Founder Story

From the Lounge Room to the Long Road

The Real Story Behind Nomad Moto

Not every brand starts with funding, a boardroom, and a strategy deck.
Some start in a lounge room—with nothing but a vision, a bit of GRIT, and a fire that won't burn out.

My name’s Kurt. I’m the founder of Nomad Moto.
This is the story of how I got here.

Age 12. First motorcycle — bought with money earned working at the local fruit market. No shortcuts.

Growing Up With Nothing but Grit

I didn’t come from much.

My parents were migrants.
We didn’t have money — but we had pride and big dreams.

I started working early.

Selling newspapers at eight years old — standing at red lights in the afternoons after school and on weekends.

Papers were twenty cents.
The tips were often double.

The locals knew me.
They’d try to catch the red light just to buy a paper — or throw a few extra coins my way.

Sometimes the lights changed too fast.
Money would get thrown. I would still chuck a paper through the window, money or not.
Engines would rev.

If it went from red to green, it was dicey.

But I got street-smart young.

I learned how to read people.
Which drivers would stop.
Which headlines sold.
When to move — and when to get out of the way.

That’s where I first saw opportunity.
Not in a classroom — on the street.

Fruit markets at twelve.
McDonald’s after that.

After McDonald’s, I started an apprenticeship.

It didn’t take long to know — it wasn’t for me.

I wasn’t built to follow instructions for the rest of my life.
I wanted to build something of my own.

Even as a kid, that instinct was already there.

When I was ten years old, I drew up my own newspaper.
I called it Australian News.

Hand-drawn masthead.
Sections.
Stories.
Big ideas.

I didn’t know how to print it.
I didn’t know how to sell ads.

But I knew one thing —
I wanted to create something people would choose.

Not because I had to —
but because I wanted out.

I grew up in Rozelle, an inner-city suburb of Sydney Australia, staring at the city skyline but dreaming of riding a motorcycle through the Australian outback.

No access.
No money.
No clear path.

But the dream never left.

School Wasn’t My Thing

School never fit me.

I struggled with details — and I later learned I’m dyslexic, but I could always see the big picture.

I move fast.
I trust my gut.
I take the hit if needed — and keep going.

At 24, I took out a $30,000 unsecured loan and started my first business from my parents’ lounge room.

Every major bank said no.

Out of desperation, I pitched my idea live on a finance radio show.

No polish.
No safety net.
Just the truth.

Someone listening took a chance on me.

That moment changed everything.

Around that time, I read a quote that stuck:

“There is no way out.
There is no way back.
The only way is through.”

That’s been my rule ever since.

28 Years of Building From Nothing

That lounge-room business grew into a national publishing and events company.

Over 28 years, I built magazines and events (one of them, Adventure Rider Magazine), employed over 50 people, and helped shape Australia’s adventure-riding culture.

But the pull of riding never left.

Small rider meetups became something bigger —
what’s now ADV FEST in Dorrigo, NSW.

The bikes were always there.
The dirt was always calling.

Starting Again — Nomad Moto

In 2022, after 28 years, I sold the business.

And once again, I found myself back in a lounge room — starting over.

This time, I wasn’t building media.
I was building gear.

I’d spent decades riding, breaking equipment, and being let down by brands that didn’t ride what they sold — brands that disappeared when things went wrong.

So I started Nomad Moto.

No fluff.
No gimmicks.
No corporate nonsense.

Just tough, waterproof, modular adventure gear — tested by real riders, starting with me.

The Way Through

I’ve had gear fail in the bush.
I’ve been ripped off by brands that vanished when things went wrong.

That’s why I live by one rule:

The customer is always right.

Because we’re all riders.
We all want gear that works.
And we all want to know someone on the other end actually gives a damn.

That’s Nomad Moto.

From Rozelle to the red dirt.
From publishing to panniers.

Still dreaming.
Still building.
Still doing it the hard way.

That’s GRIT.

— Kurt
Founder, Nomad Moto