The Business Octopus

Relevate
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

🎙️ The Business Octopus – where business gets real, raw, and radically effective. Hosted by Avon Collis, this podcast dives deep into the many arms of business—from digital transformation and automation to marketing, leadership, and growth strategy. Whether you're a startup founder, seasoned entrepreneur, or just business-curious, you'll find practical insights, candid conversations, and expert interviews that help you untangle complexity and scale with confidence. Join us as we explore the tools, tactics, and tech that drive modern business success—especially in the fast-evolving landscape o

  1. 13H AGO

    Bootstrapping a Credit SaaS Through the GFC, COVID, and Global Expansion

    On the Business Octopus podcast, host Avon interviews Kosta Patsan, founder and managing director of Newcastle-based EasyLodge, a SaaS specialty credit platform that manages the full credit lifecycle from quoting and applications through decisioning, funding, loan management, repayments, arrears, hardship, and payout. Kosta explains how EasyLodge targets non-bank lenders and fintechs priced below enterprise competitors, processing about 30,000 applications per month and managing roughly 350,000 loans across about 60 global clients in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Philippines. He recounts his prior personal lending business growth and collapse during the GFC, the origin of EasyLodge after a Citibank deal fell through, bootstrapping challenges, and a COVID-era charity rollout completed in three weeks. The conversation covers founder realities, sales and customer service via direct phone access, pitfalls of exits and private equity, AI’s limited role versus deterministic finance systems, risks of spreadsheet-based lending, growth in private lending, and advice on capital, funding lines, and building organically.00:00 Welcome and Setup01:01 Meet Easy Lodge Founder01:08 Platform and Market Focus04:40 Origin Story and GFC08:18 Bootstrapping Reality Check11:13 Early Struggles and Breakthrough14:22 Funding Terms and Founder Pay17:33 Selling and PE Pitfalls19:08 Deal Gone Sideways27:03 Phone First Customer Service32:37 Support Tickets Frustrations33:52 Service Costs vs Delight35:15 Sales Calls That Convert38:24 AI Hype vs Reality42:01 Excel Limits at Scale45:21 Private Lending Boom50:46 Defaults and Risk Pricing58:08 Startup Lessons and WrapJoin the Relevate Community and get in depth guides, tips, tricks and tutorials on how to grow your business with digital skills and technology. Join our Digital Accelerator membership and take your business to the next level: https://join.relevate.com.auChoose the right software for your business with the Relevate Directory: https://directory.relevate.com.au

    1h 5m

  2. 2D AGO

    Being Deliberate With Your Time

    Don't be too available. If you are needy, you don't appear to have value and so you can't charge as much. Scarcity creates vale.- position yourself as the prize- you are a strategic asset - Cardiologist - bring the start power when necessary, everyone wants but not always needsPersonal time choices- the dollar value of your time- non monetary return for time investment - if you help someone for free, ask for a google review - a return favor- wasting time responding to scammers and surveys- gated decision rules - qualify out- decision rules - The value of the decision - The 5c rule- go or no go criteria- Create a culture in your team where they self solve problems- Doing it for them all the time doesn't help them help themselves- How to get your team to help themselves - knowledgebase - reasearch - policies procedures - brainstorm suggested options times 2 - then approach you for approval or review

    31 min

  3. APR 15

    Why the 10x Principle Works (and How to Actually Do It)

    10x sounds like lip service but, if you shoot for the moon and get half way you end up among the stars. Incremental growth is the safe game. But nothing big happens without some level of risk. What is your risk profile and how do you manage it?

    55 min

  4. APR 8

    How to make a multimillion-dollar company

    Building a business is not luck. It takes a lot of dedicated hard work, a lot of experimenting, a lot of mistakes but above all else it requires continuous improvement. A structured approach to dealing with business means that you can weather the ups and downs and slowly but surely drive it towards being a success. In this livestream we talk about the things that it takes to build a multimillion-dollar company.

    37 min

  5. APR 1

    Where to start when you're starting out

    Don't Navigate Your Journey Alone – Join the Relevate Community!Master Essential Skills to Build Your Business or Launch Your CareerJoin a supportive, dynamic community in the Relevate Community, designed for new business owners and career seekers. No fluff, no jargon—just real, actionable strategies and tools to help you make confident moves in your journey, whether you’re launching a business or beginning a new career.What You’ll Learn in the Relevate Community:Create a Standout Personal Brand & Online Presence: Establish a strong, professional digital footprint to attract clients, employers, or collaborators.Navigate Sales, Marketing & Networking Basics: Get practical guidance on the essentials, from building your network to attracting customers or employers.Access Career-Boosting Content & Business Resources: Tap into templates, how-to guides, and resources tailored to help you grow, whether you’re a new business owner or starting a new career.Define Your Unique Path: Gain clarity on your strengths, values, and goals, helping you find the right career or business direction.Get Feedback & Support from Peers: Ask questions, share ideas, and receive insights from a community of like-minded people who are committed to growth.Stay Informed on Tools & Strategies: Discover the latest tools and strategies to support your growth, keep you organised, and set you up for success.The Relevate Community is here to support career seekers and business builders alike. By joining, you’ll have access to a wealth of resources, plus guidance from peers and mentors who can help you thrive in your new venture or career path.Limited Spots Available! Quality over quantity means we’re focused on creating a supportive space where you can learn and grow. Don’t miss out—start your journey with confidence and the support you need to succeed.

    26 min

  6. MAR 25

    Treat your business like a software company (even if it isn't)

    With a million priorities in your business, how do you know what to do first? You also have lots of ideas, how do you know which ones to do first. Mybe you need a system to manage it. Join the Relevate Community: https://join.relevate.com.auYour team is derailing your Digital Transformation. There are politics, opinions, hurt feelings but none of this matters to you except that it is holding your business back. Download the checklist and learn the ways your team is holding back your digital transformation and how to overcome it: https://cart.relevate.com.au/why-your-team-is-holding-you-back

    11 min

  7. MAR 18

    Selecting a technology partner

    There are many things to consider when selecting a technology partner. Lets talk through them.Your team is derailing your Digital Transformation. There are politics, opinions, hurt feelings but none of this matters to you except that it is holding your business back. Download the checklist and learn the ways your team is holding back your digital transformation and how to overcome it: https://cart.relevate.com.au/why-your-team-is-holding-you-back

    17 min

  8. MAR 11

    Do You Have Shelfware in Your Business

    If you have invested thousands or millions of dollars into your business software systems, it can be quite disheartening to see that no one is using it. Particularly if you days, weeks and months carefully planning and measuring to choose the right one and then to implement the thing. Then you get the rise of shadow systems. Tons of disparate products being used with corporate data locked up and exposed in all of it. Tune in while I discuss the problem of Shelfware.Your team is derailing your Digital Transformation. There are politics, opinions, hurt feelings but none of this matters to you except that it is holding your business back. Download the checklist and learn the ways your team is holding back your digital transformation and how to overcome it: https://cart.relevate.com.au/why-your-team-is-holding-you-back

    14 min
See All (88)

About

🎙️ The Business Octopus – where business gets real, raw, and radically effective. Hosted by Avon Collis, this podcast dives deep into the many arms of business—from digital transformation and automation to marketing, leadership, and growth strategy. Whether you're a startup founder, seasoned entrepreneur, or just business-curious, you'll find practical insights, candid conversations, and expert interviews that help you untangle complexity and scale with confidence. Join us as we explore the tools, tactics, and tech that drive modern business success—especially in the fast-evolving landscape o

Information

  • Creator
    Relevate
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Relevate
  • Show Website
    The Business Octopus