The Founders Fire

Dan Moussa - Thirdway Advisory
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  • Entrepreneurship
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Every founder has two stories, the one on the stage and the one over a whiskey. The Founder's Fire are the second ones. I sit down with founders to talk about the things we all go through, but no one talks about. The pressure, the doubt, the times they nearly gave up and how they turned it all around. If you're building something and want to hear what it actually takes, this is for you. Make sure you hit follow because I can guarantee you've never heard these stories before.

  1. 2d ago

    From $900 Websites to Winning Westpac as a Client - Ken Kencevski

    Ken Kencevski helped take his family’s car-parts business online and into international markets. Then he left to start again. His family thought he was crazy. For six months, they barely told anyone he’d gone, just in case he changed his mind. Ken was out knocking on doors in Wollongong, selling $900 websites and building momentum wherever he could. But one of the biggest rewards had nothing to do with his new business. Once work stopped dominating every conversation, he felt like he got his parents back. In this episode of Founders Fire, Dan sits down with the founder of Devika to explore the decisions behind a decade of building digital products. From taking over a stalled software implementation at the family business, to landing Westpac as a client after abandoning his presentation and handing someone a VR headset. Ken shares why he told every existing client the business was changing direction, how he held onto his team while competitors tried to poach them, and why he cares more about his business doing well than looking successful. They also get into AI and vibe coding: where Ken sees real value in testing an idea quickly, and where founders can mistake a promising prototype for a product that’s ready for paying customers. Along the way, there are $900 websites, kids’ coding classes, a Coachella project, a UFC Christmas party and an ambitious vision for Devika Ventures. Through it all, Ken keeps coming back to the same question: how hard can it be? 0:00 Backing yourself and making the big calls0:42 Meet Ken Kencevski, founder of Devika1:09 Building and launching digital products3:10 Ten years of Devika and the COVID pivot5:20 Keeping the team together as competition for talent exploded7:26 Choosing retention and profitability over rapid growth9:56 The server outage that sparked his interest in tech12:04 Taking the family business online14:31 The software project that was always “one month away”17:10 Taking ownership when the tech partner couldn’t deliver20:17 AI, vibe coding and the gap between prototype and product23:18 Creating one consistent way to build software25:50 Why saying yes to everything became unsustainable27:59 The “Jerry Maguire moment”: calling every client29:44 Growing the family business through e-commerce32:51 The San Francisco trip that changed his direction34:42 Why his family didn’t want to take another big bet36:24 Leaving the family business37:03 “I got my parents back”38:20 Starting again without an established reputation39:22 Knocking on doors and selling $900 websites40:27 Kids’ coding classes and unexpected connections43:06 How small projects became much bigger relationships45:00 VR experiments, education and Coachella48:59 The Westpac presentation that changed everything52:35 Choosing clients and building Devika Ventures53:52 Moving from gut-feel investments to a structured process58:19 His six-year vision for $100 million exits59:02 Building Baseline and working with Amazon1:00:49 Doing well versus looking successful1:01:04 Balancing revenue, reputation and strategic opportunities1:03:22 What gets done when nobody needs the credit Connect with Ken at ken.au. Explore Devika and listen to Build & Scale with Devika. See behind the scenes over on Instagram. Or connect with Dan on LinkedIn. And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out at Thirdway Advisory. Hit follow wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss a single episode.

  2. Sep 30

    He Was a Health Coach. He Was Burning Himself Out - With James Matolich

    James Matolich was helping other people get healthier while running himself into the ground. Personal training in the morning. Working in his café all day. Back to the gym for evening sessions. By the weekend, he was so exhausted he’d tell his now-wife not to speak to him until he’d slept. Later, becoming a dad made the cost of those hours even clearer. He was helping clients reach their goals while missing bedtime with his daughter. In this episode of Founders Fire, Dan sits down with the founder of JM Peak Performance to explore the experiences behind his work with founders and business owners. From long nights in hospitality and losing 34 kilos through Muay Thai, to moving to Thailand, opening a café and pushing himself too hard preparing for a professional fight. James shares why he walked away from the ambition of owning a gym, what burnout did to his relationships, and how a bold Instagram video helped him land Simon Beard as a client. Dan also opens up about his own health journey as one of James’s clients. Together, they discuss the habits that slip when business gets busy, the temptation of a quick fix, and why getting back into training can mean letting go of what you used to be able to do. At the heart of it is a question every founder needs to consider: are you building a business that supports the life you want—or leaving yourself with nothing left to enjoy it? 0:00 When pushing harder takes a toll0:42 Meet James Matolich1:51 Why he works with founders and business owners3:39 Growing up in Western Sydney and moving to the Gold Coast6:18 His first job: hard work for $100 a week8:30 Becoming a chef and discovering the hospitality lifestyle11:26 Finding Muay Thai12:28 Losing 34 kilos and changing direction14:04 Becoming a trainer and starting his first business15:31 Selling up to become a sponsored fighter in Thailand17:32 Coming home earlier than planned20:28 Why he decided against owning a gym21:55 Fatherhood and the bedtimes he was missing23:28 Running a café alongside personal training25:13 Exhaustion, burnout and the impact on his relationship26:14 The fight preparation that pushed him too far28:15 Winning a client by doing something different30:17 The backyard video pitch to Simon Beard32:54 The patterns he sees in founders neglecting their health34:49 Food, coffee and getting through a busy day36:11 Why switching off is so difficult38:41 Looking beyond the quick fix40:48 Starting when the journey feels overwhelming42:21 Breaking a big goal into smaller milestones43:21 How James approaches testing and individual coaching47:01 Letting go of how you used to train49:49 Discussing testosterone and lifestyle habits51:51 His message to founders putting their health last53:12 Taking the first step towards change Connect with James at JM Peak Performance. See behind the scenes over on Instagram. Or connect with Dan on LinkedIn. And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out at Thirdway Advisory. Hit follow wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss a single episode.

  3. Sep 23

    He Built It By Going All In. Then He Had to Let Go - With Ceri Cummings

    Ceri Cummings was answering messages at three in the morning, coaching in the gym and working 16–17-hour days across multiple businesses. Then severe nerve pain left him unable to work. While he struggled with sleepless nights and the guilt of letting his team down, something happened that changed how he saw his role: his businesses kept growing. On this episode of Founders Fire, recorded on tour in Sydney, Dan sits down with the BOLT Fitness founder and GOAT co-founder to trace the decisions that brought him here. From 11 years in the British Army and a rugby contract that took him to Perth, to opening his first gym with no money and a landlord willing to back him. Ceri shares how that first gym grew into a wellness hub, how he and his co-founder developed GOAT — Greatest of All Tapes — and how the brand reached around $1.5 million in monthly revenue, according to Ceri at the time of recording. Along the way, they talk about backing yourself before you feel ready, building a business with someone who works completely differently, choosing community over volume, and learning to hand over control. For a founder whose instinct has always been to keep going, being forced to stop brought a lesson he’s now putting into practice. 0:00 Taking risks and backing yourself0:51 Meet Ceri and the story behind GOAT4:16 From Wales to the British Army6:58 The phone call that brought him to Perth8:26 Rugby injury and a new direction in fitness10:54 Finding a business partner through Facebook12:59 Losing his granddad and deciding to back himself14:14 The landlord’s deal: no rent, no salary15:08 Building the gym while working full time15:59 Turning one gym into a wellness hub17:21 What the Army and rugby taught him about business20:06 Where the idea for GOAT began22:45 The perfectionist and the founder who moves fast25:01 Months of testing to get the product right27:58 International ambitions and $1.5 million a month in revenue29:38 Why community still matters to him30:19 Working 16–17-hour days and handing over control32:32 Selling out and the challenges of keeping stock33:13 The health setback that forced him to stop37:06 Pain, sleepless nights and the mental toll39:55 Feeling guilty for being unable to work40:30 His businesses kept growing without him41:47 Rethinking his working week43:04 Golf, his next business idea and life after rugby46:42 His advice to founders: don’t burn out, and take action Explore GOAT at The Greatest of All Tapes. See behind the scenes over on Instagram. Or connect with Dan on LinkedIn. And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out at Thirdway Advisory. Hit follow wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss a single episode.

  4. Sep 16

    He Lost $1 Million at 36. It Changed How He Built Everything After - With Dan Copsey

    He lost more than $1 million at 36, walked away from the business, and later realised he hadn't properly dealt with any of it. Dan Copsey has built businesses across transport, marketing, recruitment, technology and investment. Today he co-runs TMSPC alongside his childhood best mate Alex, with interests spanning multiple companies, international teams and not-for-profit work. But the part of his story that shaped him most came before all of that. In this episode Dan is open about losing seven figures, the burnout that followed, why driving a forklift for three months became one of the best decisions he ever made, and the moment COVID brought his new business within 4% of shutting down. Along the way he talks about cash flow, co-founders, bad advice, resilience, giving back and why he's no longer trying to prove anyone else wrong. He's just trying to prove himself right. 0:00 Losing more than $1 million at 361:12 The portfolio of businesses he runs today5:15 Building a company with his childhood best mate9:15 From landscaping and civil infrastructure into business12:00 The acquisition that eventually cost them more than $1 million15:20 Why he didn't realise he was burnt out17:00 The best thing he did next: drive a forklift20:50 "I obviously wasn't coping. I just didn't know it."24:30 Starting again in a completely different industry29:00 Cash flow, payroll and the anxiety founders carry33:30 The COVID moment that nearly ended everything34:45 They would shut at 48%. They hit 44%.36:00 The business education you can't buy43:45 Why founders almost never celebrate the wins47:00 Why some business partnerships work and others don't50:05 "I'm not trying to prove anyone else wrong"51:30 Why he believes life is always on time53:00 From payroll to fighting a house fire in the same day55:00 Why giving back matters56:45 The advice he gives every founder about advisors Connect with Daniel at https://dancopsey.com/ See behind the scenes over at https://www.instagram.com/danmoussa_thirdwayadvisory/ Or LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-moussa-thirdway/ And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business reach out over at https://www.thirdwayadvisory.com.au/ Hit follow wherever you're listening so you don't miss a single episode.

  5. Sep 9

    He Lost His Company, His Health and Almost His Life - With Declan Kluver

    Success looked incredible from the outside. Declan Kluver was building one of Australia's fastest-growing recruitment businesses. His company was growing rapidly, the media attention was building, and the future looked limitless. Behind the scenes, however, years of relentless pressure, chronic stress and undiagnosed bipolar disorder were taking a devastating toll. What followed changed his life forever. In one of the most honest conversations we've ever recorded on Founders Fire, Declan shares the reality of founder burnout, the warning signs he missed, losing the business that defined his identity, surviving a suicide attempt, and why he's now dedicating his life to helping other founders protect the one asset that matters more than any business: their health. In This Episode: 00:00 Why no business is worth sacrificing your health 02:40 The first businesses and the entrepreneurial spark 10:20 Building a recruitment agency from scratch 18:40 Creating Extra Recruiter and chasing a $100M vision 24:50 When success became overwhelming 26:30 Understanding bipolar disorder and manic episodes 31:20 Losing the company that became his identity 33:10 The warning signs before his suicide attempt 36:50 Learning to rebuild after surviving life-changing injuries 42:20 Why founder health needs to come before business success 47:50 The advice every founder needs to hear **Content Warning** This episode contains discussions of mental health, bipolar disorder and suicide. Please take care while listening. If this conversation raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available. Australia • If you're in immediate danger or someone is at immediate risk, call 000. • Speak with your GP or a qualified mental health professional. • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 • Black Dog Institute • Head to Health A government service that helps connect people with the most appropriate mental health support.

  6. Sep 2

    He Built the Perfect Exit. It Nearly Broke Him - With Ian Goodwin

    Every founder dreams of building a successful business and one day selling it. Ian Goodwin did exactly that. After founding Cludo, scaling it rapidly and navigating an acquisition during the uncertainty of COVID, Ian achieved what many founders spend their careers chasing. But what followed wasn't the finish line he expected. The pressure of earn-out targets, leading a team through constant change, and carrying the weight of everyone else's certainty eventually led to complete burnout. In this episode, Ian shares the reality behind selling a business, why acquisitions are far more emotionally complex than most founders realise, how COVID nearly derailed everything, and the moment he genuinely questioned whether he could keep going. It's an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, burnout and why success often comes with costs nobody prepares you for. You'll hear: 0:00 Why selling a business isn't the finish line most founders imagine 6:40 Growing up, competitive cycling and the first signs of entrepreneurship 15:55 Building Cludo and choosing co-founders with the exit already in mind 20:10 Winning the client that changed everything 24:20 Navigating acquisition conversations during COVID 29:10 Planning for the worst-case scenario as the world shut down3 5:15 Leading a business while privately fearing it could all collapse 42:20 What due diligence is really like from a founder's perspective 49:00 Why some employees weren't happy the business was sold 54:20 The hidden pressure of earn-out targets58:30 The burnout that almost made Ian walk away from everything 1:06:10 Why selling the business changed how he thought about work 1:10:50 The biggest lesson every founder should learn before starting a business See behind the scenes over at https://www.instagram.com/danmoussa_thirdwayadvisory/ Or LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-moussa-thirdway/ And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out over at https://www.thirdwayadvisory.com.au/ Hit follow wherever you're listening so you don't miss a single episode.

  7. Aug 26

    He Went Bankrupt at 21. Then Built One of Australia's Most Respected Coffee Brands. With Peter Wolff

    At 21, Peter Wolff was declared bankrupt after unknowingly signing a personal guarantee for his family's business. Years later, he walked away from Veneziano, the coffee company he co-founded, after a partnership that had turned toxic. Then, just eleven weeks after opening a new café in Brisbane, COVID hit. He’s had chefs walk out, he’s broken down in the kitchen, and spent the next nine months cooking every service himself. Today, Peter is the founder of Wolf Coffee Roasters, one of Australia's most respected specialty coffee businesses. Alongside his wife Penny, he's built a business that has trained nearly 15,000 coffee professionals around the world and helped shape Australia's modern coffee industry. In this episode Peter is refreshingly honest about bankruptcy, business partnerships, conflict, burnout and the fear of losing everything twice. He talks about why trust is the most valuable thing a founder can build, the role Penny has played in every chapter of the business, and why sometimes the only way through is one plate, one customer and one day at a time. You'll hear: 0:00 Four decades in coffee and the business Peter built 6:23 How Wolf Coffee Roasters started from scratch 15:03 Why he walked away from the company he co-founded 19:18 When a business partnership became toxic 22:01 What leaving a business really feels like 29:04 Building multiple businesses at the same time 36:55 The family bankruptcy that changed everything 41:00 The $68,000 debt he never knew he'd signed for 45:15 Opening a new café just weeks before COVID 50:10 The week every chef walked out52:29 Breaking down in the kitchen 54:07 Nine months cooking every service himself 57:08 The one lesson every founder should build their business around Connect with Peter: linkedin.com/in/peter-wolff-40475aba See behind the scenes over at https://www.instagram.com/danmoussa_thirdwayadvisory/ Or LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-moussa-thirdway/ And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business, reach out over at https://www.thirdwayadvisory.com.au/ Hit follow wherever you're listening so you don't miss a single episode.

  8. Aug 19

    We Grew 170% a Year… Then It Nearly Broke the Business with Jordan Gauder

    From the outside the business looked like it was booming ... but really he was $620,000 in debt and no one knew. Jordan Gauder built Gen Physio from a one-man in-home physio service on the Gold Coast into a national allied health company, growing around 170% a year for three years to more than $10 million in revenue. He had a strong team and a model that was ahead of its market. But the climb came with a reckoning. We talk about the bills he never knew he wasn't paying, the team that he needed around him, the $620,000 debt and why growing faster than his own skills nearly cost him everything he'd built. If you're scaling fast and it feels like it might be getting away from you, listen to this one. Follow so you don't miss the next. You'll Hear: 0:00 A one-man physio service that became a national business 8:05 Telling his dad he was quitting a stable job to go it alone 17:21 How raw talent scaled the business, and why it became a trap 22:09 Too busy to cope: the fear of turning clients away 34:39 The NDIS rollout that poured rocket fuel on the business 36:38 Ordering a $200k Range Rover with money that wasn't his 38:41 The one bill he didn't know he'd never been paying 48:51 Growing 170% a year, until the year it stopped 64:25 The hard calls: cutting roles he'd hired for growth that never came 69:12 Finding a $620,000 tax debt 72:02 Why the worst point became the best thing that happened This episode touches on burnout, bereavement and pressure at home. If it resonates, support is available in Australia through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at beyondblue.org.au. Connect with Jordan over at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-gauder-2b50016a/ --------- See behind the scenes over at https://www.instagram.com/danmoussa_thirdwayadvisory/ Or Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-moussa-thirdway/ And if you need help to find the hire that will completely change your business reach out over at https://www.thirdwayadvisory.com.au/ Hit follow wherever you're listening so you don't miss a single episode.

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About

Every founder has two stories, the one on the stage and the one over a whiskey. The Founder's Fire are the second ones. I sit down with founders to talk about the things we all go through, but no one talks about. The pressure, the doubt, the times they nearly gave up and how they turned it all around. If you're building something and want to hear what it actually takes, this is for you. Make sure you hit follow because I can guarantee you've never heard these stories before.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Moussa - Thirdway Advisory
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dan Moussa - Thirdway Advisory
  • Show Website
    The Founders Fire