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In this episode we're joined by Mike Jones, Managing Partner at Science Inc., a trailblazing venture studio behind breakout brands like Dollar Shave Club, Liquid Death, and DogVacay (merged with Rover).
Mike is one of LA’s most prolific entrepreneurs and investors. From turning around MySpace to co-founding and investing in over 150 companies, his career is filled with pivotal lessons on operating, scaling, and backing iconic consumer brands.
We dive deep into:
- 🚀 How Mike transitioned from founder to turnaround CEO to VC
- 🧠 His three phases of leadership: micromanager, manager through people, and board-level strategist
- 🔍 What he looks for in early-stage consumer brands
- 💡 The signals that made Liquid Death and Dollar Shave Club stand out
- 🧪 Why he loves the studio model and how it works behind the scenes
- 📉 Hard lessons from ventures that didn’t go to plan — and how to know when to pivot
- 🛠️ The biggest distribution mistake consumer founders make
- 🧬 How AI is transforming the way he builds and backs companies
- 🧭 The trends he's most excited about — from AI legal to loneliness-driven consumer experiences
Plus, Mike shares the best dinner guest he’s ever had and who he’d love to sit down with across time.
This is a masterclass in consumer investing, venture building, and founder psychology.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow The Riding Unicorns podcast on your favourite platform and stay connected with us on social media for more inspiring episodes! 🎙️🦄
