Gain a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how Matt Lovett built and pivoted multiple businesses from the age of 13, tackling fear, failure, and the fast-moving world of affiliate marketing.

Matt Lovett, Founder & CEO of WOW Media

@MattLovettUK

wowmedia.co.uk

From humble beginnings selling sweets at school to building a multi-million-pound digital business, Matt Lovett’s story is a testament to unconventional thinking and relentless adaptation. In this candid conversation, Matt sits down with Max to share precisely how he spotted an opportunity in the cashback and affiliate marketing space—at a time when most people his age were studying for exams—and the tough lessons he learned along the way.

You’ll hear how Matt navigated the rapid scaling (and subsequent setbacks) of his ventures, why he never wrote a formal business plan, and how embracing mistakes built his resilience. Throughout the episode, Matt opens up about dealing with self-doubt, finding his groove as a young leader, and the practical systems he uses to keep his company both profitable and enjoyable for his team. The discussion also unpacks financial discipline, strategic pivots, building workplace culture, and even meeting entrepreneurial icon Richard Branson.

Whether you’re a budding founder or an established entrepreneur, this episode offers a grounded, relatable look at the realities of startup life, risk-taking, and building a sustainable business with heart.

Note: This podcast is no longer active and was originally published before 2016. Links and contact details may be out of date, but the conversation still holds valuable insights today.

• Matt’s entrepreneurial start: from school sweets to launching his first cashback website at 13
• Real talk on scaling fast, outpacing competitors, and eventually pivoting when markets got saturated (18:07)
• Why Matt never wrote a business plan, and how learning “on the job” shaped his methods
• Weathering setbacks: office robbery, product hacks, cash flow crises, and mental resilience (16:12; 24:09)
• Building a brand and company culture focused on genuine enjoyment and staff wellbeing (39:12)
• The role financial management and personal investment strategies played in Matt’s journey (42:10)
• How to keep learning, stay organized, and evolve processes as the business scales (33:47)
• The importance of facing fears head-on, from conference nerves to managing industry expectations (47:07)
• Influences, lessons learned from failures, and meeting Richard Branson (59:27)
• Insights on what truly drives long-term business success—hint: it’s not just about the money

Top 3 Takeaways

1. You don’t need a perfect plan to begin—take action, learn quickly, and adapt as you go.
2. Systematizing processes and focusing on financial discipline are essential for sustainable growth.
3. Facing personal fears (like public speaking or risk of failure) is integral to becoming a resilient entrepreneur; discomfort often signals the next step forward.

Links & Resources

• Richard Branson (inspirational figure)
• Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brit Award (award recognition)
• WOW Media (Matt’s company): wowmedia.co.uk
• MyVoucherCodes and LADbible (businesses referenced as disruptors)
• Open University (Matt’s brief accounting studies)
• Peer-to-peer loan platforms (for personal investing)

Quotes

“To be an entrepreneur, you’ve kind of got to go all in. It’s not so much about money, but about running a business that stands out, changes the industry, and becomes a market leader.”

“If you let one fear consume you, then you let another and another. It becomes very easy to just start letting these things bother you…sometimes you’ve just got to make a decision and move on.”

“I’ve never had a business plan. I’ve just...