What happens when a seasoned translator and digital nomad turns a quiet frustration into a startup idea? In this episode, we sit down with Barny Mulcahy, the winner of the Nomad Summit Buildathon 2025 in Chiang Mai, to explore how he’s helping authors and creators localize their content for underserved language markets.
Barny shares his journey from legal publishing to digital nomadism, the turning point brought on by the pandemic and AI, and how his new company, My3PO, aims to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps around the world.
You’ll hear about:
– The power of small teams
– The realities of language accessibility
– And how Buildathon gave Barny the push to launch a mission-driven business
This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of tech, language, and impact.
Bridging Language Gaps: How a Nomad Translator Turned a Big Idea into a Global Startup
In this episode of the Nomad Summit Podcast, we sit down with Barny Mulcahy, a long-time digital nomad, translator, and the winner of the 2025 Nomad Summit Buildathon in Chiang Mai. What began as a frustration with underrepresented languages turned into a startup idea that wowed the judges – and could change how content reaches non-English speakers worldwide.
The Problem: Great Ideas Get Lost in Translation
While working as a translator, Barny realized something striking: millions of valuable self-published books and online courses never reach global audiences because they’re only available in English. And yet, over 6 billion people on the planet don’t speak the language fluently. His idea? Build a full-stack platform that helps creators translate, localize, publish, and promote their work in underserved languages.
From Buildathon Underdog to Startup Founder
Barny’s idea barely made the cut for the Buildathon – his team was just big enough to qualify. But that ended up being an advantage. With a lean and agile team, they were able to pivot, adapt, and evolve the project on the fly. What started as a simple translation concept grew into a more ambitious multi-lingual publishing platform called My3PO.
Why This Startup Is Different from Traditional Translation Services
My3PO isn’t just a translation tool. It’s an ecosystem that handles everything from cultural adaptation and localization to marketing and customer support in new markets. Barny explains how they blend traditional linguistics with AI tools to deliver fast, cost-effective, and emotionally resonant translations that go far beyond Google Translate.
A Project with Real-World Traction
The startup is already off the ground. Their first project is translating a best-selling book called Money Grows on Trees by Jerremy Newsome into German and Spanish. And they’re not stopping there – Barny and his team are actively looking for more authors, collaborators, and potentially angel investors who align with their mission.
Working as a Global Team of Nomads
Running an international team across time zones isn’t easy – but Barny shares how they make it work. From virtual working sessions to plans of future coworking meetups, he highlights the importance of staying connected, motivated, and aligned while living in different parts of the world.
Winning the Buildathon Was Just the Beginning
Barny reflects on what the Buildathon meant to him – not just as a competition win, but as validation for a long-held idea. It was the push he needed to go from freelancer to founder. Now, with a functioning LLC and a small but passionate team, he’s focused on building something that truly has global impact.
Final Thoughts: Language Shouldn’t Be a Barrier to Knowledge
In the closing moments, Barny shares his deeper motivation: to break down the invisible walls that language often creates. By making knowledge more accessible across cultures and languages, he hopes to contribute to a more connected and inclusive world.
If you’re an author, a publisher, or someone passionate about language, entrepreneurship, or the digital nomad lifestyle – this episode is for you.
Sponsor’s note
This episode is brought to you by Visit Estonia. If you are looking for a beautiful place to explore and to work from then Estonia should absolutely be on your radar. Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world – and home to a thriving digital nomad and startup scene. With Estonia’s world first digital nomad visa (launched in 2020) you can live and work there legally for up to a year. And Estonia’s e-Residency Program enables you to open a company there and run it digitally and remote by design without ever visiting the country (but we still recommend you to come and have a look).
Cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Key Takeaways:
- Why 6 billion people are left out of most digital content
- What makes true localization more than just translation
- How Barny’s Buildathon team turned a small idea into a scalable platform
- The challenges of founding a business as a nomad across time zones
- Why his project isn’t just about books – but about connection
Relevant Links:
- Buildathon pitch video: YouTube
- Barny’s pitch deck for My3PO
- My3PO website
- Contact Barny: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Jerremy Newsome’s book Money Grows on Trees
- Barny’s book pick: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
