Building a business is hard. Building a business while raising a child, managing a home, and supporting others?

That’s a completely different level. In this episode of Business Mutiny, we sit down with Lucy Piper, co-founder of Any Little Thing, to uncover the real, unfiltered truth about what it takes to build a startup while navigating motherhood, responsibility, and the daily chaos that comes with it.

This isn’t your typical polished “CEO stories” highlight reel.

This is the reality behind entrepreneurship — the late nights, the sacrifices, the doubt, and the resilience it takes to keep going when things feel like they’re falling apart. Lucy shares how she built her business from scratch, starting with nothing but an idea and a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. From cleaning houses and doing odd jobs to building a trusted service supporting elderly and vulnerable people, this is a true how to start a startup story grounded in real life.

We dive into:

What it really looks like to build a business while raising a newborn

The emotional and mental challenges of juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship

Why growth isn’t always about scaling fast — and why slow, sustainable business growth can be more powerful

The importance of having the right support system and mindset

How to push through the moments where you question everything Lucy opens up about the early days of the business — taking her baby to work, balancing clients with childcare, and figuring things out as she went.

There’s no blueprint here. No shortcuts. Just grit, determination, and an entrepreneur mindset that refuses to quit. One of the most powerful themes in this episode is the idea of giving yourself permission to try.

Too often, people hold themselves back — waiting for the “right time,” the “perfect plan,” or external validation. But as Lucy explains, sometimes the hardest part isn’t the work itself… it’s deciding you’re allowed to go for it.

This episode is packed with real, actionable insights for anyone thinking about starting a business, especially parents, founders, or anyone trying to balance life and ambition. We also explore the reality of money matters in business — from starting with zero funding, avoiding debt, and growing organically, to making smart decisions that protect both your business and your personal life. It’s a refreshing take in a world where “scale fast” and “raise big” are often pushed as the only path to success.

If you’re interested in:

• Real CEO stories without the fluff

• How to start a startup from scratch

• Building a business around your life, not the other way around

• Developing a strong success mindset

• Understanding the reality behind entrepreneurship

Then this episode is for you. Lucy’s story is proof that you don’t need everything figured out to begin. You just need to start. 💬

Let us know in the comments: What’s been the hardest part of your journey so far?

In this episode, we sit down with Omid Moallemi, co-founder of Prsnt, to break down the real story behind one of the most talked-about startups to appear on Dragons’ Den.

From pitching in front of Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett… to walking away from a deal that shocked many — this is the full, unfiltered startup journey you didn’t see on TV.

At the heart of this episode is Prsnt — a fast-growing UK startup transforming how we give gifts. Instead of traditional gifting, Prsnt allows users to send gifts instantly via smartphone, complete with video messages and digital unwrapping experiences. Explore Prsnt here

Built to make gifting “as easy as sending a text,” Prsnt connects users with over 100+ major high street brands, enabling real-time gifting without the hassle of delivery, wrapping, or logistics.

But this episode goes far deeper than just the product.

We unpack:

• The real behind-the-scenes experience of Dragons’ Den

• What actually happens during the 3-hour pitch (vs what you see on TV)

• How they secured investment from multiple Dragons… and why the deal didn’t complete

• The brutal realities of startup life — from running out of money to near burnout

• The moment everything nearly collapsed… and how they bounced back

Omid shares the highs and lows of building Prsnt — from early MVP struggles and outsourcing development, to landing major partnerships and scaling a platform that now reaches hundreds of thousands of users.

We also dive into the business model behind Prsnt — including how they generate revenue through brand partnerships, commissions, and transaction fees, while helping businesses drive customer engagement through digital gifting and rewards.

This episode is packed with lessons for founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in startups, SaaS, marketplaces, or scaling a tech business.

Key topics include:

• Startup resilience and dealing with rejection

• Why most people underestimate how hard tech businesses are

• The power of co-founders and building the right team

• Why “other people’s limitations aren’t your own”

• How to validate an idea and turn it into a real business

• The truth about raising investment in today’s market

Whether you’re building a startup, thinking about going on Dragons’ Den, or just want a raw, honest insight into entrepreneurship — this episode delivers.

If you’ve ever wondered:

Is Dragons’ Den real?

What happens after the cameras stop rolling?

And what it actually takes to build a scalable tech company…

This is for you.

About Prsnt

Prsnt is a UK-based gifting platform designed to modernise how people send and receive gifts. With instant delivery, personalised messages, and a marketplace of leading brands, it removes the friction from traditional gifting and creates meaningful moments in seconds.

Follow / Subscribe for more founder stories, business lessons, and real conversations from the front line of entrepreneurship.

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Most people never question what’s holding them back… they just accept it.

In this episode of Business Mutiny, I sit down with Falguni Patel — TEDx speaker and transformational strategist — who went through anxiety, IVF struggles, divorce, and a complete life reset… before a stranger said something that changed everything:

“You’re an onion.”

It sounds ridiculous. But it unlocked a powerful way of understanding how we build layers, hide our true selves, and stay stuck in patterns that limit our growth.

We get into:

• Breaking limiting beliefs and comfort zones

• Why success can actually hold you back

• The fear of being judged (and how to overcome it)

• Building confidence and stepping into the unknown

• The truth about freedom, purpose, and fulfilment

If you’ve ever felt stuck, comfortable but unfulfilled, or unsure what’s really holding you back — this one will hit.

00:00 – The “You’re an Onion” Moment

02:30 – Anxiety, IVF & Hitting Rock Bottom

08:45 – Walking Away & Starting Again

15:20 – Comfort Zones Are Killing Growth

21:10 – Doing Things Alone & Building Confidence

27:40 – Online Business & Freedom

34:15 – The Truth About Education & Careers

41:00 – Business Failures & Lessons Learned

47:30 – Limiting Beliefs Explained

51:30 – Quick Fire Round