Business Builders

Conor Kearney
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I created Business Builders as a weekly interview series to have honest conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors about their journeys; their successes, setbacks, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As a growing business builder myself, I want to learn directly from my guests and share those insights with you. My goal is to provide listeners with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and real inspiration to help you on your own path to building and growing a business. 

  1. 10h ago

    Building A Global Kids Brand With Disney, Lego & Netflix | Emmet O'Neill, StoryToys

    🔔🔔 Emmet O’Neill reveals how StoryToys nearly collapsed after years of venture capital funding, how he cut the business from 45 people to 15, and how that turnaround ultimately led to a €35 million children’s media company with more than 300 million app downloads 🔔🔔 Emmet O’Neill joins Business Builders to share the remarkable story behind StoryToys, one of Ireland’s most successful digital media companies and the creator of educational children’s apps based on brands including Disney, Lego, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, Bluey, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and more. Starting his career as an illustrator before moving into digital media, Emmet spotted the opportunity created by the arrival of the iPad and helped pioneer a new category of interactive storytelling for children. But the journey was anything but straightforward. After raising significant venture capital and scaling rapidly, StoryToys found itself growing too fast in too many directions. Burn rates soared, the business came close to collapse, and difficult decisions had to be made. Emmet shares the painful reality of cutting the team from 45 people to 15, taking over leadership during the company’s darkest period, and rebuilding the business around profitability rather than fundraising. What followed was a remarkable turnaround. By refocusing on high-quality licensed content for preschool children, securing partnerships with brands such as Lego and Disney, and maintaining a relentless focus on product quality, StoryToys transformed from a struggling startup into a highly profitable global business generating €35 million in annual revenue. Along the way, Emmet reflects on working alongside his brother, the challenges of venture capital, product-market fit, acquisitions, leadership during crisis, creativity in business, licensing major intellectual property, and why he believes great businesses are built by enabling talented people to do their best work. The conversation also explores the future of children’s media, Netflix’s growing games strategy, AI’s impact on creative industries, autism-friendly product design, and why creating products that genuinely improve children’s lives remains at the heart of StoryToys’ mission. This is a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, product-market fit, and building a business that survives long enough to become extraordinary. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: • How StoryToys grew from a small Dublin startup into a €35 million business  • Why Emmet believes many startups become addicted to venture capital  • The mistakes that nearly caused StoryToys to collapse  • How cutting the team from 45 people to 15 saved the company  • Why profitability changed everything for the business  • The story behind securing partnerships with Disney, Lego and Netflix  • How StoryToys creates educational alternatives to addictive mobile games  • Why creativity can be a powerful advantage in business leadership  • The lessons Emmet learned working alongside his brother  • How to identify and nurture talent inside an organisation  • Why product-market fit matters more than growth at any cost  • The realities of scaling a venture-backed business  • How StoryToys was acquired and why Emmet stayed on as CEO  • What makes successful acquisitions work after the deal is signed  • The changing economics of children’s media and entertainment  • Why Netflix is becoming an important gaming platform  • How AI is being used inside StoryToys today  • Why Emmet is less worried about AI than he was five years ago  • How StoryToys designs products for autistic children and families  • Why meaningful impact matters more than download numbers ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - What StoryToys does and the children’s app market  04:00 - Educational games versus addictive mobile apps  10:00 - From illustrator to digital entrepreneur  14:00 - Joining StoryToys and working with family  17:00 - Creativity as a business advantage  20:00 - Building products and securing major licences  26:00 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar and children’s storytelling  31:00 - Venture capital, growth and near-collapse  37:00 - Returning to profitability and saving the business  43:00 - Pandemic growth and finding product-market fit  46:00 - Selling the company and lessons from VC funding  50:00 - Acquisition by Team17 and continued growth  56:00 - The future of children’s media and gaming  59:00 - AI, creativity and the future of software  01:04:00 - The challenges facing children’s content creators  01:08:00 - Building products for autistic children  01:15:00 - Creating meaningful impact through technology Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, startups, venture capital, StoryToys, children’s media, educational technology, mobile apps, app development, product-market fit, Disney, Lego, Netflix, intellectual property, licensing, acquisitions, leadership, business turnaround, scaling companies, profitability, creative entrepreneurship, digital media, gaming industry, children’s entertainment, AI, artificial intelligence, autism, neurodiversity, company culture, product design, business growth, Irish startups, technology business.

    1h 18m

  2. Jun 1

    “I Turned a $20M Company Into a $1.45 Billion Exit” | Cathal Friel, Raglan Capital

    🔔🔔 Cathal Friel explains how he built five public companies, turned a $20 million business into a $1.45 billion exit, and why IPOs may be making a comeback for ambitious entrepreneurs 🔔🔔 Cathal Friel joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on entrepreneurship, IPOs, public markets, distressed assets, investing, AI, and building companies across multiple industries. Cathal is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and company builder who has launched five public companies over the past fourteen years. His ventures have spanned sectors including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, renewable energy, and biotechnology. But this conversation is about far more than stock markets and finance. Cathal explains the repeatable model he has developed for identifying opportunities, acquiring distressed assets, raising capital, and building fast-growing public companies. He shares the story of how a struggling oil and gas company ultimately evolved into Amryt Pharma, which was later sold for $1.45 billion. Drawing on decades of experience as both an entrepreneur and investor, Cathal breaks down the realities of IPOs, why many founders misunderstand public markets, and why he believes going public can be a powerful alternative to private equity. Along the way, he reflects on being forced into the family business at sixteen, the lessons learned from rebuilding debt-ridden companies, the importance of rejection, networking, and continuous learning, and why entrepreneurship is a skill that can be developed rather than something people are simply born with. The conversation also explores AI, the future of work, Europe’s economic outlook, leadership, parenting, and why Cathal remains as excited about building businesses at sixty-one as he was decades ago. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, opportunity, resilience, and building businesses that create long-term value. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: • How Cathal built five public companies in fourteen years  • The story behind a $1.45 billion pharmaceutical exit  • Why IPOs are often misunderstood by entrepreneurs  • The key differences between private equity and public markets  • How distressed assets can become valuable businesses  • Why investors care more about trust than ideas  • The lessons Cathal learned from oil, pharma, biotech and renewables  • How public companies can grow through acquisitions  • Why rejection is a critical entrepreneurial skill  • The importance of networking and building relationships  • Why entrepreneurship is a learnable skill  • The lessons Cathal learned from running his family business at sixteen  • How to think about risk, opportunity and capital allocation  • Why AI will reshape work and entrepreneurship  • The future of IPOs in Ireland and the UK  • Why continuous learning remains one of Cathal’s biggest advantages  • The importance of balancing business success with family life  • Why he believes Europe is entering a major period of opportunity ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - Introducing Cathal Friel  02:00 - Building companies through IPOs  07:00 - How Cathal spots market opportunities  12:00 - The story behind Amryt Pharma  18:00 - Distressed assets and creating value  24:00 - Why IPOs differ from private equity  31:00 - Investing in small-cap companies  37:00 - Building businesses through acquisitions  44:00 - The future of public markets  49:00 - Rejection, confidence and entrepreneurship  58:00 - Running the family business at sixteen  01:05:00 - Networking, business cards and relationships  01:12:00 - AI, learning and the future of work  01:21:00 - Europe, geopolitics and opportunity  01:33:00 - Parenting, success and long-term thinking  01:38:00 - Final reflections and advice Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, IPOs, investing, public companies, private equity, distressed assets, business growth, capital markets, pharmaceuticals, biotech, renewable energy, venture building, acquisitions, leadership, networking, AI, future of work, investing strategy, family business, business resilience, startup funding, innovation, company building, European business, entrepreneurship mindset, scaling businesses.

    1h 22m

  3. May 25

    A Big Exit, Confidence & Resilience Ciarán Mulligan, Yes Insurance

    🔔🔔 Ciarán Mulligan explains how he built and sold Blue Insurance, why crises create opportunities in business, and how becoming a father completely changed his perspective on success 🔔🔔Ciarán Mulligan joins Business Builders for a powerful and deeply personal conversation on entrepreneurship, marketing, scaling businesses, resilience, identity, surrogacy, and what really matters after success. Ciarán is the founder of Blue Insurance, the business he built into one of Ireland’s best-known insurance brands before selling in a reported multi-million euro deal. Now, he’s building again with YES Insurance - but this conversation goes far beyond insurance. He explains how Blue Insurance scaled by moving quickly, spotting opportunities during crises, and staying aggressive while competitors pulled back. From exploiting cheap advertising during recessions to building niche insurance products before competitors saw the opportunity, Ciarán shares the mindset that helped grow the company from a small operation into a major international business. He also reflects on the realities of entrepreneurship: negotiating relentlessly, staying lean, surviving economic crashes, dealing with uncertainty, and knowing when the right time to sell actually is. But this episode also becomes something much more personal. Ciarán speaks openly about growing up gay in Ireland, being bullied in school, building confidence over time, and why authenticity mattered to him as a leader. He also shares the emotional story of his surrogacy journey with his husband Brian, including the devastating loss of their first son Connor, the battle to bring him home from Georgia, and how becoming a father ultimately reshaped his priorities and outlook on life. Along the way, the conversation explores marketing psychology, hiring, scaling teams, founder mentality, innovation, customer care, travel, wealth, ambition, and why business success alone is never the full story. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, family, identity, leadership, and building a meaningful life beyond business. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: Why Ciarán kept advertising during economic crashes while competitors stoppedHow Blue Insurance scaled from a small startup into a multi-million euro companyWhy diversification was critical to surviving crisesThe marketing strategies that helped Blue Insurance dominate its nicheWhy being “lean” became a core operating philosophyHow to negotiate aggressively during downturnsThe importance of spotting opportunities before competitorsWhy founders need to stop micromanaging as companies growThe biggest lessons Ciarán learned scaling teams and hiring peopleWhy communication skills are essential in businessHow working nightlife jobs helped build his confidence and people skillsHis perspective on leadership, customer care, and company cultureThe realities of selling a business after years of building itWhy making money didn’t fundamentally change who he wasThe emotional story behind his family’s surrogacy journeyThe devastating loss of his son Connor and the fight to bring him homeWhy becoming a father changed his priorities completelyWhat success means to him now after business success and personal lossWhy YES Insurance is his next big chapter

    1h 10m

  4. May 19

    (RE-RELEASE) “Why So Many SMEs Get Stuck at €1M–€5M Revenue” | Ed Murphy, Greentech HQ

    🔔🔔 Ed Murphy explains why most businesses fail to scale, what franchising taught him about systems and growth, and why founders themselves are often the bottleneck inside their own companies 🔔🔔 Ed Murphy joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on scaling businesses, franchising, entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and the realities of building sustainable companies over decades. Ed is the founder of GreenTech HQ and one of Ireland’s most experienced franchise operators, having helped scale major businesses including Snap Printing and Home Instead Senior Care across Ireland. But this conversation is about far more than franchising. Ed explains why so many SMEs get stuck between €1m and €5m revenue, why great founders often struggle to scale their own companies, and why businesses without proper infrastructure inevitably hit a ceiling. Drawing on decades of experience building franchise systems, Ed breaks down the hidden mechanics behind scalable companies: systems, structure, operations, incentives, accountability, leadership, and repeatable processes. He also reflects on the rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com bubble, the lessons he learned from taking VC investment too early, and why today’s AI boom reminds him of the early internet era. Along the way, Ed shares practical insights on hiring, property, founder psychology, partnerships, incentives, and why sometimes the bravest decision in business is knowing when to stop. The conversation also explores what success actually means after decades in business, and why helping other people succeed ultimately became more fulfilling than chasing money itself. This is a conversation about systems, scaling, leadership, long-term thinking, and building businesses that can grow beyond the founder. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧:  Why most businesses fail to scale properly  The hidden infrastructure every growing business needs  Why many founders become the bottleneck inside their own company  How franchising taught Ed to build repeatable systems  Why systems matter more than hustle when scaling  The biggest mistakes SMEs make between €1m–€5m revenue  Why some founders had to “sack themselves” as general manager  How to structure a business so it can grow beyond you  The practical lessons Ed learned scaling Snap Printing across Ireland  Why property can become a trap for business owners  The story behind PrintOrigin and the dot-com crash  Why Ed believes founders should approach AI carefully but seriously  His advice for businesses adopting AI today  The importance of partnerships, accountability, and shared decision-making  Why “fail fast” is often the bravest thing an entrepreneur can do  What success actually means after decades in business  Why helping others succeed became his biggest motivation  How GreenTech HQ is helping create jobs and startups in the southeast of Ireland ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - Introducing Ed Murphy and GreenTech HQ  02:00 - Why SMEs struggle to scale  05:00 - Finding the gaps inside growing businesses  09:00 - Why founders sometimes become the bottleneck  13:00 - Discovering franchising in America  16:00 - Building Snap Printing across Ireland  20:00 - The hard realities of scaling franchise businesses  25:00 - What non-franchise businesses can learn from franchising  30:00 - Why systems create scalable companies  35:00 - The rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com era  43:00 - AI, technology bubbles, and founder advice  47:00 - The entrepreneurial “7-year itch”  49:00 - Building Home Instead in Ireland  51:00 - Adapting international franchises for local markets  58:00 - Risk, systems, and healthcare businesses  01:00:00 - Failure, ego, and knowing when to stop  01:02:00 - Goal-setting, partnerships, and accountability  01:09:00 - Why Ed eventually moved on from franchising  01:11:00 - Building GreenTech HQ in Wexford  01:14:00 - What success actually means  01:20:00 - Why helping others succeed matters more than money  01:27:00 - The future of GreenTech HQ and the southeast Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, franchising, business systems, scaling businesses, SME growth, leadership, founder mindset, AI, startups, operational systems, business infrastructure, franchising models, Home Instead, Snap Printing, GreenTech HQ, business partnerships, startup growth, innovation, management, business strategy, founder psychology

    1h 34m

  5. May 18

    “Why So Many SMEs Get Stuck at €1M–€5M Revenue” | Ed Murphy, Greentech HQ

    🔔🔔 Ed Murphy explains why most businesses fail to scale, what franchising taught him about systems and growth, and why founders themselves are often the bottleneck inside their own companies 🔔🔔 Ed Murphy joins Business Builders for a fascinating conversation on scaling businesses, franchising, entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and the realities of building sustainable companies over decades. Ed is the founder of GreenTech HQ and one of Ireland’s most experienced franchise operators, having helped scale major businesses including Snap Printing and Home Instead Senior Care across Ireland. But this conversation is about far more than franchising. Ed explains why so many SMEs get stuck between €1m and €5m revenue, why great founders often struggle to scale their own companies, and why businesses without proper infrastructure inevitably hit a ceiling. Drawing on decades of experience building franchise systems, Ed breaks down the hidden mechanics behind scalable companies: systems, structure, operations, incentives, accountability, leadership, and repeatable processes. He also reflects on the rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com bubble, the lessons he learned from taking VC investment too early, and why today’s AI boom reminds him of the early internet era. Along the way, Ed shares practical insights on hiring, property, founder psychology, partnerships, incentives, and why sometimes the bravest decision in business is knowing when to stop. The conversation also explores what success actually means after decades in business, and why helping other people succeed ultimately became more fulfilling than chasing money itself. This is a conversation about systems, scaling, leadership, long-term thinking, and building businesses that can grow beyond the founder. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧:  Why most businesses fail to scale properly  The hidden infrastructure every growing business needs  Why many founders become the bottleneck inside their own company  How franchising taught Ed to build repeatable systems  Why systems matter more than hustle when scaling  The biggest mistakes SMEs make between €1m–€5m revenue  Why some founders had to “sack themselves” as general manager  How to structure a business so it can grow beyond you  The practical lessons Ed learned scaling Snap Printing across Ireland  Why property can become a trap for business owners  The story behind PrintOrigin and the dot-com crash  Why Ed believes founders should approach AI carefully but seriously  His advice for businesses adopting AI today  The importance of partnerships, accountability, and shared decision-making  Why “fail fast” is often the bravest thing an entrepreneur can do  What success actually means after decades in business  Why helping others succeed became his biggest motivation  How GreenTech HQ is helping create jobs and startups in the southeast of Ireland ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - Introducing Ed Murphy and GreenTech HQ  02:00 - Why SMEs struggle to scale  05:00 - Finding the gaps inside growing businesses  09:00 - Why founders sometimes become the bottleneck  13:00 - Discovering franchising in America  16:00 - Building Snap Printing across Ireland  20:00 - The hard realities of scaling franchise businesses  25:00 - What non-franchise businesses can learn from franchising  30:00 - Why systems create scalable companies  35:00 - The rise and fall of PrintOrigin during the dot-com era  43:00 - AI, technology bubbles, and founder advice  47:00 - The entrepreneurial “7-year itch”  49:00 - Building Home Instead in Ireland  51:00 - Adapting international franchises for local markets  58:00 - Risk, systems, and healthcare businesses  01:00:00 - Failure, ego, and knowing when to stop  01:02:00 - Goal-setting, partnerships, and accountability  01:09:00 - Why Ed eventually moved on from franchising  01:11:00 - Building GreenTech HQ in Wexford  01:14:00 - What success actually means  01:20:00 - Why helping others succeed matters more than money  01:27:00 - The future of GreenTech HQ and the southeast Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, franchising, business systems, scaling businesses, SME growth, leadership, founder mindset, AI, startups, operational systems, business infrastructure, franchising models, Home Instead, Snap Printing, GreenTech HQ, business partnerships, startup growth, innovation, management, business strategy, founder psychology

    1h 34m

  6. May 11

    “I Built a Multi-Million Euro Business With €1,000” | Troy Armour, Junk Kouture

    🔔🔔 Troy Armour reveals how he built Junk Kouture from a €1,000 idea into a global movement, and why he believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma, creativity, and the need to stand out 🔔🔔 Join the movement to help spread 1 Million good deeds at Mo Chuisle: https://30daysofgooddeeds.com/ Troy Armour joins Business Builders for one of the most wide-ranging and unconventional conversations we’ve ever had, covering entrepreneurship, creativity, trauma, AI, identity, leadership, and the deeper psychology behind building businesses. What began as a small creative idea with just €1,000 in the bank grew into Junk Kouture: a global platform spanning more than 100,000 young people across 74 nationalities, helping students express themselves through creativity, fashion, storytelling, and performance. But Troy’s story is about far more than building a successful business. He explains why he believes most entrepreneurs are “addicts” driven by feelings of not being enough, how childhood experiences shape ambition, and why creativity often emerges from pressure, pain, and constraint. Along the way, Troy shares the early hustle behind Junk Kouture; writing letters to nearly 1,000 schools because he couldn’t afford marketing, persuading venues to host events for free, and figuring everything out in real time with no roadmap and almost no money. The conversation also explores Troy’s deeply personal journey of self-discovery: from leadership struggles and burnout, to ayahuasca retreats in Brazil, vulnerability, shame, and learning to accept himself. He also discusses the future of AI, why he believes we are entering “the age of creativity,” and how artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape business, software, and work itself over the next decade. This is a conversation about ambition, identity, creativity, healing, and what really drives people to build. “If you don’t fit in, then maybe you were born to stand out.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧:  How Troy built Junk Kouture starting with just €1,000    Why constraints and lack of money can create better businesses    The unconventional early growth story behind Junk Kouture    Why Troy believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma and insecurity    The similarities between entrepreneurial obsession and addiction    How creativity and pressure are deeply connected    What Troy learned about leadership after nearly burning out    Why vulnerability and shame shape so much of human behaviour    The personal story behind Troy’s ayahuasca experience in Brazil    Why he believes “most people leave school broken”    How Junk Kouture helps young people build confidence and identity    Why AI will transform business and usher in “the age of creativity”    Troy’s predictions for the future of software, SaaS, and entrepreneurship    Why environment and proximity changed the scale of his ambition    What success, happiness, and fulfillment really mean to him now

    1h 35m

  7. Apr 20

    “You Can’t Build a Business Without Hard Decisions” | Colin Culliton, Kith&Kin

    🔔🔔 Colin Culliton reveals why you can’t build a successful business without making hard decisions - and the realities of scaling through crisis 🔔🔔 Colin Culliton joins Business Builders to share the story of how he built and scaled a multi-million euro print and communications group, and the hard decisions that defined his journey. What began as a small “me too” printing company with six people grew into a €20M group of businesses spanning design, marketing, events, and more. But the path from startup to scale was anything but smooth. Colin explains how he approached growth in a traditional, highly competitive industry, starting with organic growth before using acquisitions to accelerate scale and expand into new areas. Along the way, he learned that business success isn’t about avoiding problems; it’s about facing them head-on. Nowhere was this clearer than during the 2008 financial crisis, when Colin made the counterintuitive decision to cut headcount while the business was still booming - a move that ultimately saved the company. In this episode, Colin breaks down what it really takes to build a long-term business: from making tough calls under pressure, to trusting your instincts, to building teams that can solve problems better than you can. He also reflects on leadership, the realities of managing multiple businesses, and why the fear of failure never truly goes away - no matter how successful you become. This is a conversation about resilience, decision-making, and the truth behind what it takes to survive and scale a business over decades. “If you think you can avoid hard decisions and build a business over the long term - you just can’t.”  🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why Colin started his first business - and why the idea itself mattered less than taking action  How to grow a company in a traditional, competitive industry  The role of acquisitions in scaling a business faster  Why making hard decisions quickly is critical to long-term success  What founders get wrong about growth during good times  How Colin navigated the 2008 financial crisis and protected his business  Why trusting your instincts is one of the most important skills in business  The challenges of managing multiple businesses and leaders  How to build teams with diverse thinking and strong problem-solving ability  Why fear of failure never goes away - and how it drives performance ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - Introducing Colin Culliton  02:00 - Starting a “me too” printing business  05:30 - Winning early clients and building trust  10:30 - Dyslexia as a problem-solving advantage  15:00 - Early growth and first acquisition  20:30 - Scaling through acquisitions vs organic growth  25:00 - Spotting risk before the 2008 crash  27:00 - Cutting headcount before the downturn  31:00 - Surviving the financial crisis  34:00 - Lessons from competitors failing  38:00 - Leadership, learning, and self-development  41:00 - How to approach buying a business  47:00 - Managing multiple companies and leaders  53:00 - Why business is always a fight  56:00 - Success, money, and what really matters  59:00 - Sacrifices and work-life balance  01:01:00 - Fear of failure and final advice Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, acquisitions, scaling a business, financial crisis, decision-making, founder mindset, SME strategy, resilience, Colin Culliton

    1h 5m

  8. Apr 13

    "This Is What It Takes To Really Scale a Business" | Ciaran Burke, Swoop

    🔔🔔 Ciaran Burke, CEO and co-founder of Swoop, shares how he built a global fintech platform helping 300,000+ businesses access over £2BN in funding - and the brutal realities behind scaling a startup 🔔🔔 Ciaran Burke joins Business Builders to share the story behind Swoop and the realities of building and scaling a fintech company in the modern funding landscape. What started as a simple idea - helping small businesses navigate the complex world of finance - has grown into a global platform operating across multiple countries, connecting businesses with loans, equity, grants, and financial insights. But the journey from early-stage startup to international scale was anything but smooth. Ciaran shares the often unseen side of entrepreneurship; from sleepless nights during funding rounds to the pressure of keeping a team motivated while facing uncertainty behind the scenes. Along the way, he learned one of the most important lessons in business; not all revenue is created equal. Growth can look impressive on the surface, but without understanding margins and key drivers, it can actually hold a business back. In this episode, Ciaran breaks down what it really takes to scale a company: understanding your numbers, making tough decisions about where to focus, and navigating the emotional and operational challenges that come with growth. He also explains why many founders misunderstand funding, how businesses limit themselves by relying on a single source of finance, and why being “funding ready” is more important than ever. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, fintech, and the reality of building a business in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. “Not all revenue is the same… some of it looks good, but you’re actually giving most of it away.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Ciaran co-founded Swoop and the problem it solves for businesses  The hidden realities of fundraising and founder pressure  Why not all revenue is equal - and how to think about margin  How small improvements in key metrics can drive massive growth  What it really means to be “funding ready”  Why many founders give up too early when seeking finance  How to understand and track the most important numbers in your business  The challenges of building a two-sided marketplace  Why having a co-founder can be critical during tough periods  What it takes to scale a business across multiple countries ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open  01:00 - Introducing Ciaran Burke and Swoop  03:30 - The problem with business funding  08:00 - How Swoop works and makes money  12:00 - Early days and building the business  15:30 - The challenge of two-sided marketplaces  26:00 - Why not all revenue is equal  30:30 - Being funding ready and understanding your numbers  40:40 - Founder pressure and fundraising stress  42:00 - The importance of co-founders  48:30 - Building a business internationally  55:00 - Lessons from scaling Swoop Topics covered: Entrepreneurship, fintech, Swoop, startup funding, business finance, scaling a business, founders, cashflow, revenue vs profit, two-sided marketplaces, leadership, startup growth.

    1h 1m
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About

I created Business Builders as a weekly interview series to have honest conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors about their journeys; their successes, setbacks, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As a growing business builder myself, I want to learn directly from my guests and share those insights with you. My goal is to provide listeners with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and real inspiration to help you on your own path to building and growing a business. 

Information

  • Creator
    Conor Kearney
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Builders
  • Show Website
    Business Builders

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