In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Draven McConville, a technology entrepreneur who built and exited a global SaaS company after overcoming homelessness at just 18 years old.

Draven shares the full arc of his journey, from survival and uncertainty to founding Clipboard, a field service management platform designed to digitize and streamline operations for trade and service businesses. By focusing on a sector many tech founders overlooked, he built a product rooted in real-world problems, creating strong demand and long-term value.

Carly and Draven explore the realities of building and scaling a SaaS business, including navigating the “SaaS slump,” securing the right type of investment, and making intentional decisions around growth, pricing, and product direction. The conversation also goes beyond the build phase into what most founders are unprepared for: the exit itself. Draven shares candid insights into choosing the right buyer, understanding the long-term implications of a deal, and managing life after liquidity, from handling sudden wealth to navigating personal relationships and purpose.

This episode is a grounded and honest look at entrepreneurship from start to exit and beyond, offering both strategic insight and real-world perspective.

Key Themes:

• Opportunity Lives in Overlooked Markets: Why solving real problems in ignored industries can create powerful businesses.

• Scaling Requires Discipline: How patience, capital management, and intentional decision-making drive long-term SaaS growth.

• Exit Is a Transition, Not an Endpoint: Why selling a business is both a strategic and personal shift that requires preparation.

Memorable Quotes:

“The strategy probably changed every two minutes in the early days.”
“You have to be intentional in every aspect of the business that you do.”
“If you can’t understand what they’re doing with your money, that’s a sign for you not to do it.”

About Draven McConville:
Draven McConville is a British technology entrepreneur from Northern Ireland and the founder of Klipboard, a field service management SaaS platform acquired by Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) in July 2024. His journey from overcoming homelessness at age 18 to building a globally successful software company serving enterprise clients reflects resilience, strategic thinking, and a commitment to solving real-world problems.

Connect with Draven McConville:
https://www.dravenmcconville.com
https://klipboard.io/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/draven-mcconville-79a93320/

Listen to the Episode

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YjlAW0tkhbg

Spotify: 

Apple Podcasts: