Many know Celsius as a top energy drink brand today, but few are aware of the tumultuous journey CEO John Fieldly took to get it here. In the episode, John shared how the company nearly went bankrupt multiple times, lost 50% of its revenue overnight and even got delisted from the NASDAQ.Despite these challenges, John stepped up to rebuild the brand to the nearly $10B company it is today. We discuss how he shifted focus from weight loss to broad-based energy, secured key distribution deals, landed a major partnership with Pepsi, and much more. (00:00) Intro(01:34) The Origins of Celsius(03:30) Going Public: The Early Days(06:07) Challenges and Lawsuits(09:17) Rebuilding and Rebranding(13:18) Strategic Shifts and Market Positioning(30:40) The Role of Influencers and Social Media(32:03) John Fieldly's Leadership Journey(33:34) Reflecting on the Stock Price Journey(34:12) Navigating Public Company Challenges(35:25) Distribution Deals and Market Perception(38:00) Strategic Moves and Competitive Advantage(44:08) Marketing Strategies and Consumer Engagement(52:35) Leadership and Company Culture(01:02:01) International Expansion and Future Goals(01:06:01) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Executive Producer: Rashad AssirProducer: Leah ClapperMixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA 🎙 Listen to the show Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-bartlett-show/id1606770839Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5WqBqDb4br3LlyVrdqOYYb?si=3076e6c1b5c94d63&nd=1Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9zb0hJZkhWbg 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w?sub_confirmation=1 Follow on Socials 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloganbartlettshow🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/loganbartshow🎬 Clips on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theloganbartlettshow About the Show Logan Bartlett is a Software Investor at Redpoint Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based VC with $6B AUM and investments in Snowflake, DraftKings, Twilio, and Netflix. In each episode, Logan goes behind the scenes with world-class entrepreneurs and investors. If you're interested in the real inside baseball of tech, entrepreneurship, and start-up investing, tune in every Friday for new episodes.

Josh Wolfe, Co-Founder of Lux Capital and a visionary in venture capital, dives into a whirlwind of topics. He discusses the necessity of monitoring news to spot hidden market opportunities and explores the delicate balance between investment risks and innovation. Josh sheds light on the geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran, societal happiness, and the future of AI technology. He also delves into ethical considerations in defense investments and the crucial role of storytelling in shaping investment narratives and building trust.

Emery Wells, co-founder and CEO of Frame.io, details his incredible journey from NYC bartender to startup founder, culminating in a $1.3 billion sale to Adobe. He shares insights from his work with SNL that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. Discussing the importance of design and a unique company culture, he rejects the lean startup model and emphasizes maintaining high standards. Emery also navigates the intense processes of fundraising and acquisitions, along with the impact of AI on creativity—highlighting lessons learned along the way.

Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of Uber and a leader in transforming the company to profitability since 2017, shares insights into autonomous vehicles and consumer behavior shifts. He discusses overcoming challenges in AV strategy, emphasizing the societal importance of safety and user preferences. Dara also reflects on Uber's cultural reset, evolving company values, and the significance of operational efficiency. He highlights innovative adaptations in global markets and the vital role of transparent leadership in fostering trust and driving performance.

Mike Maples, an 8x Midas List investor and founding partner at Floodgate Fund, shares his insights on startup success and the future of venture capital. He explores how top startups redefine categories and discusses the significance of 'pattern-breaking' ideas. The conversation dives into pivotal moments in startup history, including the rise of Twitch and Tesla. Maples also highlights the traits of successful founders, emphasizing storytelling and community movements as key elements in creating impactful products.

Josh Reeves, Founder and CEO of Gusto, discusses the early days and strategic growth of Gusto, highlighting the importance of proving product viability before scaling. He emphasizes building a culture aligned with company values, work-life balance, long-term success, and empowering teams for efficient product development. Reeves also shares insights on hiring executives, company growth, and Gusto's vision to become an entrepreneurship platform.

Eric Glyman, CEO of Ramp, shares insights on leveraging AI internally, building moats in AI for startups, and the concept of self-driving money. The discussion also covers hiring strategies, motivations, and success factors in leading a fast-growing startup.

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski discusses turning the company profitable, boardroom drama with Sequoia, and building a digital financial assistant. Topics include leadership, company culture, handling valuation resets, regulatory challenges, AI integration, and lessons in venture capital.

CEO of Datadog, Olivier Pomel, shares insights on fundraising, building the right product, open beta transition, platform vision, customer-centric approach, bottom-up sales strategy, collaborative management, staying close to customers, pricing strategy, fostering culture of discipline, AI impact, choosing NYC over Silicon Valley.

Steve Kaufer, Co-Founder of Tripadvisor, shares insights on handling negative reviews, the psychology of user behavior, and the impact of AI on review platforms. He also discusses the importance of agility in business, setting company culture, and hiring the right people. Additionally, Steve reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, managing through crises like 9/11 and COVID-19, and his new venture Give Freely.