  • Peter's early career in engineering and software through the Y2K era
  • The technically perfect project that still failed and what it taught him
  • Why he went back to do an MBA to understand what he "did wrong"
  • Starting a bespoke software business and the mistakes that came with it
  • Service-led product vs pure product-led growth
  • Building from first principles instead of cargo cult startup theatre
  • The startup industrial complex and "Veblen entrepreneurs"
  • Why founders should chase effective, then efficient, then elegant
  • Habits, longevity and how to stay in the game as a founder
  • Peter's advice for anyone standing on the edge of their own leap

Chapters

00:00 No edits, no filter
00:36 Welcome to The Leap and Peter intro
01:29 Who is Peter Laurie and what is Inductive
03:36 What "investor ready" really means
06:29 How VC funds actually work and why they say "you’re not ready"
10:37 Slow nos, fast nos and dating VCs
12:46 Life before founding - engineering and Y2K software days
16:47 Realising tech isn’t the real problem
20:25 The technically perfect project that still failed
23:17 Burnout, taking time off and starting an MBA
25:03 Starting a new consulting business with Dean
31:57 Early surprises and mistakes building software for others
34:20 Turning hard lessons into simple, pragmatic models
39:01 How entrepreneurship has changed Peter
42:42 Unlearning perfection - effective, then efficient, then elegant
47:31 Building Inductive and finding the real players
52:05 The startup industrial complex and Veblen entrepreneurs
55:15 Habits, longevity and staying in the game
59:31 What Peter wishes he knew before taking the leap
63:12 Advice for founders standing on the edge and where to find Peter

Links:
Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Book a call with Gavin: https://call.sixsides.co

Inductive accelerator: https://inductive.au

Peter’s links:
Towards an Untrepreneurial Economy? The Entrepreneurship Industry and the Rise of the Veblenian Entrepreneur:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3479042

Peter’s tweet thread while reading it:
https://x.com/pjlaurie/status/1274180626782945281

Peter on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie
Peter’s video posts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjlaurie/recent-activity/videos/

Connect with us:
Roman Galkov on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No The Unexpected Leap from CFO to Founder with Roman Galikov 4 4 The Unexpected Leap from CFO to Founder with Roman Galikov full dc54ef45-3742-4df6-8078-583f082176e9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b81a550a In this episode, Roman Galikov shares the real story behind his leap from CFO to founder, the unexpected turns along the way, and why creating Create Financial has unlocked a new chapter of energy and purpose.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Roman’s journey from Russia to the UK to Australia
  • How he fell into accounting and why it stuck
  • The early signals that he wanted to build something of his own
  • His first near-leap and why he abandoned it
  • Moving to the US to launch RedEye’s expansion
  • Making the leap into Records and why it didn’t gain traction
  • Pivoting into Create Financial without meaning to
  • The reality of early-stage software expectations
  • The loneliness of building alone versus with a co-founder
  • Why founders need better accounting foundations than they realise
  • The unexpected workload of shaking hands and generating demand
  • How the Founders Collective exploded overnight
  • Roman’s views on risk, optimism and staying grounded
  • Why financial runway and timing matter more than passion
  • How he defines success today and what keeps him aligned
  • The importance of personal routines when everything else changes

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:52 Getting started and pre-show banter
01:24 Gavin sets up the show and Roman’s intro
02:33 Who is Roman and what does he do?
03:55 Create Financial and early traction
05:05 Founders Collective and the surprising growth
07:10 Reflections on the first FC events
07:43 Life before becoming a founder
09:23 Roman’s move to the US with RedEye
11:47 What being a CFO in tech is really like
13:38 A day in the life of a tech CFO
15:23 Early hints that something was shifting
17:18 Roman’s first ever near-leap
19:48 How he got pulled into a big accounting firm instead
21:28 The software idea that kept coming back
23:28 The leap into Records and leaving full-time employment
24:46 The relief and reality of quitting his job
26:50 Validation, optimism and runway
27:50 Why Create Financial was originally just a side hustle
29:13 The surprise challenges of early-stage software
31:21 Pivoting into Create Financial with momentum
33:34 The messy truth about cleaning up bad financial advice
34:31 The workload of generating demand as a founder
35:49 Surprises in the broader founder ecosystem
37:12 How Roman has changed personally
38:41 Habits, sobriety and staying grounded
39:18 Optimism vs pragmatism as a founder
40:31 Redefining success and chasing financial freedom
42:20 Staying connected to your mission
45:32 What Roman wishes he knew before taking the leap
46:58 Roman’s advice for founders on the edge of their leap
49:37 How the journey has changed how he sees himself
51:29 Where to find Roman and wrap-up
52:10 Outro

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...

they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice.

They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) — a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses stall in their sales cycle and how to fix it.

SMF aligns positioning, go-to-market strategy, and sales execution into a repeatable rhythm that wins more clients with less friction. Gavin is also the co-founder of SixSides, the event-community platform helping organisations turn one-off events into lasting momentum and stronger engagement.


Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with deliberate, proven strategies at salesmarketfit.co — and build connected communities with sixsides.co.


Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au/
SixSides: https://www.sixsides.co/
DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/


Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> In this episode, Roman Galikov shares the real story behind his leap from CFO to founder, the unexpected turns along the way, and why creating Create Financial has unlocked a new chapter of energy and purpose.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Roman’s journey from Russia to the UK to Australia
  • How he fell into accounting and why it stuck
  • The early signals that he wanted to build something of his own
  • His first near-leap and why he abandoned it
  • Moving to the US to launch RedEye’s expansion
  • Making the leap into Records and why it didn’t gain traction
  • Pivoting into Create Financial without meaning to
  • The reality of early-stage software expectations
  • The loneliness of building alone versus with a co-founder
  • Why founders need better accounting foundations than they realise
  • The unexpected workload of shaking hands and generating demand
  • How the Founders Collective exploded overnight
  • Roman’s views on risk, optimism and staying grounded
  • Why financial runway and timing matter more than passion
  • How he defines success today and what keeps him aligned
  • The importance of personal routines when everything else changes

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:52 Getting started and pre-show banter
01:24 Gavin sets up the show and Roman’s intro
02:33 Who is Roman and what does he do?
03:55 Create Financial and early traction
05:05 Founders Collective and the surprising growth
07:10 Reflections on the first FC events
07:43 Life before becoming a founder
09:23 Roman’s move to the US with RedEye
11:47 What being a CFO in tech is really like
13:38 A day in the life of a tech CFO
15:23 Early hints that something was shifting
17:18 Roman’s first ever near-leap
19:48 How he got pulled into a big accounting firm instead
21:28 The software idea that kept coming back
23:28 The leap into Records and leaving full-time employment
24:46 The relief and reality of quitting his job
26:50 Validation, optimism and runway
27:50 Why Create Financial was originally just a side hustle
29:13 The surprise challenges of early-stage software
31:21 Pivoting into Create Financial with momentum
33:34 The messy truth about cleaning up bad financial advice
34:31 The workload of generating demand as a founder
35:49 Surprises in the broader founder ecosystem
37:12 How Roman has changed personally
38:41 Habits, sobriety and staying grounded
39:18 Optimism vs pragmatism as a founder
40:31 Redefining success and chasing financial freedom
42:20 Staying connected to your mission
45:32 What Roman wishes he knew before taking the leap
46:58 Roman’s advice for founders on the edge of their leap
49:37 How the journey has changed how he sees himself
51:29 Where to find Roman and wrap-up
52:10 Outro

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...

they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice.

They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) — a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses stall in their sales cycle and how to fix it.

SMF aligns positioning, go-to-market strategy, and sales execution into a repeatable rhythm that wins more clients with less friction. Gavin is also the co-founder of SixSides, the event-community platform helping organisations turn one-off events into lasting momentum and stronger engagement.


Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with deliberate, proven strategies at salesmarketfit.co — and build connected communities with sixsides.co.


Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au/
SixSides: https://www.sixsides.co/
DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/


Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:51:21 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 2709 In this episode, Roman Galikov shares the real story behind his leap from CFO to founder, the unexpected turns along the way, and why creating Create Financial has unlocked a new chapter of energy and purpose.

Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Roman’s journey from Russia to the UK to Australia
  • How he fell into accounting and why it stuck
  • The early signals that he wanted to build something of his own
  • His first near-leap and why he abandoned it
  • Moving to the US to launch RedEye’s expansion
  • Making the leap into Records and why it didn’t gain traction
  • Pivoting into Create Financial without meaning to
  • The reality of early-stage software expectations
  • The loneliness of building alone versus with a co-founder
  • Why founders need better accounting foundations than they realise
  • The unexpected workload of shaking hands and generating demand
  • How the Founders Collective exploded overnight
  • Roman’s views on risk, optimism and staying grounded
  • Why financial runway and timing matter more than passion
  • How he defines success today and what keeps him aligned
  • The importance of personal routines when everything else changes

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:52 Getting started and pre-show banter
01:24 Gavin sets up the show and Roman’s intro
02:33 Who is Roman and what does he do?
03:55 Create Financial and early traction
05:05 Founders Collective and the surprising growth
07:10 Reflections on the first FC events
07:43 Life before becoming a founder
09:23 Roman’s move to the US with RedEye
11:47 What being a CFO in tech is really like
13:38 A day in the life of a tech CFO
15:23 Early hints that something was shifting
17:18 Roman’s first ever near-leap
19:48 How he got pulled into a big accounting firm instead
21:28 The software idea that kept coming back
23:28 The leap into Records and leaving full-time employment
24:46 The relief and reality of quitting his job
26:50 Validation, optimism and runway
27:50 Why Create Financial was originally just a side hustle
29:13 The surprise challenges of early-stage software
31:21 Pivoting into Create Financial with momentum
33:34 The messy truth about cleaning up bad financial advice
34:31 The workload of generating demand as a founder
35:49 Surprises in the broader founder ecosystem
37:12 How Roman has changed personally
38:41 Habits, sobriety and staying grounded
39:18 Optimism vs pragmatism as a founder
40:31 Redefining success and chasing financial freedom
42:20 Staying connected to your mission
45:32 What Roman wishes he knew before taking the leap
46:58 Roman’s advice for founders on the edge of their leap
49:37 How the journey has changed how he sees himself
51:29 Where to find Roman and wrap-up
52:10 Outro

Roman Galikov is a co-founder of Create Financial...

they help founders and business owners take control of their money with smart, personalised financial advice.

They specialise in wealth strategy, risk protection, and long-term planning - without the jargon. Think of them as the team that helps you build a financial engine strong enough to support your ambitions, not just your expenses.


Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) — a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses stall in their sales cycle and how to fix it.

SMF aligns positioning, go-to-market strategy, and sales execution into a repeatable rhythm that wins more clients with less friction. Gavin is also the co-founder of SixSides, the event-community platform helping organisations turn one-off events into lasting momentum and stronger engagement.


Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with deliberate, proven strategies at salesmarketfit.co — and build connected communities with sixsides.co.


Links:

Founder Collective: https://founderscollective.com.au/founders-collective
FC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/
Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au/
SixSides: https://www.sixsides.co/
DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/


Connect with us:
Roman Galikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/
Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintye/

]]> entrepreneurship podcast, startup podcast, business podcast for founders, how to start a business, founder stories podcast, startup journey podcast, build your own business, career change podcast, leaving a 9 to 5 for entrepreneurship, stories of early-stage founders, turning ideas into businesses, real talk with entrepreneurs, what it’s like to start a startup, mindset for starting a business, behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, founder interviews and insights, taking the leap into business No Building Busable with Heroly Chour: The Leap from Government Employee to Tech Founder 3 3 Building Busable with Heroly Chour: The Leap from Government Employee to Tech Founder full a3ab492d-e3ee-4432-b113-8f24cf987fc4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0c0de57 In this episode of The Leap, Gavin sits down with Heroly, founder of Busable “an intelligent software platform built for bus and coach operators to bring control and clarity to their operations”


After years in government helping design programs for small businesses, Heroly saw the same pain points over and over: founders drowning in red tape, not knowing what support was actually out there. Instead of just writing another policy, he decided to fix the problem directly.


That decision kicked off the leap from the safety of the public sector into the chaos of startup life.


This episode digs deep into what it really takes to leave a stable job, deal with imposter syndrome, build something from scratch — and stay true to your purpose when the uncertainty hits hard.


💬 In This Episode:

  • How Heroly went from government strategist to founder
  • The moment he knew he had to build Busable
  • Rewiring from public-sector process to startup pace
  • How to deal with losing your safety net
  • The early mistakes that shaped Busable’s direction
  • Building trust with customers when you’re brand new
  • The power of community and transparency in business support
  • How to lead when you don’t have all the answers
  • Why clarity of purpose matters more than confidence
  • The real cost (and freedom) of taking the leap

🕒 Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The Leap  
01:10 Meet Heroly and the story behind Busable  
03:05 From Government to Startup — the transition  
05:45 The idea that sparked Busable  
08:20 Early lessons in risk and resilience  
10:52 What leaving a safe job really feels like  
13:30 Learning to move fast and break things  
16:05 Bootstrapping Busable and building trust  
19:40 Reconnecting with purpose when things get hard  
22:55 Lessons learned from government life  
26:00 Staying grounded and avoiding burnout  
29:18 What Heroly wishes he knew before taking the leap  
32:40 Advice for anyone thinking about making the jump  

🔗 Links

  • Busable: https://busable.app/
  • Busable's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busable.app/
  • Heroly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herolychour/

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey, not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

]]> In this episode of The Leap, Gavin sits down with Heroly, founder of Busable “an intelligent software platform built for bus and coach operators to bring control and clarity to their operations”


After years in government helping design programs for small businesses, Heroly saw the same pain points over and over: founders drowning in red tape, not knowing what support was actually out there. Instead of just writing another policy, he decided to fix the problem directly.


That decision kicked off the leap from the safety of the public sector into the chaos of startup life.


This episode digs deep into what it really takes to leave a stable job, deal with imposter syndrome, build something from scratch — and stay true to your purpose when the uncertainty hits hard.


💬 In This Episode:

  • How Heroly went from government strategist to founder
  • The moment he knew he had to build Busable
  • Rewiring from public-sector process to startup pace
  • How to deal with losing your safety net
  • The early mistakes that shaped Busable’s direction
  • Building trust with customers when you’re brand new
  • The power of community and transparency in business support
  • How to lead when you don’t have all the answers
  • Why clarity of purpose matters more than confidence
  • The real cost (and freedom) of taking the leap

🕒 Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The Leap  
01:10 Meet Heroly and the story behind Busable  
03:05 From Government to Startup — the transition  
05:45 The idea that sparked Busable  
08:20 Early lessons in risk and resilience  
10:52 What leaving a safe job really feels like  
13:30 Learning to move fast and break things  
16:05 Bootstrapping Busable and building trust  
19:40 Reconnecting with purpose when things get hard  
22:55 Lessons learned from government life  
26:00 Staying grounded and avoiding burnout  
29:18 What Heroly wishes he knew before taking the leap  
32:40 Advice for anyone thinking about making the jump  

🔗 Links

  • Busable: https://busable.app/
  • Busable's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busable.app/
  • Heroly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herolychour/

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey, not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3574 In this episode of The Leap, Gavin sits down with Heroly, founder of Busable “an intelligent software platform built for bus and coach operators to bring control and clarity to their operations”


After years in government helping design programs for small businesses, Heroly saw the same pain points over and over: founders drowning in red tape, not knowing what support was actually out there. Instead of just writing another policy, he decided to fix the problem directly.


That decision kicked off the leap from the safety of the public sector into the chaos of startup life.


This episode digs deep into what it really takes to leave a stable job, deal with imposter syndrome, build something from scratch — and stay true to your purpose when the uncertainty hits hard.


💬 In This Episode:

  • How Heroly went from government strategist to founder
  • The moment he knew he had to build Busable
  • Rewiring from public-sector process to startup pace
  • How to deal with losing your safety net
  • The early mistakes that shaped Busable’s direction
  • Building trust with customers when you’re brand new
  • The power of community and transparency in business support
  • How to lead when you don’t have all the answers
  • Why clarity of purpose matters more than confidence
  • The real cost (and freedom) of taking the leap

🕒 Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The Leap  
01:10 Meet Heroly and the story behind Busable  
03:05 From Government to Startup — the transition  
05:45 The idea that sparked Busable  
08:20 Early lessons in risk and resilience  
10:52 What leaving a safe job really feels like  
13:30 Learning to move fast and break things  
16:05 Bootstrapping Busable and building trust  
19:40 Reconnecting with purpose when things get hard  
22:55 Lessons learned from government life  
26:00 Staying grounded and avoiding burnout  
29:18 What Heroly wishes he knew before taking the leap  
32:40 Advice for anyone thinking about making the jump  

🔗 Links

  • Busable: https://busable.app/
  • Busable's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busable.app/
  • Heroly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herolychour/

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey, not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

]]> Entrepreneurship, Startup journey, Founder story, Building a startup, Leaving a 9-to-5, Government to startup, Business founder, Startup founder interview, Small business support, Australian startups, Founder leap, Business transition, Bootstrapping a business, Startup life, Founder resilience, SaaS startup, B2B startups, Building Busable, Heroly, The Leap podcast, Public sector to private sector, Purpose-driven founder, Startup struggles, Taking the leap, Career change, Government experience, Early-stage founder, Startup podcast, Business model pivot, Founder mindset, Founder advice, Gavin Tye, Founders Collective, Transistor podcast, Startup lessons, Risk and reward, Self-belief in business No Mark Sowerby’s Oceans Seven: Swimming Out of the Darkness 2 2 Mark Sowerby’s Oceans Seven: Swimming Out of the Darkness full 3aa39267-6aca-445b-819c-9d39fedfdf9a https://share.transistor.fm/s/b4334c12 In this episode, we dive into the raw and unfiltered story of Mark Sowerby, founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, once one of Australia’s most ambitious investment firms, and the devastating collapse that followed a brutal short-seller attack. 

Mark opens up about how that loss shattered his identity, left him sitting on a bench in Burleigh contemplating walking into the ocean, and what it took to rebuild from the ground up.


He shares how the Ocean Seven swims became his lifeline, teaching him how to master fear, accept uncertainty, and rebuild his courage one stroke at a time. We talk about survival, justice, and what it really means to rebuild when everything you’ve worked for has been taken from you.


If you’ve ever questioned whether you can come back from your lowest point, this episode is proof that you can — but only if you’re willing to do the work.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

  • How Mark built Blue Sky from scratch into a billion-dollar fund
  • The short-seller attack that brought the company down
  • Surviving seven near-death business moments
  • Hitting rock bottom and finding hope again through endurance
  • How the Ocean Seven swims helped him rebuild mentally and physically
  • The mindset shift from victim to fighter
  • Why survival is entrepreneurship’s real skill
  • Finding purpose through justice and accountability
  • The lessons founders can learn about preparation and resilience
  • How to rebuild your courage when all your fears come true

🕒 Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap
01:09 Meet Mark Sowerby
03:12 Building Blue Sky and early ambitions
07:10 The short-seller attack and collapse
10:24 Facing public scrutiny and burnout
13:48 The lowest point — sitting at Burleigh
16:42 Rebuilding through the Ocean Seven swims
20:30 Lessons on fear, resilience, and control
25:45 Standing up for what’s right — the class action
31:10 Redefining success and survival
36:24 Rebuilding courage and mental endurance
40:55 Preparation, judgment, and the founder’s mindset
45:03 What Mark wishes he knew earlier
49:40 The meaning behind “Don’t Be Pre-Film”
52:20 Closing thoughts and takeaways

Follow Mark's movie journey below;

🎥 Don't Be Prey: https://www.dontbeprey.film/


About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


👉 Subscribe to Founders Collective on Substack: https://founderscollective.substack.com
🚀 Explore DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/
💼 Learn more about Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au

]]> In this episode, we dive into the raw and unfiltered story of Mark Sowerby, founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, once one of Australia’s most ambitious investment firms, and the devastating collapse that followed a brutal short-seller attack. 

Mark opens up about how that loss shattered his identity, left him sitting on a bench in Burleigh contemplating walking into the ocean, and what it took to rebuild from the ground up.


He shares how the Ocean Seven swims became his lifeline, teaching him how to master fear, accept uncertainty, and rebuild his courage one stroke at a time. We talk about survival, justice, and what it really means to rebuild when everything you’ve worked for has been taken from you.


If you’ve ever questioned whether you can come back from your lowest point, this episode is proof that you can — but only if you’re willing to do the work.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

  • How Mark built Blue Sky from scratch into a billion-dollar fund
  • The short-seller attack that brought the company down
  • Surviving seven near-death business moments
  • Hitting rock bottom and finding hope again through endurance
  • How the Ocean Seven swims helped him rebuild mentally and physically
  • The mindset shift from victim to fighter
  • Why survival is entrepreneurship’s real skill
  • Finding purpose through justice and accountability
  • The lessons founders can learn about preparation and resilience
  • How to rebuild your courage when all your fears come true

🕒 Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap
01:09 Meet Mark Sowerby
03:12 Building Blue Sky and early ambitions
07:10 The short-seller attack and collapse
10:24 Facing public scrutiny and burnout
13:48 The lowest point — sitting at Burleigh
16:42 Rebuilding through the Ocean Seven swims
20:30 Lessons on fear, resilience, and control
25:45 Standing up for what’s right — the class action
31:10 Redefining success and survival
36:24 Rebuilding courage and mental endurance
40:55 Preparation, judgment, and the founder’s mindset
45:03 What Mark wishes he knew earlier
49:40 The meaning behind “Don’t Be Pre-Film”
52:20 Closing thoughts and takeaways

Follow Mark's movie journey below;

🎥 Don't Be Prey: https://www.dontbeprey.film/


About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


👉 Subscribe to Founders Collective on Substack: https://founderscollective.substack.com
🚀 Explore DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/
💼 Learn more about Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au

]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 3975 In this episode, we dive into the raw and unfiltered story of Mark Sowerby, founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, once one of Australia’s most ambitious investment firms, and the devastating collapse that followed a brutal short-seller attack. 

Mark opens up about how that loss shattered his identity, left him sitting on a bench in Burleigh contemplating walking into the ocean, and what it took to rebuild from the ground up.


He shares how the Ocean Seven swims became his lifeline, teaching him how to master fear, accept uncertainty, and rebuild his courage one stroke at a time. We talk about survival, justice, and what it really means to rebuild when everything you’ve worked for has been taken from you.


If you’ve ever questioned whether you can come back from your lowest point, this episode is proof that you can — but only if you’re willing to do the work.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

  • How Mark built Blue Sky from scratch into a billion-dollar fund
  • The short-seller attack that brought the company down
  • Surviving seven near-death business moments
  • Hitting rock bottom and finding hope again through endurance
  • How the Ocean Seven swims helped him rebuild mentally and physically
  • The mindset shift from victim to fighter
  • Why survival is entrepreneurship’s real skill
  • Finding purpose through justice and accountability
  • The lessons founders can learn about preparation and resilience
  • How to rebuild your courage when all your fears come true

🕒 Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap
01:09 Meet Mark Sowerby
03:12 Building Blue Sky and early ambitions
07:10 The short-seller attack and collapse
10:24 Facing public scrutiny and burnout
13:48 The lowest point — sitting at Burleigh
16:42 Rebuilding through the Ocean Seven swims
20:30 Lessons on fear, resilience, and control
25:45 Standing up for what’s right — the class action
31:10 Redefining success and survival
36:24 Rebuilding courage and mental endurance
40:55 Preparation, judgment, and the founder’s mindset
45:03 What Mark wishes he knew earlier
49:40 The meaning behind “Don’t Be Pre-Film”
52:20 Closing thoughts and takeaways

Follow Mark's movie journey below;

🎥 Don't Be Prey: https://www.dontbeprey.film/


About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


👉 Subscribe to Founders Collective on Substack: https://founderscollective.substack.com
🚀 Explore DealBuddi: https://www.dealbuddi.com/
💼 Learn more about Create Financial: https://createfinancial.com.au

]]> Mark Sowerby, Blue Sky Alternative Investments, The Leap Podcast, Founders Collective, Gavin Tye, Entrepreneurship Australia, Startup Resilience, Founder Mental Health, Short Seller Attack, Business Collapse Recovery, Overcoming Failure, Founder Burnout, Mental Toughness, Emotional Resilience, Post-Trauma Growth, Fear and Courage, Surviving Adversity, Leadership Under Pressure, Self-Reinvention, Grit and Perseverance, Ocean Seven Swims, Open Water Endurance, Founder Comeback Story, Entrepreneur Mindset, Business Lessons from Failure, Class Action Justice, Financial Markets Australia, Chief Entrepreneur Queensland, Startup Preparation, Judgment and Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Startups, Leadership, Resilience, Motivation, Mental Health, Australian Business, Founders Journey, Overcoming Failure No From Nurse to Founder: How Ali Stokes Took the Leap into Health Tech 1 1 From Nurse to Founder: How Ali Stokes Took the Leap into Health Tech full d5c4a050-e764-4656-9ca8-02214317c43a https://share.transistor.fm/s/93719807 In this episode, Gavin chats with Ali Stokes, a former nurse and Johnson & Johnson exec who left behind the safety of corporate life to build Beyond the Clinic — a virtual care platform reshaping how patients manage joint and muscle pain.


Ali shares her raw, honest journey of going from a well-paid healthcare role to bootstrapping a startup with zero income for two years. From burnout, imposter syndrome, and relationship strain to building a team of 12 and finding product-market fit, this episode pulls back the curtain on the real cost (and joy) of taking the leap into startup life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.


Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Ali left corporate life at Johnson & Johnson
  • The early struggles of bootstrapping a SaaS in health tech
  • Building Beyond the Clinic with no external capital
  • Navigating burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship strain
  • Finding purpose and building something with real impact
  • Why self-belief is more important than external validation
  • The slow, iterative approach to product and business development
  • What it really takes to build a startup while raising a family
  • The power of mentorship and finding your founder tribe
  • How to survive when your business tests you every week

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap 01:09 Meet Ali Stokes 03:42 Growing up in a small business family 06:18 Building Beyond the Clinic 07:20 Vision vs market direction 10:23 Disrupting healthcare without burning out 11:41 Life before becoming a founder 13:22 Making the leap and setting boundaries 16:10 Bootstrapping and early traction 19:08 The moment Ali knew she had to start 21:45 Navigating fear and self-doubt 25:40 Learning quickly and building capability 28:03 Facing the unknowns and pushing through 30:22 How Ali has changed through the journey 33:06 Endurance and motivation through hard times 36:25 Weekly habits to avoid burnout 39:08 What Ali wishes she knew earlier 42:52 The capital question and bootstrapping mindset 44:00 Where to find Ali


🔗 Links

- Ali Stokes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-stokes-66a464193/
- Beyond the Clinic: https://beyondtheclinic.io/
 

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

]]> In this episode, Gavin chats with Ali Stokes, a former nurse and Johnson & Johnson exec who left behind the safety of corporate life to build Beyond the Clinic — a virtual care platform reshaping how patients manage joint and muscle pain.


Ali shares her raw, honest journey of going from a well-paid healthcare role to bootstrapping a startup with zero income for two years. From burnout, imposter syndrome, and relationship strain to building a team of 12 and finding product-market fit, this episode pulls back the curtain on the real cost (and joy) of taking the leap into startup life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.


Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Ali left corporate life at Johnson & Johnson
  • The early struggles of bootstrapping a SaaS in health tech
  • Building Beyond the Clinic with no external capital
  • Navigating burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship strain
  • Finding purpose and building something with real impact
  • Why self-belief is more important than external validation
  • The slow, iterative approach to product and business development
  • What it really takes to build a startup while raising a family
  • The power of mentorship and finding your founder tribe
  • How to survive when your business tests you every week

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap 01:09 Meet Ali Stokes 03:42 Growing up in a small business family 06:18 Building Beyond the Clinic 07:20 Vision vs market direction 10:23 Disrupting healthcare without burning out 11:41 Life before becoming a founder 13:22 Making the leap and setting boundaries 16:10 Bootstrapping and early traction 19:08 The moment Ali knew she had to start 21:45 Navigating fear and self-doubt 25:40 Learning quickly and building capability 28:03 Facing the unknowns and pushing through 30:22 How Ali has changed through the journey 33:06 Endurance and motivation through hard times 36:25 Weekly habits to avoid burnout 39:08 What Ali wishes she knew earlier 42:52 The capital question and bootstrapping mindset 44:00 Where to find Ali


🔗 Links

- Ali Stokes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-stokes-66a464193/
- Beyond the Clinic: https://beyondtheclinic.io/
 

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:28:35 +1000 Gavin Tye Gavin Tye 2649 In this episode, Gavin chats with Ali Stokes, a former nurse and Johnson & Johnson exec who left behind the safety of corporate life to build Beyond the Clinic — a virtual care platform reshaping how patients manage joint and muscle pain.


Ali shares her raw, honest journey of going from a well-paid healthcare role to bootstrapping a startup with zero income for two years. From burnout, imposter syndrome, and relationship strain to building a team of 12 and finding product-market fit, this episode pulls back the curtain on the real cost (and joy) of taking the leap into startup life.


Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.


Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why Ali left corporate life at Johnson & Johnson
  • The early struggles of bootstrapping a SaaS in health tech
  • Building Beyond the Clinic with no external capital
  • Navigating burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship strain
  • Finding purpose and building something with real impact
  • Why self-belief is more important than external validation
  • The slow, iterative approach to product and business development
  • What it really takes to build a startup while raising a family
  • The power of mentorship and finding your founder tribe
  • How to survive when your business tests you every week

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Leap 01:09 Meet Ali Stokes 03:42 Growing up in a small business family 06:18 Building Beyond the Clinic 07:20 Vision vs market direction 10:23 Disrupting healthcare without burning out 11:41 Life before becoming a founder 13:22 Making the leap and setting boundaries 16:10 Bootstrapping and early traction 19:08 The moment Ali knew she had to start 21:45 Navigating fear and self-doubt 25:40 Learning quickly and building capability 28:03 Facing the unknowns and pushing through 30:22 How Ali has changed through the journey 33:06 Endurance and motivation through hard times 36:25 Weekly habits to avoid burnout 39:08 What Ali wishes she knew earlier 42:52 The capital question and bootstrapping mindset 44:00 Where to find Ali


🔗 Links

- Ali Stokes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-stokes-66a464193/
- Beyond the Clinic: https://beyondtheclinic.io/
 

About Founders Collective

Founders Collective is a community built to connect like-minded founders, creators, and builders who believe in sharing the real stories behind the journey — not just the highlight reel. Our mission is to spark honest conversations, build meaningful connections, and help founders grow through collaboration, courage, and shared experience.


- Substack: founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com
- Gavin Tye on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gavintye

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