Always Business Class

What does it take to turn a simple everyday frustration into a globally recognised brand?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with Rex Kuo, co-founder of Orbitkey, to unpack the journey from a side project built after work to one of Australia's most successful product design companies.

Rex shares how a simple idea to eliminate noisy, bulky keys became a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that raised over $210,000 in just 30 days, launching a business that now sells millions of products worldwide. Along the way, he opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with a full-time career as a pharmacist, building a global team, expanding through retail, and creating products that genuinely improve everyday life.

The conversation also explores product innovation, crowdfunding, travel, family, business partnerships, and why building a purpose-driven company has been just as important as building a profitable one.

Whether you're launching your first business, creating a physical product, or simply love hearing the stories behind iconic Australian brands, this episode is packed with practical lessons and founder insights.

In This Episode
How Orbitkey started from a simple frustration with noisy keys

Raising over $210,000 through Kickstarter in just 30 days

Why you don't need to quit your job to start a business

Building a global product brand from Australia

The role of crowdfunding in validating new ideas

Lessons from launching 13 successful Kickstarter campaigns

Growing through retail, trade shows, and international expansion

Collaborating with Disney and Marie Kondo

Building a strong company culture across global teams

Using travel to inspire creativity, productivity, and better business

Why purpose, sustainability, and B Corp certification matter

Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace

Chapters
00:00 Meet Rex Kuo, Co-founder of Orbitkey
01:59 The Idea That Started Orbitkey
03:43 Launching Australia's First Kickstarter Success
06:02 Turning a Side Hustle into a Business
09:05 Growing Beyond One Product
10:45 Taking Orbitkey Global Through Trade Shows
15:10 Building a Loyal Community Through Kickstarter
18:39 The Power of Great Co-founders
20:42 Family, Travel and Frequent Flyer Points
25:36 Building a Global Team and Company Culture
30:33 Purpose, Sustainability and Becoming a B Corp
33:18 Product Philosophy and Long-Term Thinking
36:37 The Secrets Behind Successful Kickstarter Launches
40:18 Collaborating with Disney and Marie Kondo
42:24 Supporting Neurodiversity at Work
45:31 Rapid Fire Travel Questions

What if travel wasn't just a reward for working hard, but one of the most powerful tools for improving how you think, make decisions, and perform?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally explore the neuroscience behind travel and why stepping away from your routine can sharpen creativity, improve judgment, and help you return with greater clarity.

Together, they unpack why new environments force your brain out of autopilot, how short, frequent trips can be more powerful than one long holiday, and why business owners should think of travel as a performance reset rather than simply time off.

From staycations and business class to Crystal Cruises and spontaneous walks through unfamiliar cities, this conversation challenges the way we think about travel and productivity.

In This Episode
Why travel activates different parts of your brain

The science behind breaking out of autopilot

How travel improves creativity and decision-making

The four stages of a performance reset

Why shorter, more frequent trips can outperform long holidays

Staycations as an accessible performance tool

Removing friction through smarter travel

How travel experiences inspire better businesses

Why exploration helps you feel like you've lived longer

The philosophy behind "Redeeming Your Travel Dreams"

Whether you're planning an overseas adventure or simply checking into a hotel across town, this episode offers a fresh perspective on using travel as an investment in your performance, wellbeing, and business.

Chapters
00:00 Travel as a Performance Reset
01:22 Why Your Brain Needs New Environments
07:31 The Four Stages of the Travel Reset
09:30 Why Short Trips Can Be More Powerful
14:06 Lessons from Crystal Cruises
20:17 Removing Friction Through Better Travel
22:16 Can Travel Be Better Than Therapy?
24:26 Escaping Autopilot Through Exploration
27:28 Redeeming Your Travel Dreams
30:39 The Blueprint for Better Travel

What if the biggest competitive advantage in business isn't AI, but curiosity?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with innovation strategist, author, speaker, and Wonder & Wonder founder Sarah Pirie-Nally to explore the intersection of technology, human behaviour, travel, and the power of wonder.

Sarah shares lessons from her years leading innovation initiatives at Commonwealth Bank, her work helping organisations embrace emerging technologies, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable skills in a rapidly changing world.

The conversation explores how AI can become a genuine business advantage, why human-centred design matters more than ever, and how travel creates the pattern interrupts that lead to better ideas, stronger relationships, and happier lives.

This is a conversation about innovation.
About designing experiences people genuinely want.
And about using technology to create more freedom, more creativity, and more meaningful travel experiences.

Sarah Pirie-Nally
Founder, Wonder & WonderAuthor, Speaker & AI Strategist
Flights Club Membership
https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/
Accor Plus Explorer Membership
https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

00:00 Why Travel Activates Wonder
01:45 Meeting Sarah & The Origins of Wonder
04:10 Innovation, Curiosity & Better Questions06:45 From Corporate Innovation to AI Strategy
10:00 Why Businesses Need Wonder More Than Ever
12:05 AI Is Not Your Strategy
14:00 Understanding Human-Centred Design
17:05 Building Products People Actually Want
18:30 How Travel Changes The Way We Think
20:00 Pattern Interrupts & Everyday Wonder
23:00 AI, Customer Experience & Business Growth
26:10 Building Your Business Operating System
29:00 Creating A Second Brain For Teams
32:00 Using AI To Simplify Family Life
35:00 Buying Back Time With Technology
36:20 Why Travel Creates Better Humans
38:40 AI, Wonder & The Future Of Business

What if your groceries, fuel, Uber rides, takeaway coffees, and family expenses could fund your next holiday?

In this episode of Always Business Class, the team sits down with travel and points expert Deena, founder of Committed to Collect, to unpack how everyday Australians can turn normal spending into free or heavily discounted travel experiences.

After more than 30 years in the travel industry, including 25 years at Flight Centre, Deena shares the moment that completely changed how she viewed points, loyalty programs, and travel freedom.

From redeeming more than $100,000 worth of flights in a single year to helping teenagers fly to Bali on points alone, this episode breaks down the psychology, systems, and practical strategies behind modern points collecting.

If you've ever thought points were too complicated, only for big spenders, or just a “credit card game”, this conversation will completely shift your perspective.
SponsorsFlights Club MembershipAccor Plus Explorer Membership

In this episode:
How Deena redeemed over $102,000 worth of flights using everyday family spending
Why most Australians massively underuse their loyalty programs
The “Get Appy” method for simplifying point collection
Why points are not just for business travellers or high earners
How households can “triple stack” rewards across multiple systems
The emotional power of travel and family holidays
Why travel points can improve workplace wellbeing and reduce burnout
The difference between earning points and strategically using them
How teenagers are now flying internationally on points from normal spending habits
Why Dina believes holidays become “more affordable and more frequent” with points

What does it take to go from doing customs forms by hand at Australia Post to running a $100M+ global fashion brand?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Hui and Steve Pirie-Nally sit down with Jane Lu, founder of Showpo, to unpack the real story behind building a global brand from her parents' garage, why naivety is a founder's greatest asset, and how backing yourself is the only strategy that matters.

They also get into delegation, content creation as a CEO, the aisle vs window seat debate, and why business class is the best investment a founder can make.

We cover:
Why entrepreneurs need naivety to take the leap
How a trademark crisis nearly wiped out everything she built
Building Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine to 180,000+ women
Why delegation changes everything
The aisle vs window seat debate, settled
What is still on the bucket list

This is not just about travel. It is about building something you love and choosing to do it in style.

Guest: Jane Lu Founder and CEO, Showpo
Sponsors: Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/ Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-members...