DevReady Podcast

How Athin Cassiotis Built a Multi-Million Dollar Business from Scratch | EP 221 | DevReady Podcast

In this inspiring conversation on the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Athin Cassiotis, Founder, Director & Business Growth Expert of Athin Cassiotis Group and Podcast Host for The Business Growth Show.  From launching businesses and advising entrepreneurs to helping scale operations globally, Athin brings a wealth of insight into how founders can transform their businesses into scalable, investable assets. Drawing on his personal journey and the experiences of his high-performing clients, Athin shares practical strategies for business growth, leadership, and mindset development—all designed to help entrepreneurs accelerate their success.
Athin opens up about his unconventional path—from dropping out of school in Adelaide to becoming a globally recognised entrepreneur and coach. He candidly discusses the early challenges he faced, including scepticism from teachers and family, and how he channelled that doubt into drive. From selling VCDs as a teenager to building a consultancy that saved Westfield millions, Athin’s story is a testament to resilience, grit, and strategic thinking. Now mentoring clients across 10 countries and hosting The Business Growth Show, he’s focused on helping others unlock business success through systems, structure, and mindset transformation.
Sport has played a pivotal role in shaping Athin’s mental toughness and leadership skills. He reflects on how playing both tennis and soccer taught him discipline, self-talk, and the power of collaboration—skills that seamlessly translate into the business world. As a new father, he also shares his appreciation for martial arts and its ability to instil focus and inner strength. These personal reflections set the tone for a broader discussion on the importance of mental resilience and adaptability as an entrepreneur.
Anthony and Athin go deep on the reality of building a business from the ground up, especially when you’re wearing every hat. Athin shares his own leap into entrepreneurship, quitting a secure job without a backup plan and relying on instinct and self-belief. That decision launched a journey of rapid learning, self-investment, and sales mastery—ultimately leading to his first major client, Westfield. The pair unpack the importance of momentum, consistency, and being ready to seize the right opportunity at the right time, reinforcing that success often comes down to showing up and staying in the game.
From that foundation, the conversation expands into scaling businesses beyond the founder. Athin presents a blueprint for growth that includes refining the business model, clarifying brand positioning, building multi-channel lead generation systems, and measuring the right performance metrics. He shares strategies for creating businesses that are operationally independent, emphasising the need to let go, empower others, and lead from the front. The episode wraps with a powerful insight: knowledge alone isn’t power—implementation is. With coaching, the right team, and a growth-focused mindset, entrepreneurs can scale their ventures, step away strategically, or even prepare for high-value exits.
#BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupSuccess #ScaleUpStrategy #AthinCassiotis #MillionDollarBusiness #FounderJourney #DevReadyPodcast

From Ferrari to Startups: How Marco Iannitto Builds Winning Teams and Products | Ep 220 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, hosts Andrew Romeo and Anthony Sapountzis are joined by Marco Iannitto, Founder of TechDel Consulting, to explore his remarkable journey from engineering supercars at Ferrari to advising businesses around the world. Marco shares his experiences working on iconic vehicles like LaFerrari and the 812 Superfast, the lessons he learnt about product development, teamwork, and leadership, and how those insights now shape his approach to business consulting. From navigating the unique challenges at Ferrari and Rimac, to embracing risk management, goal-setting, and operational excellence, Marco offers a wealth of practical knowledge for anyone seeking to build resilient teams, bring innovative products to market, and scale businesses with purpose and precision.
Marco begins by recounting how he unexpectedly entered the automotive world through Ferrari, working in the company's elite testing department. Initially sceptical about the industry, he quickly found himself inspired by Ferrari’s unique blend of startup agility and corporate discipline. Marco explains how low-volume, craftsmanship-driven manufacturing at Ferrari allowed for greater flexibility, innovation, and attention to detail—qualities that made the development of vehicles like LaFerrari particularly challenging yet deeply rewarding. His passion for the craft and the dynamic environment turned what started as a detour into a career-defining chapter.
Reflecting on his role at Ferrari, Marco discusses the demands of full vehicle integration and testing, covering every aspect from mechanical components to advanced software systems. He draws parallels between building a supercar and founding a startup, both requiring a deep understanding of every moving part. Marco shares how success at Ferrari was never about individual heroics but about cohesive teamwork, mutual trust, and a calm, solution-focused mindset. These principles became cornerstones of his philosophy, shaping his approach to leadership and problem-solving across industries.
The conversation then turns to how Marco’s experiences at Ferrari prepared him for the fast-paced world of Rimac, where he helped develop cutting-edge electric hypercars. He speaks candidly about facing imposter syndrome and how adapting to a resource-constrained, entrepreneurial environment honed his strategic thinking and resilience. Marco highlights the importance of balancing ambition with pragmatism, knowing when a product is "good enough" to launch, and gathering continuous user feedback without overengineering. These lessons have become essential in his work helping businesses achieve product-market fit and operational success.
Marco shares his belief that the key to building great teams is passion, cultural alignment, and a shared sense of purpose. Whether at Ferrari, Rimac, or within startups, he stresses that communication naturally follows when teams are truly connected by a common goal. He also reflects on the evolving landscape of engineering and technology, where mindset and adaptability are increasingly as important as technical skills. Selecting the right people—those who fit the culture and embrace the mission—remains at the heart of building high-performing, innovative teams.
Today, through TechDel Consulting, Marco applies the insights gained from his career to advise organisations across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. He focuses on helping businesses accelerate product-market fit, optimise operational structures, and make proactive, informed decisions that minimise costly risks. By breaking big goals into manageable, rewarding steps and reverse-engineering strategies from the desired outcome, Marco empowers businesses to scale with clarity and resilience. His journey from the test tracks of Maranello to the boardrooms of global companies offers a powerful reminder that passion, purpose, and strategic precision are the true engines of success.
#DevReadyPodcast #Ferrari #Startups #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #AerionTechnologies

From Hospitality to Tech: Rohan McCloskey’s Startup Journey with GoGenerosity | Ep 219 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Rohan McCloskey, CEO and Founder of GoGenerosity. With a background in hospitality and a passion for community impact, Rohan shares his journey from running successful restaurants to building a purpose-driven tech startup. GoGenerosity was born out of a crisis during COVID-19, evolving from a “pay it forward” idea into a scalable e-commerce solution that enables customers to donate at checkout. Now available via a Shopify app, GoGenerosity transforms small contributions into gift cards that are distributed to charity partners—creating tangible, trackable community outcomes.
Rohan delves into how GoGenerosity strikes a delicate balance between a frictionless user experience and meaningful consumer generosity. He shares how business values, rather than transaction size, often drive donation behaviour, and why simplicity in UX design is crucial to avoiding abandoned carts. The conversation also explores how the team navigates client feedback, using a structured approach to decide which feature requests are worth pursuing. By listening carefully—but not blindly—to customers, GoGenerosity has maintained its core vision while continuing to iterate in a data-driven way.
The discussion then turns to the importance of product–market fit. Rohan reflects on lessons learned from his early startup days, when raising capital seemed like the ultimate success metric. He admits that securing funding too soon, without clear validation of the product and its audience, led to costly missteps and unnecessary complexity. Now, he champions a more measured approach: build lean, test often, and only raise capital when it’s truly needed to accelerate growth—not just to stay afloat.
Touching on investor dynamics, Rohan offers an honest look at how the wrong timing and structure can make a business uninvestable, even if the product is strong. Fortunately, GoGenerosity attracted mission-aligned, philanthropic investors who value social impact as well as financial return. This support allowed the company to remain true to its vision, without the pressure of chasing unrealistic growth metrics. Rohan underscores the need for transparency and realistic expectations when engaging with investors, and encourages founders to avoid vanity metrics that serve ego more than strategy.
Finally, Rohan speaks about the emotional toll of transitioning from a secure, profitable business to the unpredictable world of startups. He credits his own naivety for giving him the confidence to leap, but also stresses the importance of clearly identifying your customer, especially in complex marketplaces. With GoGenerosity now focused on expanding into Australia and the US—targeting over 1.2 million Shopify merchants—Rohan reflects on the power of perseverance, clarity, and customer trust. His journey is a reminder that building a meaningful business takes more than just a good idea; it demands grit, focus, and constant learning.
 
#DevReadyPodcast #StartupWisdom #GoGenerosity #ShopifyApp #AerionTech #FounderJourney

You’re Not Ready for AI Agents (Yet): Here’s What You Need First | Ep 218 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Ima Miri, an award-winning AI strategist, Founder & CEO of AI Point, and Tech Founder of TradeWize. With over 20 years’ experience in software engineering and AI innovation, Ima brings a wealth of practical insight into how generative AI is transforming the way modern businesses operate. She has worked with leading global organisations and governments to integrate AI into business operations and shares her expert take on how to implement AI agents effectively and sustainably. From foundational readiness to forward-looking applications in finance, this episode explores the real-world complexities of AI adoption and why the hype doesn’t always match the current state of the tech.
Throughout the conversation, Ima highlights one of the most common challenges she encounters—businesses eager to adopt AI without the operational maturity to support it. Many organisations assume AI agents are plug-and-play solutions capable of automating entire processes overnight. Ima explains that a successful rollout requires realistic expectations, clean and structured data, and a scalable cloud infrastructure. Her process begins with an AI readiness and maturity assessment, followed by a clear implementation roadmap, akin to the steps taken during digital transformation or cloud migration initiatives.
Anthony and Ima also discuss the limitations of low-code and no-code platforms like Zapier and Make. While these tools are effective for rapid prototyping, they often struggle with scalability, testing environments, and customisation—especially in industries with complex regulatory needs. Ima explains that AI Point offers both pre-built and fully customised agents, with the latter offering significantly more value in long-term strategic alignment. Anthony reinforces the point by noting that businesses relying solely on off-the-shelf solutions risk losing their unique edge by conforming to standardised workflows.
One of the standout examples Ima shares is from her work on TradeWize.com, a startup applying generative AI to stock and crypto trading. Unlike traditional trading bots, the agents developed here are designed to support decision-making through real-time insights, rather than executing trades. It’s a fresh and empowering application of AI that respects the regulatory boundaries of the financial sector while still enhancing user strategy and confidence. Ima also touches on another high-impact use case—an agent built to generate code aligned with an organisation’s existing codebase, helping developer teams stay consistent and compliant while boosting productivity.
As the episode draws to a close, Ima reflects on her goals for the year ahead: expanding the reach of AI Point, helping more businesses become AI-native, and launching TradeWize into the market. She’s passionate about building agent-based systems that integrate seamlessly into existing operations and offer tangible value from day one. Anthony wraps up by encouraging listeners to connect with Ima through the AI Point website or directly via email, especially if they’re ready to explore custom AI solutions. The episode is a compelling look at what it really takes to bring AI into production—beyond the buzzwords and into practical, transformative deployment.
#DevReadyPodcast #AIforBusiness #GenerativeAI #AIAgents #DigitalTransformation #CustomSoftware #TechLeadership #AIImplementation

Sell First, Build Later: The Startup Strategy Most Founders Get Wrong | Ep 217 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode, Andrew Romeo speaks with Halen Youles, Founder & CEO of ScaleMate and a seasoned sales strategist helping startups from Australia, India, and Singapore break into the U.S. market. Based in Florida, Halen shares his journey from the Central Coast of NSW to leading sales teams in the U.S., and offers practical, tech-driven insights on how early-stage companies can crack global expansion. From cold calls to automation tools and founder-led sales, this episode is packed with tactical advice for anyone looking to scale their startup, optimise their outreach, or successfully enter the U.S. market.
Halen kicks things off by reflecting on his path from cold calling in Sydney to landing a role with Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens. What started as a curiosity in the startup world turned into a full-blown career pivot, shaped by a passion for scale and sales. He shares how his early embrace of Zoom and remote selling helped him build momentum in a changing world and adapt quickly to the evolving sales environment—especially in the vast and competitive U.S. market.
Throughout the conversation, Halen highlights the strategic shift from relying solely on referrals to building scalable outbound systems. His multi-touch approach—leveraging email, LinkedIn, content, and cold calls—helps warm up leads before making contact. For startups looking to break into the U.S., he advises a structured testing approach to validate messaging, backed by metrics like conversion and engagement rates. He also introduces the concept of message–market fit, the idea that your messaging needs to resonate long before product–market fit can be proven.
Drawing from years of B2B SaaS experience, Halen outlines how funnel metrics like reply rates, meeting conversion, and stakeholder involvement act as key signals of traction. With LinkedIn reply rates as high as 25% and call booking rates around 70%, he demonstrates the importance of refining every stage of the outreach funnel. He also explains how founders can track and optimise performance using tools like Clay, Airtable, and HubSpot to bring data into one central view—critical for making informed decisions as you scale.
A strong advocate for founder-led sales, Halen explains why founders should stay hands-on in the early stages—especially when entering new markets. Their intimate product knowledge, agility in conversations, and ability to adapt strategy in real-time make them the best fit for initial sales. While parts of the funnel can be outsourced or automated, the founder should always be the one leading calls, understanding objections, and spotting new opportunities. Only after this process is defined should companies consider hiring sales reps or expanding teams.
To close out the episode, Halen and Andrew discuss what it really takes to expand into the U.S.—from understanding time zones to making the right hires. Halen cautions against hiring too early without a clear sales process, recommending fractional leadership or agency support for lean teams. Whether it’s an SDR, AE, or VP of Sales, every hire should serve the larger strategy, not burden a broken process. Their final takeaway? In the U.S., successful founders sell first and build later—a mindset shift that could redefine how early-stage startups grow and scale.
#DevReadyPodcast #StartupSales #FounderLedGrowth #B2BSaaS #OutboundSales #ScaleIntoTheUS #SalesAutomation #TechFounders

Stop Wasting Money on Ads—Do This First | Ep 216 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis welcomes Emma Reeves, Director of Excelerate Marketing and a strategic marketing specialist with over a decade of experience. Emma shares her journey from corporate roles in finance and affiliate marketing to launching her own agency in the midst of the COVID pandemic. She unpacks the importance of developing a clear marketing strategy, understanding your target audience, and creating authentic content that delivers measurable results. Whether it's attracting customers or recruiting top talent, Emma explains why marketing should be seen as a long-term investment—not a last-minute fix.
Emma’s career began in the world of affiliate and digital marketing, where she worked with high-profile platforms like RateCity and businesses such as OnDeck and MYOB. Her expertise across multi-channel campaigns and partnership marketing laid the foundation for Excelerate, which she launched during one of the most uncertain times for small businesses—2020. Witnessing business owners waste money on scattered marketing efforts without a strategic backbone, Emma recognised the need for a more structured, insight-led approach. Excelerate was built to bridge that gap, helping service-based businesses establish marketing foundations that not only convert, but also scale.
Throughout the conversation, Emma shares how Excelerate focuses on professional service industries such as accounting, legal, financial services, and property. These businesses often offer intangible services and operate in saturated markets, making strong brand positioning and messaging essential. She explains how directors, despite being industry experts, are often reluctant to show up on camera or create personal content—something Emma actively works to change. She positions personal branding not as a vanity project, but as a vital channel for building trust, credibility, and visibility in a crowded digital space.
Emma also addresses one of the most common pitfalls she sees: businesses funnelling money into ads without clear messaging or knowledge of who they’re targeting. She emphasises the need to differentiate between entry-level contacts and actual decision-makers in B2B, adjusting communication styles and messages accordingly. Building rapport, delivering value, and establishing trust are central themes in her approach—because the goal isn’t just to generate leads, but to create sustainable business growth.
Diving into ad platforms, Emma breaks down the differences between Google, Meta, and YouTube, explaining how each platform serves a different intent and demographic. She encourages business owners to test, track, and optimise continuously—and most importantly, to hold their agencies accountable. Ads, she reminds us, are just one tool in the broader marketing funnel. Emma champions an agile, strategic approach, where budgets are adjusted based on opportunity, seasonality, and long-term objectives rather than rigid contracts.
As the episode wraps up, Emma leaves listeners with a powerful message: start now. She notes that many businesses delay strategy due to lack of time or budget, only to regret it later. Marketing isn't a one-off campaign—it's a foundational element of your business that supports visibility, stability, and growth across every stage. Emma also reframes the way founders view marketing, pointing out that every business is already marketing in some form. The key is to build on what's already working and continuously refine it. For those seeking practical insights and a fresh perspective on marketing in today’s digital landscape, this episode is a must-listen.
#MarketingStrategy #DigitalMarketing #ServiceBusinessGrowth #MarketingTips #LeadGeneration #SmallBusinessMarketing #BusinessGrowth

Why Most Startups Fail - And What Adaptable Founders Do Differently | Ep 215 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo is joined by Dannielle K. Pearson—an award-winning strategist, keynote speaker, and former U.S. military intelligence officer—whose diverse career has spanned global consultancy, enterprise strategy, and tech innovation. Dannielle shares her journey from high-stakes defence work to shaping scale-ups and SaaS companies, bringing a rare blend of analytical rigour and commercial acumen to every conversation. Now based in Australia, Dannielle draws from her experiences at Deloitte, Salesforce, and Procore to empower founders and teams to think more critically, act more strategically, and adapt to fast-changing markets. Whether you’re building a product, seeking funding, or shaping a go-to-market plan, this episode is packed with practical insights and refreshing truths.
Dannielle begins by unpacking how her formative years in the U.S. Air Force intelligence community instilled her with core competencies that remain central to her work today—critical thinking, accountability, and situational awareness. Transitioning into the corporate world through Deloitte and then Salesforce, she applied these skills to enterprise strategy, eventually leading the development of vertical market roadmaps for one of the world's most recognised SaaS platforms. Her unique ability to blend big-picture strategy with practical execution took her to Procore, where she played a key role in market expansion during its pre-IPO phase. At each stage, her approach to strategy has remained rooted in data, clarity, and adaptability.
Sharing an inside look at her time at Procore, Dannielle recounts the company’s unconventional founding story, including how the CEO famously worked for $1 a year and recruited talent from local coffee shops. She speaks candidly about the missteps many U.S.-based tech companies make when expanding into international markets—particularly Australia—and how strategic localisation is often the missing piece. Her role at Procore saw her leading efforts across APAC, prioritising markets, and tailoring strategy to ensure effective market entry, with a sharp focus on product-market fit and executional timing.
When it comes to early-stage product development, Dannielle challenges conventional wisdom. She explains why too much upfront market research can stall momentum and argues for a more agile approach: build something, put it in front of real users, and be willing to adapt. She illustrates this with a compelling example of a startup that unintentionally built a rostering tool, only to discover—through live feedback—that it solved a major problem in the hotel industry. Dannielle urges founders to embrace adaptability, avoid perfectionism, and understand that real validation comes through customer engagement, not desktop research.
Drawing from her work with Startmate and her experience reviewing hundreds of pitch decks, Dannielle outlines the three types of founders she sees most often: the hype-chasers, the emotionally attached builders, and the adaptable, market-driven entrepreneurs. She encourages founders to fall into the third category—those willing to listen, evolve, and say no when needed. Investors, she notes, don’t fund ideas—they fund people. A founder’s mindset, adaptability, and ability to execute consistently outweigh flashy slides and inflated market claims.
Rounding out the conversation, Dannielle and Andrew discuss the psychology behind startup funding, busting the myth of the “TAM slide” and underscoring the importance of understanding your obtainable market. They reflect on how different business models—consulting-led, low-cost/high-volume, enterprise SaaS—require distinct funding paths. From client-funded MVPs to early wins through strategic partnerships, they explore how founders can build sustainably and profitably. Most importantly, Dannielle leaves listeners with three takeaways: adaptability is everything, don’t rely on total addressable market metrics alone, and know what to say no to.
#DevReadyPodcast #StartupStrategy #ProductMarketFit #AngelInvestor #WomenInTech #BuildInPublic #TechLeadership

Stop Avoiding It: Expert Tips for Handling Tough Conversations at Work | Ep 214 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Mark McPherson, Leadership Communication Expert, Executive Coach, Speaker, and Author—for a deep dive into the art of handling difficult workplace conversations. Drawing on decades of experience coaching leaders and executives across Australia, Mark shares his practical frameworks for delivering feedback that is clear, constructive, and confident. Whether you're managing high-performing teams or navigating your first leadership role, Mark's insights offer actionable strategies to help you communicate with authority—without losing your humanity.
Mark begins by recounting the origin of his expertise: taking over a team where one toxic team member put his leadership to the test. Frustrated by the lack of useful, real-world advice available, he began developing his own methodologies focused on practical, immediate solutions rather than abstract theories. At the heart of his message is a simple but profound truth—avoiding tough conversations not only undermines team culture but also erodes a leader’s self-respect. For Mark, confident communication isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s a leadership essential.
Throughout the episode, Mark introduces his signature tool: personal conversation scripts. These scripts are designed to guide leaders through uncomfortable discussions using language that is assertive but tactful, clear but not combative. He explains how these scripts must be personalised to reflect each leader’s communication style, cultural context, and company environment. His advice? Focus on one issue at a time, be specific, and once you’ve made your point—zip it. Trying to address too many things at once only confuses the message and dilutes its impact.
Mark also highlights the importance of fact-based feedback. He warns against using vague or emotionally charged labels like “disrespectful” or “belligerent” and instead recommends sticking to observable behaviours. By referencing specific examples and tying them back to company policy—or even just common courtesy—leaders can reduce defensiveness and keep the conversation grounded. Consistency is another major theme: teams need to know the standards, and they need to see those standards applied evenly and fairly across the board.
In the final part of the conversation, Mark shares his FEA and FEAR frameworks—structured approaches that stand for Facts, Explain, Ask, and Request/Reward. These models give leaders a quick, repeatable format to address issues with calm authority. He walks through real-world examples, including how to handle something as seemingly simple (yet loaded) as a timesheet error. His closing message is one of balance: yes, some conversations are awkward, but with preparation, structure, and the right mindset, they can be delivered with both professionalism and empathy.
#LeadershipCommunication #ToughConversations #ExecutiveCoaching #PeopleManagement #FeedbackThatWorks #DevReadyPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #AerionTechnologies

Secrets of a Serial Founder: How to Scale, Exit, and Buy Businesses That Last | Ep 213 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Andrew Romeo is joined by Michael Bronfman, CCO & MD of baresop and a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of scaling, exiting, and investing in high-growth businesses. From launching his first startup at just 18 to now being a shareholder in over a dozen ventures, Michael shares a candid account of the highs, lows, and pivotal lessons he's gathered along the way. With experience spanning tech, healthcare, SaaS, and consumer goods, Michael unpacks what it really takes to build and acquire successful businesses in today’s climate—and why long-term thinking, the right people, and strategic structuring matter more than ever.
Michael’s entrepreneurial journey began with a problem he encountered firsthand: struggling to get a haircut on his lunch break while working in sales at Telstra. That frustration sparked a beauty booking platform, which he later sold to Zomato—his first exit by the age of 22. His next major milestone was joining Openpay as its third employee, helping scale the buy-now-pay-later company to 250 staff and a listing on the ASX. This chapter of his journey offered a crash course in hypergrowth, hiring at scale, and the operational complexities that come with explosive expansion.
Throughout the conversation, Michael reflects on the value of patience, resilience, and learning through doing. He emphasises that real business success doesn’t come overnight and warns against the trap of chasing quick wins. Instead, he advocates for building relationships, surrounding yourself with complementary skills, and sticking with a venture long enough to see real results. He and Andrew highlight the importance of mindset over experience, noting that hunger and alignment are more valuable than credentials in early-stage ventures.
Michael also opens up about Openpay’s eventual liquidation—clarifying that it was due to investor issues rather than poor management. He shares how this experience, while challenging, strengthened his resolve and reinforced the importance of building sustainable, profitable ventures. It also prompted his transition into business acquisitions, where he began focusing on buying businesses with strong operations and recurring revenue, often backed by government funding. These characteristics, he explains, provide stability and long-term potential, even in unfamiliar industries.
Now a shareholder in around 14 businesses, Michael’s approach to acquisitions is strategic and structured. He’s moved away from the mindset of “100 companies by 40” and instead seeks quality over quantity, favouring calculated risk, strong leadership teams, and industries with long-term viability. He views his role as assembling a puzzle—bringing the right people into the right roles to unlock hidden potential. Deals, he notes, aren’t about the size of the business but the strength of the opportunity and how well the risk is managed.
Wrapping up, Michael reinforces his core principle: every acquisition must be a win–win. Whether it’s a well-performing business or one that needs operational tweaks, what matters most is ensuring all parties benefit and that relationships remain strong. Reputation, trust, and communication are everything in the acquisition space—and Michael makes it clear that ethical deal-making is just as important as financial success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about startup exits, business acquisition strategy, or building a legacy through thoughtful entrepreneurship.
#StartupGrowth #BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #ScaleUpStrategy #RecurringRevenue #FounderInsights #DevReadyPodcast

Founders Beware: Charlie Ill Shares the ONE Mistake Killing Your Startup Success | Ep 212 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis speaks with Charlie Ill, CEO of Investible, exploring his intriguing journey from aerospace engineering into Venture Capital. Charlie reflects on his career transition, detailing how his early experiences in engineering and process improvement provided him with unique skills and perspectives beneficial to his role in Venture Capital, particularly regarding business restructuring and technological innovation.
Charlie delves into Singapore’s transformation into a leading global tech innovation hub. He discusses the strategic decisions made by Singapore's government, which focused on fostering deep-tech innovation through targeted incentives and a supportive environment. This has allowed Singapore to become a standout ecosystem for startups looking to rapidly scale their technological solutions and achieve international impact.
Strategic mentorship lies at the core of Investible’s philosophy. Charlie shares how Investible employs data-driven methodologies to carefully match startups with mentors possessing relevant experience and expertise. These tailored mentorships significantly address skill gaps, facilitate informed decision-making, and accelerate overall growth, positioning startups effectively for sustained success.
Charlie also discusses the importance of syndication among venture capital firms. He explains how collective VC involvement supports startups beyond mere funding, providing diverse perspectives, pooled resources, and more comprehensive support. This strategic collaboration ensures startups are equipped with broader insights and networks to navigate growth effectively.
Examining global startup ecosystems, Charlie highlights cultural and economic differences in Australia, Singapore, and the Middle East. He points out the significance of entrepreneurs understanding and addressing local market dynamics. Successful startups, Charlie emphasises, are those that tailor their products and strategies to align deeply with the needs and expectations of their cultural context.
Charlie stresses the essential traits of resilience and resourcefulness for startup success. He emphasises how limited resources can compel founders to creatively navigate challenges, resulting in innovative solutions. Charlie underscores that resilience, driven by necessity, often leads to more effective and efficient outcomes.
Lastly, Charlie discusses venture capital strategies during economic downturns. He believes these periods offer unique opportunities, emphasising the importance of disciplined execution, agility, and sustainability. He notes that while fewer startups may receive funding during such times, those that do often have stronger foundations, better adaptability, and higher potential for long-term success.
#VentureCapital #StartupInsights #Mentorship #DevReadyPodcast