Tess Nguyen, a first-generation Australian from Vietnamese immigrants, transformed a modest $15,000 Gumtree purchase of a pajama business into Midnight Mischief, a multimillion-dollar fashion brand. Despite her background as a physiotherapist, she leveraged her parents' sewing trade influence and self-taught design skills to expand from four basic pajama designs to a comprehensive sleepwear line for women, men, kids, and bridal parties. Her success stems from strategic influencer marketing, continuous learning, and adaptability. Beyond business achievements, Tess's journey from healthcare professional to successful entrepreneur serves as an inspiration, particularly to those from immigrant backgrounds, demonstrating how determination and strategic thinking can transform modest beginnings into significant success.

In this captivating episode of Unemployable, the team hosts Scott McKeon, a co-founder of Espresso Displays—a company revolutionizing portable work technology. The episode dives into how Scott and his team of young Australian entrepreneurs identified a gap in the market for portable, high-quality secondary screens for professionals on the go. Starting from a simple need to extend their laptop screens, Scott shares how they brainstormed, prototyped, and took their idea all the way to Shenzhen, China, to learn the ins and outs of manufacturing electronics firsthand.

Listeners will get an inside look at the gritty reality of launching a product from scratch: living on air mattresses, navigating cultural divides in manufacturing, and figuring out product development on the fly. Scott also reveals how their Kickstarter campaign exploded, raising over AUD 430,000 and validating their idea. This episode is filled with inspiring moments, from overcoming the initial hurdles of tech development to securing a place in major retailers like JB Hi-Fi, proving that innovative, high-quality products can come from anywhere—even a startup in Australia.

It’s a story of risk-taking, resilience, and the power of a clear vision, perfect for anyone fascinated by entrepreneurship, hardware tech, and scaling a startup in today’s competitive landscape.

Follow Scott on: https://www.instagram.com/espressodisplays

"How I Built a $200k Gym in 14 Days with Zero Marketing Budget!" Kale shares how he leveraged local influencers, community feedback, and grassroots tactics to launch a gym in a small town, generating $200,000 in annual revenue in just two weeks.

"The Untold Story Behind a Multi-Million Dollar Rugby Brick Business"From a small-town gym to selling rugby kicking tees worldwide, Kale’s unexpected entrepreneurial journey led to a $2M business. Learn how he scaled a niche product into a global brand.

"Want to Grow a Business? Here’s Why ‘Just Start’ is the Best Advice"Kale reflects on his journey, explaining why taking imperfect action is the key to entrepreneurial success. “If I can grow a global business from Cromwell, New Zealand, so can you.

"NFTs, Roc Nation & Stan Lee’s Comics: Inside Our First NFT Marketing Campaign" Kale talks about working with Roc Nation and the Stan Lee estate on an NFT project, exploring the challenges and learnings from marketing digital collectibles.

"Why Sweat Equity Beats Cash: Building Businesses by Taking Equity"Kale explains his approach to startup partnerships, revealing how taking equity instead of cash has led to ownership stakes in multiple growing businesses like Rugby Bricks.

"From $200 to $202k in Revenue: My Simple Pre-Sale Strategy for Gym Success" Kale shares his blueprint for pre-selling gym memberships before even opening the doors, securing over 200 memberships and turning a risky idea into a profitable business.

"From Fighter to CEO: How Nick Atkins Scaled FightHQ to an 8-Figure Business" Learn how Nick Atkins leveraged his fighter's mentality to scale FightHQ, Australia’s largest fight gear marketplace, to an 8-figure business in just four years.

"Surviving Childhood Struggles: Nick’s Grit and Determination for Success" Nick opens up about his challenging childhood, moving from struggle to becoming an entrepreneur, and how it shaped his journey.

"How FightHQ Solved a Major Tech Problem for Taekwondo Athletes" Nick shares how FightHQ introduced an innovative scoring system for Taekwondo that revolutionized competitions and improved athlete performance. "Infliction Fight Series: How FightHQ Expanded Into Fight Promotion" Nick Atkins discusses how FightHQ expanded into fight promotion through Infliction Fight Series, combining e-commerce with live fight events.

"FightHQ’s Rapid Growth: Scaling Operations and Managing 64 Suppliers" With over 64 suppliers and an ever-growing product range, Nick shares how FightHQ manages the logistics and operations to stay ahead in the combat sports market.

"The Business of Combat Sports: Building a Brand That Changes Lives"Nick reveals how FightHQ's mission goes beyond profit, aiming to make combat sports accessible while changing lives through martial arts.

"Making Millions Without Lifting a Hammer?"

Dominic reveals how he made over a million dollars on a project without ever building anything. Find out how strategy beats sweat equity!

"The Secret to Profitable Real Estate with No Money Down!"

Discover how Dominic turned a small investment into a multi-million-dollar property company by leveraging the hidden potential of every deal.

"Flooded Properties: A Developer's Worst Nightmare or Hidden Goldmine?"

Learn how Dom turned a 'flooded' property—something every developer dreads—into one of his most profitable projects!

"Turning Bankrupt into Billions: The Millionaire Playbook"

Dom shares how even clients who started from zero and went bankrupt are now multimillionaires by following his methods.

"Flipping the Market: How One Property Brought Him $300K in Just Six Months!"

Dom reveals his quick cash strategies, explaining how he picks properties that others pass on and turns them into goldmines.

"The 3-Tier Lending Hack That Can Save You from Traditional Bank Hurdles"

Dom demystifies how to leverage second and third-tier lenders to fund deals that big banks won't touch.

"Why 10% Interest Is a Bargain!"

Don’t sweat the interest rate—Dom explains why, for the right deal, paying 10% interest could still make you a fortune.

"From Zero to Building Skyscrapers: How One Client Became Melbourne’s Second Largest Developer"

Dom tells the story of a client who went from nothing to owning Melbourne’s skyline.

"The $200,000 House Hack You Can Do with Zero Experience"

The exact step-by-step process Dom used to get his brother and sister their first homes—with built-in equity!

"How to Pitch a Product That Doesn't Exist and Win Major Retailers!" Learn the unconventional strategy Charlie used to secure deals with Coles and Woolworths before even producing a single product.

"The Secret to Getting into 2,500 Stores in 18 Months!" Charlie breaks down how Vitadrop went from zero to 2,500 stores and became a household name in under two years.

"Crowdfunding 101: How We Raised $850K with Zero Capital!" Find out how Charlie leveraged VentureCrowd to raise $850,000 without sacrificing control or complicating his cap table.

"Why American Express is a Startup’s Secret Weapon!" Charlie reveals how utilizing corporate credit strategies and trade terms saved his business during the early cash flow crunch.

"Why Retail First, Ecommerce Second Is the Winning Strategy!" Why Charlie took the road less traveled by choosing retail first and what it means for Vitadrop’s future.

"The Truth Behind Getting into Coles and Woolworths: What You Need to Know!" Charlie uncovers the real strategies behind convincing Australia’s biggest supermarkets to back a brand-new product.

"How to Build a Brand Out of Thin Air (And Secure Major Retail Deals!)" Learn how Charlie turned 3D renders into a $1.5M business

"Is Retail the Best Market for Your Startup? The Surprising Truth!" Why taking on retail giants can be a make-or-break move for new founders — and how Vitadrop made it work.

"The Pivot That Made Millions: How Golf Simulators Changed the Game" Igor shares how a single pivot from running golf centers to selling simulators took his business from the brink of failure to multimillion-dollar success.

"The $1M U.S. Expansion: Igor’s Biggest Business Lesson" Expanding to the U.S. market wasn’t easy. Igor breaks down the real costs and challenges that came with this high-stakes move.

"From the USSR to the U.S.: Igor’s Entrepreneurial Journey" From growing up in the USSR to building businesses across three continents, Igor’s journey is packed with lessons on resilience and adaptation.

"The $10K Sales Strategy: How Igor Closed Big Deals" Igor reveals the key to landing high-ticket sales, a strategy that took his business to new heights in the golf industry.

"How Selling His Company in 13 Months Changed Everything" After years of grinding, Igor sold his company in just over a year, and his insights on that process are a must-hear for any entrepreneur.

How Lisa Is Built For Business: Lisa reveals the strategies she used to grow She-com, Ecoriginals, and Fempire Media into multi-million dollar brands while supporting female entrepreneurs globally.

Turning Problems Into Profits: Discover how Lisa’s ability to turn customer complaints into opportunities helped her build a thriving e-commerce business, impacting the lives of women globally.

Breaking Barriers for Women in Business: Learn how Lisa’s entrepreneurial vision led to the creation of multiple empowering platforms, helping women navigate business challenges and find success.

Sustainability Meets Success: Lisa reflects on building Ecoriginals, an eco-friendly business that aligns with her commitment to social responsibility while scaling globally.

Resilience and Empowerment: Hear how Lisa’s passion for community building drives her to create businesses that not only thrive but also uplift female entrepreneurs.

From Crisis to CEO: Lisa shares her raw, personal story of overcoming domestic violence and how it lit the fire that propelled her into building a thriving business empire.

Turning Complaints Into Growth: Lisa reveals how what seemed like setbacks in her early businesses helped her spot game-changing opportunities and scale her brands.

Empowering Women, One Business at a Time: Lisa’s passion for female empowerment is at the heart of everything she does. Learn how she’s helping women succeed in business through She-com.

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