The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan 559: How a $100M Exit Left This 30 Year Old Lost | Jake Kassan
Apr 11, 2025
Jake Kassan, co-founder of Movement Watches, shares his journey from building a $100M brand to grappling with an identity crisis post-sale. He discusses the overwhelming loneliness that followed financial success and the realization that money alone doesn’t bring fulfillment. Jake reveals how his passion for video production reignited his creativity and the importance of personal values over mere financial achievements. His insights resonate deeply with founders facing burnout and searching for meaning in their entrepreneurial lives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Movement's Origin
- Jake Kassan and his roommate, both college dropouts, brainstormed business ideas.
- They identified a gap in affordable fashion watches that resonated emotionally with young adults, like Nike.
Crowdfunding & Scrappy Beginnings
- Movement launched with $5,000 credit card debt and a successful Indiegogo campaign raising $300,000.
- Early success stemmed from scrappy marketing on platforms like Reddit, before Instagram's prominence.
Post-Acquisition Reality
- After selling Movement, Jake experienced a mix of gratitude, excitement, and confusion about his identity and purpose.
- Despite the financial success, his daily routine initially remained the same, highlighting the emotional complexities of an exit.