The Startups Drive
The Startups Drive is a podcast built on real, unscripted conversations with people from the startup and business world.
Hosted by Kieran Longhurst, every episode is an open, unfiltered discussion with founders, entrepreneurs, operators, and business leaders — no scripts, no agendas, just honest conversations about what it actually takes to build and grow in today's business landscape.
From early-stage startup founders to seasoned corporate professionals, we talk about the real experiences, challenges, and lessons that don't always make it into the highlight reel.
Topics we've explore so far:
- Startup founding and early-stage growth
- Business strategy and scaling
- Sales, leadership, and team building
- Entrepreneurship and career journeys
- Career transitions and entrepreneurship
- Leadership, accountability, and team building
- The Australian startup and business ecosystem and more.
In season 3 we are bringing you more founder stories, more business leaders conversations, more entrepreneurs and operators insights — the raw, unfiltered journeys of people building companies from the ground up.
If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or someone navigating the business world — pull up a seat.
(Formerly Depth Exchange)
The Startups Drive
Global Startup Lessons, AI’s Role, and Equity Truths
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In this episode of The Startups Drive, I’m joined again by Nathan Linsley — CEO and Founder of NadoCo Interactive — who recently shifted into the music industry, building tools to solve real problems artists and creators face.
Nathan shares insights from his time exploring the startup ecosystems in South Korea and Japan, offering a unique perspective on how they differ from Australia’s startup scene, and what Aussie founders can learn from these global innovation hubs.
We also dive into the realities of startup negotiations — why equity isn’t always the best incentive, and how early-stage teams can find the right mix of rewards and motivation.
Plus, we explore the rising role of AI in startups, especially in the early stages where cost and speed matter most. But that doesn’t mean developers are out of a job — far from it. Nathan explains why developers still play a vital role as startups grow and scale.
Whether you’re a startup founder, software developer, or just curious about global startup trends, this conversation offers insights, strategy, and inspiration you can use.
Nathans Previous episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Jm8b29wWekoVrnIt1jG62
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