Lost & Founders
Lost & Founders is the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs, dreamers, and trailblazers looking to navigate the highs and lows of the startup journey. Hosted by Julian Fayad, Founder & CEO of LoanOptions.ai, this series dives into the untold stories of founders who’ve dared to take the leap, uncovering their challenges, breakthroughs, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re scaling your business or just starting out, Lost & Founders offers practical insights, raw experiences, and inspiration to help you forge your own path. Tune in to hear how today’s innovators turn setbacks into setups for success.
Episodes

Sunday Jun 07, 2026
Sunday Jun 07, 2026
This week on Lost and Founders, host Julian Fayad sits down with Anthony from Sydney Exotic Car Hire for a behind-the-scenes look at how he built a luxury car rental business generating over $40,000 a month. From managing a fleet of 50 exotic vehicles to renting cars to names like Israel Adesanya and boxing champion Terence Crawford, Anthony shares what it really takes to operate in the high-end car hire space. He breaks down the risks, the hustle, the client expectations, and the business lessons that come with running a premium fleet in one of the most competitive industries. In this episode, Anthony talks about how he got started, what it takes to maintain and scale a luxury car hire business, and the mindset needed to deal with high-profile clients, expensive assets, and constant pressure. If you are interested in cars, business, entrepreneurship, or what it takes to turn luxury vehicles into a serious income stream, this episode is for you. Everybody is different, just like loans. Find the right fit for you in seconds using our AI Comparison Tool. The future of the loan marketplace is here! LoanOptions.ai is powered by artificial intelligence and uses automation to find the best personal, business and car loans to suit you. Using data-driven proprietary technology to drive insights, our loan comparison tool will match your profile to the most competitive loans from over 60+ Bank and Credit lenders. More Options equals Smarter Decisions. We’re flipping the loan marketplace on its head! Finding the right personal loan doesn’t need to be complicated. But it is! We understand there is a lot of crap out there, and it’s stopping people from getting the best deal for themselves or their business. If you have the tools and knowledge, you have the power, and with that, you can make better decisions.

Friday Mar 20, 2026
Friday Mar 20, 2026
This week on Lost and Founders, host Julian Fayad sits down with Matthew Nicholas, founder of retail asset management company Greyfield and Snap Fitness franchisee, for a raw and honest conversation about what it really takes to build multiple businesses from scratch.
Matthew started his first business at 18, scaled it to 25 staff, merged with his biggest competitor and sold it all by 24. What came next was anything but slowing down. He unpacks the lessons, the mistakes and the mindset behind building two very different businesses, why knowing your strengths is the most underrated skill in business, and what great leadership actually looks like in practice.
If you are a young entrepreneur or someone building something from nothing, Episode 22 is for you.

Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
On this episode of Lost and Founders, host Julian Fayad is joined by Rory McGrath of Aurelius Capital for an unfiltered discussion on the ethical state of the lending and mortgage broker industry.
Rory, known for his outspoken stance, pulls no punches on controversial marketing tactics—including why a 'Black Friday' sale on a 30-year credit commitment is morally questionable and invites regulatory scrutiny. We discuss the cost of non-compliance, the inevitable disruption coming to the sector, and the crucial need for finance professionals to adapt or face ruin.

Friday Dec 19, 2025
Friday Dec 19, 2025
In this heartfelt and gritty episode of Lost & Founders, we sit down with Founder and CEO, Emmanuel Al-Jinavo, of Feed4Ward, who is spending his own money and time to build a solution aimed squarely at supporting the small business community.
Driven by the mission to stop SMEs from collapsing due to issues like delayed payments and backlogs, he explains the intense emotional and financial sacrifices required. He contrasts the clear monetisation of traditional businesses with the "different game altogether" of tech, where investment must happen long before revenue. Hear his journey from moments of self-doubt to finding the powerful motivation—the community's feedback—that keeps his fuel gauge full.

Friday Nov 07, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
This week on Lost and Founders, host Julian Fayad sits down with Shayben Moussa, co-founder of the successful wedding photography and video business, Siempre (Siampre), which has been running strong for over a decade.
Shayben unpacks his dual dedication to business and an unshakeable personal challenge: completing over 1000 consecutive days of "pulsary exercise" by the time the episode airs. He discusses the catalyst behind this commitment, and the radical, no-excuses mindset required to maintain it—even finding a secret container gym during 36 hours of airport travel.
Beyond fitness, Shayben shares his unfiltered views on building a career in the creative industry, arguing that raw files and a portfolio are the only things that matter when hiring, not a university degree. He reveals the shocking story of walking away from his Graphic Design course just one subject shy of finishing, demonstrating the ultimate confidence in his vision over a piece of paper.

Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
This week on the Lost and Founders Podcast, our host Julian Fayad welcomes finance expert Bora Tuncoglu to the studio! After much persistence, Julian sits down with the Founder and Director of BMoney Finance to dive into one of the most pressing and controversial topics in business today: job cuts and corporate transparency.
The conversation immediately tackles the elephant in the room: Are recent layoffs truly due to "restructuring," or is it a hidden PR disaster? Julian and Bora discuss why many large companies are hesitant to admit that job losses are actually the result of automation, AI, and outsourcing. The reality, they argue, is that technology is rapidly changing the workforce, and companies are choosing to obscure the truth to protect their public image.
Tune in as they peel back the layers on corporate excuses, the real impact of automation, and what this means for the future of employment in the finance industry and beyond.

Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
This week on Lost & Founders, our host, Julian Fayad, welcomes Ben Callaghan and Joel Wyld, the dynamic co-founders of AI MortgageTech firm, Accurateli.
The guys delve into Accurateli and how it automates the analysis of complex financial documents, rebelling against outdated loan processes and their thoughtful subscription model, which uses a credit system to make the technology accessible and affordable for users.We also get to look into LoanOptions.ai’s newest product, Hailo, and Julian’s strategic decision to pursue a cautious, pilot-group-first launch. We also get an exclusive look at the future of Hailo, including a powerful online portal designed to foster strong referral partnerships between brokers and accountants.
Don’t miss out! This episode is a glimpse into what the future looks like for finance

Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Gear up for this week’s episode as we dive into the world of motorcycles with LoanOptions.ai’s very own, Josh Campbell!Listen in as Josh shares his journey from building a huge following to exploring ways to monetise his passion. We discuss the pros and cons of turning a beloved hobby into a job and get an inside look at how he balances life as a broker by day and a biker by night.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who loves motorcycles, whether you're a seasoned rider or an enthusiast looking to buy a new bike.

Friday Aug 22, 2025
Friday Aug 22, 2025
What do political disillusionment and the pressures on female entrepreneurs have in common? They both stem from a belief that your voice doesn't matter. In this episode, Loan Options' Julian Fayad and Enterpreneurial & Small Business Women Australia (ESBWA)'s Amanda Rose share personal stories and unfiltered truths about the double standards in business, the gaslighting in politics, and the importance of saying "no."
Join them as they explore how to find your voice, value your work, and spark real change.

Friday Jul 18, 2025
Friday Jul 18, 2025
Ever wonder what it takes to truly thrive? In this candid conversation, Timothy Caruana, Founder and Owner of Christian Paul Watches, shares his remarkable journey, revealing how a belief that "anything is solvable" transformed his career in roofing. He opens up about the power of accountability, the importance of integrity, and why owning your mistakes is a sign of true strength.
Get ready to shift your perspective on happiness as we explore why being "happy with the pursuit" — the ongoing process of becoming better — is the ultimate key to a fulfilling life.



