Investor and businessman Matt Haycox has launched a new straight-talking platform designed to help founders build real businesses without drowning in fluff. Called the No Bollocks Business HQ, the portal brings Haycox’s trademark candour to the full business journey, from idea to scale, wrapped in a format built for entrepreneurs who want clarity, not clichés.
Haycox has spent more than two decades funding, mentoring and rebuilding businesses across the UK and the UAE. He says the HQ was born out of sheer frustration after watching founders get paralysed by the sheer volume of recycled, copy-and-paste advice choking the internet.
‘There’s more noise than ever,’ Haycox says. ‘People are pushing hacks, shortcuts and nonsense that sounds good on Instagram but collapses in the real world. I wanted to build something that cuts right through that. No fluff. No jargon. Just the truth about what it actually takes to grow a business.’
A Platform Built for Action, Not Algorithms
The No Bollocks Business HQ breaks the business journey into eleven practical pillars. It covers idea validation, positioning, marketing, sales, pricing, operations, finance, hiring, compliance, growth and even buying or selling a company. Each pillar includes frameworks, examples and insights pulled from Haycox’s own wins and losses.
‘Founders fail because they build blindly,’ he says. ‘They commit too early, test too late and listen to the wrong people. The HQ gives them a proper starting point. Something real. Something they can actually execute.’
Launching at a Time of Record UAE Entrepreneurship Growth
Haycox says the timing of the launch isn’t an accident. The UAE is in the middle of an undeniable entrepreneurship surge, with global rankings and economic data backing it up.
According to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024 to 2025 report, the UAE is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurship for the fourth straight year, outperforming global markets across 11 of 13 key indicators. This includes ease of starting a business, access to capital and government support.
And the on-the-ground numbers are even more striking. The Dubai International Chamber recorded a 138% year-on-year jump in new company registrations in the first half of 2025. At the same time, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce confirmed that over 35,000 new companies became members during the same period.
‘That kind of growth creates opportunity,’ Haycox says. ‘But it also creates chaos. When thousands of new founders flood the market, the amount of low-quality advice skyrockets. The region needs guidance that’s based on reality, not recycled hype. That’s why the HQ matters now.’
Fixing the Pain Points Most Founders Try to Ignore
The new portal doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It tackles the topics most founders quietly struggle with.
- How to test whether an idea is actually worth pursuing.
- How to carve out a position in a crowded market.
- How to build marketing that compounds instead of drains cash.
- How to sell without begging.
- How to price properly rather than discount out of fear.
- How to hire without creating drama.
- How to run operations that don’t buckle under growth.
A study from Deloitte found that more than 50% of SMEs cite operational inefficiency as their biggest barrier to scaling. Haycox says he sees this play out constantly.
‘I used to hate systems,’ he laughs. ‘Then I realised they were the only reason my businesses grew rather than collapsed under their own weight. That’s why the HQ drills into the unsexy stuff. It saves founders years of pain.’
A Global Platform With a Strong UAE Edge
Although the No Bollocks Business HQ is designed for founders everywhere, Haycox says the UAE encouraged him to speed up the build.
‘The ambition here is unmatched,’ he says. ‘People in Dubai and Abu Dhabi move fast. They want to build, grow and expand into new markets. But speed without structure is a disaster waiting to happen. The HQ gives founders the backbone to support that ambition.’
Future releases will include UAE-focused content on regulation, hiring, finance options and cross-border expansion between the UK and the Middle East.
Built From Experience, Not Theory
Haycox’s story is part of what makes the platform resonate. He has spoken openly about losing everything early in his career, rebuilding from scratch and eventually funding over £500 million in deals. His philosophy is shaped by both the wins and the bruises.
‘Most of what’s out there is theory,’ he says. ‘People copy frameworks they’ve never used in real life. The HQ is built from my mistakes as much as my successes. It’s honest, practical and completely grounded.’
What’s Next for the No Bollocks Business HQ
The platform will roll out new content in waves across 2026, including founder case studies, tactical strategy guides, live sessions and deeper dives into funding, operations and growth. Haycox says the goal is simple: help entrepreneurs stop guessing and start building.
‘Founders don’t need another influencer telling them to dream big,’ he says. ‘They need someone who tells them the truth, saves them money and gets them moving in the right direction. That’s exactly what the No Bollocks HQ is built to do.’
