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:

1. From children’s homes to prison, Duane’s early environment shaped his path—until it didn’t.
2. Prison reflections sparked a shift: what’s your plan, or are you just part of someone else’s?
3. 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

Connect with Ash Akhan here

#Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #Resilience

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🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast

AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI.

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