The Leap by Founders Collective

Gavin Tye
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  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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.

Episodes

  1. FEB 3

    Sabrina Guse started a business at 20 and has taught 6,000 kids about the planet already

    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 programsTurning a passion project into a legitimate businessLeaving a secure job to back yourselfLearning business fundamentals the hard wayHiring a team before feeling readySelling workshops face-to-face and overcoming fearScaling through DIY kits and navigating biosecurity challengesBalancing uni, business, and endurance sportRedefining success around values and impactWhy environmental education starts with kidsGavin 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 Intro00:55 Meet Sabrina and Enviromentoring01:18 How a school holiday problem sparked a business03:35 From first workshop to a growing team05:00 Realising this was never the plan06:38 Journalism, science, and choosing a path08:10 Life before becoming a founder10:16 Curiosity, climate change, and early influences13:26 The real leap - quitting her job15:43 Fear, excitement, and backing herself16:32 Balancing uni, business, and training18:41 Hiring a team and creating systems19:49 Scaling challenges and pricing realities21:46 Turning workshops into DIY kits23:15 Sustainability, burnout, and the Messi effect24:41 How entrepreneurship changed her26:27 Learning sales the hard way29:18 Redefining success through values30:40 What she’s most proud of31:55 What will keep her going long-term33:22 Lessons she wishes she knew earlier35:02 Advice for first-time founders37:22 Courage, responsibility, and looking ahead38:13 Where to find Sabrina and Enviromentoring

    36 min
  2. Emily Price: Why good enough beats perfect in startups

    12/29/2025

    Emily Price: Why good enough beats perfect in startups

    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 itEmily’s career as a startup lawyer and working closely with foundersWhy time kills deals in capital raisingThe difference between “good” and “good enough” in startup executionSeeing the same fundraising mistakes again and again - and wanting to fix themHow working in startups sparked the itch to build something of her ownGradually transitioning from full-time work into founder lifeThe importance of personal runway, not just business runwayHow Emily tested the leap before committing fullyEarly founder challenges, from product development to positioningThe painful moment of realising the pitch wasn’t landingWhy clarity beats complexity when communicating valueHow community feedback helped reshape Tallystone’s storyLearning to trust instinct over perfect informationRedefining success at different stages of the journeyViewing mistakes as milestones, not failuresAdvice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leapChapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Leap and meet Emily Price01:00 What a data room is in plain English02:00 What investors expect to see in a data room03:10 Why data rooms shape investor trust04:00 How long data rooms really take to build05:10 Why time kills deals in fundraising06:40 How founders handled data rooms before Tallystone08:10 Tracking investor engagement and buying signals09:00 Life before founding - Emily’s career as a startup lawyer10:30 The shift from perfection to “good enough”12:40 Working with startups and catching the founder bug14:10 Early signs Emily would start her own business15:50 Gradually transitioning into the startup ecosystem17:20 Thinking about personal runway18:40 Talking to friends, family, and mentors before the leap21:00 Reality after going full-time - slower than expected23:00 Early doubts and pitch confusion25:20 Breaking down and rebuilding the value proposition27:20 Community feedback and learning in public29:40 How Emily has changed as a founder31:40 Redefining success over time33:10 Finding and choosing co-founders35:00 Why communication matters between founders37:00 What Emily is most proud of so far38:30 What keeps her going through the hard years40:10 Habits that keep her grounded43:30 Mistakes as milestones45:40 Advice for founders on the edge48:00 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.coTallystone: 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/

    51 min
  3. Scotty Allen: From Disney parades to building the Product Bus

    12/22/2025

    Scotty Allen: From Disney parades to building the Product Bus

    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 annoying00:40 Welcome to The Leap and meet Scotty Allen01:50 Scotty’s Disney chapter and performing arts background03:00 What the Product Bus does for early-stage founders03:35 Vision vs delusion and the “build it and they will come” trap05:10 Why “just ship it” is misunderstood startup advice07:30 The myth of validation: “my mates love it”08:50 Life before founding - teaching, tech, and school leadership11:15 Hitting the ceiling in education leadership12:35 The health event that reset everything15:00 The moment Scotty realised he had to leave19:00 Taking the leap into an edtech scale-up21:40 The reality shift: freedom, ownership, and new work habits23:55 Challenges of being the first non-technical leader26:05 Why educators struggle with selling and power dynamics27:00 Redundancy at the start of COVID and why it felt like freedom29:05 The first business idea and why it was too comfortable31:25 The problem founders kept repeating - and the start of Product Bus32:40 When Product Bus started without a name35:55 The “this might not work” moments and hard founder conversations38:20 The dangers of false encouragement in the startup ecosystem41:20 How Scotty has changed and why he’ll never be an employee again43:40 Habits that keep him grounded48:20 Advice for founders: risk appetite, runway, and a stop point50:40 Where to find Scotty and his podcast52:10 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-collectiveFC's Newsletter: https://founderscollectivecommunity.substack.com/Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coThe 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/

    52 min
  4. Karren Jensen on building psychologically safe teams that actually perform

    12/16/2025

    Karren Jensen on building psychologically safe teams that actually perform

    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’tThe biggest misconceptions leaders have about “soft stuff” at workHow fear, stress and silence quietly destroy performanceWhy organisations struggle with values, trust and accountabilityKarren’s career before Conductor and her grounding in neuroscienceThe personal experiences that shaped her obsession with psych safetyThe moment Conductor’s founders validated their hypothesis with a first clientBootstrapping the business and landing early winsHow psychological safety translated into millions in revenue impactLeading through COVID, AI disruption, and constant uncertaintyHow Karren’s definition of success has evolved over timeWhy protecting our humanity matters more than everAdvice for founders standing on the edge of taking the leapWhy community and champions matter, especially for female foundersChapters:00:00 Intro and what The Leap is really about02:00 What Conductor does and why psych safety is misunderstood05:30 Why psychological safety isn’t about being “nice”11:00 What happens when teams don’t feel safe16:00 Leadership pressure, COVID, and decision fatigue18:30 Karren’s career before founding Conductor21:00 Experiencing psychological safety first-hand26:00 Values, boundaries, and accountability at work30:40 Feeling unfulfilled and early signals of change34:00 The moment Conductor took shape37:00 Bootstrapping and early wins39:10 Surprises and challenges in the early days41:10 How founding changed Karren as a leader44:00 Redefining success and protecting humanity47:40 What Karren is most proud of50:10 What keeps her going during tough moments53:00 Habits that keep her grounded56:00 What she wishes she knew before taking the leap58:20 Advice for founders on the edge01:02:30 Pride, resilience, and legacy01:04:00 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/

    1h 1m
  5. From Y2K coder to ecosystem backbone with Peter Laurie

    12/09/2025

    From Y2K coder to ecosystem backbone with Peter Laurie

    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 meansThe types of founders and teams Inductive is designed forHow VC theses really work and why a good business can still get a noThe danger of the slow no in fundraising and how to spot itCoachability, curiosity and the traits Peter looks for in early stage foundersPeter's early career in engineering and software through the Y2K eraThe technically perfect project that still failed and what it taught himWhy he went back to do an MBA to understand what he "did wrong"Starting a bespoke software business and the mistakes that came with itService-led product vs pure product-led growthBuilding from first principles instead of cargo cult startup theatreThe startup industrial complex and "Veblen entrepreneurs"Why founders should chase effective, then efficient, then elegantHabits, longevity and how to stay in the game as a founderPeter's advice for anyone standing on the edge of their own leapChapters 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/

    1h 5m
  6. The Unexpected Leap from CFO to Founder with Roman Galikov

    12/02/2025

    The Unexpected Leap from CFO to Founder with Roman Galikov

    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 AustraliaHow he fell into accounting and why it stuckThe early signals that he wanted to build something of his ownHis first near-leap and why he abandoned itMoving to the US to launch RedEye’s expansionMaking the leap into Records and why it didn’t gain tractionPivoting into Create Financial without meaning toThe reality of early-stage software expectationsThe loneliness of building alone versus with a co-founderWhy founders need better accounting foundations than they realiseThe unexpected workload of shaking hands and generating demandHow the Founders Collective exploded overnightRoman’s views on risk, optimism and staying groundedWhy financial runway and timing matter more than passionHow he defines success today and what keeps him alignedThe importance of personal routines when everything else changesChapters: 00:00 Intro00:52 Getting started and pre-show banter01:24 Gavin sets up the show and Roman’s intro02:33 Who is Roman and what does he do?03:55 Create Financial and early traction05:05 Founders Collective and the surprising growth07:10 Reflections on the first FC events07:43 Life before becoming a founder09:23 Roman’s move to the US with RedEye11:47 What being a CFO in tech is really like13:38 A day in the life of a tech CFO15:23 Early hints that something was shifting17:18 Roman’s first ever near-leap19:48 How he got pulled into a big accounting firm instead21:28 The software idea that kept coming back23:28 The leap into Records and leaving full-time employment24:46 The relief and reality of quitting his job26:50 Validation, optimism and runway27:50 Why Create Financial was originally just a side hustle29:13 The surprise challenges of early-stage software31:21 Pivoting into Create Financial with momentum33:34 The messy truth about cleaning up bad financial advice34:31 The workload of generating demand as a founder35:49 Surprises in the broader founder ecosystem37:12 How Roman has changed personally38:41 Habits, sobriety and staying grounded39:18 Optimism vs pragmatism as a founder40:31 Redefining success and chasing financial freedom42:20 Staying connected to your mission45:32 What Roman wishes he knew before taking the leap46:58 Roman’s advice for founders on the edge of their leap49:37 How the journey has changed how he sees himself51:29 Where to find Roman and wrap-up52:10 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/

    45 min
  7. Building Busable with Heroly Chour: The Leap from Government Employee to Tech Founder

    11/24/2025

    Building Busable with Heroly Chour: The Leap from Government Employee to Tech Founder

    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 founderThe moment he knew he had to build BusableRewiring from public-sector process to startup paceHow to deal with losing your safety netThe early mistakes that shaped Busable’s directionBuilding trust with customers when you’re brand newThe power of community and transparency in business supportHow to lead when you don’t have all the answersWhy clarity of purpose matters more than confidenceThe 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

    1 hr
  8. Mark Sowerby’s Oceans Seven: Swimming Out of the Darkness

    11/20/2025

    Mark Sowerby’s Oceans Seven: Swimming Out of the Darkness

    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 fundThe short-seller attack that brought the company downSurviving seven near-death business momentsHitting rock bottom and finding hope again through enduranceHow the Ocean Seven swims helped him rebuild mentally and physicallyThe mindset shift from victim to fighterWhy survival is entrepreneurship’s real skillFinding purpose through justice and accountabilityThe lessons founders can learn about preparation and resilienceHow to rebuild your courage when all your fears come true🕒 Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Leap01:09 Meet Mark Sowerby03:12 Building Blue Sky and early ambitions07:10 The short-seller attack and collapse10:24 Facing public scrutiny and burnout13:48 The lowest point — sitting at Burleigh16:42 Rebuilding through the Ocean Seven swims20:30 Lessons on fear, resilience, and control25:45 Standing up for what’s right — the class action31:10 Redefining success and survival36:24 Rebuilding courage and mental endurance40:55 Preparation, judgment, and the founder’s mindset45:03 What Mark wishes he knew earlier49:40 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

    1h 6m

  9. 11/10/2025

    From Nurse to Founder: How Ali Stokes Took the Leap into Health Tech

    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 & JohnsonThe early struggles of bootstrapping a SaaS in health techBuilding Beyond the Clinic with no external capitalNavigating burnout, imposter syndrome and relationship strainFinding purpose and building something with real impactWhy self-belief is more important than external validationThe slow, iterative approach to product and business developmentWhat it really takes to build a startup while raising a familyThe power of mentorship and finding your founder tribeHow to survive when your business tests you every weekChapters: 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

    44 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

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.

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