From Crime To Code: Duane’s Journey To Tech Entrepreneurship The AI-First Business podcast

From Crime to Code: Duane’s Journey to Tech Entrepreneurship

6M ago 42:51

Content provided by Tina Yazdi. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tina Yazdi or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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

Connect with Ash Akhan here

#Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #Resilience

Enjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us.

📺 Watch on YouTube
🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops
📲 Follow us on socials here
🎙️ 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.

Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. 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)

21 episodes