EE438 - 2 Startups, 2 Exits: Áine Kerr’s Blueprint for Purpose-Driven Success

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Áine Kerr, the award-winning journalist, serial entrepreneur behind startups including Storyful (acquired by News Corp), and Kinzen (acquired by Spotify). From teaching in Dublin classrooms to building Storyful alongside Mark Little, leading global journalism partnerships at Facebook, and launching her second successful startup, Áine shares the lessons she’s learned from a “squiggly career” defined by reinvention, resilience, and purpose. Áine reveals the realities of startup life, why suffering and recommitment are part of the journey, and how she built extraordinary teams that continue to shape the future of technology and media. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, finding your “why,” and creating impact-driven businesses. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 How Áine transitioned from teacher to journalist to tech entrepreneur 🚀 The early days of Storyful and the lessons from its sale to News Corp 💡 Why she started Kinzen and how it was acquired by Spotify 📈 The importance of radical transparency, resilience, and “recommitting to the suffering” of startup life 🤝 How to build high-performing teams that outgrow even the founder 🌍 Ireland’s entrepreneurial tipping point and why local ecosystems matter 🧠 The power of asking the right questions and leading without ego 🎯 Why duality (fear and courage) is key to any founder’s journey 💬 “If you have radical clarity on your why, people will back you; even if you have to do half a dozen resets and pivots.” – Áine Kerr Links & Resources Áine Kerr on LinkedIn Kinzen Rethink Ireland Gaisce – The President’s Award The Shona Project Dogpatch Labs AwakenHub ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1 --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo