How I Built and Sold a Marketing Agency with Luke Tobin | Backed by Funding Circle

Luke Tobin has built and sold three businesses. The big one was Digital Ethos, which he took from launch to an eight-figure exit in under five years, making it one of the fastest agency growth-to-exit stories in UK history. He sold to Cadastra, South America's largest independent agency group, in late 2022, then ran EMEA for the combined business. He now invests and operates through Unusual Group, Tobin Capital and Succeed, and won the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2020.

Backed by Funding Circle.

Funding Circle is business finance that backs you. Business loans, a flexible line of credit and a cashback business card for UK businesses, with a decision in as little as an hour. If you are looking for funding to take the next step, check them out here: https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk

Luke joins hosts Jack Frimston and Zac Thompson at Ideas Fest to explain how he built an agency buyers wanted, what actually drives an agency's valuation, and why most founders undersell their life's work when they exit.

Along the way: [three or four specifics pulled from the episode].

CHAPTERS

Chapters

00:00:00 Welcome to the Show: Meet Luke Tobin, Marketing Agency Founder Who Scaled to Exit

00:00:26 The Cash Flow Reality Check: Why Managing Runway Makes or Breaks Your Business

00:00:56 The Borrowing Money Philosophy: Get More Than Just Cash and Service Your Debt

00:01:40 Day One of Your Business: Check Market Fit and Talk to Real Customers

00:02:34 The Best Business Advice: Work Your Current Network Better