EE 401 - Brewing Success: Colin Harmon's Journey from Spare Room to 3fe Coffee Empire

In this episode, we sit down with Colin Harmon, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed Ireland’s coffee culture. From starting as a barista to building 3fe, one of Ireland's most respected coffee brands, Colin shares his journey of entrepreneurship, branding, and the shifting landscape of social spaces. We explore: Why traditional social spaces like banks, pubs, and churches are declining The power of community in business How Colin built 3fe from a single café to an industry leader The business lessons he learned through scaling and adapting The future of coffee culture and entrepreneurship If you’re an aspiring founder or someone fascinated by how businesses shape culture, this episode is a must-listen! -- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee   -- Show Notes: Guest: Colin Harmon, Founder of 3fe Coffee Topics Covered: The Evolution of Social Spaces Why traditional meeting points are disappearing How coffee shops have replaced banks and pubs as social hubs Colin’s Entrepreneurial Journey How he transitioned from a finance job to coffee The early struggles of starting a coffee business Scaling from one café to a respected brand The Business of Coffee The challenges of running a specialty coffee company How branding and storytelling played a key role in growth Why community-driven businesses thrive Lessons in Leadership & Growth The mindset shifts needed to scale a business Why customer experience is the most valuable asset Future trends in coffee and hospitality Resources Mentioned: 3fe Coffee Website Colin Harmon’s Book: What I Know About Running Coffee Shops Follow Colin on Instagram

With 400 episodes under my belt, I'm turning the mic on myself to share the origins of this passion project that started as a side experiment and grew into a full-fledged business. This is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode where I answer all the questions you sent in over the last few weeks. How does the pod make money? What do I look for in a guest?  Discover the pivot from property management to podcasting and the invaluable lessons learned along this unpredictable entrepreneurial path. From the nuances of guest selection to cultivating a unique storytelling approach, I share my blueprint for creating compelling content that resonates with audiences. Chapter Timestamps (00:01) - Gary Fox Celebrates 400 Episodes (10:25) - Podcast Sponsorship and Business Strategies (22:40) - Gary Fox's Guest Selection Process (28:00) - Podcasting, Investing, and Self-Reflection (35:41) - Podcast Preparation and Mindset Development (47:28) - Entrepreneurial Success and Life Lessons (56:40) - Family Business and Time Management -- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

Join Gary as we sit down with Mary Sadlier, the powerhouse behind Coole Swan, the premium Irish cream brand taking the world by storm. From navigating challenges to owning 3% of the U.S. market, Mary shares her journey of resilience, innovation, and growth. In this episode, you'll discover: How Mary overcame setbacks to scale Coole Swan globally. The art of balancing quality and profitability in a competitive market. The entrepreneurial mindset that turns challenges into opportunities. Lessons in leadership and staying true to your brand ethos. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, Mary’s insights will inspire and challenge you to think bigger.   -- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this brain special of The Entrepreneur Experiment, we dive deep into the world of mental mastery with renowned brain hacker Keith Barry. Known for his groundbreaking work in hacking the human mind, Keith helps individuals and corporations achieve sustainable, meaningful change at a neurological level. In this episode, Keith shares: The art and science of hacking your own brain to unlock peak mental performance. Strategies to overcome mental barriers and build resilience. The surprising ways the brain influences decision-making in business and life. Practical tips for cultivating a sharp, focused, and creative mind. Whether you're looking to sharpen your mental edge or understand the secrets of the mind, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to think like a true founder. -- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee 

Welcome to the final podcast of 2024.  In this special episode recorded live at the first-ever guests reunion in Dublin, I sit down with two of my most popular guests, Nadia Adan and Michael Corcoran. We look back on the highs and lows of 2024 sharing the lessons, wins and learnings from the year. With over 70 founders in the audience, we also delved into the trends and predictions that will shape the next 12 months.  Shot live with a studio audience at Baseline in Dublin City. --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.   *Music by Andrew Applepie. 

What does it take to create a unicorn startup? Jack Pierse, co-founder of Wayflyer, and now co-founder of HappyStack joins us to discuss the thrilling journey of building one of the most successful startups in recent years. From securing millions in funding to scaling operations across the globe, Jack shares invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial highs and lows, including the pivotal moments that shaped Wayflyer’s meteoric rise. Jack opens up about his life before and after Wayflyer, including his working for Liam Casey and how he’s now channelling his expertise into new ventures. Whether it’s advising other startups, investing, or exploring new industries, Jack’s approach to entrepreneurship continues to evolve. His latest venture, Bold Golf has also just launched and counts Shane Lowry among the investors.  --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.

Imagine selling your startup for $18 million in less than a year—only to watch it vanish into thin air when the dot-com bubble burst. Sounds like a wild ride? That’s just the beginning of John Dennehy’s incredible journey. John is one of Ireland’s most successful (and underrated) serial founders. He’s the only entrepreneur I know who’s managed to sell the same company twice. Yes, twice! In this episode, John shares how his journey went from massive wins to gut-wrenching losses—and back again. In 2024 alone, he pulled off two major sales, including the recruitment platform HireHive. But the real magic lies in how he bought back his old company, Zartis, reinvented it, and sold it again. John’s story has more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster, and it’s packed with lessons for every entrepreneur. This is the ultimate guide to resilience, reinvention, and embracing the unpredictable. Don’t miss it! --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.

Every great founder needs a mentor. That is why every single week, I bring you a new one. In this Mentor Moment, James Whelton dives into the importance of finding joy in the process over just chasing outcomes. He shares a key insight: if you're spending 90% of your time on the journey, it only makes sense to enjoy it. James reflects on his own experiences and how this mindset shaped his approach to work and success. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on aligning passion with purpose. To listen to the full episode go back to episode 306. --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.

What does it take to build the backbone of one of the biggest gaming franchises in history and revolutionize digital safety for kids? In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dylan Collins, the mastermind behind Demonware and SuperAwesome. Dylan shares the story of creating Demonware, the tech infrastructure that powers the online experience for games like Call of Duty, before selling it to Activision Blizzard in a landmark deal. But his journey didn’t stop there. Dylan went on to found SuperAwesome, a company dedicated to making the internet safer for kids, which was later acquired by Epic Games, creators of Fortnite. In this candid conversation, Dylan unpacks: The high-stakes decisions behind building and selling two global companies. How he predicted and shaped the future of gaming and children’s technology. Why digital safety is the next frontier in tech innovation. The mindset that keeps him asking, “What’s next?” after every success. Get inspired by one of the sharpest entrepreneurial minds of our time and learn how to anticipate trends, scale businesses, and stay ahead in the fast-moving world of tech.   (00:00) Entrepreneur Experiment Podcast With Dylan Collins (10:51) Surviving and Thriving in Business (14:37) Future of AI and Market Growth (21:41) Future of Physical Service Layers (28:42) The Future of Technology and Society (34:07) Global Fertility Rates and Investment Trends (47:24) Founder Insights on Selling Companies (01:00:54) Gaming Industry Entrepreneurship Explored (01:04:41) Building Relationships for Successful Acquisitions (01:10:54) Retail Power and Financial Literacy (01:20:43) Learning From Experiments and History (01:28:23) Ancient Mysteries and Founder Chemistry (01:38:29) Effective Capital Allocation Strategies (01:53:24) Strategies for Business Growth and Investments (02:02:56) Extended Entrepreneurial Interview With Dylan Collins   --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.

Today's mentor is serial founder & investor, Ray Nolan. Ray built and sold Hostelworld for one of Ireland's biggest tech sales at the time for $500 million. He gives us a brutally honest assessment of the entrepreneur ecosystem in Ireland and the faults in the political support or lack of it. If you want to listen to the full episode with Ray, go back to episode 304.  --- Thanks to my season title partner Local Enterprise Office: https://bit.ly/leodigital21  Find out more about digitalisation for your business in the link above.