In this episode of Founders and Funders Australia, host Ray Yee sits down with Mitch, the driving force behind The Essential, a supplement brand dedicated to transparency and quality. Mitch shares his journey from aspiring athlete to successful entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of navigating the supplement industry and the importance of integrity in product development. Tune in to learn about the evolution of The Essential, the role of education in consumer choices, and Mitch's insights on balancing business growth with personal values. Don't miss this inspiring conversation about passion, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence.

Find Mitch:

1. Melbourne Fitness and Performance: Follow them on Instagram for updates and more information about their gym activities.

2. The Essential AU: You can find their supplement brand on Instagram or visit their website to explore their products, including whey protein in chocolate and vanilla flavors, and creatine. They also offer sample packs for those interested in trying their products.

This episode is brought to you by Riverside, the platform for studio-quality remote recordings. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription.

⁠https://riverside.sjv.io/xLR1Wx

In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Justin Rooney, who left a successful career in investment banking to co-found Flame Security. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of developing cutting-edge fire safety solutions and the impact of their products on global markets.

Show Notes:

Introduction to Justin Rooney and Flame Security The transition from banking to fire safety innovation Key challenges in developing fire retardant products Strategic partnerships and market expansion Insights into the future of fire safety technology Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Hashtags: #FireSafety #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FlameSecurity

Contact Justin Rooney: Visit flamesecurity.com.au or firecoat.au for more information. Follow Flame Security on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

This episode is brought to you by Riverside, the platform for studio-quality remote recordings. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription.

https://riverside.sjv.io/xLR1Wx

In this episode of Founders and Funders, I sit down with Ray Wang, co-founder and CEO of Luca Plus, to explore his journey from accountant at Nike to fintech founder reshaping B2B payments.

We talk about how Luca Plus is giving small businesses access to flexible supplier credit, the inspiration behind its name, and Ray's commitment to integrity, transparency, and building a capital-efficient future.

• Why short-term cashflow gaps are crushing small businesses—and how Luca Plus is solving it
• Ray’s journey from Beijing to Melbourne, and from Nike to fintech
• How his accounting background shaped the company’s credit decisioning framework
• The importance of trust and product validation over perfection
• How Stone & Chalk, government grants, and partner networks enabled Luca’s early growth

Ray Wang is the co-founder and CEO of Luca Plus. With deep roots in accounting and real experience supporting small business owners, he brings a uniquely grounded perspective to solving financial pain points through technology.

• Luca Plus Website
• Ray Wang on LinkedIn
• Principles by Ray Dal_

Join us on Founders and Funders Australia as we explore the future of education with Dhruv, the innovative founder of Huddled. In this episode, Dhruv reveals how Huddled’s AI-driven platform—described as "Slack for educators and students"—is transforming the learning experience. By enhancing student engagement, empowering teachers, and fostering inclusive, secure spaces, Huddled is redefining education. From his early days as a teenage STEM prodigy—winning science awards and representing Australia at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Association—to leading a global EdTech venture now impacting educational providers in five countries, Dhruv’s story inspires entrepreneurs, educators, and tech lovers alike. Learn how Huddled addresses today’s education hurdles, such as chaotic group assignments and administrative burdens, with advanced AI solutions that bring efficiency and calm to institutions.

Want to dive deeper? Connect with Huddled on LinkedIn to follow their journey, or visit Huddled’s website to see how they’re shaping the future of learning.

In this episode of Founders and Funders Australia, host Ray explores the cutting-edge intersection of AI and law with Daniel and Jordan, the founders of LawMe, a platform that’s transforming legal work with AI-powered virtual workers. From their university days to launching a tool that automates drafting, compliance, and research, they share their inspiring startup journey, the pivot from legal research to workflow automation, and the challenges of finding product-market fit in a risk-averse industry.

Discover how LawMe empowers lawyers to focus on practicing law by automating routine tasks, and hear the founders’ vision for a future where AI reshapes legal pricing and efficiency. Packed with insights on B2B sales, branding, and building trust through referrals, this episode is a must-listen for legal professionals, tech enthusiasts, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Key Topics:

• How Daniel (IT & Economics) and Jordan (Actuarial Science & Law) met and started LawMe
• The pivot from a legal research tool to AI-driven workflow automation
• Overcoming market education challenges in legal tech
• The power of branding and referrals in B2B sales
• What’s next for LawMe: deep research and browser automation features

Want to learn more? Visit lawme.ai or connect with the team on LinkedIn to explore how LawMe is revolutionizing the legal industry.

What would make you walk away from a stable career? For Jaryd Krause, it was the realization that the life he had built as a plumber wasn’t the one he wanted.

So, he left it all behind. No business experience. No roadmap. Just a desire to create financial freedom. Today, Jaryd runs one of the world’s largest communities for buying and growing online businesses, helping others escape the 9-to-5 grind.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The moment he knew he had to leave his plumbing career behind
• How he bought his first online business and avoided scams
• The biggest misconceptions about passive income and digital assets
• How he built a business without burning out (after learning the hard way)
• How podcasting and content marketing helped him scale
• Why he prioritizes surfing over work and what that says about success
• The struggles most entrepreneurs don’t talk about
• His advice for growing a podcast and making it profitable
• His future plans, from helping athletes and artists to scaling his impact

This isn’t just a conversation about business—it’s about designing a life that works for you.

For more from Jaryd, visit BuyingOnlineBusinesses.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Listen now.

#Entrepreneurship #OnlineBusiness #PassiveIncome #Podcasting #FinancialFreedom #DigitalAssets #WorkLifeBalance #Startups #PersonalGrowth

In this episode of Founders and Funders, I chat with Jay Pottenger from EQ Minds. We explore his journey from a successful career in banking to building a thriving mental health and mindfulness business. Jay shares how EQ Minds grew from a deeply personal experience into a company helping thousands improve their mental health and performance worldwide.

We cover:

How Jay transitioned from banking to EQ Minds

Practical strategies for building resilience and managing stress

The future of workplace wellbeing

What it takes to start and scale a business in the mental health space

Follow EQ Minds on Instagram for more tools and tips on living a happier, healthier life.

In this episode of Founders and Funders Australia, I sit down with Helena Turpin, co-founder of GoFigr, an Australian career tech platform helping businesses retain and upskill talent. Helena shares her journey from working in HR at Adecco and Randstad to launching her own startup through the Antler accelerator program.

We dive into the challenges of building a SaaS business, securing early customers, and leveraging AI to drive workforce transformation. Helena also discusses the importance of internal talent mobility, the future of AI in HR, and lessons learned from growing a global company.

Whether you’re a startup founder, HR leader, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on navigating entrepreneurship, funding, and scaling a business.

Show Notes:

🔗 Learn more about GoFigr: GoFigr.ai

🔗 Connect with Helena Turpin on LinkedIn: Helena Turpin LinkedIn

🔗 Subscribe to Helena’s Substack for Future of Work insights: GoFigr Substack

🎙️ Hosted by Ray Yee