In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Gavin Nicol, a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur whose fingerprints are all over the early internet standards we still use today. With over three decades of startup experience under his belt, Gavin doesn’t just know what it takes to build and scale a business, he knows what it costs.
We start by digging into the hard truths about the startup journey. The excitement of going from 10 customers to 100 sounds thrilling on paper, but Gavin walks us through why that leap often breaks companies. He dismantles the romanticism of startup culture and puts the spotlight on the unglamorous, exhausting, but necessary grind that underpins real growth.
If you’ve ever thought about quitting your 9-to-5 or taking your side hustle full-time, Gavin offers perspective that’s both sobering and empowering. He breaks down the three kinds of people in the workforce, career employees, startup joiners, and entrepreneurs, and challenges listeners to figure out which one they really are. His advice? Try a small company once. You might never go back to corporate life again.
But this isn’t just a motivational pep talk. Gavin brings nuance to the conversation, exploring what it truly means to build something from the ground up. He draws attention to the growing trend of “boring” businesses, laundromats, plumbing services, small logistics companies, that are quietly changing hands as older owners retire. These businesses aren’t flashy, but they’re profitable. And unlike raising venture capital for a flashy tech play, they’re often self-sustaining.
We also get into the topic of education and whether a university degree is still necessary in today’s economy. Gavin makes a case for alternative paths and shares his own unconventional route through Japan’s tech scene, startups, and angel investing. His message is clear: you don’t need permission or a degree to build something valuable.
From there, we dive into the investor mindset. Gavin unpacks what he looks for as an angel investor and why so many founders, especially in the tech space, fail before they even begin. It’s not about having a groundbreaking idea. It’s about having a clear plan, the grit to see it through, and the self-awareness to know when you’re not cut out for it.
We also cover:
The worst mistake most first-time founders make when raising VC money
Why many startup ideas that use AI aren’t nearly as innovative as they seem
The hidden value in buying existing businesses instead of starting from scratch
How serving others can change the way you think about your own work
Why sales, customer support, and folding t-shirts all teach lessons worth learning
This conversation doesn’t offer quick wins or viral success stories. Instead, it gives you a look behind the curtain at what real startup life is like, the stress, the strategy, and the soul-searching required to make it work. Gavin’s honest, no-nonsense take is something every aspiring founder or curious employee needs to hear.
If you’re debating whether to leap into entrepreneurship, or you're just trying to figure out your next step, this episode might give you the clarity you've been looking for.
