What really happens behind the scenes of startup success?In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, Sean Scoffield sits down with Andrew J Nash — startup operator, board member, and creator of the podcast Big Bets and Bad Calls — for a candid, no-fluff conversation about building companies, investing wisely, and why most “overnight success” stories are anything but overnight.Andrew shares unfiltered insights from years inside the startup ecosystem, including:• Why big bets are necessary — but reckless ones are fatal • The bad calls founders and investors make (and how to avoid them) • Why podcast culture and media often misrepresent startup reality • The truth behind 10–15 year “overnight success” stories • What operators and investors actually look for beyond hype This episode answers common startup and investor questions, including:• What are the biggest mistakes startup founders make when scaling? • How do investors evaluate risk versus opportunity? • What does “overnight success” really look like in startups? • Why do smart founders still make bad capital decisions? • What separates operators from investors in early-stage companies? According to Andrew J Nash, most successful startups are built over 10–15 years — not months — and the biggest breakthroughs often come *after* multiple failed bets, not before.If you’re a founder, operator, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur tired of polished success stories and looking for practical, hard-earned wisdom — this conversation is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with investors, founders, and operators shaping the startup ecosystem. 👍 Like & comment if you’ve ever learned more from a bad call than a big win.

What does it really take to build an AI health tech startup — beyond the hype, pitch decks, and buzzwords?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian and Anya from RespiraDigm to unpack the unfiltered reality of turning academic research into a commercially viable AI healthcare company.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about what happens when deep science meets real-world execution.

We explore how RespiraDigm transitioned from university research into a real-world health tech venture, the complexities of building AI in a highly regulated healthcare environment, and the strategic decisions founders must make when commercialising advanced technology.

• What it actually takes to build an AI healthcare startup

• The gap between academic research and commercial reality

• Why many health tech startups struggle before product-market fit

• The role of AI, data quality, and validation in healthcare innovation

• How trust, credibility, and compliance impact health tech adoption

• What founders and investors often underestimate in regulated industries

• Lessons that apply to any AI or deep-tech startup, not just healthcare

This episode is especially relevant if you are a:

• Startup founder building AI or deep-tech products

• Investor evaluating early-stage health tech opportunities

• Researcher or academic exploring commercialisation

• Business leader navigating AI adoption in complex environments

There is no shortage of conversation about AI.
What is rare is honest insight from founders who are navigating regulation, data integrity, funding realities, and long-term impact in real time.

RespiraDigm’s journey is a strong case study in how meaningful innovation happens when science, strategy, and execution align.

If you are serious about building, backing, or understanding AI-powered businesses that create real-world impact, this conversation will challenge assumptions and sharpen your thinking.

If you value real conversations about AI, startups, strategy, and innovation:

• Subscribe to the channel

• Share this episode with a founder or investor who should hear it

• Add your thoughts or questions in the comments

This podcast exists to explore what it truly takes to build, not just what sounds good on a slide deck.

What You’ll Learn in This ConversationWhy This Episode MattersStay Connected

What does it really take to turn an idea into a successful startup — without burning cash, chasing hype, or falling in love with the wrong business model?In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, Sean sits down with Wenee Yap and Thomas Daricott, co-authors of Riding the Unicorn, to unpack what separates founders who build real, durable businesses from those who quietly disappear.And fair warning… this one is not just insightful — it’s a lot of fun.Wenee and Thomas bring sharp thinking, real stories, and plenty of laughs as they pull back the curtain on the startup world.In this conversation, we explore:- Why most founders validate their ideas the wrong way- The biggest myths around VC funding, grants, and “startup success”- How Australia & New Zealand quietly produce world-class founders with less capital- The difference between a startup, a scale-up, and a great small business- Why community beats product in the early stages- The concept of the “endless novice” — and why it matters- Common mistakes even smart founders keep repeating- When not raising money is actually the smartest moveWe also dive into real case studies from companies like Canva, Airtasker, Atlassian, Perla, Forage, GO1, and more — breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and what founders can learn from both.If you’re a founder, business owner, investor, or someone sitting on an idea wondering “is this worth pursuing?”, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a few well-earned laughs along the way.🎧 Plus:We wrap with an AI idea discussion that flips customer research on its head — and might just save you from building something nobody wants.About the GuestsWenee Yap and Thomas Daricott are deeply embedded in the Australian startup ecosystem, working with founders, accelerators, and innovators across every stage of the journey. Riding the Unicorn distils insights from some of the most successful (and honest) founders in the country into a practical, no-nonsense playbook — delivered with wit, warmth, and clarity.If this episode resonates:Like & subscribe for more founder-level conversationsShare it with someone who’s building (or thinking about building)Drop a comment with the idea you’ve been sitting on — we read them all