Melbourne entrepreneur Mike Halligan is a bit of an overachiever. He’s mastered the worlds of eCommerce, marketing, blogging, apps and subscription services – all driven by his desire to find solutions to consumer problems and build brands accordingly.

Some of his pet projects have taken off, others haven’t. Right now, he’s the co-founder of a howling multi-million dollar success: Scratch, Australia’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer dog food company. On this episode of First Act, Mike speaks honestly about the lessons he’s learned that any startup founder or budding entrepreneur will lean in to hear.

Key topics

Entrepreneurial beginnings

• Mike’s early exposure to business through his dad’s work.
• Childhood experience with pretend businesses.
• First entrepreneurial memory with Pewdo Products.

Discovering entrepreneurship as a career path

• Decision influenced by discussions with a career counsellor and his dad.
• Attempts to fund travel through product sales.
• Challenges faced in executing early business ideas.

Education and formal training

• Studying entrepreneurship at RMIT.
• Skills acquired in commercialising ideas and executing them.
• Reflections on the value of formal entrepreneurship education.

Building a passion for marketing

• Interest in marketing as a means of communication and expression.
• Exploration of complex and evolving aspects of marketing.

Business ventures and side hustles

• Growth of engaged marketing into a full-time enterprise.
• Transitioning from side hustles to primary focus.
• Diverse consulting experiences enriching understanding.

The blog designer and online store guys

• Genesis of The Blog Designer due to rising demand.
• Exploiting gaps in the market through Googling opportunities.
• Transition into the e-commerce space with Online Store Guys.

E-commerce industry insights

• Evolution of personal involvement from marketing to e-commerce.
• Understanding the scope and complexities of e-commerce.
• Reflections on scaling businesses and marketing channels.

Bodywise app development

• Inspiration for creating a health-tech app.
• Initial concept and development challenges.
• Competitive landscape and outcome of Bodywise.

Current venture – Scratch Pet Food

• Initiation into the pet food industry through personal experiences.
• Identifying problems with existing pet foods.
• Creating a direct-to-consumer subscription model for improved product quality.

Reflections

• Listening to oneself and avoiding burnout.
• The value of stepping back to recharge and approach new ideas.
• Encouragement to nurture the entrepreneurial spark without pressure.