What does it take to walk away from a big idea and start over inside the same company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, Adam Dell opens up about the journey behind Domain Money.

A serial Founder with multiple exits, Adam reflects on making hard pivots, recruiting top talent personally, navigating investor psychology, and why execution, not ego, is what earns the right to exist. He also shares how AI is transforming financial services and why the emotional highs and lows of startup life never really go away.

Takeaways:

• Recruiting Personally, Relentlessly: Adam still personally recruits on LinkedIn, often spending hours each day identifying talent, crafting outreach, and filtering for startup fit. He believes CEO-led recruiting cuts through noise and shows prospects the role's importance.
• A Pivot Before the Crash: Originally conceived as a crypto banking platform, Domain Money pivoted early. Adam made the call based on market fundamentals and moved decisively, even when his team was still optimistic about the original vision.
• Transparent, Yet Optimistic Leadership: During the pivot, Adam prioritized honesty with his team while maintaining belief in the mission. He communicated openly about uncertainty and made clear that success was entirely on them.
• Investor Support Built on Track Record and Clarity: Adam credits his investor relationships and clear, data-backed thinking for enabling a smooth pivot. Though they challenged him, his investors supported the shift and recognized the market opportunity in personal finance.
• AI as a Backbone, Not a Gimmick: AI plays a major role in Domain Money’s operations, especially in improving planning efficiency. Adam is enthusiastic about AI’s pace and scope of change, calling it central to his product vision.
• The Mental Game of Being a Founder: The pivot at Domain Money required layoffs and letting go of certainty. Adam talks candidly about staying objective under pressure, fighting through doubt, and surrounding himself with trusted mentors while still waking up every day to earn it.

Quote of the Show:

• "That uncertainty, that thing inside of you that forces you to figure it out, is very motivating to me and I quite enjoy it." - Adam Dell

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamdell/
• Website: https://www.domainmoney.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #DomainMoney

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:25 Recruiting Strategies for Startups

07:15 Fundraising Insights and Market Sentiment

11:46 The Evolution of Domain Money

16:25 Navigating Pivots and Team Buy-In

23:07 Growth Strategies and Partnerships

26:20 Acquisitions and Exits

29:23 Strategic Partnerships and Revenue Growth

30:37 The Impact of AI on Technology and Business

35:12 AI in Financial Planning and Wealth Management

39:51 Challenges and Pivots in Business

49:09 Personal Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

57:37 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

01:00:30 Outro