Shopify Masters

Cassie Abel, founder and CEO of Wild Rye, builds stylish, high-performance outdoor gear with a purpose-driven, women-led approach. She talks product stumbles, the four-year journey to a ski line, switching manufacturing overseas, and how community fundraising and focused retail hustle helped land 100+ retailers and raise nearly $1M.

Hannah Beals, former CEO and early Ouai leader who scaled the brand into a global haircare success, shares stories about brand-building, marketing, and company culture. She discusses turning customer comments into campaigns. She recounts risky creative bets, scaling intimacy while growing the team, content strategies across platforms, and keeping playfulness within corporate partnerships.

Discover how eleven founders are shaping the future of businesses with their unique strategies for 2026. Learn about leveraging AI for product discovery and the power of 'slow content' to engage audiences. Explore innovative gamified loyalty programs and community-first growth tactics that adapt to consumer demands. Get insights on running efficient operations and expanding sales channels. From planning budgets to mapping trends, these experts share invaluable playbooks for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Paul Tran, founder of MANSCAPED, shares his journey from startup enthusiast to entrepreneur behind a pioneering men’s grooming brand. He discusses identifying the untapped market for below-the-belt grooming and how rapid product iterations and customer feedback led to their first product selling out in two weeks. Tran reveals clever marketing tactics, from early TikTok ads to partnerships with UFC, and the importance of measuring brand impact alongside performance. He also touches on work-life balance and incorporating AI into creative processes for innovative content.

Mike Jajo, co-founder of Waterboy, shares his journey of building a hydration brand from just $700. He discusses the importance of strategic restraint and prelaunch marketing through TikTok, leading to viral success. Mike highlights pivoting from cans to stick packs to address production challenges and emphasizes the value of community-building through customer brand trips. He also shares insights on approaching retail giants like Target by showcasing their unique offerings and how to transform social interest into loyal customers.

Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi and former founder-operator of a non-alcoholic sparkling aperitif brand, shares her insights on marketing and growth strategies. She reveals how sampling has become their top marketing expense, successfully converting skeptics into loyal subscribers. Scout discusses the importance of crafting sophisticated flavors and clear packaging, while also emphasizing the significance of community connection through emotional storytelling. The conversation highlights De Soi's rise in an initially skeptical market and the pivotal role of major retailers like Target in legitimizing the category.

Bre Giglio, founder of Bashify, transformed her pandemic-era side hustle into a six-figure balloon brand. She reveals how a love for event planning blossomed after her nursing career took a turn. Discover her pivot from pop-up picnics to larger events and the mentorship that helped embrace her newfound balloon focus. Bre emphasizes the importance of customer experience over technical skills and shares her successful e-commerce launch. With ambitions to redefine party retail, she highlights the journey of balancing family and business.

Dr. Julie Chung, an ophthalmologist-turned-entrepreneur and co-founder of T3, shares her journey of transforming hair tools into luxury beauty products. She discusses tackling personal frustrations to innovate in design and packaging. Julie highlights the importance of placing these products in beauty sections rather than home appliance aisles, leveraging user feedback for validation. She reveals how strategic beauty PR caught Sephora's attention while emphasizing her choice to remain independent from VC funding to maintain brand integrity.

Tom Ollett, co-founder and CEO of Ergatta, shares his journey of transforming cardio workouts into engaging gamified experiences. He reveals how boredom with traditional fitness sparked the idea for Ergatta's rowing game, emphasizing market research that pinpointed a unique introverted audience. Tom discusses launching during the pandemic, the strategic choice of rowing, and innovative partnerships with manufacturers. He dives into subscription models, game licensing, and the importance of branding, all while reflecting on the lessons learned from his fundraising journey.

Casey Watalevich and Allie Walsh, co-founders of Canyon Coffee, share their unique journey in building a seven-figure coffee brand. They discuss how their nontraditional backgrounds fueled a design-first approach, targeting boutiques instead of cafes. The duo emphasizes organic sourcing and community engagement, using creative content marketing to foster growth. From thoughtful packaging to the challenges of bootstrapping, their story highlights innovative strategies that prioritized sustainability and relationships, all while navigating industry shifts.