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From Crime to Code: Duane’s Journey to Tech Entrepreneurship
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What happens when a life shaped by East London streets, children’s homes, and prison pivots to building tech startups? Meet Duane—who found his way to becoming tech founder from a different angle. In this episode, Duane breaks down his wild transformation from running with the wrong crowd to running his own B2B tech ventures in accounting, HR, and payroll. Spoiler: coding saved the day.
Key Highlights:
- From children’s homes to prison, Duane’s early environment shaped his path—until it didn’t.
- Prison reflections sparked a shift: what’s your plan, or are you just part of someone else’s?
- Tech became the escape route, with coding opening doors to building successful businesses.
Duane doesn’t hold back, sharing raw insights into how resilience, reflection, and intentional living redefined his future. This one’s for the hustlers and tinkerers navigating life’s curveballs. Tune in for a story of grit, growth, and second chances in the tech game.
Connect with Duane Jackson here
#Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #Resilience
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are personal and do not reflect the official stance of any organization. Content is for informational purposes only.
Chapters
1. Introduction & Background (00:00:00)
2. Growing Up In East London (00:00:43)
3. The Prison Realization (00:01:54)
4. Early Tech Interests & Self-Taught Coding (00:03:04)
5. From Release to Web Developer – Out of Necessity (00:04:31)
6. The Atlanta Arrest & US Prison Experience (00:07:11)
7. Studying & Teaching IT in UK Prison (00:11:30)
8. The “Mushroom Moment” & Turning Point (00:13:44)
9. Launching a Business from Prison (00:15:48)
10. Building & Evolving Cashflow (00:19:36)
11. Bootstrapping to Exit (00:23:59)
12. Early GoCardless Integration (00:27:11)
13. Life After Exit: Giving Back & Building Again (00:34:11)
14. What’s Next & Entrepreneurial Advice (00:38:59)
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