From Family Construction to Real Estate Ventures

Oisin Hanrahan, co-founder and CEO of Keychain, a company aimed at streamlining production for brands and retailers, is an entrepreneur with a deep understanding of the business world. His journey began in Dublin, where he gained early exposure to business through his father's construction supply company. This experience instilled in him a strong work ethic and a desire to make things happen. His drive led him to launch a real estate development business in Budapest and later, Handy, a home services platform that eventually grew into a multi-million-dollar company and was acquired by Angie.

• Hanrahan's upbringing instilled in him a strong work ethic and a desire to make things happen.
• He launched a real estate development business in Budapest and later founded Handy, a home services platform acquired by Angie.

The Founder vs. CEO Mindset

Hanrahan highlights the distinction between being a founder and a CEO, emphasizing that each role requires distinct skills and mindsets. As a founder, the focus is on turning an idea into reality, requiring creativity and persistence to overcome challenges. The CEO's role, however, is to sustain that momentum, scale the business, and ensure long-term growth. Hanrahan's experience encompasses both roles, from bringing Handy to life as a founder to leading its acquisition by Angie as CEO.

• The founder focuses on turning an idea into reality while the CEO focuses on scaling the business and ensuring long-term growth.
• Hanrahan's experience spans both roles, allowing him to navigate the distinct challenges of each.

The Challenges of Running a Public Company

Hanrahan's transition from leading a startup to running a public company required significant adjustments in his leadership approach. While the fundamentals—transparency, aligned incentives, and consistent communication of key goals—remain crucial at any scale, complexity increases as the company grows.

• Hanrahan emphasizes the importance of clear communication and consistent reinforcement of goals, regardless of company size.
• Transparency is vital to ensure everyone understands the company's objectives and progress.

Building Trust and Ownership in Teams

Hanrahan believes in leading by example, demonstrating rather than simply dictating how things should be done. He highlights a telling moment during an interview where a candidate's act of picking up trash from the floor without being told reflected ownership and responsibility—traits he values in his team members.

• Hanrahan's hands-on approach builds trust and sets clear expectations for his employees.
• He values employees who demonstrate ownership and responsibility.

Streamlining Product Development for Innovation

Hanrahan's latest venture, Keychain, connects brands and retailers with manufacturers to streamline production and bring new products to market faster. This platform aims to address inefficiencies in the current system where many products on shelves are not made by the brand on the packaging, leading to delays and higher costs.

• Keychain aims to reduce the time and cost to bring products to market, fostering innovation and making healthier food options more accessible.
• The platform has already gained traction with over 10,000 brands and retailers signing up in its first six months.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Hanrahan offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of leading by example, aligning incentives, and repeating goals and vision consistently.

• Lead by example: Demonstrate how to execute tasks instead of just giving instructions.
• Align incentives: Ensure employees have a stake in the company's success, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
• Repeat goals and vision: Consistent communication is essential to maintain alignment across the organization, regardless of size.

Scaling Keychain and Personal Growth as a Leader

Hanrahan's journey from founding Handy to running a public company and now scaling Keychain emphasizes the importance of personal growth alongside professional development. He acknowledges the importance of building a strong personal routine, including exercise and healthy habits, to maintain effectiveness as a leader.

• Hanrahan's commitment to personal care alongside professional growth has been instrumental in his success.
• He emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to leading a company.

Keychain's Vision for the Future

Hanrahan's vision for Keychain is to drive innovation and improve the consumer goods industry. He envisions a future where healthier products can be brought to market faster and more affordably, benefiting both brands and consumers.

• Keychain aims to drive innovation and improve the consumer goods industry.
• Hanrahan envisions a future where healthier products are more accessible and affordable.