The Weird Growth Podcast is about the journey of growth which is often strange and unpredictable for founders. Startups don't grow in a linear fashion but in a ...
You've heard startup stories, but few come as inspiring as Dominic Pym’s. From building some of Australia’s most iconic fintech companies to investing in the future of startups, Dom shares lessons every founder should hear. Recorded live at West Tech Fest, this episode of Weird Growth dives into the moments that defined Dom’s journey—and what drives his mission to support the next generation of founders.
Problem:
Fixing online payments in Australia. Creating a banking experience that’s the opposite of boring. Supporting the infrastructure for tomorrow’s startups.
Solution:
Simple online payments. Easy-to-love banking. An unapologetically different venture fund.
One big piece of advice:
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again…I’m still here, I’m still persisting and I’m still making new startups.
Bullets:
(00:00 – 00:30) - Introduction
(00:31 – 01:47) - Welcome Dom
(01:48 – 03:55) - Dom’s background and philosophy
(03:56 – 04:41) - The business Dom would start today
(04:42 – 07:30) - Building Australia’s first online payments provider – Pin Payments
(07:31 – 08:57) - What was the catalyst for Pin Payments’ growth?
(08:58 – 09:55) - Who were Pin Payments’ first customers?
(09:56 – 11:25) - When the momentum started to shift for Pin Payments
(11:26 – 12:14) - When Checkout acquired Pin Payments
(12:15 – 13:20) - Building the all-star team behind Up Bank
(13:21 – 14:13) - Ripe conditions for Up Bank to disrupt
(14:14 – 16:39) - What ingredients helped Up Bank cut through and grow
(16:40 – 19:15) - The inflection points for Dom’s companies – Pin Payments, Up Bank, and Euphemia
(19:16 – 25:04) - The story behind Up’s unique brand
(25:05 – 26:29) - Up’s partnership with TikTok
(26:30 – 27:49) - How Euphemia came about
(27:50 – 31:28) - The four areas of Euphemia’s investment thesis
(31:29 – 32:31) - The triple bubble fintech fund – primary, secondary, and public companies
(32:32 – 34:31) - The one thing Dom can’t live without – his Tesla Model SP100D
(34:32 – 35:33) - Dom’s one big piece of advice for founders
(35:34 – 36:32) - Wrap-up
Show & Tell:
Up Bank - https://up.com.au/
Pin Payments - https://pinpayments.com/
Checkout - https://www.checkout.com/
Buildkite - https://buildkite.com/
Red Bubble - https://www.redbubble.com/
PAX Festival - https://aus.paxsite.com/en-us.html
LGT Crestone - https://www.lgtcrestone.com.au/
Tesla Model S - https://www.tesla.com/models
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36:32
#58 – From Mystery to Remarkable Storytelling with Mike Drysdale
You've been trapped in a spiralling cycle of marketing mystery but don't worry Creative Mystery Officer Mike Drysdale is here to help. This year, Mike started his new business, Folklore, a tabletop entertainment company. Mike is a man of many talents. He leads creative direction on marketing campaigns, advises brands on how they can contribute to cultural conversations, and builds brands with the art of storytelling. Learn how to create and use a message your customers will connect with on this episode of Weird Growth.
Problem:
People are searching for genuine connections and unique events. How can we spend time together without our phones?
Solution:
A tabletop mystery game that creates authentic, memorable and fun environment for everyone involved.
One big piece of advice:
Celebrate your achievements, mark your mark with rituals and elevate your brand.
Bullets:
(00:00 - 01:19) - Introduction
(01:20 - 03:07) - Where it all started for Mike – Solving problems with creativity
(03:08 - 04:09) - The value of a great message
(04:10 - 05:19) - Seth Godinism 1 - People always believe what they tell themselves
(05:20 - 05:53) - Seth Godinism 2 – The best stories don't tell us anything new, but how right we were in the first place
(05:54 - 07:05) - People seek information that reinforces their beliefs
(07:06 - 08:23) - Investigating remarkability
(08:24 - 09:52) - Use your customer's language
(09:53 - 11:19) - Don't fall for this communication trap
(11:20 - 14:21) - Make your message about the benefits not the technology
(14:22 - 17:32) - Mike's new business – Folklore
(17:33 - 20:56) - How Folklore is a refreshing take on creating in-person connection
(20:57 - 23:30) - What drives Mike – on making moments for people
(23:31 - 26:05) - Identity, worldviews, and cultural conversations
(26:06 - 28:00) - Republic of Fremantle's Birchal Campaign
(28:01 - 31:10) - How brands can add value to cultural conversations
(31:11 - 33:58) - What it looks like when brands add value to the conversation
(33:59 - 38:47) - On TikTok and growing a content engine
(38:48 - 40:05) - Help them share the pebbles
(40:06 - 42:06) - Cleo Abrams – Huge if true
(42:07 - 44:16) - Mark Zuckerberg's image change
(44:17 - 45:39) - We are approaching a new tech age
(45:40 - 46:29) - What's next for Mike
(46:30 - 47:45) - Celebrate your year, mark the moment
(47:46 - 49:23) - Storytelling elevates moments so you can look back at them
(49:24 - 51:28) - Show & tell – Write down your ideas in notes, use ChatGPT more
(51:29 - 52:58) - How Mike uses ChatGPT for creativity
(52:59 - 53:48) - Connect with Mike
(53:49 - 54:41) - Wrap up
Show & tell:
Lawson Flats - https://www.lawsonflats.com/
Folklore Website – https://www.playfolklore.com/
Cleo's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/cleoabram
ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/
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54:41
#57 - Light up your growth with Jared Carlin & James Shamim
Jared Carlin and James Shamim, co-founders of Willow, share their journey from identifying a common household problem to launching a solution on Kickstarter. In this episode, they dive into how they grew Plant with Willow beyond crowdfunding. They also give great tips on nailing your story, maintaining engagement with your backers, and building a community.
Problem:
Australians kill 72 million plants a year. Imagine how big this could be globally.
Solution:
A sensor device to track your plant's health with a mobile app that teaches you how to look after it.
One big piece of advice:
Have a large enough customer base and problem to warrant going after it. Find the passion in what you are doing. Maintain that level of passion – test, iterate and learn.
Bullets:
(00:00 – 02:52) - Introduction to Jared Carlin & James Shamim
(02:53 – 03:54) - Origins of Willow – where the idea came from
(03:55 – 06:41) - Pop Quiz – What business would they start today?
(06:42 – 08:46) - When they knew Willow was onto something
(08:47 – 10:42) - How to move from identifying a problem to building a product
(10:43 – 14:41) - Tips for Kickstarter success
(14:42 – 19:57) - Growth challenges with hardware
(19:58 – 20:44) - Who uses Willow today?
(20:45 – 21:56) - How Willow works
(21:57 – 22:47) - How most plants are killed by their owners
(22:48 – 25:35) - Sensor technology behind Willow
(25:36 – 27:05) - Gamifying the product experience
(27:06 – 28:56) - Growing beyond Kickstarter
(28:57 – 30:58) - Marketing channels and content strategies
(30:59 – 32:20) - Designing a workspace for success
(32:21 – 33:04) - The team behind Willow
(33:05 – 33:57) - Where Jared & James focus time as founders
(33:58 – 36:35) - Partnership with Bunnings
(36:36 – 38:13) - What’s next for Willow
(38:14 – 39:57) - One big piece of advice for founders
(39:58 – 41:38) - Show & tell – One thing they can’t live without
(41:39 – 43:56) - Storytelling in sport
(43:57 – 45:04) - Wrap up
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45:04
#56 - Simple, Sustainable and Scalable with Andrew Holder
Andrew Holder, the visionary behind Revo Fitness, shares the
remarkable journey of how he grew Revo into the largest independent gym
operator in Australia. Unlike other fitness operators, Revo Fitness was built
without being influenced by existing industry structures.
Problem: Traditional gyms can be intimidating and
unwelcoming, often prioritising profit over the member experience, leading to
high churn rates and a lack of community.
Solution: Revo Fitness transforms the gym experience
by focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and member satisfaction, creating a
welcoming environment where everyone feels motivated and supported. Member
experience is designed to be as frictionless as possible from joining to leaving.
One big piece of advice: Play for the right reasons.
Put one foot in front of the other. Let go of the outcomes you want to achieve
personally. Think about what you can achieve as a “we” not a “me”.
Bullets:
(00:30) - Intro to Andrew Holder
(04:52) - Start from scratch
(06:22) - The reason it started
(10:41) - How Revo reached their first customers
(13:25) - The point Andrew knew he was onto something
(16:22) - Surviving COVID as a fitness business
(22:45) - How Andrew’s background in sport helped him build resilience
(23:45) - How to balance the short and long term
(25:52) - How is Revo different?
(32:36) - Who is Revo for?
(36:35) - Managing capacity at Revo clubs
(39:55) – Revo’s approach to competition
(41:47) - What’s next for Revo?
(42:18) - Andrew’s advice for Founders
(46:21) - Show & Tell
(48:00) - How Andrew balances family and business
Show & tell
Revo Fitness
Andrew’s LinkedIn
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51:42
#55 An Academic Approach to Growth with Stefan Prandl
We interviewed Stefan Prandl, Founder and Chief Technology Officer from Hyprfire at the Cyberwest Summit
2024. Hyprfire gives critical network events to the customers, so they know who or what is in their network. Stefan discusses the augmentation of generative AI and explains Zipf’s Laws in the context of fraud.
Problem:
Busy IT teams are still facing breaches and do not know where their network gap is. Even with cybersecurity tools in place, this still leaves them wide open to being hacked.
Solution:
Hyprfire adds an active and consistent threat-hunting capability with a managed NDR solution - Firebug. You are the first to know exactly who and what is on your network.
One big piece of advice:
Know the nature of the market you are trying to enter.
Bullets:
(00:00) - Introduction
(03:39) – Fraud detection technology
(06:08) – The business Stefan would start today
(09:47) – Augmentation on generative AI
(15:45) – The use of AI tools in cybersecurity
(19:13) – The problem Hyprfire is solving
(25:10) – Finding their first customers
(31:16) – How it felt to go from a couple of customers to international
(32:05) – What Hyprfire did to grow
(38:30) – The bare minimum of checklists
(39:40) – One big piece of advice
(40:53) – Show & tell
Show & tell
Obsidian
Hyprfire
LM Studio
Sam Altman AI Vision
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The Weird Growth Podcast is about the journey of growth which is often strange and unpredictable for founders. Startups don't grow in a linear fashion but in a weird way. In this podcast, we hear founders share their stories about taking the first steps towards finding early customers, finding the right marketing channels to grow, through to rapid expansion and success.
Australia