From a Pub Napkin to Acquisition: The Story Behind Pinch Payments

In this episode of PM,ID: Pinch Me I'm Dreaming, Mikayla Corrie-Muller sits down with Pinch Payments co-founders Ben and Paul to unpack the story behind building one of Australia's leading payments technology businesses. What started as a conversation over beers and a sketch on the back of a napkin eventually became Pinch Payments. Along the way came years of working second jobs, countless setbacks, difficult decisions, fundraising, growth, acquisition, and lessons that shaped the business into what it is today. This honest conversation explores the realities of startup life that rarely make it into the headlines. The highs, the lows, the mistakes, the breakthroughs, and the resilience required to keep moving forward when success feels a long way away. Ben and Paul also share practical advice for founders currently in the grind, why market validation matters more than confirmation bias, and what they've learned from nearly a decade of building a fintech company in Australia. If you're a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, SaaS operator, fintech professional, or business owner, this episode is packed with practical insights from two people who've lived the startup journey firsthand. 💡 In this episode you'll learn: • How Pinch Payments started from a simple idea sketched on a pub napkin • Why Ben and Paul spent years building the business while working full-time jobs • The biggest lessons learned during the early startup years • How to overcome rejection and keep moving forward • Why validation is more important than building more features • The reality of fundraising and growth in fintech • What it's really like going through an acquisition process • How co-founder relationships evolve over time • The challenges and opportunities shaping the future of payments • Advice for founders wondering if they should keep going 👤 Featured Guests Ben Cull Co-Founder, Pinch Payments   / bencull   Paul Allen Co-Founder, Pinch Payments   / paul-allen-brisbane   🎙 Host Mikayla Corrie-Muller Content Producer, Pinch Payments   / mikayla-corrie-muller-940028209   🔗 Connect with Pinch Payments https://getpinch.com.au/ 🎙 About the Podcast PM,ID: Pinch Me I'm Dreaming is the podcast from Pinch Payments featuring honest conversations with founders, operators, accountants, bookkeepers, SaaS leaders and fintech professionals sharing practical lessons on building businesses, navigating growth, payments, technology and the future of work. 🎥 Watch More Episodes Episode 1:    • SaaS Founder Philip Johns: "Stripe Rejecte...   Episode 2:    • Decrypting Chris Wheatley - Balance Sheets...   Episode 3:    • Build a Business That Fits Your Life (Not ...   Episode 4:    • The Accounting Industry Has a Problem (And...   Episode 5:    • Trent McLaren, Founder of Vinyl on Unlocki...   Episode 6:    • Kelly Berger: Why ‘Cert IV Isn’t Enough’ —...   Episode 7:    • Carolyn Breeze, CEO of Scalare Partners on...   #podcast #founder #fintech #founderstory #paymentprocessing #technology #innovation #cofounder #businessgrowth #entrepreneur #story