The Entrepreneur Experiment

Hosted by Gary Fox

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528

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Discover how world-class entrepreneurs, elite thinkers, and peak performers master success in business, body, and brain. Every week, I sit down with extraordinary people to explore how they build thriving businesses, maintain peak physical health, and cultivate sharp, resilient minds. Together, we’ll discover the habits, systems, and experiments they use to create their unique formulas for success. Join me as you learn how to build like a founder, train like an athlete, and think like an artist—so we can all find our formula for success. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a blueprint for a new kind of founder—one who balances ambition with wellness, hard work with mental fitness, and success with purpose.

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November 5, 20261 hr 1 min

Why Most Founders Are Building the Wrong Business with Julian Metcalfe founder of Pret & Itsu

What does it really take to build a business that lasts for decades? Julian Metcalfe, the entrepreneur behind two of Britain's most recognisable food brands, Pret A Manger and Itsu, joins Gary Fox for a masterclass in entrepreneurship, leadership and the relentless pursuit of excellence. After more than four decades building businesses, Julian has a refreshingly simple philosophy: never settle, never stop improving and never forget the customer. In this conversation, Julian reveals why he believes founders need to think in decades rather than days, why great products matter more than great marketing and why leadership starts with taking personal responsibility. He shares extraordinary stories from his career, including giving around 1,000 Pret employees his personal phone number, building an internal help desk to support his team and travelling repeatedly to Japan to perfect a product. We also explore why so many businesses lose their soul as they grow, how to create a culture of genuine care and why Julian believes there's never been a better time to start a business. This is a conversation about building something exceptional, treating people properly and finding purpose in the work. If you're building a company, leading a team or thinking about starting your own business, this episode is for you. Julian Metcalfe: Building Pret, Itsu & the Pursuit of Excellence Guest: Julian Metcalfe, Co-founder of Pret A Manger and Founder of Itsu Host: Gary Fox, The Entrepreneur Experiment Proudly powered by our commercial partners Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azure26 Small Firms Association: https://bit.ly/4iDW6tW In this episode Think in decades: Why trust, brand loyalty and lasting businesses take years to build. Start before you're ready: Julian's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs who are paralysed by perfectionism. Product beats promotion: Why marketing cannot compensate for a disappointing product. Never stop improving: The story of repeated trips to Japan to perfect an Itsu noodle product. Don't let your product taste like a spreadsheet: How financial decisions can strip the soul out of a business. Build a culture of care: Why employees need a shared purpose, meaningful responsibility and exceptional support. Leadership means accountability: Why Julian gave employees his personal phone number and shares his email address with customers. Fight mediocrity: Julian's philosophy of making products, services and people better every day. Episode chapters 00:00 — Building brands that last for decades 01:20 — Why entrepreneurs must think 10–20 years ahead 03:15 — The privilege of working for yourself 04:00 — Julian's journey into entrepreneurship 07:00 — Starting a business in the social media era 09:00 — Why great products beat great marketing 10:45 — Travelling to Japan to improve the product 12:55 — When your product starts tasting like a spreadsheet 14:10 — Creating a company culture with purpose 17:00 — What former Pret employees say about the culture 20:00 — Keeping leaders connected to frontline teams 29:00 — Giving employees responsibility and room to grow 40:00 — The importance of refusing mediocrity 45:30 — Why Julian gave 1,000 Pret employees his phone number 46:00 — The remarkable internal Pret employee help desk 47:55 — Why accountability matters in business 49:15 — Personally responding to customer feedback 52:55 — Quick-fire questions and book recommendations 55:30 — Why Julian doesn't invest in other businesses 57:30 — The one lesson every founder should take away 58:30 — Itsu's future and international expansion Mentioned in this episode Julian's businesses Pret A Manger: https://www.pret.co.uk Itsu: https://www.itsu.com Book recommendation Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek Other businesses mentioned Hikari Miso, the Japanese producer Julian discusses when describing the development of Itsu's broth products. Connect with The Entrepreneur Experiment Hosted by Gary Fox. Build a better founder, not just a better business. Subscribe for conversations with exceptional entrepreneurs and practical lessons on building a better business and a better life.

October 22, 20261 hr 16 min

How to Build a Premium Brand With Almost No Money - Peter McAuley founder Nomadic Watches

What does it take to build a luxury watch brand from scratch and challenge an industry dominated by Rolex, TAG Heuer and the Swiss giants? Peter McAuley is the founder of Nomadic Watches, a Belfast born luxury watch company on a mission to put Irish watchmaking on the global map. In 2021, Peter launched with his personal savings, a single prototype, some basic iPhone photography and a Shopify website. His first 10 customers came from personally messaging strangers on Instagram. Just a few years later, Nomadic has grown into a multimillion pound business, with customers around the world, a flagship Belfast store and ambitious plans to expand into Dublin and the United States. In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Peter to explore how he built a premium consumer brand without an established reputation, why opening a physical shop transformed the business and how he secured £500,000 in debt funding to accelerate growth. They also explore the power of storytelling, the importance of understanding your real customer, and why Peter is focused on building a business that can survive for generations rather than chasing short term growth. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Peter found his first 10 customers through Instagram DMs. • Why Nomadic went from selling roughly 100 watches a year to 1,000. • How a physical retail presence became a major growth driver. • The strategy behind selling luxury watches priced from £1,000 to £3,000. • Why Peter chose £500,000 in debt funding rather than giving away equity. • How to build a brand that competes on storytelling, identity and experience rather than price. • Why building a sustainable, profitable business matters more than chasing growth at all costs. From one prototype in Belfast to a global luxury brand, this is a fascinating lesson in persistence, positioning and thinking long term. Build a better founder, not just a better business. Peter McAuley | Nomadic Watches Episode chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Peter McAuley and Nomadic Watches 00:00:45 The personal story that inspired Peter's passion for watches 00:14:00 Launching Nomadic with personal savings and one prototype 00:15:00 Selling the first watches through Instagram 00:16:00 Why founders must learn to sell 00:24:00 Growing from 100 to 1,000 watches a year 00:25:00 Why physical retail changed the business 00:30:00 Pricing luxury watches and understanding the customer 00:43:45 Raising £500,000 through debt financing 00:50:00 Retail partnerships and customer lifetime value 00:54:00 Opening a flagship store in Dublin 00:56:00 The opportunity to expand into America 01:04:00 Peter's personal routines and approach to performance 01:09:00 The mindset required to succeed as a founder 01:09:45 Peter's recommended business books 01:10:55 Which entrepreneur would Peter invest in? 01:13:15 Where to find Nomadic Watches Five key lessons for founders 1. Your first customers won't magically appear. Peter found his first 10 customers by reaching out to people individually through Instagram. Sales require direct action, particularly when nobody knows your brand. 2. Sometimes the best growth strategy goes against conventional wisdom. Despite being warned about the cost of physical retail, Peter discovered that customers purchasing luxury products wanted to experience them in person. 3. Great brands sell more than products. Nomadic draws on Belfast's history, engineering heritage and storytelling to create an identity that goes beyond the watch itself. 4. Understand your customers before scaling. Peter explains how the brand evolved as he learned who was actually buying his watches, what they valued and how they preferred to shop. 5. Build for decades, not quarters. Rather than pursuing growth at any cost, Peter wants to create a sustainable brand that can still exist in 50 or 100 years. Connect with Peter and Nomadic Watches Nomadic Watches website: https://nomadicwatches.com Irish website: https://nomadicwatches.ie Peter McAuley on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/peter-mc Nomadic Watches on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/nomadic-watches Books recommended by Peter Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/ready-fire-aim/9780470182024/ The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout https://profilebooks.com/work/the-22-immutable-laws-of-marketing/ About The Entrepreneur Experiment The Entrepreneur Experiment explores what it really takes to build a successful business and become a better founder. Hosted by entrepreneur and investor Gary Fox, the podcast features candid conversations with founders, business leaders and high performers, covering the lessons, strategies and decisions behind their success. Our

October 15, 20261 hr 30 min

The Uncomfortable Truth That Entrepreneurs Ignore - Dan Kiely

Dan Kiely built one of Ireland’s great entrepreneurial success stories. Alongside Linda Green Kiely, he transformed Voxpro from a small Cork business into a global company working with some of the biggest technology companies in the world. But what did that level of success actually cost? In one of the most open conversations we have had on The Entrepreneur Experiment, Dan talks about the sacrifices required to build a company of that scale, the obsession that drove him, his relationship with Linda, cracking America, building powerful networks and eventually selling Voxpro. Then came the part nobody prepares founders for. Dan remembers looking at €45 million in his bank account after the deal and realising he had never felt more miserable. We talk about identity after an exit, addiction, giving up alcohol, learning to be present, men's mental health, his relationship with success and why he is now going back to the classroom to become a better coach and listener. Dan also explains what he looks for when investing through MASV, why Irish founders need to think globally much earlier and why relationships remain one of the greatest competitive advantages in business. This is a conversation about building a huge company. But more importantly, it is about what happens to the person who builds it. Show Notes In this episode we discuss: 00:00 Dan and Linda's extraordinary partnership 00:42 Why Linda was the original venture capitalist 04:30 Building a company valued at €150 million 05:42 What success actually cost Dan 10:00 The hidden pressure behind public success 15:00 Why Dan fought for the idea of “operational beauty” 20:40 Our growing addiction to Reels 25:30 AI will either serve you or you will serve AI 35:45 Why Irish founders need to go where their market is 40:30 Why your network is everything 46:10 Why Voxpro was “50% business and 50% show business” 50:08 Ireland's complicated relationship with failure 52:40 How America changed Dan's mindset 59:30 Addiction, ambition and giving up alcohol 01:01:13 Becoming more present and getting to know himself 01:06:15 Why every entrepreneur needs to understand their exit 01:10:50 Life immediately after selling Voxpro 01:11:27 “I had €45 million in my bank account and I've never been so miserable in my life” 01:15:00 Finding a new identity and creating MASV 01:19:10 Men's mental health and helping other founders 01:20:00 Why Dan has gone back to education 01:25:00 Linda's next chapter and using fashion to create impact Guest resources Dan Kiely on LinkedIn MASV

October 8, 20261 hr 0 min

Everyone Told Her Not to Build Peanut. She Did It Anyway | Michelle Kennedy

Michelle Kennedy was told to build another dating app. She knew dating. She had worked at Badoo and Bumble. It was the obvious move. Instead, she built Peanut. Michelle created Peanut after becoming a mother and experiencing first hand how isolating that transition could be. What began as the product she wished existed has grown into a global community connecting women through motherhood, fertility, menopause and some of the most important stages of their lives. But the journey started unusually. Michelle raised investment before she had a product or a team. At that point, she essentially had herself, an idea and a deck. She then made another unconventional decision. Rather than slowly expanding from London across the UK, she went directly after the US market, launching into cities including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In this episode, we unpack how she did it. Michelle explains why she deliberately targeted America, what she would do differently if she were raising money today, and why taking institutional investment so early created lessons she only understood later. We also explore one of the most important but least discussed advantages in business: your network. Michelle openly admits that she spent much of her early career without understanding networking at all. She explains how she eventually realised that relationships were driving opportunities all around her, and how founders can build a network intentionally rather than simply collecting contacts. We discuss the difficult balance between founder instinct and data, why listening to every piece of advice can damage a company, and how Michelle learned to distinguish useful feedback from pressure to follow trends. Michelle also explains why she believes great consumer founders need taste, why experimentation is fundamental to building products, and why a catastrophically bad experiment can sometimes teach you far more than a small improvement. We explore Peanut's mission beyond technology and why Michelle believes real world human connection will become even more valuable as AI becomes more powerful. Michelle also shares Peanut's work around matrescence, the biological, psychological and emotional transition into motherhood, and the company's wider mission to make women's experiences better understood. And finally, Michelle shares the three qualities she believes have been most important to her success as an entrepreneur: grit, passion and team. In this episode • Why Michelle built Peanut after becoming a mother • Why people encouraged her to build another dating app instead • Raising VC funding before having a product or team • Why Peanut attacked the US market from the beginning • What Michelle would change about her fundraising strategy today • The funding challenges still facing female founders • Why founders need to filter advice • The danger of following trends instead of your customer • How Michelle learned the importance of building a network • Why relationships can become a hidden advantage in business • Combining founder instinct with data • Why great consumer founders need taste • How to run experiments that actually teach you something • Why a dramatically unsuccessful experiment can still be valuable • AI and the increasing importance of real human connection • Peanut's work around matrescence • The Village Fund and helping mothers connect in real life • Michelle's three ingredients for entrepreneurial success: grit, passion and team About Michelle Kennedy Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut, a platform designed to connect women through different stages of life including fertility, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause. Before founding Peanut, Michelle worked in the dating industry at Badoo and was involved in the early development of Bumble. She launched Peanut in 2017 after experiencing first hand the need for better connection and community following the birth of her first child. Learn more about Michelle and Peanut Peanut https://www.peanut-app.io/ Download Peanut through the Apple App Store or Google Play. The Village Fund https://www.peanut-app.io/village-fund Peanut and Coterie have created a six figure fund designed to help mothers turn online connections into real world meetups and communities. Book recommended by Michelle Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth https://www.angeladuckworth.com/grit/ Michelle describes Grit as a phenomenal book and recommends it for founders. The book explores Angela Duckworth's research into why sustained passion and perseverance can matter more to long-term achievement than talent alone.

October 1, 20261 hr 15 min

From No Idea to a $25M Raised in 3 Years | Mark Hughes co-founder Solidroad

Mark Hughes started Solidroad in Dublin in 2023 with his co founder Patrick Finlay. There was just one problem. They did not actually know what they were going to build. Three years later, Solidroad has gone through Y Combinator, built offices in Dublin and San Francisco, landed major enterprise customers and raised a $25 million Series A. In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Mark breaks down exactly how it happened. We go inside the early search for product market fit, how they got their first customers, founder led sales, getting into Y Combinator after multiple attempts, moving his life to San Francisco and the extraordinary speed at which Silicon Valley operates. Mark also tells the story of meeting First Round Capital on a Saturday, meeting the partnership on Sunday and effectively having the investment agreed by Monday. We then get into AI. Mark explains how AI has completely changed the way he works as a CEO, why he believes repetitive work is most at risk, why customer support will remain a combination of humans and AI, and how he is effectively building an AI powered operating system around his company. Finally, we talk about the biggest mistake he has made building Solidroad and the lesson he would give his younger founder self: Move faster. A fascinating conversation about ambition, fundraising, sales, AI, Silicon Valley and what it really takes to build a venture scale company. —- Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azure26 Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment Podcast: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/podcast —- CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Mark Hughes and Solidroad 01:52 From Dublin startup to a $25M Series A 03:09 Why Mark became a second time founder 04:30 Starting a company without knowing what to build 06:01 How they searched for the right problem 07:49 The moment they realised they had something 09:09 Funding the company before Y Combinator 11:39 Revenue as the North Star 15:01 Why timing matters in startups 17:00 How Solidroad found its first customers 19:37 Mark's founder led sales playbook 24:28 Why moving to San Francisco changed everything 24:59 What Y Combinator actually does 26:33 Inside a typical week at YC 28:31 Getting into YC after multiple attempts 31:24 The personal cost of moving to San Francisco 34:38 What happens after Y Combinator 36:22 Inside YC Demo Day 37:27 Meeting First Round Capital 38:50 Saturday meeting, Monday money 39:53 Building a $6.5M seed round 42:10 Landing major enterprise customers 42:49 Why money raised is the wrong success metric 43:10 Why Solidroad raised again 44:56 Will AI take our jobs? 46:30 Why customer service will remain human 48:56 The jobs most exposed to AI 49:40 How an AI powered CEO works 52:42 Has Claude overtaken ChatGPT? 54:04 Raising the $25M Series A 59:05 Mark's advice for founders raising money 1:00:41 Dublin versus San Francisco 1:02:52 What comes next for Solidroad 1:03:59 Mark's biggest mistake 1:07:02 Quick fire 1:10:22 Why face to face sales will win in an AI world 1:13:37 The advice Mark wishes he had earlier 1:14:08 Speed is everything

September 24, 20261 hr 10 min

The Real Reason I Left Dragons’ Den | Sara Davies

Sara Davies built the business that changed her life. Then she had to fight to save it. In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Sara tells the story of what happened when Crafter’s Companion, the company she founded from her bedroom, ran into serious trouble and ultimately entered administration. She talks candidly about buying the business back, the brutal 18 months that followed, and what it feels like when the company that has defined so much of your life suddenly becomes the source of enormous pressure. This is not simply a story about business recovery. We talk about the decisions and warning signs that founders can miss when a company is growing, including the uncomfortable reality of doing around £20 million in revenue while struggling for cash. Sara also opens up about stepping away from Dragons’ Den, the pressure of trying to be a founder, investor, television personality and mother at the same time, and reaching the point where she knew something had to change. We explore ADHD, hyperfocus, motherhood, guilt, resilience, investing and the psychology that has allowed Sara to keep moving forward through some of the most difficult periods of her career. In this conversation: • What really happened inside Crafter’s Companion • How a business can generate huge revenue and still run into cash problems • Why Sara decided to buy her company back • The toughest 18 months of her business career • The founder mistakes she can now see more clearly • Why she stepped back from Dragons’ Den • The pressure of combining ambition, business and family • Sara’s experience of ADHD and hyperfocus • How she evaluates entrepreneurs and investments • What difficult periods have taught her about resilience This is a very different side of Sara Davies. It is a conversation about what happens when success becomes complicated, when the business you built needs saving, and how you rebuild both the company and the founder behind it. The Entrepreneur Experiment is about one central idea: Build a better founder, not just a better business. —- Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azure26 Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment Podcast: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/podcast

September 17, 20261 hr 14 min

James Haskell: The Hard Truth About Success, Reinvention & Life After Rugby

James Haskell has spent most of his life performing under pressure. He won 77 caps for England, toured with the British & Irish Lions, played professional rugby around the world and then had to figure out who he was when the game stopped. Today, James is an entrepreneur, broadcaster, author, DJ and co-host of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby. He’s also building Blackeye Spirits alongside Mike Tindall and Alex Payne. But this isn’t really an episode about rugby. It’s about building a better founder, not just a better business. We talk about why self-awareness may be the ultimate competitive advantage, how elite sport teaches you to handle brutal feedback, why ambitious people struggle to recognise when enough is enough, and how James rebuilt his identity after rugby. We also get into focus, saying no, buying back your time, therapy, accountability, personal branding, choosing business opportunities, the creator economy, why information is becoming free and why implementation is becoming more valuable. James is candid, funny and completely unfiltered throughout. If you’re ambitious, stretched across too many things, or trying to work out what success actually means to you, there’s a lot in this one. In This Episode We cover: What professional sport teaches you about business Why “you can lie to everyone else, but you can’t lie to yourself” How to receive feedback without letting your ego get in the way The four things James believes you can actually control Why achievement can leave high performers permanently unfulfilled The difference between chasing outcomes and mastering process What Eddie Jones taught him about excellence Reinventing yourself when your first career ends Why James started preparing for life after rugby at 20 Learning to say no to opportunities How he decides which businesses and projects deserve his time Why he refuses most equity-only deals Authenticity, personal branding and protecting audience trust Why information is becoming free but implementation will remain valuable Therapy, mental performance and changing your emotional state His approach to focus, batching and avoiding distraction Why even a former professional athlete pays someone to keep him accountable Buying back your time Defining how much money is actually “enough” Turning The Good, The Bad & The Rugby from a podcast into a media business Why modern podcasts need to think beyond audio Building Blackeye Spirits and the mission behind the Blackeye Rugby Fund Links & Resources James Haskell: official site covering his rugby, books, music and other projects. James Haskell official website (https://jameshaskell.com/) The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: James hosts alongside Mike Tindall and Alex Payne; the show describes itself as the world’s biggest rugby podcast. The Good, The Bad & The Rugby (https://goodbadrugby.com/) Blackeye Spirits: James, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne’s spirits business. The brand says its Rugby Fund aims to eventually invest £1 million annually supporting injured players, research, risk reduction and recovery. Blackeye Spirits (https://blackeyespirits.com/ James’s books: What A Flanker, Ruck Me and Approach (With)out Caution are all featured on his official site.

September 10, 20261 hr 19 min

Her Last Words Changed His Life. Then He Built a Business Helping Thousands | Danny Buckley

This is one of the most personal founder stories we’ve recorded on The Entrepreneur Experiment. Danny Buckley is the co-founder of ADHD Now and a 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. But the company exists because of a far more personal story. Danny spent much of his life struggling with distraction, emotional dysregulation, anxiety and a lack of structure without understanding why. His wife Simone believed he had ADHD. Danny dismissed it. Then life changed completely. After years of serious health challenges, Simone became critically ill. The day before she died, she told Danny that life was short, that he needed to stop inflicting suffering on himself, get help for his ADHD, understand who he was and back himself. Danny eventually followed her advice. His diagnosis at 32 gave him a new understanding of himself, but getting there exposed another problem: accessing ADHD assessment and support was extraordinarily difficult. Danny saw an opportunity to change that. Together with his co-founders, he built ADHD Now around a simple idea: people should be able to get answers in weeks rather than wait years. We unpack how they found clinical capacity, built the technology and processes, generated demand, scaled the team and created a service that expects to see 13,000 patients in 2026. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Danny speaks openly about grief, becoming emotionally available for his son, sobriety, faith, asking for help and learning to live with structure and discipline. We also explore why ADHD appears so frequently among entrepreneurs, how hyperfocus can become both an advantage and a liability, and why Danny eventually had to recognise that not every exciting business opportunity deserved his attention. His personal framework is beautifully simple: desire, hard work and help. And each morning, he returns to his Three Cs: Connection. Compassion. Contribution. This is a story about what happens when you finally understand yourself, accept what you cannot control and put your energy into what you can. As Danny puts it: “Life is short. Enjoy the life you’ve left.” IN THIS EPISODE Danny’s experience of living with undiagnosed ADHD The final conversation with his wife Simone that changed the direction of his life Why he travelled to the UK to receive his ADHD diagnosis How diagnosis brought structure, discipline and emotional awareness into his life Why getting a diagnosis is only the beginning Turning his own experience into the idea for ADHD Now The stranger Danny met outside the hospital who would later back the business How ADHD Now went from idea to launch in a matter of months Recruiting clinicians when the healthcare system was already at capacity Using technology and systems to reduce friction for patients Why private providers may form part of the solution to healthcare waiting lists The relationship between ADHD, hyperfocus and entrepreneurship Why Danny bought two bakeries while scaling a healthcare company Learning when ADHD-driven curiosity becomes distraction Danny’s formula of desire, hard work and help His Three Cs: Connection, Compassion and Contribution The moment at EY Entrepreneur of the Year when Danny finally felt proud of himself Why he rejects the idea that founders have to be miserable to succeed Faith, fatherhood and redefining what success means Why “action removes anxiety” Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azure26 🔗 Links & Resources: ADHD Now: https://adhdnow.com/ie Danny Buckley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danibuckley90 Danny Buckley on LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/danny-buckley-84840b2a0 Book recommendation – Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss: https://amzn.to/4dshO2a Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment Podcast: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/podcast

September 5, 20267 min

EE521 - Mentor Moment: Laura Dowling - Why Consistency Beats Virality

Building a trusted brand rarely comes from one viral moment. It comes from showing up consistently, solving real problems and earning people’s attention over time. In this Mentor Moment, Laura Dowling shares how she built credibility by making complex health information easier to understand and creating content that genuinely helped her audience. It’s a valuable lesson for any founder or creator trying to grow a brand: trust compounds, consistency matters and meaningful impact will always outlast a temporary spike in views. 🎧 Listen back to Laura’s full conversation in Episode 466 of The Entrepreneur Experiment for more on her journey from pharmacist to educator, entrepreneur and trusted voice in women’s health. Follow and subscribe so you never miss a Mentor Moment. *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26 Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment

September 3, 20261 hr 38 min

EE520: Thomas Carty - From 300 Boxes to Nationwide Retail | How He Built Thirst

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with professional heavyweight boxer and Thirst co-founder Thomas Carty to unpack how he built one of Ireland’s fastest-growing hydration brands while pursuing a career in professional boxing. The idea began with Thomas’s own search for a convenient electrolyte product to support his training. When the brand he relied on stopped shipping to Ireland, he decided to create his own. Within just ten weeks, Thomas and his business partner had developed and self-funded their first 300 boxes—but producing the product was only the beginning. After pharmacies, health shops and supplement stores refused to stock them, Thomas loaded the boxes into his car and began selling them one at a time to coffee shops and saunas across Dublin. Today, Thirst works with more than 20 distributors and is stocked across Ireland in hundreds of cafés, vending machines, gyms, forecourts and major retail groups. Thomas shares the reality behind that growth: the uncomfortable early sales, the importance of moving quickly, how founder-led content helped build trust and why the right business partner allowed him to balance building Thirst with training up to 11 times a week. If you have an idea you’ve been waiting to launch, this episode is a practical masterclass in product development, distribution, founder-led marketing and getting started before everything is perfect. 🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🥊 How Thomas’s Olympic ambitions led him into professional boxing 💡 The sauna conversation that sparked the idea for Thirst 🤝 Finding a business partner with complementary skills ⚡ Developing and self-funding the first product in just ten weeks 📦 Starting with 300 boxes across three flavours 🚪 What happened when pharmacies and supplement stores refused to stock the brand ☕ Creating a new route to market through coffee shops and saunas 🚗 Driving across Dublin to sell one box at a time 📱 Using social proof and founder-led content to build trust 🎙️ The podcast appearance that created a major spike in sales 📈 Growing from one distributor to more than 20 🛒 Designing packaging specifically for convenience and retail 🏪 Expanding into hundreds of cafés and vending machines across Ireland ⏱️ Why speed has become one of Thirst’s greatest advantages 🧠 Balancing a growing company with 11 boxing and training sessions each week 📓 The physical diary Thomas relies on to manage his life and workload 🌍 Why export—not launching a canned drink—is the next priority 📣 Why social media remains the most powerful free tool available to founders 🚀 What Thomas would do differently if he were launching Thirst again 🔥 Why blind faith and hard work form his personal formula for success 💬 “The secret sauce is graft. There’s no secret.” – Thomas Carty 🔗 Links & Resources: Thirst: https://thirstlife.com Thirst on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirst.life Thomas Carty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thomascarty Thomas Carty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-carty-775516162 Book recommendation – Relentless by Tim Grover: https://timgrover.com/relentless/ Our Sponsors: Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azure26 Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment Podcast: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/podcast