Explore the journeys of today’s most inspiring tech founders on The Engine – Founders Stories, hosted by Donna Owen, founder and fractional GTM leader at The Engine. Discover how visionary entrepreneurs overcame the “founder-led sales” trap to build predictable, scalable revenue engines - and learn how you can do the same for your business.Join Donna as she sits down with C-suite executives, startup pioneers and growth architects behind groundbreaking SaaS and fintech ventures. Each episode unpacks real-world challenges - from recruiting your first sales team to implementing cost-effective tech stacks - and shares the proven tactics that turned early-stage startups into market leaders.Whether you’re a founder ready to scale, a sales leader seeking fresh playbooks, or a startup advisor looking for actionable case studies, The Engine – Founders Stories delivers the insightful conversations and tangible outcomes you need. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform to join the revenue revolution of the future, today.
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The AI Reality Check: Why Human Connection Still Closes the Deal With Andy Hallett
Season 1 · Episode 4
Monday, April 13, 2026 • Duration 52:05
Is AI the "silver bullet" for your business, or is it just creating more noise?
In this episode of Founder Stories, Donna Owen sits down with her close friend and serial entrepreneur Andy Hallett. With a career spanning recruitment, technology, and executive coaching, Andy cuts through the current tech hype to discuss the immutable fundamentals of building a successful business.
Andy shares why he believes the best performers will always rise to the top and why "human-in-the-loop" remains the most critical factor in high-stakes sales and recruitment. They also dive into the psychological transition from "proper jobs" to prolific foundership and the importance of hitting targets before spending your capital.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The AI Reality Check: Why technology is a tool for enhancement, not a replacement for basic business fundamentals.
Rising Above the Noise: How the top 1% of recruiters and founders thrive when the market is flooded with automated content.
The Human Closer: Why agents and bots can't replace the trust required to close a major deal.
Proving the Model: The importance of hitting your internal targets before investing heavily in expansion.
Serial Foundership: Andy’s journey through multiple ventures and what it really takes to be a "prolific" guest on the founder couch.
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 – Will AI be a "silver bullet" for your business?
00:44 – Introducing the "Prolific Founder": Andy Hallett
01:04 – Why Donna saved the "Proper Guests" for later in the series
25:30 – The transition from a corporate career to entrepreneurship
42:15 – Why the best recruiters will always rise above the AI noise
51:19 – Target setting and knowing when to spend your money
The Prophecy of the Story: Why 90% of Businesses Fail at Demand With George Terry
Season 1 · Episode 4
Friday, April 10, 2026 • Duration 46:54
Is the story you’re telling yourself about your business actually a prophecy for its failure?
In this episode of Founder Stories, Donna Owen sits down with George Terry, Co-Founder & Creative Director at Winbox. George pulls back the curtain on the psychological "mental game" of being a founder, exploring how our internal narratives can either lead us to "weird places" or act as a roadmap for massive success.
Together, they dive into the harsh reality of demand generation, explaining why the majority of business struggles are actually just pipeline problems in disguise. If you’ve ever felt like your business is a series of "ups and downs" without a clear direction, George provides the framework to tune back into the story that matters.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The Prophecy of the Story: Why the narrative you embrace during the hard times determines where your company ends up.
The 90% Pipeline Rule: Why most founders are misdiagnosing their business problems when they actually just have a demand issue.
Guiding the Internal Voice: How to manage the "version of yourself" in your head to avoid negative tangents and stay conscious.
The Reality of Hard Work: Why everything worth doing is difficult and how to lean into the struggle rather than running from it.
Avoiding "Weird Places": The importance of self-awareness and listening to your guiding voice to keep your business on track.
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 – Why the story you tell yourself is a prophecy.
00:24 – The 90% Rule: Why you probably have a demand problem.
05:45 – Everything worth doing is hard: Navigating the ups and downs.
15:30 – The Internal Voice: Managing the version of yourself in your head.
28:12 – Consciousness and awareness in leadership.
42:05 – Guiding your business away from "negative tangents."
46:20 – How to stay tuned in when the journey gets tough.
The Science of Selling with Leo Rogers
Season 1 · Episode 2
Monday, March 30, 2026 • Duration 50:13
How does a "rebellious" student who failed his A-Levels go on to build a 25-person agency by age 22 and later launch a market-defining AI company? In this episode of Founder Stories, Donna Owen sits down with Leo Rogers, the founder of Curvo.
Leo shares his unconventional journey from fixing corporate IT servers at 16 using nothing but a Google search bar to revolutionizing the sales industry with real-time AI coaching. This is a deep dive into the grit, "naive optimism," and the rigorous science required to scale a high-performance sales organization.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The "Naive Optimism" Factor: Why the certainty to tackle challenges you don't yet understand is a prerequisite for survival in the early days.
Managing "Gray Hair" at 22: Leo’s experience hiring and leading a senior leadership team with decades more experience than him.
The $1 Million Founder Rule: Why founders must stay in the trenches and hit the first £1M in revenue before hiring an AE function.
Gamifying MEDDPICC: How to move away from laborious "check-box" deal reviews and turn sales methodology into a live, fun, and high-adoption experience.
The Future of Sales Tech: Why the trend for 2026 is moving away from annoying meeting bots toward seamless, on-device AI copilots.
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 – The 75% jump in meeting Notetaker adoption in 2025.
01:55 – What is Kvo? Giving sellers a "second brain" in 500 milliseconds.
05:12 – The Science of Selling: Why MEDDPICC and Gap Selling are non-negotiable.
07:51 – Turning a "weaponized" methodology into a gamified experience.
11:24 – The "Lobby Bot" Fatigue: Why on-device recording is the future.
14:02 – Failing A-Levels and the "nail in the coffin" of academia.
17:15 – Naive Optimism: Fixing architecture servers at age 16.
21:11 – Respect in the Boardroom: Leading a senior team at age 22.27:23 – Solving the Demand Problem: Why the founder must lead the first million in sales.31:22 – Network Effects: Building a cap table of 18 top sales leaders.38:00 – The Knowledge-Performance Gap: Selling complex tech to CTOs.45:47 – Launching Kvo Self-Serve: The 2026 roadmap.47:40 – Work-Life Integration: From the office to salsa dancing.
How I Built & Sold a Million-Dollar Business With Ed Johnson
Season 1 · Episode 1
Monday, March 30, 2026 • Duration 45:49
How do you go from dropping out of school at 17 to building, scaling, and selling a massive B2B software company? In this episode of Founder Stories, Donna Owen sits down with Ed Johnson—the "original influencer" before the word even existed.
Ed shares the raw, unfiltered truth about his entrepreneurial journey, including the "bugs" and roadblocks of his early ventures and the critical lessons he used to drive his previous company, Push Far, to a successful private equity acquisition in 2023. Now, he’s doing it all again with URoutine, a new platform centered on the one thing that actually drives success: Accountability.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The $5.99 Rule: Why "sweating the small stuff" early on sets the standard for a team of 50+.
The Co-Founder Trap: Why you must sign your agreement when you're still happy—and why one co-founder should always be more "senior" on paper.
The "Zero AI" Strategy: How simple, "un-shiny" ideas can gain more traction than the latest tech trends.
Revenue vs. Reality: Why first-time founders fail by rushing to monetize too soon.
🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 – The "Misfire": When starting a business takes 5+ years of your life.
01:22 – What is URoutine? Solving the accountability gap.
04:18 – The hard lesson: Why revenue should follow technology, not lead it.
06:58 – Budgeting 101: Questioning every 5.99 subscription.
09:32 – Career "Job Hopping" and why Ed never stayed more than a year.
13:54 – Being a YouTube Partner at age 10: 15 Million views and counting.
20:32 – The 2-year "Side Hustle": Building Push Far while working a 9-5.
23:06 – Potholes & Failures: The social app that crashed at 10k downloads.
30:42 – The CEO's responsibility: Roles, responsibilities, and tempering your stress.
38:52 – How Ed is using URoutine to write a 250-page romantic fiction novel.
Building From Scratch: The Immigrant Founder’s Guide to Resilience With Paul Ryazanov
Season 1 · Episode 3
Monday, March 30, 2026 • Duration 46:40
What happens when you go from being a well-known industry leader in your home country to a total stranger in a new one?
In this episode of Founder Stories, Donna Owen sits down with Paul Ryazanov, the founder of MageCloud. Paul’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, moving from a childhood in the Soviet Union to building a premier global e-commerce agency.
Paul discusses the psychological and operational "grind" of the immigrant founder-the necessity of shedding your ego, proving your worth from scratch, and the power of simple human connection in building a world-class network.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The "Zero Reputation" Reality: Why moving to a new country means no one cares about your past success and how to build a new name from the ground up.
The Soviet Foundation: How Paul’s early life shaped an immutable drive to seek a better life and build something lasting.
The "Small Things" Networking Hack: Why the most powerful way to enter a new room is by offering small, immediate value—like a simple introduction.
Understanding Local Needs: The importance of getting in the trenches, attending meetups, and talking to people to find the "gap" in a new market.
Scaling MageCloud: Insights into the operational grit required to manage a global team and maintain high-level growth.
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 – Starting from scratch: Why new countries don't care about your history.
00:45 – The Soviet Foundation: How a childhood in the USSR fueled the drive for more.
05:20 – Proving your worth: The psychological shift of being a "nobody" again.
12:15 – The Power of Connection: Using small acts to open big doors.
18:30 – Networking from Zero: Why physical meetups are a founder's best friend.
25:40 – Building MageCloud: Scaling an agency across borders.
34:10 – The "Better Life" mindset: Turning obstacles into fuel. 46:10 – How to connect with Paul and join the MageCloud community.
AI in SME Lending for Bank Leaders to Solve the $5 Trillion Financing Gap with Rodrigo Malachias
Episode 21
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 • Duration 37:26
Welcome to The Engine – Founders' Stories Podcast. In this episode, host Donna Owenis joined by Rodrigo Malachias, Co-Founder of MedibleGo and CEO at Medible. Rodrigo shares how he built two global companies by combining technology, strategic consulting, and a deep commitment to understanding SMEs. He takes us through his journey from early technical training in Brazil to leading multinational teams, teaching innovation, and now scaling an AI-powered platform designed to help small businesses grow.
Rodrigo explains how MedibleGo uses AI to bridge the information gap between SMEs and banks, unlocking better access to financing while giving founders the insights they need to succeed. He also shares candid reflections on burnout, resilience, and how running became an anchor for his mental and physical wellbeing. From global expansion to the importance of customer listening, Rodrigo offers grounded, practical wisdom for founders building with purpose.
In this episode, Rodrigo breaks down how he transformed years of consulting experience into an AI-driven product trusted by both SMEs and financial institutions. He talks about bootstrapping two companies, securing Innovate UK grants, and why customer insight - not investment - is at the heart of sustainable growth. Rodrigo also opens up about his background, the turning points that shaped his career, and why balance, authenticity, and curiosity are essential to long-term success as a founder.
Key Takeaways
How MedibleGo uses AI to close the global SME financing gap.
Why customer conversations matter more than investor conversations.
Burnout, recovery, and how running became part of Rodrigo’s life philosophy.
What Really Happens When a Founder Shuts Down Their Startup After 8 Years? with Riaz Kanani
Episode 20
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 • Duration 28:29
Welcome to The Engine - Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen is joined by Riaz Kanani, a Serial Entrepreneur. Riaz shares his journey from starting businesses at a young age to leading successful ventures. He talks about his experience in building companies, exiting major players like IBM, and his approach to scaling businesses. Riaz also discusses the importance of adapting to changing markets, learning from customers, and finding the balance between highs and lows in the entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes staying true to yourself and focusing on long-term goals.
In this episode, Riaz shares how he helps businesses grow by building and scaling successful ventures. He talks about how he has navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship. Riaz explains why adapting to changing markets and understanding customer needs is key to success. He shares lessons from his experience exiting companies to major players like IBM and how he approaches leadership. Riaz also discusses the importance of balancing highs and lows in the startup journey and why staying true to yourself is vital in business.
Key Takeaways:
Riaz’s journey from starting businesses at a young age to leading successful ventures.
Adapting to market changes and understanding customer needs is key to success.
Scaling a business requires a focus on long-term goals and smart strategies.
Learning from both successes and setbacks is crucial for growth.
Staying true to yourself and maintaining balance is essential in leadership.
Additional Insights:
Riaz started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age, founding businesses before finishing school.
His experience with exiting companies like IBM shaped his approach to scaling ventures.
He believes understanding technology and adapting to change is crucial for business success.
The Brand ROI for Startup Founders to Replace Sales Silos and Lead with Confidence - Bianca Bass
Episode 19
Friday, December 12, 2025 • Duration 26:04
Welcome to The Engine - Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen is joined by Bianca Bass, Chief Marketing Officer at Privalgo and brand consultant. Bianca shares how she helps companies grow by aligning brands with business goals. She talks about her journey from working in large companies like TripAdvisor and Selfridges to advising startups on marketing and storytelling. Bianca explains why understanding customers deeply is key and how creativity can cut through noise. She also opens up about burnout, her background, and why staying true to yourself matters in leadership.
In this episode, Bianca shares how she helps businesses grow by connecting brands with revenue. She talks about her work as CMO at Privalgo and as a consultant for startups that need clear and creative marketing. Bianca explains why brand is not just design but a key part of sales and business success. She shares lessons from working at big companies like TripAdvisor and how she moved into startups to make a bigger impact. Bianca also talks about burnout, staying well, and why being yourself is the best way to lead and connect with others.
Key Takeaways:
Bianca’s move from big brands to startups to drive real impact.
Brand is a business tool that supports sales and growth.
Great marketing starts with truly knowing your customer.
Creative, low-cost ideas can cut through noise and build trust.
Success means staying well, being yourself, and leading with purpose.
Additional Insights:
Bianca started in copywriting before moving into senior marketing roles.
Her time at TripAdvisor showed the limits of staying siloed in big companies.
She believes brands should sit at the heart of business strategy.
Bianca supports women and underrepresented groups in finding their voice.
She encourages founders to use creativity over big budgets to stand out.
The Intro Economy is Changing Sales Forever for Founders and Connectors with Mike Adams
Episode 18
Thursday, December 4, 2025 • Duration 44:49
Welcome to The Engine - Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen is joined by Mike Adams, Founder & CEO of introstars, and Founder & Startup Mentor at Skyler Gotham. This platform rewards people for making warm business introductions and is quickly growing across London and New York. Mike shares how he went from being a shy, introverted teen to a top networker attending over a thousand events. He talks about his experience at Zoom during its rapid growth and how it shaped his startup. Mike also explains the value of building real relationships and offers tips for overcoming the fear of networking.
In this episode, Mike shares his journey from being a shy, tech-loving teen to becoming a super connector and founder of Introstars, a platform that rewards people for making warm business introductions. He explains how attending over a thousand networking events led him to see the true power of trusted connections. Mike also talks about his time at Zoom, where he built partner programs across Europe and learned how to scale fast. He offers tips for founders on how to network with purpose, avoid burnout, and build strong relationships that support both business and personal growth.
Key Takeaways:
Mike's journey from shy gamer to top networker and founder of Introstars.
The platform rewards users for making warm business introductions.
Networking is seen as a way to build trust, not just gain clients.
Success comes from real connections, not cold outreach or hard sales.
Founders should balance hard work with self-care to avoid burnout.
Additional Insights:
Growing up in a family business gave Mike early exposure to entrepreneurship.
His experience at Zoom taught him how to build and scale partnerships fast.
Making introductions is both a way to help others and build a strong reputation.
WhatsApp Business for Freelancers to Separate Work Life Fast Using eSIM with George Lineker
Episode 17
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 • Duration 36:56
Welcome to The Engine - Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen is joined by George Lineker, Co-Founder of YourBusinessNumber. This company provides a second phone number and eSIM to help freelancers and small businesses separate their work and personal lives. George shares his journey from a previous failed app to building a lean, bootstrapped business over four years. He discusses the challenges of relying on platforms like WhatsApp and his vision for a more complete product. George also opens up about his privileged background, his learnings from past ventures, and the importance of routine and a strong team.
In this episode, George shares his journey from a previous venture in second-number apps to co-founding YourBusinessNumber, a company helping freelancers and small business owners separate their work and personal communications. He talks about how identifying the persistent problem of managing two phones led him to build a simple and affordable solution. George also explains the challenge of relying on another platform like WhatsApp Business and his strategic move into eSIM technology to create a more complete product. He shares insights on building a lean team, learning from past failures, and his pragmatic approach to growing the business.
Key Takeaways:
George's journey from a failed app to a successful two-in-one phone solution.
His company offers virtual numbers for WhatsApp and a full eSIM plan.
Growth is driven by a lean team and targeted Google Ads.
Success relies on a strong team and learning from past ventures.
The future is focused on the independent eSIM product.
Additional Insights:
How a privileged background provided the safety net to take entrepreneurial risks.
Maintaining a daily routine is crucial for focus when working from home.
The importance of having a skilled team where each member handles a specific area.
Believing in the core idea is vital for persevering through challenges.
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Discover shows related to The Engine - Founders Stories, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
The power of iteration, listening, and humility in building a tech company.
Global expansion and how the UK’s Global Entrepreneur Programme accelerated growth.
Additional Insights
Rodrigo began as a trained electrician and worked in manufacturing at 14.
His non-technical PR degree sharpened his communication, teaching, and leadership skills.
Years of consulting for global brands shaped Medible’s methodology and product evolution.
He teaches innovation in Chile and is writing a book about resistance to new technology.
Rodrigo believes scarcity environments (LatAm, Africa) create more resilient founders than wealthy ecosystems.
Quotes from the Episode
Riaz values staying true to oneself and maintaining balance throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
He encourages founders to focus on long-term goals and listen to customers to drive growth.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"Understanding technology and adapting to change is key to business success." - Riaz Kanani
"Success isn’t just about exits; it’s about the long-term journey and learning from setbacks." - Riaz Kanani
"Staying true to yourself and maintaining balance is the key to effective leadership." - Riaz Kanani
Join Riaz as he shares how his experience in building and scaling businesses helps founders navigate challenges,
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Brand is the golden thread in everything we do.” - Bianca Bass
“I don't like everyone, so why do I need everyone to like me?” - Bianca Bass
“My biggest motivation in my career is extending the table.” - Bianca Bass
Join Bianca as she shares how her passion for brand, storytelling, and customer insight helps founders grow their business with purpose, creativity, and a clear strategy that drives real results.
Founders should join events for energy and support, not just leads.
Mike believes in a future where connecting people becomes a valued side gig.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Everyone loves to connect people because you are solving a puzzle.” - Mike Adams
“You are not trying to sell, you are trying to build a relationship.” - Mike Adams
“In the age of AI, human trust becomes even more important.” - Mike Adams
Join Mike as he shares how his passion for connecting people led to introstars, a platform that rewards warm business introductions and helps founders grow through real relationships built on trust.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] - Teaser
[00:58] - Donna’s Introduction and Excitement for the Episode
[03:04] - The Human Nature of Connecting and Solving Puzzles
[05:03] - Shifting Focus to Mike’s Personal Founder Story
[09:42] - The Power of Relationships vs. Cold Outreach
[13:09] - Why Sales Leaders Should Rethink Networking Metrics
[19:28] - Career Highlights: Apple, HP, and Hypergrowth at Zoom
[23:40] - Burnout, Purpose, and Maintaining Balance
[26:24] - Networking as Self-Care and a Non-Negotiable Priority
[32:51] - Tools for Finding Events: Luma and Meetup.com
[35:27] - The Evolution of Networking: From Transactional to...
How past business failures provided essential lessons for the current venture.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"I know there are 20,000 people out there who have a use for two numbers on one phone for work." - George Lineker
"If you have a good team around you, that's key." - George Lineker
"I think it's normal to have things go wrong." - George Lineker
Join George as he shares how his belief in solving the two-phone problem led to YourBusinessNumber, a company helping freelancers and small businesses get a separate work number to improve organization and enable them to switch off.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] - Teaser
[00:59] - Intro to George Lineker
[01:57] - What The Company Does
[03:10] - Solving The Two-Phone Problem
[05:44] - Origin of The Business Idea
[07:31] - Funding and Team Structure
[09:07] - Go-To-Market Strategy
[10:24] - The Challenge of Selling WhatsApp
[11:19] - Introducing The New eSIM Product
[12:44] - George's Background and Schooling
[14:24] - Privilege and Risk-Taking
[19:14] - The "Last Go" Before a Job
[24:09] - Key Learnings as a Founder
[28:19] - The Fully Automated Customer Journey
[30:40] - Total Addressable Market
[33:00] - Future Focus: The eSIM
[35:20] - What's Next for the Business, Personal Aspirations
