OPERATORS Operators Titans E005: Peak 21 (with President Roman Khan)
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Oct 23, 2025 Roman Khan, President of Peak 21, is a seasoned entrepreneur known for scaling DTC brands like Raycon and Linjer. In this engaging discussion, he dives into his near-bankruptcy experience and the relentless founder anxiety that drives him. Roman elaborates on his unique approach to scaling companies, emphasizing the power of distribution over product. He shares insights on building strong supplier relationships and the transformative role of AI in marketing. Listeners will find valuable lessons on navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and seizing growth opportunities.
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Near-Bankruptcy Pivot
- In 2018 Roman Kahn nearly went bankrupt when inventory and a single-channel marketing dependence created a cash-flow cliff.
- That crisis forced him to rethink leverage, move closer to suppliers, and treat factories as banking partners.
Linjer's Handmade Origin
- Linjer began when Roman's wife made a laptop bag because they couldn't find one without big logos.
- They launched with $20,000 and multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns that attracted founders like Ray from Raycon.
One Big Acquisition At A Time
- Do one large acquisition at a time and focus on operations; be operators first, investors second.
- Buy majority positions with motivated founders to align incentives and de-risk integrations.
