The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan cover image

The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Latest episodes

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Feb 28, 2025 • 52min

553: His Multi-Million Dollar DTC Playbook That Launched MrBeasts Feastables | Nick Sharma

In this episode, Nick Sharma, founder of Sharma Brands, shares his incredible journey from managing celebrity social media accounts as a teenager to becoming one of the most sought-after names in direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing. Nick dives into the strategies that helped him scale brands like Hint Water and Feastables, including the importance of building trust, leveraging content for conversions, and mastering customer retention. Entrepreneurs will gain actionable insights into creating standout DTC brands, understanding the power of creative content, and executing innovative marketing campaigns.Listen to Nathan and Nick discuss: - How Nick turned his passion for social media into a thriving career in DTC marketing- Scaling Hint Water’s online presence from 80 to 5,000 new customers a day- The secrets behind Feastables’ record-breaking launch on Shopify- Practical tips for building trust and creating organic content that drives sales- Nick’s “Grandma Test” and “Drunk Funnel Test” for ensuring seamless user experiences- And much more DTC business advice…Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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Feb 21, 2025 • 51min

552: She Went From $0 to $15M Selling Eyeliner | Iris Smit [VIDEO]

Iris Smit, founder of The Quick Flick, shares her inspiring journey from dorm room startup to building a $15 million beauty empire. She discusses overcoming self-doubt and the decision to turn down a Shark Tank deal. Iris reveals how she leveraged influencer marketing and radical transparency to grow her brand. The conversation touches on innovative marketing strategies during the pandemic and the importance of authenticity in brand building. This chat is filled with actionable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs!
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Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 1min

551: From $0 to $30M in 3 Years Selling Fashion | Aimee Smale [VIDEO]

Aimee Smale, founder of Odd Muse, takes us through her remarkable journey from designing logos to creating a £24M fashion brand. She reveals how an iconic blazer led to viral success and discusses using pre-orders for growth without external funding. Aimee shares her strategies for community-driven marketing and influencer partnerships while tackling challenges from copycats. With insights on maintaining brand integrity and expanding into retail, her story offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs in the fashion industry.
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Feb 7, 2025 • 1h 3min

550: He Went From $0 to $50M Selling THIS Product | Mike Smith [VIDEO]

In this episode, Mike Smith, founder of Zero Co, shares how a backpacking trip around the world turned into a mission to solve the plastic waste crisis. Mike walks us through the early days of bootstrapping the business with his last $100K, moving back in with his parents, and how he raised over $750K through Australia's most successful Kickstarter campaign. He dives deep into the challenges of supply chain innovation, the power of radical transparency, and the tough decision to completely overhaul Zero Co’s business model after discovering flaws in its sustainability approach. Entrepreneurs will learn firsthand how to balance purpose with profitability, navigate manufacturing setbacks, and use community-driven marketing to build a loyal customer base.Listen to Nathan and Mike discuss: - The journey from an 18-month backpacking trip to launching Zero Co- Bootstrapping with $100K and leveraging crowdfunding to raise $750K- The importance of radical transparency in customer communication- Scaling a product-based business while staying sustainable- The challenges of manufacturing sustainable packaging and evolving the business model- How Zero Co is expanding internationally and into retail- And much more business and personal growth advice…Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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Jan 31, 2025 • 55min

549: How Popflex Became Taylor Swift's Favourite Clothing Brand | Cassey Ho [VIDEO]

Cassey Ho, founder of POPFLEX and Blogilates, shares her inspiring journey from rock bottom to building two successful brands. She reveals how Taylor Swift's unexpected endorsement of her skort led to a massive surge in demand. Cassey discusses the importance of community trust and authenticity while navigating challenges like copycats and scaling her business. Listeners will gain practical insights on creating viral content and the significance of transparent engagement with a loyal audience. A blend of passion, business, and overcoming adversity!
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Jan 24, 2025 • 52min

548: He Made $20M in a Year Selling Supplements | Caleb Marshall [VIDEO]

Caleb Marshall, founder of Tropeaka, turned his health struggle with chronic fatigue into a thriving global health brand. He discusses how to scale a business without an initial marketing budget, focusing on influencer partnerships to drive growth. Caleb shares insights on product development and building a unique brand identity in the crowded wellness market. He emphasizes the importance of community and customer retention, while also highlighting strategies for navigating online commerce and future expansion plans.
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Jan 17, 2025 • 47min

547: In Retrospect - Building a $200M Selling Swimwear | Erin Deering

Erin Deering, co-founder of the $200 million Triangl swimwear brand, shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting with a simple beachside idea. She discusses the adrenaline-fueled moment when celebrity endorsements sent her brand skyrocketing. Erin reveals lessons on dealing with copycats, the significance of authentic influencer relationships, and the precious balance between freedom and financial gain. She also reflects on her mental health challenges and the personal discovery that followed her exit, offering inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Jan 10, 2025 • 52min

546: In Retrospect - Building BigCommerce: Mitch Harper’s Guide to Scaling a SaaS Empire

We're diving back into another episode from the Foundr Archives to revisit my interview with Mitch Harper, founder of BigCommerce - as well as a long-time mentor and coach of mine who has been driving force behind Foundr’s success. In this episode, Mitch Harper takes us behind the scenes of his incredible entrepreneurial journey. From building software at the age of 12 to co-founding one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms, Mitch shares the strategies and lessons that helped him scale BigCommerce from a bootstrapped startup to a billion-dollar company. He discusses the importance of mitigating risk in business, why he avoided venture capital for as long as possible, and how he cultivated a leadership style that allowed his team to thrive. Listeners will learn actionable insights into scaling a SaaS business, mastering e-commerce, and building a strong company culture.In this interview you will learn:- The journey of bootstrapping BigCommerce and raising $250 million- The importance of mitigating risk as an entrepreneur- Cultivating leadership skills and building a strong team- Navigating the challenges of scaling a SaaS business- The power of customer feedback in product development- Strategies for raising venture capital and working with investorsClick here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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Jan 3, 2025 • 38min

545: In Retrospect - How Kendra Scott turned $500 Into a $1 BILLION Jewellery Empire

Kendra Scott started her self-titled billion-dollar jewelry business out of failure. Her first business failed after 5 years, and she started selling handmade jewelry door-to-door as a side hustle. Now, Kendra Scott Jewelry is a billion-dollar business with 100 retail locations across the US. But success didn't come quickly. Through personal struggles, recessions, and rejections, Scott built a fashion business driven by an unforgettable customer experience. Listen to Nathan and Kendra discuss:- What she learned from her failed business - Fundraising and dealing with rejection- The best piece of business advice she still follows - Shifting her business model from wholesale to retail- The nightclub atmosphere of Kendra Scott stores - How philanthropy creates customer loyalty - How to weather the storm as a founder - Her new entrepreneurial memoir Born to ShineAnd much more founder advice…Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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Dec 27, 2024 • 49min

544: Foundr’s BEST of 2024: Hear From The World's Greatest Entrepreneurs [VIDEO]

In 2024, we had our most raw, insightful and relevant conversations with founders to date. To cap off the year, we've compiled their most impactful lessons, stories, and business advice into a final episode for 2024.In this exclusive episode, you'll gain valuable insights from:Eric pulls back the curtain on his wild partnership with Kanye West, from creative genius to unpredictable challenges at Adidas.Allison bets big on a last-minute Super Bowl ad for Poppy, skyrocketing brand recognition with a bold move that paid off​.Noah breaks down how taking action and validating ideas early separates successful entrepreneurs from those stuck in limbo​.Shay brings her brand to life through bold, immersive pop-up experiences, blurring the lines between retail and entertainment​.Alicia turns a trademark lawsuit into a blessing, rebranding her company as Range Beauty and making inclusivity her secret weapon​.Guy recounts a high-stakes encounter with Steve Jobs, revealing how brutal honesty and tough leadership shaped his career.Raquel and Adam uncover a shocking deception by a supplier, leading them to find the true mastermind behind their fragrance success.Ezra reveals the hard truth about entrepreneurship: failure is inevitable, but resilience and consistency are the keys to long-term success​.Will shares a lightbulb moment of serving hot dogs in a Michelin-star restaurant, redefining customer service with "unreasonable hospitality.And much more...Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine

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