November 28, 2024

Turning a Side Hustle into a Main Hustle

Paul Marshall, founder of Rapid Fluidics, joins the Gross Profit Podcast to share his experience building a thriving business in the microfluidics space. Learn how he identified a market need, secured funding through grants and angel investors, and navigated the challenges of competing with larger companies. Plus, discover how 3D printing is revolutionizing the development of medical diagnostic devices.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
Turning a Side Hustle into a Main Hustle
Loading
/

Show Notes

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Paul Marshall, the founder of Rapid Fluidics, to explore how he turned his side hustle into a thriving business in the microfluidics industry. Paul shares his entrepreneurial journey, from spotting a gap in the market to leveraging grants and angel investments to scale his business.

Learn how Paul has used his expertise in engineering and innovative technologies like 3D printing to revolutionize the development of medical diagnostic devices and compete with industry giants. His story is an inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to transform a passion project into a full-time venture.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Identifying Market Needs: How Paul discovered a demand for faster and more accurate microfluidic prototyping.
  • Securing Funding: Insights into accessing grants and attracting angel investors to fuel growth.
  • Navigating Competition: Strategies for competing with larger, established players in the biotech space.
  • Innovations in Microfluidics: How 3D printing is transforming the development of medical diagnostics.
  • Scaling a Side Hustle: Key lessons from Paul’s journey, from prototyping to full-scale production.

Episode Highlights:

  • “Paul, your transition from a side hustle to a full-time business is inspiring. What was the turning point that made you take the leap?”
  • “You’ve leveraged 3D printing to rapidly prototype microfluidic test cards. How has this technology changed the landscape of product development in your field?”
  • “Grants and angel investments have been instrumental in your growth. What advice would you give to entrepreneurs seeking similar funding opportunities?”
  • “What challenges have you faced as a smaller player in a competitive industry, and how have you overcome them?”

About Paul Marshall:

Paul Marshall is an experienced engineering leader with a strong background in the life sciences and biotechnology industries. As the CEO of Rapid Fluidics, Paul specializes in designing and rapidly prototyping microfluidic systems for customers at all stages of product development. With a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and expertise in 3D/2D CAD systems and FEA software, Paul brings innovative solutions to the medical diagnostic device space.

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Vincent Biscaye – Why Food Startups Fail (Finance Secrets)

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Vincent Biscaye, founder of Two Step Advisors and former commodities trader who walked away from a high-flying career to help entrepreneurs build real, sustainable businesses in CPG (especially food & beverage). Vincent shares how growing up across multiple countries shaped his leadership style, why finance in CPG is uniquely brutal (and why so many brands get blindsided), and what founders must understand about working capital, distributor deductions, promotions, and inventory accounting. They also unpack the fundraising reality for beverage brands, the pivot Vincent made from building a cold-pressed juice brand to launching his advisory firm, and the exact stage where fractional finance support becomes a game-changer.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Rachel Phillips – Lawyer Turns CEO: Building a 52-Person Accounting Firm

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Rachel Phillips of Fully Accountable – a trained M&A attorney who now helps lead a 52-person outsourced accounting and CFO services firm. Rachel shares how a background in competitive Irish dancing shaped her endurance and consistency as an operator, why she chose entrepreneurship over a traditional law career, and how Fully Accountable evolved into a metrics-driven, values-led team built for modern businesses. They also dig into 13-week cash-flow forecasting, budget discipline (without rigidity), purchase orders as a control mechanism, and what founders should know when preparing to sell a business.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Phil Trowler – The $1M Surprise Invoice Crisis

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Phil Trowler, financial strategist and early finance leader at Olipop, to unpack the realities of scaling a high-growth CPG brand and why storytelling, cash-flow foresight, and purchase-order discipline can make or break a business. From Phil’s unconventional journey through EY, government finance, and Silicon Valley startups, to hard-earned lessons from hypergrowth, inventory risk, and sales forecasting, this episode is a masterclass in strategic finance for founders navigating rapid expansion.

Listen Now »