2 Commas: The $multi-million exit show with Josh Comrie

In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Stan Murphy to unpack how he turns underperforming businesses into high-growth companies — and why momentum is the single biggest driver of enterprise value.From qualifying as a fitter and turner in Whakatāne to scaling JR Wholesale Meats to $65M in revenue before its sale to Foodstuffs, Stan shares how he identifies distressed assets, restructures broken systems, and engineers growth in mature industries.We explore how businesses spiral up or down, why exit strategy should shape decisions from day one, how diversification protected the company during COVID, and what buyers actually look for when acquiring a business at scale.If you’re 1–5 years away from selling, considering buying a business, or focused on scaling revenue and valuation, this conversation offers practical insight into business turnaround strategy, growth execution, and building a company that attracts serious capital.

The M&A market is moving again. The question is... who’s ready?In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Neil Millar, Partner of M&A at MinterEllison, to unpack what really happened in 2025 and what it signals for 2026.Global deal volume surged back toward $5 trillion, international buyers are re-entering New Zealand, and private equity still has significant dry powder. At the same time, succession challenges, health-forced exits, board hesitation, and slower processes have shaped a complex local market.We explore what’s driving renewed activity, why some deals stall while others move quickly, how corporate carve-outs are reshaping the landscape, and what regulatory shifts like OIO reform and competition law changes could mean for foreign capital.If you’re 1–3 years away from selling, or simply want to understand how market cycles influence enterprise value, this conversation will give you clarity on timing, preparation, and positioning.

He bought 51% of a business that was already going down the gurgler… then the GFC hit.In this episode of 2 Commas, Ray Delany shares the full story behind turning a struggling technology services company into a 5X+ exit. What followed the acquisition wasn’t momentum. It was cash bleed, lost customers, leadership doubt, a global financial crisis, and significant personal upheaval.Ray walks through what actually changed the trajectory. Shifting from chasing growth to building profitability. Taking full ownership rather than leaning on inherited thinking. Rebuilding credibility with customers. Attracting the right people. Moving early to cloud infrastructure. And learning that selling well often matters more than building something exceptional.We also explore the original MailMarshall exit, the realities of services multiples, structuring an earn-out, and why values alignment mattered more than squeezing the last dollar from the deal.This is a grounded conversation about responsibility, resilience, and earning an outcome over a decade.

In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Joaquin Cordero to unpack one of the defining moments of his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons it shaped for everything that followed.Joaquin has built businesses across twelve countries, often entering industries he’d never worked in before. We talk about how trust is built and broken in partnerships, what happens when misalignment surfaces too late, and how founders learn to assess risk beyond contracts and spreadsheets.The conversation moves through building in emerging markets, navigating fractured partnerships, stepping out of operations, and designing businesses that create freedom rather than dependency. Joaquin also reflects on how close calls changed his perspective, why service now sits at the centre of his work, and how he’s learned to treat businesses as assets, not anchors.A thoughtful conversation about judgment, resilience, and playing the long game as a founder.

He started as a police officer, nearly lost everything in his first business, then built and sold a capital-heavy security company before going again.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Joshua Parsons to unpack a founder journey shaped by early responsibility, hard-earned judgement, and an obsession with solving problems properly. From policing at 17 to bootstrapping Crosbies Security, learning the real difference between revenue and cash, and building a business that could run without him, Joshua shares the lessons most founders only learn the hard way.We also explore how one unresolved failure inside his first company led to the creation of Watchful, a software business now scaling rapidly across international markets. This is a practical conversation about resilience, influence, succession, and building businesses that actually hold value.If you’re thinking about scale, replaceability, or going again after a hard chapter, this episode will land.

Strategy only works when it’s anchored in something that actually matters.In this episode of 2 Commas, I continue the strategy series by going deeper into direction, long-term objectives, and purpose. We start with why self-awareness on its own isn’t enough, and why founders need a clear North Star that aligns with the kind of challenge they are built to take on.The episode explores how BHAGs fail when they’re vague, generic, borrowed, or never truly communicated. Using real examples, including OpenAI, Juicero, and Quibi, I unpack what happens when purpose gets replaced by profit, and why that shift creates confusion, misalignment, and turnover.We also look at how different founder patterns require different long-term goals, why your BHAG needs to demand the right kind of challenge, and how purpose binds ambition, strategy, and team commitment together.A reflective, practical listen for founders thinking seriously about where their business is heading and why it exists at all.

Trying to build a business without clarity is like heading into the bush without a map.In this episode of 2 Commas, I unpack why so many founders feel stuck, exhausted, or uncertain even when the business is moving. Not because they lack effort or capability, but because they haven’t clearly answered two foundational questions: what they want from the business, and what they’re willing to sacrifice to get it.We explore the patterns that show up when ambition and sacrifice are misaligned, why businesses tend to stall at predictable points, and how different founders are playing very different games without realising it. The episode introduces four common founder patterns and explains why strategy only works once you know which one you’re in.A practical, reflective listen for founders who want clarity before pushing harder.

Before getting into goals, it’s worth pausing.This first 2 Commas episode of 2026 is a curated compilation of insights from Linda Jenkinson, Jessie Stanley, and Debra Hall, drawn from different conversations and connected by a shared focus on mindset, ambition, and long-term thinking.The discussion stays away from tactics and frameworks, and instead returns to the internal side of building. How founders think under pressure. How ambition changes as responsibility grows. Why clarity becomes more important over time.A reflective listen for founders setting direction for the year ahead.

This business started with eczema, a barbershop, and a lot of trial and error.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Shane Young to unpack the long road from mixing hair wax in a flat to building, scaling, and ultimately selling a multi-brand consumer business across haircare, skincare, and natural beauty.We talk about solving your own problem first, learning manufacturing the hard way, surviving near-disasters in new markets, and why owning the hard parts of the value chain became the real source of leverage. Shane also shares what made the business attractive to buyers and how preparation shaped the exit.A candid conversation about resilience, patience, and building value over decades, not quarters.

Most founders fear board meetings. Marc Stöckli documented more than 200 of them and turned the lessons into a playbook for builders.In this episode of 2 Commas, Marc walks through the lived reality behind Totemo’s two-decade journey. It is a story of rebuilding after a fractured founding team, competing early in a market no one understood, narrowly avoiding a disastrous sale to a Ponzi scheme, and finally exiting into a global cybersecurity group.We dig into what strong governance really looks like and why so many founders underestimate the emotional and strategic weight of the boardroom. Marc’s experience across Totemo, Kiteworks and his global leadership role at EO gives a rare window into decision-making at the edge.A grounded, insightful conversation for founders who want to build well and lead well.

Some exits happen fast. James McGlinn spent twenty years earning his.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with James to trace the long arc of building Eventfinda — from coding websites as a teenager, to taking on a government-funded competitor, to ultimately selling into one of the world’s major ticketing groups.We talk about the realities founders rarely share: staying alive when you are under-resourced, the power of one well-timed hire, the discipline required to play a long game, and the emotional shift that comes when you finally hand over the thing you built.A grounded, honest conversation for any founder building something that takes time.Book launch alert! Join me and other founders, leaders, and podcast guests for an evening launch of my book: 2 Commas: The Founder's Guide to Exits, Wealth, and Freedom. ⁠>> Click here to buy your tickets<<⁠Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal ⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/subscribe⁠⁠Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/⁠⁠⁠ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

You can have drive, passion and grit, but if you’re not solving a real problem for real people, you don’t have a business.In this solo episode of Two Commas, I unpack the foundation every founder needs before thinking about product, market or funding: problem clarity. We talk about why motivation isn’t enough, why solutions-first thinking kills momentum, and the five reliable ways to uncover a problem that actually matters. I share lived examples from companies like Spanx, Dropbox and Slack, along with the patterns I’ve seen after meeting hundreds of founders.If you’re building anything right now, start here. This is the work that turns clever ideas into real companies.Book launch alert! Join me and other founders, leaders, and podcast guests for an evening launch of my book: 2 Commas: The Founder's Guide to Exits, Wealth, and Freedom. ⁠>> Click here to buy your tickets<<⁠Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal ⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/subscribe⁠⁠Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/⁠⁠⁠ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

You can have all the drive in the world — but if you’re not solving a real problem, you’ve got nothing.In this episode of 2 Commas, I break down the most important question in your entire founder journey: what problem are you actually solving?I explore why motivation isn’t enough, how to avoid building solutions in search of a problem, and the five ways to uncover a problem that truly matters. From lived experience to research, consequence mapping to daily-active-user thinking, this is the foundation every successful company is built on.If you’re building anything right now, start here.Book launch alert! Join me and other founders, leaders, and podcast guests for an evening launch of my book: 2 Commas: The Founder's Guide to Exits, Wealth, and Freedom. ⁠>> Click here to buy your tickets<<⁠Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal ⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/subscribe⁠⁠Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/⁠⁠⁠ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

He sold his business for millions — and found himself fixing coasters to fill the time.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Cornelius Boertjens, founder of Catchi, to talk about what really happens after you sell your business. From the grind of building and the challenges of a 5-year earnout to the strange quiet that follows the deal, Cornelius shares an honest look at identity, purpose, and what comes next for founders after the finish line.A grounded, candid conversation about freedom, success, and why so many of us struggle with both once we finally get them.

He had weeks of cash left, then came the call that changed everything.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Brendan Roberts, co-founder of Nine Spokes and Aider.AI, to unpack one of New Zealand’s most remarkable founder journeys.Brendan shares what it’s really like to build through crisis, recover from near collapse, and ultimately sell twice. We talk about timing, resilience, and how luck usually shows up wearing the clothes of preparation.If you’re navigating growth, pressure, or an uncertain runway, this conversation will remind you what it takes to stay in the game.Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal https://www.joshcomrie.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/⁠ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Building your business is one game. Selling it is another — and most founders never learn the rules.In this episode of 2 Commas, I sit down with Chris Small, Managing Director of ABC Business Sales, the firm behind nearly half of all SME business sales in New Zealand.Chris shares what really drives a successful exit — timing, risk, and what buyers truly value. With data from more than 480 business transactions, he reveals the patterns behind high-value deals, the biggest mistakes founders make, and the five things every acquirer looks for before making an offer.If you’re 1–5 years away from selling, or just want to build a business that’s worth more, this conversation will give you clarity, timing insight, and real leverage for your future deal.Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal https://bit.ly/47lfcPUDownload the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here ⁠https://bit.ly/3WisuYo⁠Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠https://www.joshcomrie.com/⁠ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

He built a fast-growing tech company, raised millions, and sold it in an eight-figure exit. But before that, the business nearly killed him.In this episode of 2 Commas, I talk with Jonny Mirkin, founder of Nomos and now GivenWell, about what happens when ambition turns on you. From burnout that landed him in hospital to the years of therapy that followed, Jonny shares the brutal lessons that changed how he leads, builds, and lives.It’s not just a story about selling a company. It’s about what success really costs and how to come back from losing yourself along the way.Receive weekly business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for 2 Commas Journal https://bit.ly/47lfcPUDownload the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYoFollow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

Every founder has a story. But few have one that takes a turn like this.In this episode of Two Commas, I talk with Nathan Morgan French, a founder who built, scaled, and sold a telco business, but only after confronting something far deeper than business itself.What Nathan went through changed how he thinks about focus, discipline, and what success really costs. It’s a story of collapse and comeback, and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild when no one’s watching.Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPUDownload the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYoFollow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

What if the smartest way to start a company… is inside someone else’s?In this episode of Two Commas, I sit down with Justin Hamilton, co-founder of Davanti, to unpack one of the most unusual founding stories I’ve come across — how three consultants built a thriving, entrepreneurial business inside Spark, then bought it back, scaled it, and sold it in one of New Zealand’s most impressive consulting exits.We dig into how Justin and his partners turned corporate constraints into creative freedom, the art of building culture within a giant, and how to navigate buyouts, partnerships, and earnouts without losing your sanity.If you’ve ever wondered how to build something exceptional inside a big organisation — or how to know when it’s time to take it out on your own — this episode will give you the playbook.Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPUDownload the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYoFollow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.

I’ve seen too many founders build businesses they end up resenting, not because the idea was wrong, but because they never stopped to ask: what do I actually want from this? In this episode, I introduce the five levels of foundership—from lifestyler to entrepreneur—and explore the rewards, risks and sacrifices at each stage.Some of the happiest people I know are lifestylers who never wanted anything bigger. Some of the most miserable are entrepreneurs who should have stayed operators. Wherever you are on the journey, this framework will help you figure out which level is right for you, so you can build a business that fuels the life you want, instead of consuming it.Subscribe to the 2 Commas Journal to receive business insights and real exit lessons straight to your inbox https://bit.ly/47lfcPUDownload the first 2 chapters of my upcoming book, 2 Commas, for free here https://bit.ly/3WisuYoFollow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit https://www.joshcomrie.com/ to see how I can help you on your business journey.