Michael Dwyer, the founder of Pigsback.com joins Gary Fox on the pod. In 2019, Michael sold Pigsback for €25 million in cash. For almost 20 years he survived dot-com crashes and economic turmoil making Pigsback a true Irish e-commerce story. Michael's career has spanned the international food industry, dotcom entrepreneurship, a book, and now investment and advisory in start-ups, tech and blockchain and, in between, taking on the poker pros. In this episode you will learn: The grit & tenacity it takes to survive in business How he battled & beat companies such as Groupon & Grab One Why adaptability is the critical skill for success in the online world Being early can be fatal if you can't ride out the storm until your time arrives How he ended up at the final table of the World Series of Poker!    --- Visit My Partners Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo  Location Partner: Iconic Offices  Claim your free office for a day: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23  Learning Partner: MentorsWork - Get a free mentor https://bit.ly/eementorswork

Our mentor today is serial entrepreneur and investor, Brian Caulfield. Brian started his career with multiple exits in the tech space and is now one of Ireland's best-known venture capital investors. Today, he teaches us what he looks for in an exceptional entrepreneur and how he spots world-changing startup ideas. Brian's episode is number 202 if you want to go back and listen to the full conversation. --- Visit My Partners Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo  Location Partner: Iconic Offices  Claim your free office for a day: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23  Learning Partner: MentorsWork - Get a free mentor https://bit.ly/eementorswork

Joining Gary Fox on the podcast this week is Ian Browne, the MD of the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) which invests in high-growth companies across Ireland as well as supporting entrepreneurs from the idea stage right up to Series A. Originally, Ian founded My Surgery Website, a MedTech SAAS business which grew to almost 5000 customers and millions of users before being acquired by NASDAQ-listed Stericycle. Post-acquisition he helped establish IgniteNI, focused on revitalising the Northern Irish startup ecosystem, strengthening ties with Europe and North America and propelling startups to raise over £100m in venture capital funding. He holds non-exec and chairman positions at venture-backed companies and is an angel investor. In this episode we learn: How fear holds people back from their full potential What Ian looks for before investing in a founder How to spot a great market opportunity The power of storytelling as a founder How to take and give feedback at a high-level. - --- Visit My Partners Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo  Location Partner: Iconic Offices  Claim your free office for a day: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23  Learning Partner: MentorsWork - Get a free mentor https://bit.ly/eementorswork

In 2018, Ciaran Mulligan sold his company, Blue Insurance for a reported €70 million. The entrepreneur is now a serial investor & adventurer!  As our mentor today, he teaches us the value and power of following your gut and being true to your convictions. Ciaran taught me so much about the power of being open to change & adapting rapidly in the ever-shifting landscape of business.  --- Visit My Partners Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo  Location Partner: Iconic Offices  Claim your free office for a day: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23  Learning Partner: MentorsWork - Get a free mentor https://bit.ly/eementorswork

Andy Noonan is festival director, curator and owner of Big Grill, Me Auld Flower and Baste (soon to be Scorchio). He started out life in events as a DJ and nightclub promoter at the age of 16. Since then he has successfully organised Europe's Biggest BBQ & Food Festival, Big Grill, Baste a BBQ catering & events company  In this episode, we explore a huge variety of topics including: The complete guide to developing a festival The harsh reality of why most food businesses flop Is it possible to make a food business profitable in 2023? How Irish people's culinary tastes have changed Why Covid altered peoples festival going behaviour The cult of the BBQ & why he believes it's an emerging trend Why you must give people an Instagram-worthy experience now --- Visit My Partners Sponsored by Square - Power your Business with Square Visit Square: https://squ.re/3x8oiOo  Location Partner: Iconic Offices  Claim your free office for a day: https://bit.ly/iconicEE23  Learning Partner: MentorsWork - Get a free mentor https://bit.ly/eementorswork