Take The Plunge | Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Ciaran chats with Darren O’Reilly, founder & CEO of WholeSupp, on his journey from rugby and corporate life to launching a whole-food meal shake brand built on science, transparency and taste. Darren shares the grind of finding manufacturers, bootstrapping for three years, and building a challenger brand in a crowded nutrition space. Expect insight on manufacturing, omnichannel growth, hiring, partnerships, cash flow and smart funding.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Problem → Product: After losing 23kg, Darren created a shake with 13 whole-food ingredients, co-developed with Dr. Brian Carson, using clinically backed doses.
• Trust & Quality: In a “Wild West” market, WholeSupp ensures transparency through informed-standard facilities and third-party testing.
• Taste Wins: 100+ sensory panels proved that nutrition only works if it tastes great.
• Data Focus: ~70% returning customers, 100+ monthly interviews, real-time insights and micro-influencer testing before paid growth.
• Omnichannel: Digital-first success now reinforced by Holland & Barrett rollout, sampling and staff training.
• Next Phase: Launching Ready-to-Drink (RTD) for on-the-go consumers.
• Lean Team: Keep fixed costs low, scale great people, and give ownership early.
• Funding Smart: Angels, grants, Enterprise Ireland and a fractional CFO—walked from early VC terms until metrics proved out.
• Email = Currency: Educational content (like VO₂ Max) outperforms hard-sell emails and drives loyalty.

🔥 Memorable Quotes

• “If your product doesn’t taste great, you’re in trouble.”
• “Email is currency. Educate first, sell second.”
• “We’re data nerds—every decision starts with behavior.”
• “Growth isn’t everything; live and breathe the numbers.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro & mission

01:05 – Rugby to corporate life to 23kg loss sparks the idea

02:30 – 13 whole-foods and allergen-friendly formula

03:40 – Fixing the “Wild West” of supplement labelling

06:20 – Manufacturing pain: MOQs, packaging swings, 3 years to market

08:40 – Bootstrapping reality & the Shopify myth

10:00 – Launching via social proof → paid ads

11:50 – Functional nutrition and category trends

12:40 – Convenience & RTD vision

13:40 – Taste testing and customer honesty

15:40 – Data engine: high retention & feedback

17:30 – New SKU ‘Elevate’: hydration + creatine

19:10 – Defining the “healthy, active” consumer

20:10 – Team culture, first-hire lesson, and advisors

22:20 – Low fixed, flexible cost model

24:50 – Omnichannel proof: H&B rollout & activations

26:40 – Partnerships: Rugby refs, breathwork, Nadia Power

29:10 – Milestone 430k+ meals; target 500k

30:30 – Funding & CFO Val: angels, grants, EI

32:00 – Tracking metrics via StoreHero + Triple Whale

34:00 – Profitability vs growth; knowing when to scale

36:20 – Raising smart, not fast; proof before capital

37:30 – Email education wins; 3-week reorder = 80% chance of third order

39:00 – Next goal: RTD #2 in UK

🔍 Keywords: WholeSupp, whole-food nutrition, RTD, DTC, omnichannel, third-party testing, customer research, micro-influencers, retention, Enterprise Ireland, angels, challenger brand, Holland & Barrett, functional nutrition, startup funding.

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In this episode, Ciaran sits down with Lisa Boissel, CEO of Miss Jones Group, to uncover her bold journey from Dublin’s nightclub scene to owning and scaling one of the UK’s most influential networks for personal and executive assistants.

Lisa shares how she spotted a gap in the PA community, took the risk of acquiring Miss Jones during COVID, and leaned into tech and AI to modernise the business. From event planning stress to leadership growth, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, acquisitions, or community building.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Lisa transitioned from nightlife to entrepreneurship with no formal business background

• She saw an opportunity in the PA & EA space and turned it into a thriving network

• Acquiring Miss Jones during COVID was a high-stakes move rooted in conviction

• Technology and AI have become essential to business operations and customer service

• Community-building and strong relationships remain core to her event planning approach

• Lisa prioritizes hiring people who are eager to grow with the business

🔥 Memorable Quotes:

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro to Lisa’s Journey

01:25 – From Nightclubs to Business Ownership

05:44 – Spotting the Gap in the PA Market

07:28 – Growing the Miss Jones Network

09:48 – Using Tech to Scale

11:57 – The Challenges of Tech Development

17:48 – AI Integration for Customer Experience

19:25 – Buying Miss Jones During COVID

23:25 – Navigating Event Planning Stress

25:10 – Building a Strong Team

30:21 – Expanding into New Markets

32:47 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

34:28 – Lisa’s Vision for the Future

🔍 Keywords:

entrepreneurship, scaling a business, women in business, event planning, community building, PA network, acquisition, business technology, AI in business, startup growth, SME success

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.