The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

How do you raise capital for your startup? Well, if you ask the co-founder of Airbnb Joe Gebbia, he’ll tell you what worked for him: Cereal. That’s right, the company that started with a single air mattress and grew to a $100 billion empire was kept afloat by selling custom cereal boxes. It was bizarre but it worked. Gebbia muses in this episode of the Foundr podcast: “We made $20,000 in breakfast cereal, and we're able to basically pay off our credit card debt...The cereal, funnily enough, was how we were able to help keep the options open for us until eventually, the invitation came for Y Combinator.” In undoubtedly one of our most riveting episodes, Gebbia recounts his incredible journey from struggling to pay rent, to Airbnb’s first angel investor, to one of the biggest brands in the world and Gebbia’s incredible charity work. Gebbia is candid about how he overcame countless rejections and problems. Listen in as he shares specific advice for entrepreneurs looking to create the next industry disrupter: “You can see what’s hot. You can go after an emerging industry... Or you can solve a problem. Your own problem. Airbnb was our own problem. We had a rent check that we couldn’t pay. And it forced us to come up with a new way of making ends meet.” Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you are enjoying the Foundr Podcast,, please leave us a 5-star review and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

Tommie Powers is a legend in digital paid advertising. He's consulted on $100+ million in ad spend, including $30 million on YouTube ads alone. So when Tommie talks about paid YouTube ad strategies, we listen. In a recent interview on the Foundr podcast, Tommie talked with us about everything from diversifying ad spend to crafting a powerful message to calculating ROAS (spoiler: most people are calculating ROAS all wrong). Check out the latest episode of the Foundr podcast as Tommie tells us how he taps into YouTube's 2 billion monthly active users to bring in his downright mind-blowing ROAS. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you are enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please leave us a 5-star review and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

Inc. Magazine called her the most important entrepreneur on the planet. Fast Company called her the "brand whisperer." Emily Heyward of Red Antler is a master at helping a brand stand out from the crowd. Heyward has elevated some of the biggest brands on the planet, including Casper, Yumi, Four Square, BirchBox, and All Birds. In this episode of the Foundr Podcast, she reveals her creative process and tells us how she got started in the industry. If you want a new perspective on building a brand your customers will be obsessed with, listen in on our interview with Heyward. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you are enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please leave us a 5-star review and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

In this episode of the Foundr podcast, we speak with Omaze’s Matt Pohlson to discuss how a near-death experience taught him a powerful lesson about optimism—and how it changed his perspective on business forever. Pohlson is cofounder and CEO of Omaze, an online fundraising platform that supports causes by offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Some of the experiences they offer include top-tier influential figures like Michelle Obama or George Clooney, or million-dollar prizes like cars and properties. In this refreshingly candid interview, Pohlson discusses his unique business model, gate-crashing charity events to pitch to Bryan Cranston, and how he found himself at the Vatican with the Pope. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please leave us a 5-star review and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

As the CEO and founder of TrendHunter, Jeremy Gutsche is at the forefront of trendspotting, innovation, and creating the future. In this ground-breaking interview, the New York Times Bestselling author reveals everything he knows about entrepreneurship and ideas. Gutsche’s TrendHunter is the world's largest, most popular trend spotting firm with billions of views, and over 10,000 projects for almost every major brand on the market, from Samsung and Disney, to RedBull and even NASA. The ultimate TKTK interview for entrepreneurs looking for an idea, his 3 methods to identifying a product idea (assessing the market) and the 6 patterns that TrendHunter look for when creating and validating a product idea. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

In this episode of the Foundr podcast, Nathan Chan speaks with Jeff Raider and Andy Katz-Mayfield to find out how they scaled Harry’s into a $20 million brand, and how they created other multiple million-dollar brands. The idea for Harry’s came about after Katz-Mayfield had a disappointing late-night shopping experience at the chemists, and noticed that all the men’s razors were overpriced and overdesigned. Almost 8 years later, Raider and Katz-Mayfield have multiple channels, over 1000 employees, and several multi-million dollar brands. Listen in as they discuss exactly how they successfully scaled their brands, how they identified potential gaps in the market, the dangers of launching something just to make money, and why they decided to pull the plug on their Harry’s brand of lip balm. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

Quitting her promising job at Google, Heidi Zak decided to take the plunge and launch ThirdLove, an ecommerce brand for women’s underwear. Today, thanks to Zak’s masterful approach to scaling, ThirdLove is the third biggest ecommerce lingerie brand in America with no signs of slowing down. Zak’s journey into the entrepreneurial space began after she moved to the West coast and got swept up in the startup world. Launching as a small bootstrapped brand, she never thought that she one day be competing with titans like Victoria’s Secret. Listen in as Zak discusses the ins and outs of the ecommerce world, navigating scaling, product vs. marketing, and why she believes successful entrepreneurialism is based on perspective. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

This week’s podcast is a deep dive with Schmidt Natural’s co-founder, author, and investor Jaime Schmidt. Building her brand from a side hobby to a 7-figure annual income didn’t happen overnight, but Schmidt refused to let fear hold her back. Although Schmidt says she has had 22 previous jobs, Schmidt Naturals was her very first business. Living off $35k joint-income with a new baby, Schmidt first started creating her all-natural products at home, selling them at farmer’s markets. After years of dedication and very little capital, Schmidt reflects on her 9-figure exit, her journey into investing, and writing her first book Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms. The perfect podcast for anyone who has a vision and a dream, Schmidt is an inspirational entrepreneur who continues to lift up others with her infectious positivity. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.comSuccess Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

Joseph Einhorn is no stranger to entrepreneurialism. With almost 25 years of startup experience under his belt, Einhorn knows the ins and the outs of the game. In this interview with Nathan Chan, Einhorn discusses his incredible journey from becoming a self-taught engineer for Capital IQ, launching and selling the global ecommerce phenomenon Fancy.com, and how his life-long love for comic books evolved into founding Loot. With a penchant for satiating curiosity and deep respect for creators the world over, Einhorn will leave you inspired to chase your dream and to never give up. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.com Success Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

As someone who always knew they had a passion for fashion, Tamara Mellon has come a long way from working in a PR firm. As founder of luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo, founder of a new direct-to-consumer brand bearing her own name, and author of In My Shoes, Mellon is a game-changer in the fashion industry. In this interview, Nathan Chan sits down to speak with one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry to discuss every step of her journey in the fashion industry. Not only has Mellon displayed an uncanny knack for marketing and branding, but she’s also redefined the way we think about shopping. A must-listen for anyone with a love for fashion, shoes, and disrupting the industry, Mellon gives a refreshingly wholesome insight into the world of entrepreneurialism. Get FREE, actionable advice from legitimate founders on starting and growing ANY Business… https://www.foundr.com/freetraining And… If you ARE enjoying the Foundr Podcast’, please make sure to leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you want to see next. Website: http://www.foundr.com Success Stories: https://foundr.com/success-stories Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundr/ YouTube: http://bit.ly/2uyvzdt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foundr Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/foundr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/ Podcast: http://www.foundr.com/podcast Magazine: http://www.foundr.com/magazine

In this episode of the Foundr podcast, CEO and founder of eToro Yoni Assia sits down to discuss how he built his empire, getting dinner with Warren Buffett, and how he scaled the world's largest social media investment network. As someone who has always been passionate about connecting finance and technology, Assia says that he was always someone who loved the intersection between technology and finance. As his second startup, eToro was created to simplify the user experience to make trading and investing something that is accessible for more people. With a global company spanning 12 offices, over 1000 employees, and now reaching 20 million registered users, Assia’s ability to scale a business successfully is nothing short of incredible.

After launching 9 companies, Jon Oringer didn’t really think that his 10th company Shutterstock would be the one to stand out from the crowd. Started as a side-hustle, Oringer launched the stock photography business with $10k. Today, his estimated net worth is sitting at $1.5B. Safe to say that Oringer’s journey has been pretty impressive. Based out of New York, Shutterstock is a global provider of stock photography, stock footage, stock music, and editing tools used by the world over. In this Foundr podcast episode, Nathan Chan sits down to speak with Oringer to discuss how he launched Shutterstock, creating the first pop-up blocker, and what he believes will be the future of Fintech and entrepreneurialism.

In this digital age, music streaming and subscriptions have quickly become the norm. This week at Foundr, we were lucky enough to speak to an entrepreneur who was there for the rise of streaming and the music-tech space: Ola Sars. Before he was founder and CEO of the fastest growing B2B music streaming service, Soundtrack Your Brand, Ola was co-founder and COO of Beats Music, acquired by Apple and transformed into Apple Music, as well as the co-founder of Pacemaker, the world's first DJ driven music platform. Foundr’s Nathan Chan sits down with Ola Sars to map out his incredible journey through one of the most complex industries in the modern world: the music industry.

In this delicious interview, Nathan Chan sits down with CAULIPOWER founder Gail Becker to find out how she took her ecommerce company from $0 to $100M in just 3 years. Becker takes us on her tasty food brand journey, from her experience in corporate life as a marketer, to branching into the unknown to create something she wanted to see on the market: more food options for celiacs. Listen in as she discusses the process of getting her product into 25,000 stores on her first try and the future of Amazon. This interview is perfect for anyone interested in entering the food industry, as Becker lays out everything she has learned along the way. And why in life, you should do something that you love.

Coming from a long line of shoemakers, it seemed only natural that Joe Foster follow in his family’s footsteps, but instead Foster decided to push his horizons even further and create a brand that would become a legacy. Listen in as Foster shares his incredible journey through generations of shoemakers to bring us the global brand we know today: Reebok. Foster’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring, as he took the company through ups and downs, broke into competitive markets, and created a niche in the market for his brand. Acquired by Adidas in 2005 for a whopping $3.8 billion, Foster has since retired and authored a book: “Shoemaker: The Untold Story of the British Family Firm that Became a Global Brand”. In this astounding interview, Nathan Chan and Foster discuss the entrepreneurial journey, and everything Foster has learned along the way when it comes to business and brand.

When his 10 year old daughter was upset by negative comments posted about her artwork, Hovhannes Avoyan decided to do something about it. Almost a decade later, over 1 billion app downloads and 150 million active monthly, PicsArt has become a global movement. Before founding PicsArt, Hovhannes Avoyan was already a successful entrepreneur with five startups that he sold to Lycos, Bertelsmann, GFI, TeamViewer, and HelpSystems. With a strong understanding of the market, scaling, and what it takes to build a viable business, it’s no wonder that PicsArt raised over $45m capital and now boasts partnerships with the world’s biggest influencers like Kim Kardashian. In this inspiring interview hosted by Nathan Chan, Avoyan discusses the importance of creating a safe space for creative expression, why community matters for a business, the future of AI and its place in design and art, and why he believes failure is part of success.

Power up, level up, and get ready to take your business to the extreme, with this incredible interview with Single Grain’s Eric Siu. A former pro-gamer, Siu has been on the quintessential entrepreneur’s journey. He’s faced scaling issues, failure, and trying to do too much at once, and now he is ready to reveal why he believes gamers make the best entrepreneurs. In this electrified interview with Foundr, Siu discusses why every founder needs to have a good understanding of marketing, essential long-term skills you need to have, and why he predicts Clubhouse will be the ultimate training ground for entrepreneurs.

How does someone launch a $200 million beverage company with zero experience and four children under the age of six? Just ask super-mom, author, and Hint Water empire CEO and Founder, Kara Goldin. Goldin was first inspired to launch her beverage company as an alternative to other unhealthy drinks on the market. Not only did Goldin manage to build a company that is now the largest privately owned non-alcoholic beverage company in America, but she placed Hint on the shelves of her local Whole Foods on the same day she went into the delivery room. Revealing all of the ups and downs of her journey in her new book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubt And Doubters, Goldin speaks to Foundr’s Nathan Chan about relentless pursuit of your dreams, and overcoming fears and self-doubt along the way. Key Takeaways How Kara Goldin first began her mission of creating a healthier option for drinking water Facing challenges everyday, and Goldin’s commitment to learning all she could about an entirely new industry Why Goldin believes the best thing anyone can do for themselves is continue to learn and grow Dealing with naysayers and doubters, and how Goldin decided to instead use their feedback to hone her business vision

In 2011, Hiroki Takeuchi launched his first business GoCardless with his co-founders. Just under one decade later, they are processing over $15b in payments every year! Takeuchi’s first business began as a service to help streamline the messy process of collecting payments informally. Over the next several years, funding, scaling, and pivoting led him to create a simple service that helped collect recurring and one-off payments from customers. Takeuchi’s approach to business is inspiring. Not only was he a first-time entrepreneur scaling a global business without experience, but he also knows the pains of imposter syndrome and anxiety over hiring overqualified experts. This interview with Nathan Chan serves to remind us all that greatness isn’t just past experience, it’s the willingness to learn that makes someone a great entrepreneur. Key Takeaways How Takeuchi launched GoCardless in 2011 as his first business, and how he developed the idea Evolving the initial business idea from something that sought to solve the problem of collecting payments informally, to a global fintech empire The importance of having a complimentary co-founder, and how Takeuchi first began planning with his co-founders Why Takeuchi decided to leverage existing services in order to streamline launch Demo day, and overcoming getting 64 “no’s” before they got a “yes” The importance of focus on a singular product, especially in a global powerhouse like finances and payment How Takeuchi approached scaling, planning, and proactive growth in a high-demand industry The challenges faced by an international business and scaling How Takeuchi tackles imposter syndrome, and how he continues to focus on learnings The importance he places on his team and the people Takeuchi surrounds himself with What you need to ignore if you want to hire the best of the best for your business Why you should never underestimate the length of the journey ahead of you, and why you need to be ready for the challenge of being an entrepreneur

Building partnerships and mailing lists as an entrepreneur can be one of the trickiest and most elusive parts of the game. Targetting the right people, understanding brand identity - it’s all a delicate ecosystem to navigate. The good news is, when it comes to mailing lists and partnerships, we have all the answers you need from the mastermind and guru himself: Colin Darretta. Co-founder of a number of successful companies including WellPath, a health and wellness plan) and DojoMojo, a software company that helps you build partnerships, Darretta has all the answers. Not only has Darretta got decades of experience under his belt, but he also has the distinct honor of managing to build a 1million person email list in 1 year, and is the master of monetizing mailing lists.

For Sarah Leary, entrepreneurship has always been in her blood. Growing up in a household of small-business owners including her grandmother who was also an entrepreneur, she knew she would eventually be one, too. She remembers that even when she was working for Microsoft as part of the founding team for Microsoft Office, she knew that being a business owner was her future. From her development, launch, and successful scaling of Nextdoor into the world’s largest private social network for neighborhoods, Leary has experience in every aspect of entrepreneurialism. Her advice for budding entrepreneurs comes from years of experience in both scaling a business, building a community, and growing brands. In this interview with Nathan Chan, Leary reveals the absolute essentials every new entrepreneur needs to tick off when they want to start something new. As a venture partner at Unusual Ventures, Leary has advice straight from the frontline of what she wants to see in a pitch. Key Takeaways How Leary grew up in a household of business owners and entrepreneurs and why that means she always knew she would be one too Finding herself in the early start-up culture of Silicon Valley in the 90s Her first business and how she faced failure, the decision to pivot, and a whole new frontier The beginning of Nextdoor, and it’s growth internationally over the past decade Joining Unusual Ventures, and why she wants to dedicate her time to helping others build companies from the ground up Why founders need to be comfortable validating their ideas and assumptions The two essential questions entrepreneurs need to ask themselves before starting How Leary developed Nextdoor through a combination of brainstorming, customer research, and why you need to consider customer painkillers Why every entrepreneur needs to learn to do extraordinary work for a narrow band of people, and then expand How Leary fuelled the Nextdoor community, and why networks need leaders Why Leary believes authenticity is the most important part of community strategy, and why you need to start with it Why Leary stepped down from Nextdoor, and how the team of Unusual Ventures is rolling up their sleeves to help new entrepreneurs Leary’s reveals the secret to pitching ideas correctly, and what Unusual Ventures looks for in a new business idea

When Alli Webb founded Drybar in 2010, it started as one small salon in Brentwood, California that was designed to do one thing and do it well: blowouts. Today, her brand has grown to over150 stores in 33 states, a hair care product line that she sold for over $250 million, her own podcast Raising The Bar, and a NY Times best-selling book Good Hair For All. Best of all, Webb is Foundr magazine’s cover girl for issue 95 (check it out, it’s a good one!) Guess you could say that Alli Webb is an entrepreneurial genius. This week’s interview gives you an insight into Webb’s journey from working as a receptionist in a hair salon during high school to the decision to chase her passion for hairstyling. That decision to pursue her passion is what has led Webb to a $100m empire. Find out how she took the leap, and what advice she has for those looking to pursue their passion, too. Key Takeaways Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, and how that shaped Alli Webb’s idea of business Realised she had a passion for hair and styling, and worked as a receptionist in a hair salon where she became mesmorised by the craft Her journey through “a hot-minute” in college, to working in fashion in New York Starting her own business styling client’s hair at home, and growing her business How she started “Drybar” and what makes her brand unique Franchising Drybar, and learning to operate her business on a global scale How Webb developed her own product line, and how she sold it for $250m to beauty powerhouse, Helen of Troy. How Webb continues to raise the bar, launching her own podcast: Raising The Bar, and authoring NY Times Best Seller Good Hair For All Webb’s advice for all budding entrepreneurs, especially women in business, and why they need to follow their passion and what they love doing.

If you want to start a business, you sure as hell better be made of the right stuff. Because Joe De Sena is here to tell you that in business, “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”, and you need to be mentally tough enough to handle it. In this Foundr interview like no other, Nathan Chan speaks with Spartan Race creator, best-selling author, and badass CEO Joe De Sena on why you need manufactured adversity. De Sena has faced mountains of failure in business and continues to rise, everything from losing someone during the first ever race and finding them marooned on a desert island a week later, to not turning a profit for 15 years. Nevertheless, this machine of a man bounces back and continues to rise. This interview is just a snapshot of what you can expect in Foundr’s newest course, Mental Toughness. Touted as the ultimate entrepreneurs field guide to building mental toughness, this is not one to be missed. Find out why the Olympic wrestling teams are sent to De Sena shape up, why billionaires send their children to him to learn discipline, and why active military personnel flock to him to learn grit.

Gabi Lewis, Co-Founder, The Magic Spoon In this yummy episode, Gabi Lewis, Co-Founder of The Magic Spoon, sits down with Nathan Chan to discuss his journey from founding the revolutionary EXO protein snack made from crickets, to dominating the $40billion a year cereal industry. Listen in as Lewis reveals how he managed to get Tim Ferris and Nas as angel-investors onboard for EXO snacks, his journey into the competitive world of cereal, and how Magic Spoon continues to stay ahead of the competition. In this deep-dive interview, you’ll find out why Lewis swears by agencies, the opportunities in influencer marketing, and why product-fit is an absolute essential for any founder. Lewis’ incredible journey from crickets to cereal is a not-to-be-missed lesson in entrepreneurship and the importance of saying “no”. Key Takeaways How Lewis started Exo Protein, selling cricket protein bars Recognizing the paleo food trend and targeting that market How Lewis got angel investors such as Tim Ferris and Nas His decision to sell the company and launch Magic Spoon cereal Why Magic Spoon is a direct-to-consumer product and the advantages of ecommerce The successful launch of Magic Spoon and the power of influencers Why product-market fit is the most important aspect of launching a business How Magic Spoon was affected by Covid and the evolution of hiring and scaling The decision to not sell Magic Spoon on Amazon, and the power of customer-brand loyalty Why Lewis believes that a high-quality product is the most important aspect of any business Lewis’ advice to others that as a founder, you should never be distracted, and why your job is to say “no”

In this interview, Nathan Chan sits down with GT Dave, Founder and CEO of GT's Living Foods. GT discusses how he built a $1B empire from his bedroom and his journey of being the first seller of Kombucha in the United States. In this interview, GT Dave discusses how he first began selling Kombucha, entering the market with a completely new category of product, and the challenges he faced in educating the market on what his product was. GT Dave is a firm believer in passion before profit, and his integrity and commitment to health shine through as he discusses his childhood and nutrition, how Kombucha helped his mother through medical issues, and the proven benefits of Kombucha. With a personal net worth estimated at $1Billion, GT Dave’s journey will inspire you to follow your passion and begin building your future, today. Key Takeaways How GT Dave found an interest in Kombucha and how he began marketing it Launching his company from his bedroom, and selling his product using his Dad’s Amex card The challenge of entering the market with a new product and how he went about educating others on an unfamiliar health beverage How GT Dave helped Kombucha to become the global trend it is today GT Dave’s commitment to passion over profit, and what health means to him The importance of validating your product and communicating with consumers His key advice to those who are just getting started, and the questions you need to ask yourself

In this epic roundup episode, we took our favorite moments from every interview this year and combined them to create our most jam-packed episode yet: Foundr Best of 2020! That’s right, in this very special episode, you’ll hear valuable insights from: Drew Houston, CEO and founder of DropBox: On problem-solving, his formula for success in business, and how he— as a billion-dollar CEO — still learns every single day. Dylan Mullen, Founder, and Director of Happy Skin Co. Mullen reveals how he built a $20 million dollar company in 24 months, and how they’re acquiring their customers. Alexa Von Tobel, Founder of Learnvest, & Inspire Capital: Why you shouldn’t spend a dollar on marketing, and what it takes to be a ‘good entrepreneur’. Gretta Van Riel, 4x Multi-Milion Dollar Founder. Van Riel discusses why she would spend $500k on a post from Kylie Jenner, and her $1.3m manufacturing horror story. Henrik Werderlin, founder and CEO of Barkbox, and the strategy that Apple and Amazon have used to build global, beloved brands. You’re about to learn the mistake that every new entrepreneur makes, as discussed by Alex Osterwalder, the Swiss business theorist who developed the “business model canvas”. Author Kamal Ravikant reveals why you don’t need a mentor (from someone who’s been down the road a few times). Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers on how she managed to turn $49,000 into almost a million dollars in 3 years— all thanks to the success of her company. Here’s Skillshare founder Malcolm Ong… who’s about to reveal the one word that will make you a better entrepreneur. Thor Ernstsson, Founder of Strata. The 2 tips that every single entrepreneur needs to hear. One of the internet’s greatest pioneers, cofounder of WordPress Matt Mullenweg on what motivates him. GT’s living foods founder, GT Dave. He reveals to us the key to staying on your path, and not losing your identity. Andy Frisella, founder of 1st Phorm with one of the most fired up conversations of the year. Enjoy this snippet where he’s going to tell you why building a brand is important, and the issue with comparing yourself to Steve Jobs.

Ever wondered what traits and characteristics Google looks for in a founder? Wonder no more, because in this interview, Nathan Chan sits down with CapitalG Founder, David Lawee, to discuss the journey of finding the next $1B Unicorn Business. David is Google's Lead Investor, and has over 13 years of experience under his belt working for one of the largest companies on the planet. Prior to joining Google, Lawee has been a serial entrepreneur. His biggest takeaway from the experience was how to successfully scale companies, and during the interview he finally reveals exactly how to do it. Lawee shares what he believes it takes to create a billion-dollar company. Lawee reveals all the traits and characteristics he looks for in founders when it comes to investing billions of dollars, and exactly what the company needs to look like. Key Takeaways How David Lawee found himself working for Google, CapitalG, and what he learned during his time as a serial entrepreneur The characteristics and traits that he looks for when it comes to investing The difference between an ordinary company, and the billion dollar unicorn Lawee’s advice for those looking to open more doors The change in the market, and an insider's view into Google investment world Lawee discusses how to align your company with investors’ needs

Meet Thor Ernstsson. The founder of global giants such as Alpha, Strata, and lead architect for Zygna responsible for Farmville, Ernstsson knows business and products. In this interview, Nathan sits down with Ernstsson to discuss his journey from Zynga game developer, to creating a company that serves half of the Fortune 500. Honest and candid, Ernstsson reveals his decision-making processes behind some of the company's largest pivots, changes, and challenges. While most people would shy away from the idea of launching a business during a global crisis, Ernstsson is perhaps living proof that not only is it a good decision, it’s the best business decision one can make. Key Takeaways Thor Ernstsson discusses how he first began working at Zygna, and how he felt about the global success of Farmville His next business ventures, including Alpha and Strata Why he decided to pivot the company The importance of “now”, and why starting a business during a crisis is a good idea The decision to launch a business that aimed to connect people, while it was the start of the pandemic How to change the world, and why you should always aim to solve a problem that won’t change The importance of customers and why they need to be invested in your business’ success

Faced with 104 rejections, zero-funding, and the prospect of launching a new business during an economic downturn, Christina Stembel has not only grown her company Farmgirl Flowers to a $65m empire, she has also done it completely bootstrapped. Stembel’s journey from bootstrap to business mogul is nothing short of inspiring. What began as $46k savings and a 2-year window to achieve her goal, her ecommerce flower business saw 5x growth in the first 2 years. As Stembel says, “the fact that I was able to bootstrap without running out of money is the biggest accomplishment of my life” In this interview, listen in to discover how Stembel marketed and advertised her brand on a shoestring budget, the importance of word-of-mouth and how that helped her achieve her first million, and why she views FarmGirl Flowers as the workhorse among unicorns. Key Takeaways How Stembel started FarmGirl Flowers, and why she gave herself 2 years Marketing on a shoestring budget Complications she faced selling perishable products Why she views FarmGirl Flowers as a workhorse among unicorns The importance of product-quality, and why she believes that a good quality product will outsell any level of marketing The future of FarmGirl Flowers and reaching her first billion

As someone who has pioneered the tech industry with his open-source software, and boasts 38% of the internet using his product, Matt Mullenweg is still one of the most humble and inspiring entrepreneurs we’ve ever met. In this insightful interview, Mullenweg discusses the biggest challenges faced by companies today, and the importance of looking after your team and people. As a company that has operated remotely since it’s beginnings, Mullenweg stresses the importance of team-building, and why he took his entire company to Disneyland. Mullenweg touches on some key issues faced by entrepreneurs the worldover - chronic dissatisfaction in progress, and that whatever you do is never enough. He says instead of saying to yourself that it’s not enough, entrepreneurs need to say “it is enough, and there’s more to do!” From the acquisition of powerhouses such as Tumblr, WooCommerce, and his dedication to supporting others, Mullenweg discusses his life’s plan to create as much open-source software as possible and encourage creativity across the globe. This interview will leave a smile on your face and give you the motivation and drive to work towards a better future for all. Key Takeaways How Mullenweg founded WordPress, and operating as a remote-working business in the early 2000s Mullenweg’s beliefs on company culture and the importance of in-person team-building activities especially for remote workers The future of the office and why he believes it will be obsolete post-Covid Mullenweg reveals that as an angel investor, the key things he looks for in a business or founder The future of web development and WordPress The biggest challenges faced by companies today and the importance of looking after your team and people Chronic dissatisfaction as a founder and why needs to become a more positive drive

In this week’s Foundr podcast interview, Nathan Chan sits down with Lisa Spiden, CEO of Workforce Analytics and Foundr of Fibre HR to discuss everything a team leader needs to embody in order to help their team do their best work. Spiden discusses key tactics and methods that team leaders can adopt to help lead their teams through any crisis. Not only does this mean offering support for them during the work-from-home culture shift, but also taking the time to understand and adapt for each individual's needs and workflow. With something for every team leader, this interview will help you to understand how to build a culture within your team, hiring strategies, and top-talent selection. Key Takeaways How Spiden found herself working in HR, and the origins of Fibre HR and Workforce Analytics Spiden discusses tactics to keep team morale high during forced WFH Why staff motivation is the key to staff retention Team standups, retros, and other remote team bonding exercises Addressing top-talent selection, and whether pro-culture or pro-skills is best for your business Building a great culture inside and office, and how to build on it strategically Understanding what your team wants, what drives them, what motivates them

Ever wondered how the elite pros do Facebook ads? This week’s interview with course instructor Nick Shackelford is just that: a no-holding back, all inclusive, step-by-step discussion on running successful Facebook ads. Returning again to Foundr’s exclusive podcast, Shackelford discusses his learnings on media buying, running facebook ads that convert, and exactly what he learned from spending a ridiculous amount of money on fb ads. This interview dives deep into the nitty-gritty of all the lessons Shackelford learned doing media buying for Apple, including the budgets he worked on for the launch of the iPhone 7, iPad Pro, and the Apple Watch (and we are talking huge budgets). Shackelford also discusses how he single-handedly popularized the Fidget Spinner by using Facebook Ads, and how he started his own agency, Structured Social. In this interview, not only will you discover why Shackelford’s Structured spends close to $20million per month on Facebook ads, you’ll also hear first-hand tips and strategies to success in FB ads within the hardest markets, across all GEOS, for every product or service. This is an episode you cannot miss! Key Takeaways How Shackelford first found his way into the industry Working for Apple and what he learned from running $100 million Facebook ads The rise of the fidget spinner, $1m run rate in the first month, and the importance of opportunity How Shackelford has built Structure Social, and now spends close to $20million a month and has over 50 employees The biggest lessons he has learned over the years, including the intricacies of media buying, copywriting, positioning, and creative Why you only have 3-seconds to make an impression with your ad Shackelford’s key advice for those looking to grow their business through Facebook ads

Mental toughness isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you learn and practice and develop over time. And Andy Frisella is living proof of that. The Founder of 1st Phorm, the “Real AF podcast host”, 75Hard program creator, and all around badass Andy Frisella knows discipline and mindset, and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. It’s no secret that Foundr is a huge fan of Frisella’s work with developing mental toughness and discipline (in fact, most of our team has completed his 75Hard challenge!) and after listening to this interview, you’ll be a fan too. Frisella is raw, real, and straight to the point with everything he believes in with mental health, building a brand, company values, and aspiring to become the best version of yourself possible. Key Takeaways Frisella discusses how he has always been an entrepreneur at heart Frisella reflects on how he began his first business, the struggles, the journey, and how he stayed focussed Company values and how Frisella recognises greatness and celebrates it within his team The importance of being a good leader and why you need to communicate values with your team Why Frisella still compares himself to others above him, and why this is a driving force in success The struggle of finding the right support at high-levels of success How to push through discipline blocks and shake off burnout The evolution of 75Hard and what Frisella is most excited for as a legacy

Yancey Strickler, Author and Kickstarter Co-Founder In this inspiring podcast interview, Nathan Chan sits down with Kickstarter co-founder and author Yancey Strickler to discuss his 'Bento Box' method for making better decisions, how his company Kickstarter found it’s feet, and our unhealthy obsession with “financial maximization”. Strickler was working as a music journalist in New York when a chance encounter with future co-founder Perry Chen in a restaurant led to the creation of Kickstarter, and crowdfunding as a category-defining player in a new field. A writer at heart, Stickler used his time post-Kickstarter to write the groundbreaking This Could Be Our Future. An in-depth look at our current obsession with financial gain, and how society has conditioned us to always choose whatever will make the most money. Making the right choices in life is a mission close to Strickler’s heart. As such, he created the revolutionary “Bento Box” framework, an inspiring and humbling process for individuals and businesses alike to frame and structure their decisions. This podcast is one of our most inspiring insights into human nature and the importance of caring for our future selves and our future business. Learn from Strickler as he gives you the secret Bento Box method to help you make the right decisions in life. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Key Takeaways Strickler discusses how the idea for Kickstarter came about in 2005 while working in the music industry Why it took Strickler close to 4 years for the idea to be executed The conscious decision to frame Kickstarter as a funding method for passion projects and new ideas rather than a charity platform Why Kickstarter was originally called “Kickstartr” Pitching the idea of Kickstarter and the initial investors, and getting Andy Baio onboard with the project How they went from unpaid developers to profitability in 14 months The effect of being a category-defining player in a new field Stepping down from his position at Kickstarter Strickler’s new book “This Could Be Our Future” and our current obsession with Financial Maximisation: whatever makes the most money is the right decision Strickler’s Bento Framework Now Me: profitability Future Me: as a business, your values Now Us: stakeholders, employees, suppliers, etc. Future Us: the bigger idea of what you want to be Key Resources From Our Interview https://www.ystrickler.com/book

Kamal Ravikant, Author and Founder, Venture Capitalist In this special podcast interview, Nathan Chan sits down with renowned author and founder Kamal Ravikant to discuss his thoughts on mentorship, entrepreneurs, and everything in between. Ravikant traces his journey back to a point in time most entrepreneurs face: he was doing too much and he was burnt out. In fact, it took losing everything for him to realize what he needed to change: his mindset. Throughout his journey, the ups and downs, the lows and highs, Ravikant is a master of maintaining a balance between persistence and open-mindedness in everything he does. Listen in as Ravikant discloses the powerful reason he chose to write his bestselling book: 'Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It', and how the book developed from a self-published book to a global success spreading joy and love published in 16 languages. This podcast is raw, honest, and a deep insight into personal growth. Learn from Ravikant as he discloses the universal importance of loving yourself, being humble, and caring deeply. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Key Takeaways Ravikant holds the honor of being the fourth ever podcast interview by Foundr back in 2014 His beginnings riding the wave of the internet boom Why it took losing everything to realize he needed to change his mindset His ideology that you should build a business by identifying a problem and creating a solution first The power investors hold over entrepreneurs, and what drove him to become a doer Why he believes in having a strong entrepreneur mindset His re-launch of the global bestseller Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It published in 16 languages worldwide Ravikant discusses his upcoming projects and behind-the-scenes of funds Ravikant addresses the changes in Silicon Valley, and what advice he would give to upcoming entrepreneurs Why you need to be humble and care deeply, always.

Joanna Griffiths CEO Knixwear CEO of global intimates brand Knixwear Joanna Griffiths sits down with Nathan Chan to reveal how she took $20k to and made $50m in revenue last year. In this wonderfully inspiring episode, Griffiths’ discusses how she became an “accidental entrepreneur” with Knixwear. Initially begun as a passion project to create high-quality leak-proof intimates, Griffiths’ put aside her initial goal to run her own media company and instead decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. In school, her business plan won a competition, and she used the $20k prize to begin chasing her dream of solving a universal problem. After years of trials and errors, including a first-time sample order of 40,000 pairs of underwear, Knixwear quickly found it’s feet and is now a $50m a year company. Knixwear has 85 employees globally, and Griffiths’ still reels at the idea that her company sells an item every 6 seconds. Listen in as Griffiths’ discusses the lows and the highs of being a first-time business owner, TV advertising, and why she always chooses the path of risk so she doesn’t look back and wonder “what if”. Key Takeaways How Griffiths’ original plan to run her own media company led her to pursue her MBA How her intimates brand Knixwear began as high-quality leak-proof underwear Why Griffiths dedicated her time to solving this universal problem, and why she feels she is an accidental entrepreneur as a result Why she chose to take a chance rather than risk looking back with regret Griffiths’ discusses her initial business funding: she won a business plan competition at school and received $20k How she used the $20k for product development, launching, and crowd-funding Griffiths’ reveals that the first order was the biggest mistake, but she values progress over perfection Knixwear has passed $50m annual revenue, and that they sell an item every 6 seconds Griffiths’ discusses the early days of wholesale business, and the struggles first-time entrepreneurs face How she identified her target market and shaped her product accordingly

Ulrich Boser, CEO, The Learning Agency Founder and CEO of The Learning Agency, best-selling author, and Foundr course Instructor Ulrich Boser sits down for an in-depth discussion on becoming a better learner, the misinformation surrounding information, and the big secret to mastering any skill (and we mean any skill). The ability to absorb and retain information effectively is often thought of as some sort of elusive skill that you’re born with, but Boser seeks to dispel this once and for all. The ability to learn effectively isn’t something assigned at birth, no one has a “set learning” style, and your ability to absorb information ultimately comes down to how you decide to approach everything. Author of the best-selling Learn Better, Boser reveals to Foundr’s Nathan Chan why he started his company, why feedback is crucial, and why he believes everyone should throw away their highlighters if they want to learn better. In this conversation, Boser takes everything you thought you knew about learning and spins it on its head. If you have any questions about Boser’s upcoming course, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Boser discusses how his childhood sparked his passion to hone and master the ability to pick up skills effectively Why Boser began The Learning Agency Boser discusses the prevalence of learning myths Common learning myths and why they impact learning Why active learning will always overshadow passive learning How to engage with the material; quiz yourself, and identify gaps in your knowledge Why previous knowledge on a topic will boost your learning The importance of feedback on your learning

Malcolm Ong has never shied away from change. In fact, his ability to adapt is what has given him a front-row seat to multiple business transformations—first as the co-founder of education platform Skillshare to now as the Head of Product at South China Morning Post. After launching Skillshare in 2010, Ong led the business through a significant pivot—from being a completely offline, in-person model to one that’s now membership-based and 100% online. In the process, he also witnessed the massive growth of the online education industry, which has only been sped up by the Covid-19 pandemic. After leaving Skillshare, Ong joined South China Morning Post, a global, English-language news media company owned by Alibaba. His job has been to transform this company from a traditional, local newspaper into a more modern, global media empire. A task that he has exceeded, as he’s grown their number of monthly active users from 4 million to over 50 million and significantly expanded the outlet’s readership beyond Asia. In this conversation, Ong gives us a deeper dive into these milestones throughout his fascinating career and shares his best recommendations on how to transform a business. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Why Ong decided to tackle the education industry How Skillshare launched as a 100% offline education platform What contributed to Skillshare’s success The scalability issues that Skillshare faced, and how this led to the company transitioning online Ong’s advice when it comes to pivoting your business Why Ong eventually left Skillshare in 2016 What intrigued Ong about the job offer from South China Morning Post (SCMP) Ong’s experience living in Hong Kong, and how it has given him the front seat to many historical events How Ong has helped SCMP transform from being a traditional media company to a cutting-edge product and customer-focused business Ong’s advice to entrepreneurs about trying on different hats Key Resources From Our Interview With Malcom Ong Visit the SCMP website Follow Ong on LinkedIn and Twitter

John Mackey, Co-Founder and CEO, Whole Foods Market Right now, every company needs strong leadership to guide them through these challenging times. Thankfully, Whole Foods Market co-founder and CEO John Mackey is well versed on the principles of leadership and is launching his latest book, Conscious Leadership, this month to help other founders put those ideas into practice. In addition to the book, people can see Mackey’s approach to leadership in action with Whole Foods. While Mackey is grateful that his stores are still in full operation during Covid-19, he doesn’t try to hide the fact that circumstances have been extremely challenging—from rapidly scaling its supply chain to accommodate the sudden demands of customers to generating almost no revenue as a result of all the sanitation products the business has had to invest in. But these obstacles don't bother Mackey. As a conscious leader, his priority is making sure that every single one of their 100,000 team members has access to the resources they need to stay safe at work. He has also raised every in-store worker’s pay by $2 per hour, provided two extra weeks of sick pay for those who have to quarantine, and is giving unlimited callouts during this time. In this conversation, Mackey shares more about what it means to lead with love, how founders can attract and retain great talent in this challenging environment, and so much more. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways An overview of Mackey’s best-selling book, Conscious Capitalism A sneak peek into Mackey’s latest book, Conscious Leadership, and what inspired him to write it The two most important pillars of leadership Why Mackey believes in leading with love How Mackey is putting conscious leadership into action during the pandemic The challenges Whole Foods has been dealing with from a supply chain and revenue perspective Why being an Amazon subsidiary adds a layer of complexity to the Whole Foods business How to attract and retain great people during these challenging times What Mackey has done to support Whole Foods employees during Covid-19 Why Mackey believes in the win-win-win mindset, and how this attitude can guide your business decisions The importance of leading by example Key Resources From Our Interview With John Mackey Get your copy of Conscious Leadership here

Kurt Seidensticker, Former NASA Engineer & Founder and CEO, Vital Proteins How did Kurt Seidensticker go from being a NASA engineer to the founder of one of the biggest protein brands in the world? Believe it or not, his career path has been a perfect culmination of experiences—one that has led him to his current position as the CEO of Vital Proteins, a brand that was recently acquired by Nestlé and is expected to generate a quarter of a billion dollars in revenue this year. Even when Seidensticker was working at NASA as an aerospace engineer, he was constantly running his entrepreneurial brain and thinking up new projects to undertake. After several years of working in a diverse array of industries—from cellular phone systems to high-speed internet—he decided to strike out on his own and started his own data center company and ecommerce platform. Despite appearing to be completely unrelated businesses, these two companies served as the launching pad that allowed Seidensticker to start Vital Proteins in 2013. His ingestible collagen product took the protein market by the storm and saw over 300% YOY growth in its early days. In this podcast episode, Seidensticker discusses what led to the incredible growth of Vital Proteins—from having first-mover advantage to finding negotiating power when dealing with retailers. He also shares his best recommendations when it comes to influencer marketing, moving fast, and so much more. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Why Seidensticker decided to become an aerospace engineer The business ideas Seidensticker had while working at NASA and worked on space programs, underneath was entrepreneurial drive How Seidensticker came to work on pivotal projects in the cellular phone systems and high-speed internet space Why Seidensticker decided to strike out on his own How the data center company and ecommerce platform he built became a launching pad for Vital Proteins The experience that led Seidensticker to explore the world of protein, and how he created a whole new category around ingestible collagen How Seidenstricker and his team approach influencer marketing differently Seidensticker’s school of thought when it comes to the power of product vs. marketing The benefits of operating under the radar and having first-mover advantage How Vital Proteins educated consumers and drove the market for collagen Why Seidensticker recommends going online before retail, and how he gained negotiating leverage with retailers Details about Vital Proteins’ partial acquisition by Nestlé Why Seidensticker believes in progress over perfection Key Resources From Our Interview With Kurt Seidensticker Visit the Vital Proteins website Find Seidensticker on LinkedIn

Mike Michalowicz, Author & Co-Founder, Profit First Professionals Right now, every entrepreneur has the same question on their mind: how do I recover or maintain my company’s profit levels during Covid-19? That’s why we were so eager to sit down with Mike Michalowicz, who is a serial entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Profit First system. Our own CEO and founder, Nathan, used Michalowicz’s teachings to completely change the way he manages Foundr’s finances. And now we want to bring you the same level of knowledge to help you through these challenging times. In this conversation, Michalowicz shares his best recommendations on how to manage your cash flow, financial priorities, and more during a pandemic. If you have any questions on how to take a profit-first mindset right now, this episode is for you. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways What Michalowicz learned from building and selling his first two businesses How going into bankruptcy changed the way that Michalowicz views entrepreneurship Michalowicz’s path to becoming a small business author, and how running two of his own companies contributes to his books What’s happening during “The Great Big Shift” How to manage cash flow during the pandemic The difference between sales issues vs. profit issues Michalowicz’s tips to organize your financial priorities during Covid-19 Why Michalowicz recommends pulling off the bandaid instead of chipping away when it comes to tough decisions An overview of the Profit First methodology and framework Parkinson’s Law, and how it applies to toothpaste Why Michalowicz recommends trusting wallets over words Key Resources From Our Interview With Mike Michalowicz Visit Michalowicz’s website

Mikael Yan, Co-Founder and CEO, ManyChat When Mikael Yan launched ManyChat in 2015, other messaging apps were trying to impress investors with their fancy AI and NLP technologies. But not him. Instead, he made it clear to investors that his app was solely meant to solve a business problem: helping companies better communicate with and market to their customers. Investors who were initially interested in ManyChat immediately lost interest. But not for long. Even though Yan and his founding team initially had to bootstrap their product, investors eventually recognized the potential behind their vision and got on board. Today, ManyChat has over one million Facebook pages connected to its platform in over 190 countries. The company also recently raised its Series A from Bessemer Venture Partners. Given that 2020 is the first time in history that the number of messaging app users will surpass the number of social media users, it’s clear that ManyChat is just getting started. Listen to this interview to learn more about Yan’s thoughts on the future of messenger marketing, the global mobile industry, and the importance of mindset as an entrepreneur. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Why Yan, after years of dabbling in the consumer space, turned his eyes to B2B How ManyChat made timely use of Telegram Messenger’s API in 2015 and introduced the world of messenger marketing The rise of private vs. public channels Yan’s analysis on why China is so ahead when it comes to mobile and messaging apps Why Yan believes in being product obsessed and understanding the customer experience above everything else How Yan avoided the trap of building a product for the “cool” factor (and initially lost investor interest as a result) The power of self belief in entrepreneurship, and how to cultivate this mindset Yan’s personal glass ceiling A look into the future of ManyChat and what Yan is most excited about when it comes to the messenger app industry Key Resources From Our Interview With Mikael Yan Visit the ManyChat website Follow Yan on Instagram

In 2010, only 2% of beauty products were being sold on the internet. When Katia Beauchamp and her Harvard Business School classmate, Hayley Barna, came across this statistic, they were floored. This seemed like a huge missed opportunity—so they decided to dig deeper. What they discovered was that people were overwhelmed by the prospect of shopping for beauty products. With this problem in mind, Birchbox was created as the simple solution. The monthly subscription box contained a wide variety of beauty samples, and customers could buy the full size of whichever product they liked. In short, Birchbox made the beauty shopping experience easy for the casual consumer. Since the brand’s launch in 2010, Birchbox has grown to a nine-figure business that now has access to thousands of products, offers over 100 types of boxes for consumers, and has expanded globally. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about Beauchamp’s thoughts on scaling relationships, building a trustworthy brand, and appealing to your target customer. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Why people weren’t shopping for beauty products online in the mid-2000s How this problem inspired Beauchamp and co-founder Hayley Barna to launch their beauty subscription box, Birchbox The idea of the “casual consumer” and how this demographic became Birchbox’s target customer Why Beauchamp doesn’t view beauty stores like Sephora or department stores as competitors How Birchbox launched its beta test in 2010, and what it took to grow its customer base Beauchamp’s thoughts on scaling relationships and building a trustworthy brand What Beauchamp is most excited about when it comes to the future of Birchbox

It’s not easy to rebuild an entire company—especially when things are going well. But that’s exactly what Justin McLeod did with his dating app, Hinge. After Hinge first launched in 2012, it saw exponential growth. Despite this, McLeod made the risky decision to rebuild his app from scratch in 2016. Why? He felt that the company had strayed too from its original vision or helping people find and build meaningful connections. So instead of remaining the brand that connects “friends with friends,” it rebranded to become “the dating app designed to be deleted.” McLeod’s decision paid off. Today, Hinge is a subsidiary under Match.com, has seen huge growth on a global scale, and is setting up a date every three seconds globally. In this podcast episode, McLeod shares exactly what it took to get through this challenging transition and what’s in store for this beloved dating app in the near future. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways McLeod’s own love story, and how it inspired the idea behind Hinge Why, after years of success, McLeod decided to rebuild his dating app from scratch The reaction of Hinge’s board of directors and team in response to this change How Hinge fulfills its mission of getting more people out on great dates The type of data that Hinge collects to set itself apart from competitors The power of word-of-mouth when it came to Hinge’s growth What McLeod thinks are the mistakes he made while building Hinge for the first time (and how he fixed them the second time around) Why McLeod decided to join forces with Match.com, and how this decision has helped the business scale globally The type of research that’s happening at Hinge Labs McLeod’s approach to user testing and product development with Hinge Why McLeod recommends being firm about your vision but flexible about your tactics

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools that brands can leverage during the pandemic. With face-to-face interactions still being limited and people spending most of their time at home, there has never been a better time to hit ‘send’ on those email campaigns and flows. To help guide you in the right direction, we sat down with Chase Dimond to get his best recommendations on how to crisis-proof your email marketing strategy. Why Dimond? Not only is he the co-founder of Boundless Labs, an email marketing agency that was recently acquired by Structured Social, but he has also helped his clients make over $40 million in email attributable revenue during his career. In our conversation, Dimond shares specific examples of the most successful email messaging, campaigns, and flows that his clients have used during Covid-19. He also reveals fascinating data on the email marketing trends he’s noticed since the start of the pandemic. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started on your email marketing journey, you’re sure to learn something valuable in this interview. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways Dimond’s agency merge with Structured Social How Dimond is thinking about Covid-19 from a business perspective Examples of email messaging to use during the pandemic Why Dimond is staying away from fear mongering and focusing on adding value The difference between email campaigns and email flows Which categories of email campaigns are working well for Dimond’s clients The importance of creating an email marketing calendar Why Dimond recommends splitting your time between campaigns and flows Examples of successful email campaigns Dimond’s clients have run in the past Dimond’s thoughts on giveaways What Structured Social’s data is showing when it comes to open rates, mobile traffic, and the impact of stimulus checks on email marketing Dimond’s recommendations on getting emails prepared for the summer

Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign Jason Vandeboom sits down with Foundr’s Nathan Chan to discuss his journey from launching a small part-time business to running a global SaaS empire. An email marketing, marketing-automation, and sales CRM platform, Jason owes the company’s success to its “customer first” approach and mindful framework. By throwing out the “product-first SaaS playbook” to a more customer-centric model, ActiveCampaign has evolved from an old-school on-premise contact management company to over 90,000 customers in 161 countries. Jason doesn’t believe in a time-box window for creation, and he discusses his belief that you can create innovation over time. He says that when it comes to building a business that is sustainable and long-term, you have to start with the right framework. With many small businesses facing uncertainty due to Covid-19, ActiveCampaign has made it their mission to provide support and security for their customers. Jason discusses how “there’s a former digital transformation that […] has become a necessity.” Above all, business is about trusting your instincts and trying to find a path that is a different shape to others. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email. Key Takeaways Jason discusses his belief in the importance of staying true to being a small business How ActiveCampaign found its footing as an on-premise contact management businesses Why Jason believes the key to a successful business is customer-first over product-first, and how this can shape creative innovation How ActiveCampaign slowly built its foundations in order to secure 100k paying-active companies and over $100 million in annual recurring revenue Why you should ignore the typical SaaS playbook that insists that in order to obtain growth you will need to upmarket Jason advises that you should always trust your instincts, and allow time for your company to grow. You only need passion, joy, and the strength to find our way through it all.

From working as a server at Longhorn Steakhouse, to multiple successful startups, making millions in his 20s, to publishing a best selling book, Daniel DiPiazza knows the entrepreneur's journey like the back of his hand. Here to discuss his upcoming "Start Your Side Hustle" course with Foundr, Daniel is all too familiar with the challenges and doubts faced by today's hustlers, and is here to teach you ways to overcome them. If you want to start a business but don't know where to begin, a low-risk side hustle by freelancing with your existing skills really is the gateway to entrepreneurship. It's extremely affordable with almost literally zero startup cost. In return, you can expect to make great profits with little to no overheads. Daniel has done this multiple times and has a unique method for helping you identify your skills, find clients, and getting them to pay you for your service. If there's any other type of content you'd like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email. Key Takeaways Daniel discusses his first viral article: Hacking E-Lance, the infamous "butterball story," and how he dominated a job board website Taking the first step towards starting your own business with "sweat equity" Why service-based businesses are the gateway drug to entrepreneurship Why freelancing teaches you all the business essentials Taking the first step; how not to be afraid, what to focus on, and what the competition means for you The importance of building a skill inventory, defining your skill, and seeing where they align Gaining confidence in becoming an entrepreneur and why you don't have to be the best in the world at what you do The fastest way for you to get paid for your big idea

Ben Horowitz is one of the most widely recognized names in the world of entrepreneurship. Not only is he the co-founder of the famous venture capital fund, Andreessen Horowitz, but he's also a respected author and thinker with some of the most innovative ideas when it comes to the way companies are run. In our conversation with Horowitz, we dive deep into the topic of culture—how to create it, move it, and adhere to it. Horowitz also gives us a glimpse into his book, What You Do Is Who You Are, and shares fascinating stories and case studies from it (such as his learnings from prison gang leader, Shaka Senghor). This isn't a podcast episode you want to miss! Whether you're a fan of Horowitz himself or simply want to learn more about the art of crafting a company culture, you're sure to gain tons of insights in this interview. If there's any other type of content you'd like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email. Key Takeaways The problem that Andreessen Horowitz set out to solve for technical founders What compelled Horowitz to publish his book, What You Do Is Who You Are What it takes to move a culture The importance of cohesion between culture and strategy Why you don’t need to establish your company culture on Day 1 What a prison gang leader taught Horowitz about culture and leadership The creative way that Andreessen Horowitz enforces their value to be respectful to entrepreneurs at the firm Horowitz’s thoughts on the culture of Netflix versus McDonald’s The elements that go into creating a high-performance culture Differentiating between high performance versus long hours Why Horowitz looks for courage in founders Bonus: Horowitz shares his favorite rap album from 2019

In 2008, Jeff Rosenthal and his co-founders Elliott Bisnow and Brett Leve convinced 19 people they admired to go on a ski trip with them to Park City, Utah. They wanted to spend one-on-one time with this small group of thought leaders to learn from them and glean some knowledge. Little did they know that this was only the beginning of their long and successful entrepreneurial journey. What started off as a small event production company has morphed into a global behemoth that includes everything from nonprofits to funds to a major ski resort that all fall under the Summit brand. While the company is still primarily known for its famous invitation-only events, its biggest impact is its tight-knit community of innovative, creative individuals from around the world. In this podcast episode, Rosenthal talks about Summit’s explosive growth, what it takes to host a truly extraordinary event, and more entrepreneurial gold. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. Key Takeaways What inspired Rosenthal and his co-founders to start their event production company Summit in 2008 How Summit expanded into a family of companies, nonprofits, and funds over the last 12 years What makes a spectacular event, according to Rosenthal Why Rosenthal believes “keep it real” is terrible advice when it comes to events, and what he recommends instead The importance of leadership when it comes to event planning The correlation between creativity and capital How Rosenthal manages to lead the multiple entities under Summit The best advice on delegation Rosenthal received from his mentor Why profitability isn’t the only measure of an event’s success What it takes to attract top-notch speakers (and how to set them up for success) The way Rosenthal approaches balancing quality of experience and scaling