Episode Introduction: In this episode of the iPartners Grow Your Wealth podcast, host Travis Miller sits down with Jack Stevens, founder of Edstart, to explore a journey shaped by education, entrepreneurship and a desire to create meaningful impact. From growing up in Far North Queensland to building a fintech platform that has supported more than 100,000 lives, the conversation highlights how purpose-driven businesses can transform industries while creating long-term value.
Growing Up in Far North Queensland: Jack reflects on his upbringing in the small town of Mission Beach, where both parents worked as teachers and instilled an appreciation for education and community. Despite limited career opportunities in the region, a scholarship to Bond University opened doors to a new world of possibilities and reinforced the belief that education has the power to change lives. The experience provided the foundation for a lifelong interest in business and entrepreneurship.
University Lessons and Early Influences: Excelling academically while immersing himself in an entrepreneurial environment, Jack credits much of his development to the people around him rather than grades alone. Relationships formed during university and mentors who encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone had a lasting impact. Winning a business management competition and representing Australia in Russia provided invaluable exposure and reinforced the importance of embracing opportunities that seem intimidating.
Building Foundations Through Corporate Experience: Although entrepreneurship was always the goal, Jack recognised the importance of gaining experience and developing core skills. His time at KPMG provided a strong grounding in accounting and finance while exposing him to different businesses and industries. The experience created a safety net and a valuable skill set that would later support his transition into building companies from scratch.
Discovering the Power of Business for Good: One of the most influential moments came at age fifteen through a school project involving a worm farming business. Beyond the novelty of the idea, the experience revealed a profound insight that has guided Jack ever since. He realised that business and capitalism could be powerful tools for creating positive outcomes when combined with sustainable economics. Rather than viewing profit and impact as competing priorities, he saw how both could reinforce each other and scale meaningful change.
Why Education Became the Mission: Inspired by the transformative effect education had on his own life and influenced by the example set by his parents, Jack developed a passion for improving access to learning. Education, in his view, cuts through socioeconomic barriers and unlocks opportunities that can change individuals, families and entire communities. This belief ultimately became the driving force behind Edstart and the broader mission to help more Australians access quality education.
Creating Edstart and Solving a Real Problem: Founded in 2016, Edstart was built to simplify the process of paying for education by leveraging technology and financial innovation. Recognising that school fees represent one of the largest household expenses for many Australian families, the business set out to remove friction and provide flexibility. What began as a payment solution for parents has evolved into a sophisticated platform used by schools to manage fees and improve the experience for families. Today, the business has supported more than 43,000 students and positively impacted over 100,000 lives.
The Importance of People and Culture: Reflecting on the growth of Edstart, Jack emphasises that businesses are ultimately collections of people. Building the right team in the early years proved to be one of the most important decisions. With more than seventy employees, creating an environment where individuals can grow, develop and enjoy meaningful work has become one of the greatest rewards of the journey. Encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones and giving them permission to learn through failure has been central to the culture.
Lessons from Entrepreneurship and the Challenge of Distribution: Entrepreneurship brought countless challenges and taught lessons that only experience can provide. Jack admits that in the early years the team focused too heavily on product development and not enough on distribution and customer acquisition. Even the best product cannot succeed if nobody knows about it. The experience reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with sales and marketing, acknowledging that growth depends as much on reaching customers as it does on building great technology.
Advice for Aspiring Founders: Having experienced both the rewards and hardships of entrepreneurship, Jack offers realistic advice to anyone considering taking the leap. Building a company is far more difficult than most people imagine and requires motivation that extends beyond financial rewards. Success demands patience, resilience and a commitment to solving problems that matter. If someone is prepared to dedicate a decade or more to a venture, he believes they should choose something capable of making a meaningful impact rather than settling for a small opportunity.
Balancing Success with Life Beyond Business: One of the most important lessons learned throughout the journey has been maintaining perspective. Businesses should never come at the expense of relationships, health or personal wellbeing. Jack believes true success is measured not by wealth but by the positive impact left on customers, colleagues and the broader community. Many wealthy individuals, he observes, struggle to find happiness, reinforcing the importance of keeping life balanced and focusing on what truly matters.
Long-Term Wealth and the Power of Compounding: In a conversation particularly relevant to listeners of the iPartners Grow Your Wealth podcast, Jack highlights the extraordinary power of compounding. Whether investing in broad market ETFs or building a technology business, long-term wealth creation comes from allowing gains to build upon themselves over time. He warns against greed and short-term thinking, emphasising that sustainable wealth is rarely created overnight. Patience, discipline and a long-term mindset remain among the most powerful advantages available to investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Final Thoughts: Throughout the discussion with Travis Miller, a consistent theme emerges: meaningful impact and commercial success are not mutually exclusive. Jack’s vision extends beyond Edstart itself and towards proving that businesses can become powerful vehicles for positive change. By creating sustainable models that benefit customers, employees and society, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to leave legacies that endure long after they are gone. It is a perspective that aligns closely with the values of iPartners and reinforces the importance of building wealth with purpose, patience and a commitment to creating something bigger than ourselves.
