Straight Line Path

Marty Loughlin, General Partner of Digital Irish Ventures and a founder who lived through the dot-com boom and bust, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where he shares why a shakeout is coming for AI startups, why being first doesn't win and how to build a moat in the age of AI. We also cover what moving your startup to the US really brings, from the scale of the market and closeness to cust...

Garret Flower, founder of Immensity, Wayleadr and Krüst Bakery, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where he shares how he built and sold Wayleadr, the parking platform used by Google, Netflix, Amazon and OpenAI, and the mindset that carried him from failure to exit. We also discuss why failure is just learning, why action creates energy and energy creates results, how defining what you don't...

Marc Thornton, managing director of DTA Marketing and former marketing manager at Superquin and Deloitte, joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share his three-pillars method for finding a business's core message and why most marketing fails to reflect what a company actually offers. We also cover why word of mouth is something you actively stimulate rather than wait for, the blank back of a...

Mark Mills OBE, founder of Cardpoint, the ATM network he scaled from a standing start to £98.2m turnover before a £170m exit, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where he shares how a corner-store cash machine in New York became the idea for a nationwide business, why he pinned an exact date to hit £100m rather than a vague target, and the KPI system that got him there almost to the pound. We als...

Danny Buckley, co-founder of Ireland’s leading ADHD platform; ADHD Now, Autism Care and this year's EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where he shares his powerful story from the world crashing down on him, using the setbacks he faced treating his ADHD diagnosis and turning this pain it into a business that helps thousands of people across Ireland. We al...

Damian Connolly, the MD of Sakura Business Accounting and Exit Strategist, joins the Straight Line Path Podcast where he shares what makes your business valuable, how to prepare for exit and how to manage your finances as you scale. We also answer “Will AI replace Accountants?” and the reason behind why you can’t cut your expenses. Join the conversation and subscribe to stay updated on future epis...

Sarah Murphy, ex-CEO of the Business Post turned first time founder with her new  startup, Conexus, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where we discuss how to deal with imposter syndrome, setting high standards and how to get the most return from networking. Sarah also shares why she chose New York to start her new venture, what the role of a leader is and how to be a good one. Join the conversa...

DC Cahalane, one of most well known names in Ireland’s startup ecosystem, turned Venture Capitalist, joins the Straight Line Path podcast where we uncover what he would do if went back to startup mode and needed to raise money, what a startup ecosystem is, what makes a good one and his personal insights into mindset and environment. DC also shares his opinions on networking events and how to becom...

Conor Lynch built his personal brand back in 1999, long before that was a normal thing to do. It became Connector, a digital marketing agency he later exited. Now he runs Collabie, where people map out their future of work, together. In this episode we talk about starting a side hustle, why a personal brand isn't optional anymore, and Conor's "asset ladder"; a way of thinking abo...

Aidan O’Driscoll, a young successful entrepreneur from Dublin joins the Straight Line Path podcast. Aidan is the founder of Align Consultancy & Agency, an outsourced business development company and in this episode we break down his cold calling strategy, how to sell to people in different roles and his tips for young entrepreneurs starting today. Aidan also shares his opinions on how you can&...

Peter Turley, known for his innovative thinking and engaging public talks joins the Straight Line Path Podcast for a value packed episode, where we uncover the greatest tool you can ever have to sell, why cheap is the enemy, and how ROI is not the actual outcome. We also touch on why many smart people don’t make sales, how ROI isn’t the actual outcome and what business owners can do now to make sa...

Jim Callaghan, a seasoned legal expert with a rich history as General Counsel for Ryanair, Etihad Airways, and Uber, joins the Straight Line Path podcast. Now leading Wellness Story, with his wife Natasa, Jim shares his journey from the corporate world to wellness advocacy, offering unique insights into balancing high stakes careers with personal well being. In this episode, we delve into the perv...

Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes is a professional investor and has previously founded companies in the architecture and fintech space. Her journey begins in Beirut to now building multi-generational wealth, showcasing how resilience and mindset drive financial freedom and legacy creation. In this episode, Stephanie joins the Straight Line Path to share her unique investing approach, emphasising internal...

Brendan Newe is the Managing Director of Venture Business Network, one of Ireland's leading B2B networking organisations. He's been in the world of business networking since the early 2000s, starting with BNI, building a career around helping businesses grow through the power of connection. In this episode, Brendan joins the Straight Line Path podcast to break down what networking actually...

Will Sparks is the founder of Sparks Wealth, an Ireland based financial planning firm. He began his career in finance before launching the business in 2019, and since then has built it around helping individuals and families take a smarter, more long-term approach to managing their money. In this episode, Will joins the Straight Line Path podcast to break down what actually matters when it comes t...

Bobby Healy, is the founder of Manna Aero, a drone delivery company and one of the highest value startups in Ireland today, raising over €100 million to date. Bobby is also the founder of Meili and was a major stakeholder in Cartrawler, both B2B travel tech companies. Curiosity led us away on this one as Bobby joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share everything about Manna Aero; His thoughts...

John Canniffe, is the Co-founder of Exeo Advisors and ExitEngine and fellow podcaster who helps entrepreneurs grow and sell their business joins the Straight Line Path podcast. In this episode John reveals why everyone needs an exit strategy, what’s actually important for buyers and his top tips for owners to maximise the value of their business when the time comes to sell. Join the conversation a...

Tim Healy, the Managing Director of Couverture Desserts and GainLine Capital Investment, joins the Straight Line Path podcast to reveal the core skills that drive success in the food industry. In this episode Tim shares raw insights from over 15 years in food and retail, managing margins in a fickle industry, scaling production without losing flexibility and navigating the unique challenges of air...

Pierce Dargan, the CEO and founder of Equine MediRecord, councillor for Fine Gael and entrepreneur mentor joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share his insights on how to give your startup the best chance at success. In this episode Pierce shares his journey as a young entrepreneur, building an 8 figure business straight out of college. He explains how to navigate and make real use of grants a...

Kingsley Aikins, founder of The Networking Institute & The Diaspora Institute, joins the Straight Line Path podcast to share how to become a better networker in 2026, why hard work alone isn’t enough and why your success depends on other people. In this episode we chat about the different types of networks we have, how everyone has a personal brand, why hanging around with likeminded people is...

David Jelly, the founder of peer to peer lending platform, Property Bridges joins the Straight Line Path podcast to talk about the current housing crisis, Irish investing culture and the rise of alternative investments. We also dive into the current stock market valuation, tax policies that are preventing people from building wealth and how long term thinking is often missing from property discuss...

Donna O’Leary joins the Straight Line Path Podcast, where we talk about the mistakes businesses make, what happens when tools are banned in the workplace, and why untrained teams can introduce more risk than the technology itself. We also talk about how individuals and young professionals can use AI responsibly and effectively, and why developing the right habits matters more than chasing the newe...

Michael Kearney joins the Straight Line Path Podcast to share how discipline, teamwork and strong personal standards have shaped his career in franchising and professional sport. He brought the Snap Printing franchise from Australia to Ireland in 1984 and grew it to 20+ locations, served as Irish Rugby Team Manager for five years, was a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 a...

John Collins, the founder of Yogen, has a rich history in the tech industry, having worked with giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Snapchat. His diverse experience spans across Silicon Valley, Germany, and the U.S., where he has been a pivotal advisor in the startup ecosystem. Exploring the future of hiring, in this episode, we delve into John's latest venture, Yogen, and its revolutionary appr...

In our fourth episode, we sit down with Pat Lynch, a serial entrepreneur, author, and CEO with a diverse business background. Pat shares his journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, reflecting on what it takes to start and scale a business without prior industry experience. Drawing on his decades of experience across leadership and startups, he discusses the importance of sales and ma...