Welcome to Zero to Tenbagger Ep 1

Keir

Let’s be honest. Most people lose money in microcaps. That’s not a hot take — it’s just how it is. I’ve seen it. I’ve been part of it. If you’re listening, you probably have too. One day you think you’ve found the next big winner. The next, you’re down bad, stuck holding the bag.

Keir

Microcaps are a mess. There's hype, there's hope, and there's a lot happening behind the scenes that most people never see. You get pulled in by a slick pitch. Maybe it’s a newsletter. Maybe it's a guy on Twitter with a rocket in his handle. Before you know it, you're all-in on a story you barely understand.I’ve been there. My worst loss was in 2007. I thought this tech company was a sure thing. The CEO was smooth, convincing. I bought it. Ignored the red flags, the strange trading, and the fact that no one else seemed interested.When it all collapsed, I was left holding worthless shares in a bankrupt company. That’s the risk with these "can’t miss" stories. They make you feel like you’re ahead of the game. Then the market reminds you you’re not. And even now, in 2025, I’m still not getting it right every time. I’ve got a position that’s down almost 80 percent from where I bought it late last year. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning to spot the mistakes earlier and limit the damage. You can’t win every trade, but you can control how many bad ones you let in the door.

Keir

So no, I’m not here to point fingers. If you’ve been burned, you’re not alone. That’s what this show is really about. We’ve all been bagholders. The goal is learning how to stop being one.I’ve taken my share of hits, but I’ve also followed a process that’s led to real wins. Stocks like Founders Metals, Happy Belly, Digital Commodities, Dolly Varden, and DEFI — all names I’ve talked about here — have gone up five, ten, even fifteen times from where I first got in. That wasn’t luck. It came from hard lessons, patience, and sticking to a system. That’s what I want to share. Not hype. Not shortcuts. Just a way of thinking about microcaps that gives you a better shot at getting it right.

Keir

So why this podcast? Why now?Because too much of today’s investing content feels like fluff. Overproduced, overly positive, and more focused on keeping everyone happy than telling the truth. I’ve also grown tired of the standard CEO interview format. It rarely gets to the raw, unfiltered story. And when it does — when I ask a tough question or catch someone off guard — they often push back and don’t want the interview released. I’ll still do interviews, but I’m mixing it up. You’ll hear from analysts, investors, and people with real skin in the game. I want this to be more than just another promo channel. The goal is to get outside opinion, real insight, and something worth thinking about — not just recycled talking points.

Keir

Here’s what you can expect: segments like “Buy, Sell, Expose”—where we break down the real stories behind the tickers. “Dead Cat Diaries”—that’s where we talk about the trades that went sideways, and what we can actually learn from them, what the red flags were. And “Retail Rules”—because, honestly, the rules are different when you’re not sitting in a boardroom or on a president's list.

Keir

I was listening back to one of my own longform YouTube videos not long ago, and it hit me — this is kind of boring. You know the type of content. Mine wasn’t all that different. It blended in.Too many soft questions, too many positive answers, and not enough real pushback. Not enough clarity. There are exceptions, but I knew I could take it further. That’s what I’m aiming for with Zero to Tenbagger. Something tighter, more focused. Less noise, more signal. A place to think out loud, dig into ideas, and share what I’m seeing — without pretending to have all the answers.And if you’re craving new ideas or wondering what I’ve been watching or buying, this is where you’ll hear about it.

Keir

Here’s the thing—failure isn’t just part of the game, it’s the foundation. Every loss, every wipeout, every “what was I thinking?” moment is a lesson if you’re willing to learn from it. That’s what this podcast is about. Redemption, yeah, but also education. We’re gonna mix in industry breakdowns, real talk about what’s moving the market, and a healthy dose of accountability. Because if you’re not learning, you’re just repeating the same mistakes.

Keir

This isn’t just me talking into the void. This show is part of TokStocks — a platform built around my own research, honest conversations, and zero paid promotion. No one’s buying airtime here. What’s been missing is daily content with a point of view. Something with personality. Something that helps you think critically, spot patterns, and sharpen your instincts as an investor. Not just another CEO telling you why their stock is a winner. That’s what this podcast is for. Straight talk. Get to the point. Useful ideas. Deal flow.

Keir

If you're tired of the hype and looking to get sharper in the microcap space, maybe this will be worth your time. We’ll see. I’m my own toughest critic, and I know it takes more than opinions to cut through the noise. It takes consistency, real value, and time to earn trust.If that’s something you’re open to, stick around. Subscribe, tune in, and see if it clicks for you. This is Zero to Tenbagger, and it’s just getting started.

Keir

Red flag number two: insiders getting rich while nothing is getting done.One of the more subtle forms of this is the generous use of RSUs and DSUs—that’s Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units.Sounds technical, but they’re essentially free shares—granted to executives and directors without requiring them to pay a dime.RSUs usually vest over time. DSUs often sit until the person leaves the board or company. Either way—they don’t cost insiders anything, and they instantly dilute shareholders.Now, if the company is hitting milestones and creating value? Fine.But if nothing’s happening, the stock’s going sideways—or worse—and insiders are still collecting equity and bonuses? That’s extraction, not alignment.

Keir

Let’s talk about the cap table.If you look at the share structure and see millions of founder shares issued at fractions of a penny—while retail is buying at $0.25, $0.50, or even $1.00—you’ve got a problem.Those cheap shares are gravity.Eventually, someone’s going to take profits. That constant selling pressure can crush any upside you were hoping for.The best structures are clean, simple, and balanced. Avoid bloated cap tables with too many classes, legacy paper, or heavy insider holdings priced at a fraction of what you paid.

Keir

This next one is a simple check, but it tells you everything:Do insiders actually own stock they paid for?I’m not talking about RSUs or options—they didn’t pay for those. I mean open-market buys.Did they put real money into the company? Have they averaged down? Have they bought the same shares you’re buying?If management doesn’t have real skin in the game, you’ve got to ask why. If they won’t bet on themselves, why should you?

Keir

Red flag number five: weak governance and questionable insider deals.If the board is made up entirely of insiders, buddies, or token names with no real independence—you’re flying without a parachute.Add in related-party transactions—like leasing office space from insiders, or hiring a CEO’s private company to do "consulting"—and now you’re watching wealth extraction in real time.Always check the notes in the financials and MD&A for related-party transactions. It’s usually buried, but it’s there.