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

If you’ve ever had an idea you believed could change everything — but had no clue where to start, how to validate it, or whether investors would ever take it seriously — this episode is your new compass.Today I sit down with Jordan Green AM, one of Australia’s most respected early-stage investors and the founder of Melbourne Angels, to unpack the truth about idea validation, early traction, and what actually makes a business investable.And mate… Jordan does not sugar-coat a thing.Inside this conversation, we dig into:• Why most founders validate their ideas the wrong way• How to test demand without spending months (or thousands)• Why chasing funding too early kills more startups than it helps• The real markers investors use to judge your idea — and you• The difference between being a founder… and being an entrepreneur• How to know if your product is the right product for the market• What early-stage investors look for before writing a cheque• How to avoid wasting time building something nobody wantsJordan breaks down the thinking, the maths, the psychology, and the discipline behind turning an idea into something customers will actually pay for — and investors will back with confidence.Whether you’re a business owner, founder, or C-suite exec exploring new products or scaling into new markets, these insights will save you months of frustration and thousands of dollars in wasted effort.What You’ll Learn:• How do I validate my business idea fast?• How do I know if customers will buy my product?• How do investors decide which ideas to back?• What should I do before raising capital?• How do I avoid building the wrong product?Jordan answers all of these with clarity, honesty, and practical steps you can use immediately.About Jordan Green AM:Jordan is a globally recognised angel investor, educator, and startup mentor with decades of experience helping founders turn ideas into thriving, high-growth companies. His no-nonsense approach will challenge the way you think — and sharpen the way you build.If this episode sparks an idea or a question — drop it below.I read every comment, and I love hearing what you’re building, solving, or dreaming up next.If you found this valuable, hit Like, Subscribe, and tap the notification bell so you never miss an episode designed to help you grow, scale, and lead with confidence.

This week’s Unicorn Ventures Podcast with Alex Retzlaff isn’t just a good listen.
It’s a reset button for founders chasing the wrong things.

Alex has built, backed, and exited multiple times. He’s not talking theory.
And in this episode, he dropped straight-up truth every founder needs to hear.

Here’s a taste of what landed:

"Stop perfecting your pitch deck. Start making money."No one’s investing if no one’s buying.

"Revenue isn’t nice to have. It’s your survival plan."
It buys you time. Without it, your startup’s on life support.

"You don’t need funding. You need a customer."Sell to one. Then scale.

"Pitch decks don’t drive exits. Relationships do."If you’re not building trust, you’re not building anything.

"Partnerships move faster than fundraising."Alex’s team processed half of CBA’s personal loans. No massive funding round. Just a smart partnership.

"You don’t have an idea problem. You have an execution problem."It’s not about what you’ve built. It’s about who is building it.

"Pivoting isn’t weak. It’s elite."Adaptability isn’t plan B. It is the plan.

This episode flips the script on how to grow, raise, and exit.
If you're a founder, investor, or operator, it's a must-listen.

What does it take to become the “hype man” behind Australia’s most ambitious startups and founders? In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, we sit down with Dickie Currer—storyteller, connector, and relentless champion for innovation. Dickie opens up about his unique journey from the UK to the heart of Australia’s tech ecosystem, sharing the pivotal moments, personal philosophies, and real-world lessons that fuel his mission to amplify founder voices and supercharge the next wave of global startups.Expect candid insights on founder resilience, B2B growth, personal branding, and the “storytelling advantage” in today’s startup scene. Dickie also reveals contrarian advice, the biggest red flags he’s spotted as an investor/advisor, and what excites him most about the future of tech and entrepreneurship in Australia and beyond.If you’re passionate about startups, crave authentic wisdom, or want a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation community, this conversation will leave you energised and inspired.#UnicornVentures #DickieCurrer #StartupPodcast #HypeMan #Innovation #AustralianStartups

🎙️ Excited to share that we’ve just wrapped up recording our very first episode of the Unicorn Ventures Podcast, with none other than David Kenney as our inaugural guest! David brought exactly what we hoped for as our first guest—a wealth of experience as a coach, investor, mentor, and founder, plus his signature “no fluff” honesty. His insights into building and scaling businesses, capital allocation, and developing systems that create genuine value have set the perfect tone for our season.A couple of highlights from David’s episode:True growth means asking smarter questions and building internal capabilities—not just collecting more tools.Epic Execution isn’t just the title of David’s book; it’s a blueprint for focusing on what matters, stacking proof, and playing the infinite game of entrepreneurship.Systems equal sanity. Building the “thing that builds the thing” creates momentum, clarity, and real scalability.Investors and founders alike will find gold in David’s “Founder Operating System” and “Raider Model”—it’s all about better questions leading to better bets and better outcomes.We’re finishing the rest of Season 1 over the coming weeks and launching mid-November! 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭:If you’re an investor eager to become a part of our “Unicorn Investor” network—and can offer real tips, tricks, and extreme value for scaling founders—let’s talk! We’re building a movement of smart capital and practical wisdom for the next wave of Unicorns.Special thanks to David for kicking off our journey—check out his work at Epic Execution for more actionable strategies and frameworks.Want in or want to connect? Drop me a DM or comment below. Unicorns assemble! 🦄hashtag#UnicornVenturesPodcast hashtag#EpicExecution hashtag#ScaleUp hashtag#FounderWisdom hashtag#InvestorNetwork hashtag#PodcastLaunch hashtag#BusinessGrowth