In this episode, Gav sits down with CJ (
Craig Josic), a lifelong connector, entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, to unpack a journey that starts with homelessness at 16 and evolves into building thriving founder communities across Australia and beyond.
CJ shares how connection, community, and a “give first” mindset became the foundation of everything he does - from launching Silicon Coast to now building an innovation powerhouse aimed at creating 100 companies worth $100 million each.
Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.
Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co
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In this episode, we cover:
- CJ’s early life and becoming homeless at 16
- The role of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people
- Why connection and community are the real unfair advantage
- The “give first” philosophy and how it compounds over time
- Lessons from building and losing a business
- Why founders shouldn’t go it alone
- The importance of signal vs noise in decision making
- Building Silicon Coast and creating a startup ecosystem
- The evolution into Innovation Powerhouse
- AI, community, and the future of human connection
- Procurement opportunities and scaling Australian businesses
- Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs
- Legacy, family, and building generational impact
- Why collaboration is the new competition
What is The Leap by Founders Collective?
The Leap is a podcast for founders, creatives, and career-shifters who are bold enough to start something of their own. Hosted by Gavin Tye, each episode dives into the real stories behind people who’ve taken the leap...from launching startups and scaling side hustles to pivoting careers with purpose.
Through candid conversations with early-stage founders, innovators, and changemakers, we explore the messy middle of entrepreneurship: the fears, breakthroughs, lessons, and mindset shifts that come with building something meaningful from the ground up.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or already deep in the trenches, The Leap will leave you feeling inspired, informed, and ready to take your next big step.