The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Foundr Media
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Nov 13, 2025 • 41min

605: He Bought an Airline for $0.30 (and made BILLIONS) | Tony Fernendes (Best of Foundr)

Tony Fernandes, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of AirAsia, transformed a struggling airline into a billion-dollar business. He shares how he purchased AirAsia for just 30 cents and $10 million in debt just before 9/11. Key topics include the importance of rapid scaling to outpace competitors, the value of cultivating a strong company culture, and leveraging digital strategies for growth. Tony also discusses embracing failures, the significance of personal branding, and his vision of making air travel accessible to all.
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Nov 11, 2025 • 13min

604: (Solo) What Labubu and Apple Can Teach You About Scarcity Marketing

Scarcity marketing elevates perceived value and drives sales when done right. Explore how Apple generates buzz through limited launches and how Labubu's unpredictable boxes fuel FOMO. Learn effective strategies like VIP waitlists and limited drops that can create authentic urgency. Discover the critical difference between genuine scarcity and gimmicks, plus how community engagement amplifies these effects. Key takeaways include establishing clear rules and ensuring memorable buying experiences to build trust and demand.
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Nov 6, 2025 • 52min

603: He Built a $1B Beauty Brand Selling $1 Makeup | Joey Shamah

Joey Shamah, co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics, shares his journey of turning a bold $1 makeup concept into a billion-dollar brand. He discusses how he disrupted the beauty industry with innovative marketing strategies and a unique retail approach, including a viral Bloomingdale's rumor that led to 192,000 orders overnight. Joey also reveals insights on navigating the IPO process, acquiring legacy brands, and the importance of adapting to market demands while maintaining simplicity in pricing. His experiences offer a playbook for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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7 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 14min

602: (Solo) What I Learned From Alex Hormozi’s $100M Book Launch

Discover the secrets behind a $100M book launch, highlighting the importance of planning and positioning. Learn how to create anticipation like major product reveals and the value of goodwill in building trust. Focus on deep pre-launch preparation, leveraging consistent value-driven content, and testing hooks on social media. Positioning a movement over merely selling products can elevate your launch. Apply these strategies for a more successful product rollout and increased revenue.
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15 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 58min

601: The Couple Who Built a 9-FIGURE Brand While Working Full-Time Jobs | Natalie Holloway

Natalie Holloway, co-founder of Bala—an innovative fitness brand known for wearable weights—transformed a $5,000 side hustle into a nine-figure empire backed by Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova. She dives into the rollercoaster of building the brand, from epic growth during the COVID boom to facing bankruptcy. Natalie shares the pivotal lessons learned from Shark Tank, navigating partnerships with lifestyle brands like Spanx, and the importance of innovation and protecting intellectual property. Now, she’s writing The Bala Playbook to guide aspiring founders.
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6 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 13min

600: (Solo) How Founders Should Actually Use AI (Without Getting Lost)

Discover how AI is revolutionizing the way founders work. Learn to use AI as a thinking partner for drafting emails, creating decks, and conducting research. Uncover effective prompt strategies that refine your queries for optimal results. Hear real-life examples of how AI accelerates product development timelines. Find out how to train AI like a team member by setting communication frameworks. Embrace AI daily to stay competitive, regardless of your technical skills.
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9 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 41min

599: They Rejected Her Idea, She Turned it into a BILLION Dollar Business | Suneera Madhani (Best of Foundr)

Suneera Madhani, a visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Stax, recounts her journey from selling credit card terminals out of her car to leading a $1B fintech unicorn. She discusses the rejection of her initial idea by her employer and how that motivated her to innovate a subscription-based payment model. Suneera shares insights on securing over $500M in funding, the strategic decision to turn down a $17.5M acquisition offer, and the importance of resilience and community in scaling a business—offering invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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7 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 10min

598: (Solo) Your Brand Is Not a Logo: Why Most Founders Get Stuck Before They Even Launch

Discover why a brand is more than just a logo—it's about the emotional connections that resonate with customers. Learn the importance of feeling understood and how trust drives sales. Uncover the four pillars of effective branding and the low-cost signals that can enhance conversions. Explore the power of brand ambassadors to boost credibility rapidly. Finally, understand that successful branding is a systematic approach, not just a vibe, to ensure your brand feels necessary, not just nice.
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20 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 51min

597: How She Built a $33M App with ZERO Ads | Tezza Barton

Tezza Barton, founder and creative director of the Tezza app, shares her remarkable journey from a two-person project to a powerhouse with 25M+ downloads and $38M in revenue—without paid ads for four years. She discusses the importance of building a community pre-launch, pivoting pricing strategies after early setbacks, and maintaining a lean, high-performing team. Tezza reveals her unique approach to product-led marketing, collaboration strategies, and the role of AI in enhancing creativity while emphasizing human touch.
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Oct 13, 2025 • 10min

596: (Solo) The Most Unexpected Lessons I Learned From Scooter Braun

A surprising interview reveals powerful lessons from Scooter Braun about resilience and humility. The importance of self-reflection and staying present is discussed, highlighting the pitfalls of chasing milestones. Braun's emphasis on building meaningful relationships over mere success and the impact of burnout on mental health are explored. This conversation reminds us that true success is about personal growth and connections rather than just accomplishments.

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