S2E18: Stop Running Your Startup Like a Hobby. Build It to Sell. With Luke Tobin
S2E18: Stop Running Your Startup Like a Hobby. Build It to Sell. With Luke Tobin  
Podcast: Startups Decoded
Published On: Mon Jan 12 2026
Description: Startups Decoded - Presented by Morrison Foerster - mofo.com.Luke Tobin has built seven businesses across hospitality, e-commerce, and agencies. Three exits. One of them: an eight-figure agency sale that started with £100, no funding, and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome.Today, Luke sits at the messy intersection of founders, capital, and exits, backing businesses, fixing broken agency models, and coaching operators to turn self-doubt into fuel instead of friction.In this episode, we get brutally practical on what actually drives profitable growth, why most agencies never become exit-ready, how to price for margin (not ego), and why thinking like a buyer early changes everything. This is an operator conversation, not “founder vibes”. If you want a business that works without you sweating through every Monday, press play.Subscribe nowChapters00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Exits10:31 The Journey of Building and Selling Businesses19:14 Structuring for Success: Frameworks and Control22:02 Uncovering Unique Value in Startups23:27 Prioritizing Impactful Outcomes25:39 Balancing Human Intelligence and AI27:25 Effective Automation Strategies29:06 Navigating Growth Stages in Business31:56 The Importance of Agility in Startups34:09 Cultural Dynamics in Team Growth37:32 Hiring Smart: The Founder’s Dilemma39:31 Investment Insights and Founder EvaluationLuke TobinLuke Tobin is a founder, investor, and operator with three exits and seven businesses built across hospitality, e-commerce, and agencies. He scaled his most recent agency from £100 to an eight-figure exit in five years with no external funding.Today, he’s the founder of Unusual Group, owner of Tobin Capital, partner at A-Frame Venture Studio, and author of The Success Method newsletter read by 100,000+ founders weekly. Luke advises founders on pricing, operations, hiring, and exits with a relentless focus on building businesses that actually work.Who Should ListenAgency owners who want better margins (and a real exit path)Founders dealing with imposter syndrome while scalingOperators building without funding and without delusionInvestors who care about operator-led growthAnyone who wants the real playbook behind profitable businessesAccess All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.comMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)