Truth Hurts Show How Kass & Mike Sold Their Startup for $1 Billion to Salesforce
On this powerful episode of The Truth Hurts Show, Brian and Makan are joined by legendary founders Kass and Mike Lazerow, whose journey spans billion-dollar exits, devastating losses, and a mission to uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Together they built Buddy Media, sold to Salesforce for nearly $1B, and now lead a $400M venture fund investing in dreamers and doers. But behind the numbers is a story of family, resilience, and hard-won lessons from the trenches.
They talk trauma, teamwork, radical transparency, and why building a company is the “best kind of hell.” If you’re building anything — or rebuilding yourself — this episode will light a fire under you.
This is legacy leadership, startup war stories, and real talk for anyone chasing greatness.
Kass and Mike's Links:
Website: https://kassandmike.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassandmike
Follow US!
YouTube: @TruthHurtsShow
Brian's Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangoldphd
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briangoldphd
Makan's Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makan_mostafavi
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makanmostafavi
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome Kass and Mike!
02:21 – The Journey of Buddy Media
04:40 – Early Ventures and Lessons Learned
11:48 – The Birth of Buddy Media
18:17 – Scaling and Success of Buddy Media
22:21 – Acquisition by Salesforce
28:48 – Family Dynamics and Personal Reflections
29:20 – Entrepreneurial Traits
30:15 – Balancing Family and Business
30:38 – Investing in Startups and Deal Flow
37:16 – Operational Strategies and Cheat Codes
44:39 – Focus and Prioritization in Business
50:32 – Humility and Giving Back
01:02:58 – The Value of Failure
01:03:10 – Hiring Cheat Codes: Athletes, Vets, and Moms
01:03:50 – The Importance of Team Sports
01:04:40 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship
01:07:15 – Generational Workforce Concerns
01:09:46 – The Role of Money and Family
01:10:29 – Meeting Maha and Building Relationships
01:22:17 – Advice for Entrepreneurs
01:28:45 – Where to Find Us
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.