If you’re building software, chances are you’re leaking money in one of three places: hiring, process, or building the wrong thing too slowly.

In this episode, Matt Haycox sits down with Matt Watson — 5x founder and CEO of Full Scale, to break down the modern reality of scaling engineering teams in 2026: how offshoring has evolved, why “cheap dev” horror stories happen, how legacy systems quietly kill momentum, and what AI actually changes inside a software team (and what it doesn’t).

You’ll hear Matt and Matt talk about:

• How offshoring really works (and why most people get it wrong).
• The evolution of global hiring in tech, and what changed after remote work.
• Legacy systems: why software becomes fragile, expensive, and hard to replace.
• AI in software engineering: what it speeds up, and what still relies on humans.
• How to scale a dev team affordably without sacrificing quality.
• How Full Scale’s model works (team structure, flexibility, and delivery).

Timestamps:
0:00 – Hiring Developers Without Going Broke
4:57 – Offshoring in 2026: What’s Changed in Tech
9:13 – Legacy Software: The Hidden Cost Most Founders Ignore
13:16 – AI + Software Engineering: What’s Real vs Hype
18:13 – Scale Your Team Affordably (Without Chaos)
20:26 – Full Scale: Business Model + How Teams Plug In
22:09 – Final Thoughts

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it helps more founders find the show.

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

Most founders say they want an exit. Very few build a business that someone will actually write a cheque for.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Andrew Hulbert, founder of Pareto (UK facilities management), a working-class, council-estate background entrepreneur who grew a company to 550 staff, sold £250m+ of services, raised £100m+ in private equity, and exited in the eight figures.

You’ll hear Matt and Andrew talk about:

• The emotional comedown of waking up after an eight-figure exit (and why Andrew disappeared to decompress).
• Why Andrew hired people “better than him” (and the CFO lesson founders
• The sweat equity strategy that kept senior leaders for a decade.
• Culture that scales: interest-free staff loans, real employee support, and why “doing the right thing” still has a cost.
• Andrew’s investor filter: why he won’t touch “PowerPoint businesses” and what makes an investment viable.
• What private equity actually wants: recurring revenue, 5–7 year contracts, and ~10% EBITDA.
• Why personal brand helped him win work before he even launched the business.

If you’re building a business and you want it to be sellable, this is the blueprint.

Timestamps
0:00 – 8-Figure Exit + Founder Reality Check
1:13 – What an 8-Figure Exit Feels Like
4:21 – Where the Exit Money Actually Goes (Mechanics)
8:41 – The Post-Exit Trap: Stopping Your Earning
17:13 – Hiring A-Players vs Founder Ego (Scale Fast)
21:12 – Fixing the “Dog’s Dinner” Before Due Diligence
24:53 – Before Pareto: The “Pre-Exit” Mindset
28:17 – Culture at Scale (How You Keep Standards)
32:02 – Employee Loyalty Is a Myth? (Retention Truth)
38:29 – Watching Your “Baby” Change After Private Equity
42:07 – £5k Interest-Free Loans (Retention Strategy)
43:26 – Life After the Alarm Clock (Post-Exit Identity)
46:51 – Personal Brand + Gen Z (Modern Leadership)
47:59 – Deal Killers: What Makes an Investment Unviable
51:15 – The Addictive Part of Exits (Founder Psychology)
54:02 – Closing Thoughts

Andrew Hulbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_andrewhulbert/
LinkedIn: Andrew Hulbert FIWFM | LinkedIn

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

“One person’s line of cocaine once a month can possibly enrich his or her life.”
So, when does it become addiction?

In this episode, Matt sits down with Jan Gerber, entrepreneur and mental health/addiction expert, founder of Paracelsus Recovery, to draw the real line between coping, stress, self-medication, and addiction. Jan’s view is blunt: “It’s a problem when it becomes a problem.” And addiction? It’s usually just a symptom of something deeper.

They get into the founder reality most people ignore: high stress, constant pressure, and the slippery slope where healthy habits go out the window and “quick fixes” creep in, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, pills and sometimes drugs. Jan breaks down what actually helps: pragmatic self-awareness, changing commitments, building resilience, and addressing root causes instead of masking symptoms.

Timestamps:
0:00 – “One line of cocaine…”: where addiction begins
2:53 – “It’s a problem when it becomes a problem”
4:12 – Stress → coping → self-medication (how the slide happens)
5:37 – Why modern life makes addiction easier (tech, loneliness, comparison)
9:22 – The gym analogy: healthy stress vs overload and collapse
13:42 – “Dose makes the poison” + goals of treatment (not one-size-fits-all)
18:13 – Treating founder stress: change the outside + change your tools
20:21 – What goes first: sleep, training, food… and what replaces it
25:31 – Medication: the right use, the wrong use, and tolerance
30:19 – Prevention: awareness + “battery check” before it’s too late
34:32 – Culture, stigma, and why judgement blocks recovery
41:06 – How to find Jan / Paracelsus + final advice

Follow Jan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerberjan/
Website: https://jangerber.com/

Subscribe
YT: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | Apple

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and leave a review, it really helps more entrepreneurs find the show.

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

Daniel Hindi shares his journey from a software engineer in the healthcare industry to a successful entrepreneur and founder of Gnome AI. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned while building disruptive solutions in various industries, including taxi services and app development.

Daniel emphasises the importance of customer engagement, the role of AI in enhancing business operations, and the significance of effective marketing strategies for app growth. He also delves into the intricacies of prompt engineering and the future of AI in business, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

Timestamps:
00:00 From Software Engineer to Entrepreneur
02:03 The Birth of a Disruptive Idea
05:58 Navigating Competition and Regulations
08:04 Building and Exiting BuildFire
12:06 Understanding the App Market Dynamics
17:43 The Value of Mobile Apps in Business
23:49 Utility vs. Gaming Apps: A Comparative Analysis
25:40 The Role of Gaming in Mental Recharge
28:01 Valuing Time: The Most Precious Resource
29:32 Marketing Strategies for App Growth
35:24 Understanding SaaS Metrics and Business Models
45:29 The Evolution of Gnome AI and Its Market Position
57:29 AI-Driven Customer Support Solutions
59:21 Virtual Coaching and Personalized Learning
01:01:10 AI in Education: Tailored Learning Experiences
01:02:21 Understanding Chatbots: Beyond Basic Interactions
01:05:08 Building Intelligent Chatbots with Autonomy
01:06:32 Prompt Engineering: Crafting Effective AI Instructions
01:12:36 Iterative Prompt Refinement for Optimal Results
01:16:47 Advanced Techniques in AI Prompting
01:24:56 Conclusion: The Future of AI in Business

Want clarity and scale? Grab my eBook The Power of One: https://site.matt-haycox.com/the-power-of-one

Resources:

• Join Capital Catalyst: https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/Capital
• Join the No Bollocks Community: https://academy.matt-haycox.com/communities/groups/no-bollocks-growth-community/home

📲 Subscribe:
YT: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | Apple

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

Most people treat January like a magic switch. New year, new you, same old bullshit.

In this solo episode, Matt Haycox doesn’t give you a vision board. He gives you the truth about 2025, the courtrooms, legal battles, distractions, Bali wake-up calls, Everest Base Camp, kids leaving for university, building the No Bollocks HQ, fixing his health, and why 2026 is his Year of Relentless Focus.

On paper, 2025 looked solid. Businesses grew. New offers launched. More content went out. But behind the Instagram grid were mornings that started with solicitors, afternoons juggling investors and staff problems, and nights lying awake wondering how everything veered off course again. Matt talks about getting out of Dubai to find quiet in Bali, finally doing Everest Base Camp with Ant Middleton, and the impact of watching his eldest, Harlie, head off to university while realising time with your kids doesn’t come back.

He also breaks down the wins: launching digital products, building the No Bollocks online community and HQ, and deciding to turn his scars into shortcuts for other founders instead of hiding them. And he’s honest about fitness – the years of excuses and the shift to treating health, training and sleep as non-negotiable foundations rather than “when things calm down”.

Looking into 2026, Matt lays out what “Relentless Focus” means for him: scaling No Bollocks HQ, deepening the digital education side, tightening the investment machine, protecting family time and choosing exactly what gets his attention. He then throws the questions back at you: where are you coasting, what’s your version of Everest, which “court cases” are draining your life, and if your family watched your year on playback, would they say you were present or just busy?

Listen to this if you’re tired of resolutions you don’t keep and want one clear line in the sand for how you’re going to move in 2026.

📘 Resources:
– Capital Catalyst 👉 https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/Capital
– No Bollocks Community 👉 https://academy.matt-haycox.com/communities/groups/no-bollocks-growth-community/home

📲 Subscribe:
YT: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | Apple

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

To close out 2025, Matt Haycox has pulled together the most powerful moments from this year’s No Bollocks conversations, the clips that actually changed how founders in our audience think and operate.

In this special compilation, Coach Lio Todirean explains why most entrepreneurs are chasing a version of success that isn’t even theirs. Brad Lea tears into fear of failure and shows why you must “flood the internet with you”. Daniel Priestley shares his military-inspired framework for scaling teams. Rob Moore talks skin in the game, reputation and raising money the right way. Chris Voss breaks down why compromise kills deals. Andy Elliott brings his brutal honesty on standards, discipline and building a category-king brand.

It’s 38 minutes of straight, actionable, no-bollocks business wisdom.

You’ll learn:

• How to redefine success so it actually makes you happy (Lio Todirean).
• Why failure is a necessary ingredient in the recipe for growth (Brad Lea).
• A practical structure for scaling teams from 2 to 150 people (Daniel Priestley).
• How to raise capital without destroying your reputation (Rob Moore).
• Why “splitting the difference” is the fastest way to lose a negotiation (Chris Voss).
• How high standards, truth and accountability build world-class culture (Andy Elliott).

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:55 – Trailer
2:29 – Lio Todirean
6:02 – Brad Lea
12:03 – Daniel Priestley
20:37 – Rob Moore
27:33 – Chris Voss
31:54 – Andy Elliott

If you’re serious about scaling in 2026, subscribe to No Bollocks with Matt Haycox and join the No Bollocks community for weekly, no-bollocks strategy and funding insights.

📘 Resources:
– Capital Catalyst 👉 https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/Capital
– No Bollocks Community 👉 https://academy.matt-haycox.com/communities/groups/no-bollocks-growth-community/home

📲 Subscribe:
YT: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | Apple

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

Most entrepreneurs chase money and call it “success”. Andy and Jacqueline Elliott will tell you that’s exactly how you end up half-present at home, average in business and quietly hating who you’ve become.

In this raw conversation, Andy and Jackie walk Matt through the full journey: growing up poor, becoming a top sales performer, making “good money” but becoming a stranger in his own house, and the moment Jackie told him, “we’ve learned to live without you”. That was the trigger for a complete reinvention – body, business, marriage, mindset – and the birth of The Elliott Group.

They break down how they went from unknowns with zero brand and no views to building a nine-figure training company powered by content and 1,500 inbound leads a day. They explain their “six pack mentality”, why they openly say they “hate rich people” who look down on others, how they think about brand vs sales, and what it really means to be a category king rather than just “making a bit of money” and going soft.

Listen if you’re an entrepreneur, salesperson or leader who’s doing “okay” on paper but knows there’s another level of discipline, impact and integrity you haven’t hit yet.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:19 – Coming Up
5:47 – Andy’s Backstory
11:47 – At Home but Not at Home
15:35 – Waiting for Rock Bottom to Change
17:26 – Jacqueline’s Story
20:47 – The Start of The Elliott Group
24:35 – Redefining Success Beyond Just Money
34:05 – What Is a Category King?
36:21 – Controversial Brand Standards
38:39 – Losing a $1M Contract for Being Shirtless
41:24 – Building The Elliott Group Brand from Zero
45:13 – Is Marketing More Important Than Sales?
46:24 – How Hard Should You Push to Close?
49:29 – The Six Pack Mentality
53:25 – Staff Standards, Culture and Relationships
01:00:49 – What’s Next for The Elliott Group
01:05:01 – Final Thoughts

Want to simplify your own business growth and start selling like a pro? Grab Matt’s no-bollocks sales and focus blueprint, THE POWER OF ONE.

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...

Taylor Swift is officially a billionaire, but the real story isn’t the headline, it’s the strategy behind it. In this no-bollocks breakdown, Matt tears apart Taylor Swift’s $1.6 billion empire and explains exactly how she made her money through music, touring, masters ownership, film, brand deals, business ventures and real estate.

Using one verified financial report as the foundation, we walk through Taylor Swift’s net worth line by line: album sales, streaming revenue, The Eras Tour numbers, her fight to own her masters, the value of Taylor Swift Productions, her Disney and concert film deals, merch, endorsements and the structure of her cash and investments. We also look at her property portfolio across Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Rhode Island, plus jets, cars and lifestyle assets, and how all of it fits into a smart long-term wealth strategy.

This is not a fan video. It’s a forensic, entrepreneur-focused breakdown of how Taylor Swift turned intellectual property, storytelling and fan loyalty into one of the most powerful personal brands and business machines in the world. If you want to understand how a music career becomes a billion-dollar business, this episode gives you the full Taylor Swift wealth blueprint.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction & Summary
1:18 – Net Worth Breakdown
2:12 – Music Career: Album Sales & Streaming
6:13 – Touring: From Fearless to The Eras Tour
9:15 – Music Catalog Ownership & Masters Battle
12:18 – Film Career: Acting, Tour Films & Disney Deal
13:33 – Endorsements, Brand Deals & Merchandising
17:12 – Business Ventures & Taylor Swift Productions
20:13 – Real Estate Portfolio (Nashville, LA, NYC, Rhode Island)
23:40 – Jets, Cars, Collectibles & Lifestyle Assets
25:01 – Cash, Investments & Financial Structure
25:16 – Career Timeline: 2005–2025 (Year-by-Year Growth)
32:08 – Wealth Strategy: Ownership, Reinvention & Fan Community

📘 Resources:
– Capital Catalyst 👉 https://oxa3iqyfbbf.typeform.com/Capital
– No Bollocks Community 👉 https://academy.matt-haycox.com/communities/groups/no-bollocks-growth-community/home

📲 Subscribe:
YT: @NoBollocksPodcast | Spotify | Apple

========================

Connect with Matt Haycox, No BS Business Podcast Host & 8-Figure Entrepreneur.

I’m Matt Haycox, entrepreneur, investor, and your straight-talking guide to building a business that actually works. I’ve raised over £750M, built (and rebuilt) 8-figure companies, and learned the hard way what it really takes to win.

On No Bollocks with Matt Haycox, I cut through the bollocks to bring you raw conversations with 7–8 figure founders, investors, and experts who’ve been there, done it, and got the scars to prove it. No hype, no theory, just actionable strategies you can use today to start, grow, and scale your business.

Whether you’re stuck in your 9–5, building your side hustle, or trying to hit your first £100k month, this is your go-to podcast for entrepreneur tips, startup growth strategies, raising capital, building a personal brand, and avoiding the costly mistakes most founders make.

📩 Get Matt’s free business newsletter for weekly strategies, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes lessons → https://nobollockswithmatthaycox.beehiiv.com/subscribe

▶ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/
▶ YouTube – No Bollocks Podcast - YouTube
▶ LinkedIn – https://www.li...