The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan
560: The College Dropout Who Built an $11 billion Toy Empire | Nick Mowbray (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]
Apr 18, 2025
Nick Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU, shares his journey from backyard balloon projects to creating a $11 billion toy empire. He discusses living frugally in China for seven years to build his business and the tough lessons learned, including a significant lawsuit. Mowbray emphasizes the "2% better every week" mentality that propelled ZURU ahead of giants like Hasbro and Mattel. He also highlights innovative e-commerce strategies and the importance of adapting to market trends, all while maintaining a lean, self-funded business model.
41:48
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Quick takeaways
- Despite facing initial setbacks and living minimally for years, ZURU's founders embraced a mindset of continuous improvement that fueled their innovation.
- By focusing on unique product development and leveraging operational efficiencies, ZURU successfully expanded into various consumer goods markets while challenging industry giants.
Deep dives
The Humble Beginnings of Zuru
Zuru started with a modest $20,000 borrowed from family, driven by a desire to create innovative toys. The founders faced immense challenges, including living in minimal conditions in China while building their production capabilities. They worked tirelessly for seven years, constantly scrapping to overcome obstacles that included limited funds and initial failures in product safety. Despite their challenges, they learned quickly about the intricacies of manufacturing and market needs, shaping their vision as a global toy company.
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