From Thailand to Australian fintech: Our founder’s journey building two startups

From scuba diving to software solutions

Our Founder and CEO, Simon Lenoir, didn’t begin his career in a corporate office. In fact, he was working as a scuba diving instructor in Thailand when he first discovered the frustrations of clunky booking systems and endless admin. Rather than accepting inefficiency as part of the job, he set out to build something better.

That spark became Rezdy, a booking platform that grew from a small idea on the beach into a global business serving operators in more than 100 countries. Rezdy was later sold to a US private equity firm in 2023, but its origins remind us that the best ideas often start from lived experience.

You can read more about Simon’s journey in Dynamic Business.

Taking lessons from one startup into another

When Simon launched Budgetly in 2019, he brought the same mindset of problem-solving—but with a fresh perspective shaped by his first startup journey. His new mission: to help small and medium-sized businesses manage company spending in a smarter, more efficient way.

Even with Rezdy’s success, Simon is the first to say that a second startup doesn’t come with shortcuts. “Building a business is not easy, even if you have done it before,” he told Dynamic Business. Experience helps, but each challenge is unique.

What changes the second time around

With Budgetly, Simon approached growth differently. Instead of pushing for perfection, he focused on progress. Small, deliberate steps—whether improving a feature, listening closely to customer feedback, or making thoughtful hiring decisions—added up to big results.

His philosophy is simple: small steps make a big difference. That thinking continues to shape how we serve customers today.

Key lessons shaping Budgetly

Simon’s journey across two very different industries has shaped the way we build Budgetly. Some of the lessons that guide us include:

• Problems are solvable and often temporary: What feels like a major roadblock today may be manageable tomorrow.

• Spending wisely and moving quickly are equally important: Agility without waste sets strong foundations.

• Confidence matters, but so does flexibility: Experience counts, but adapting to new realities is what keeps businesses moving forward.
  
  

Why this matters for SMEs

At Budgetly, we know that managing company spending isn’t just about numbers. It’s about empowering teams, saving time, and giving business leaders the clarity they need to grow with confidence. Simon’s story—from teaching diving in Thailand to founding two successful startups—reminds us that meaningful solutions come from real-world challenges.

As Australia’s SME ecosystem continues to evolve, our mission is to stay practical, focused, and customer-driven. That’s the path Simon set from the beginning, and it’s the one we’re committed to following.

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