The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Mikael Yan, Co-founder and CEO of ManyChat, shares his journey from e-commerce to building a leading messaging platform. He discusses the shift towards B2B and the significance of understanding customer needs for sustainable success. Yan highlights the importance of mindset in entrepreneurship and recalls his transformative move from Moscow to Silicon Valley. He emphasizes the future of messenger marketing, including the integration of SMS and email, and explores how businesses can enhance customer engagement through innovative messaging solutions.

In 2010, only 2% of beauty products were being sold on the internet. When Katia Beauchamp and her Harvard Business School classmate, Hayley Barna, came across this statistic, they were floored. This seemed like a huge missed opportunity—so they decided to dig deeper.What they discovered was that people were overwhelmed by the prospect of shopping for beauty products. With this problem in mind, Birchbox was created as the simple solution. The monthly subscription box contained a wide variety of beauty samples, and customers could buy the full size of whichever product they liked. In short, Birchbox made the beauty shopping experience easy for the casual consumer.Since the brand’s launch in 2010, Birchbox has grown to a nine-figure business that now has access to thousands of products, offers over 100 types of boxes for consumers, and has expanded globally. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about Beauchamp’s thoughts on scaling relationships, building a trustworthy brand, and appealing to your target customer.If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com.Key Takeaways Why people weren’t shopping for beauty products online in the mid-2000s How this problem inspired Beauchamp and co-founder Hayley Barna to launch their beauty subscription box, Birchbox The idea of the “casual consumer” and how this demographic became Birchbox’s target customer Why Beauchamp doesn’t view beauty stores like Sephora or department stores as competitors How Birchbox launched its beta test in 2010, and what it took to grow its customer base Beauchamp’s thoughts on scaling relationships and building a trustworthy brand What Beauchamp is most excited about when it comes to the future of Birchbox

It’s not easy to rebuild an entire company—especially when things are going well. But that’s exactly what Justin McLeod did with his dating app, Hinge.After Hinge first launched in 2012, it saw exponential growth. Despite this, McLeod made the risky decision to rebuild his app from scratch in 2016. Why? He felt that the company had strayed too from its original vision or helping people find and build meaningful connections. So instead of remaining the brand that connects “friends with friends,” it rebranded to become “the dating app designed to be deleted.”McLeod’s decision paid off. Today, Hinge is a subsidiary under Match.com, has seen huge growth on a global scale, and is setting up a date every three seconds globally. In this podcast episode, McLeod shares exactly what it took to get through this challenging transition and what’s in store for this beloved dating app in the near future. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com. Key Takeaways McLeod’s own love story, and how it inspired the idea behind Hinge  Why, after years of success, McLeod decided to rebuild his dating app from scratch The reaction of Hinge’s board of directors and team in response to this change  How Hinge fulfills its mission of getting more people out on great dates The type of data that Hinge collects to set itself apart from competitors The power of word-of-mouth when it came to Hinge’s growth  What McLeod thinks are the mistakes he made while building Hinge for the first time (and how he fixed them the second time around)  Why McLeod decided to join forces with Match.com, and how this decision has helped the business scale globally  The type of research that’s happening at Hinge Labs  McLeod’s approach to user testing and product development with Hinge  Why McLeod recommends being firm about your vision but flexible about your tactics

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools that brands can leverage during the pandemic. With face-to-face interactions still being limited and people spending most of their time at home, there has never been a better time to hit ‘send’ on those email campaigns and flows.To help guide you in the right direction, we sat down with Chase Dimond to get his best recommendations on how to crisis-proof your email marketing strategy. Why Dimond? Not only is he the co-founder of Boundless Labs, an email marketing agency that was recently acquired by Structured Social, but he has also helped his clients make over $40 million in email attributable revenue during his career. In our conversation, Dimond shares specific examples of the most successful email messaging, campaigns, and flows that his clients have used during Covid-19. He also reveals fascinating data on the email marketing trends he’s noticed since the start of the pandemic. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started on your email marketing journey, you’re sure to learn something valuable in this interview. If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com. Key Takeaways Dimond’s agency merge with Structured Social  How Dimond is thinking about Covid-19 from a business perspective Examples of email messaging to use during the pandemic  Why Dimond is staying away from fear mongering and focusing on adding value The difference between email campaigns and email flows Which categories of email campaigns are working well for Dimond’s clients The importance of creating an email marketing calendar  Why Dimond recommends splitting your time between campaigns and flows Examples of successful email campaigns Dimond’s clients have run in the past Dimond’s thoughts on giveaways What Structured Social’s data is showing when it comes to open rates, mobile traffic, and the impact of stimulus checks on email marketing Dimond’s recommendations on getting emails prepared for the summer 

Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign Jason Vandeboom sits down with Foundr’s Nathan Chan to discuss his journey from launching a small part-time business to running a global SaaS empire.An email marketing, marketing-automation, and sales CRM platform, Jason owes the company’s success to its “customer first” approach and mindful framework.By throwing out the “product-first SaaS playbook” to a more customer-centric model, ActiveCampaign has evolved from an old-school on-premise contact management company to over 90,000 customers in 161 countries.Jason doesn’t believe in a time-box window for creation, and he discusses his belief that you can create innovation over time. He says that when it comes to building a business that is sustainable and long-term, you have to start with the right framework.With many small businesses facing uncertainty due to Covid-19, ActiveCampaign has made it their mission to provide support and security for their customers. Jason discusses how “there’s a former digital transformation that […] has become a necessity.” Above all, business is about trusting your instincts and trying to find a path that is a different shape to others.If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email.Key Takeaways Jason discusses his belief in the importance of staying true to being a small business How ActiveCampaign found its footing as an on-premise contact management businesses Why Jason believes the key to a successful business is customer-first over product-first, and how this can shape creative innovation How ActiveCampaign slowly built its foundations in order to secure 100k paying-active companies and over $100 million in annual recurring revenue Why you should ignore the typical SaaS playbook that insists that in order to obtain growth you will need to upmarket Jason advises that you should always trust your instincts, and allow time for your company to grow. You only need passion, joy, and the strength to find our way through it all.

From working as a server at Longhorn Steakhouse, to multiple successful startups, making millions in his 20s, to publishing a best selling book, Daniel DiPiazza knows the entrepreneur's journey like the back of his hand. Here to discuss his upcoming "Start Your Side Hustle" course with Foundr, Daniel is all too familiar with the challenges and doubts faced by today's hustlers, and is here to teach you ways to overcome them.If you want to start a business but don't know where to begin, a low-risk side hustle by freelancing with your existing skills really is the gateway to entrepreneurship. It's extremely affordable with almost literally zero startup cost. In return, you can expect to make great profits with little to no overheads.Daniel has done this multiple times and has a unique method for helping you identify your skills, find clients, and getting them to pay you for your service.If there's any other type of content you'd like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email.Key Takeaways Daniel discusses his first viral article: Hacking E-Lance, the infamous "butterball story," and how he dominated a job board website Taking the first step towards starting your own business with "sweat equity" Why service-based businesses are the gateway drug to entrepreneurship Why freelancing teaches you all the business essentials Taking the first step; how not to be afraid, what to focus on, and what the competition means for you The importance of building a skill inventory, defining your skill, and seeing where they align Gaining confidence in becoming an entrepreneur and why you don't have to be the best in the world at what you do The fastest way for you to get paid for your big idea

Ben Horowitz is one of the most widely recognized names in the world of entrepreneurship. Not only is he the co-founder of the famous venture capital fund, Andreessen Horowitz, but he's also a respected author and thinker with some of the most innovative ideas when it comes to the way companies are run.In our conversation with Horowitz, we dive deep into the topic of culture—how to create it, move it, and adhere to it. Horowitz also gives us a glimpse into his book, What You Do Is Who You Are, and shares fascinating stories and case studies from it (such as his learnings from prison gang leader, Shaka Senghor).This isn't a podcast episode you want to miss! Whether you're a fan of Horowitz himself or simply want to learn more about the art of crafting a company culture, you're sure to gain tons of insights in this interview.If there's any other type of content you'd like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email.Key Takeaways The problem that Andreessen Horowitz set out to solve for technical founders  What compelled Horowitz to publish his book, What You Do Is Who You Are What it takes to move a culture  The importance of cohesion between culture and strategy Why you don’t need to establish your company culture on Day 1 What a prison gang leader taught Horowitz about culture and leadership The creative way that Andreessen Horowitz enforces their value to be respectful to entrepreneurs at the firm Horowitz’s thoughts on the culture of Netflix versus McDonald’s   The elements that go into creating a high-performance culture  Differentiating between high performance versus long hours  Why Horowitz looks for courage in founders  Bonus: Horowitz shares his favorite rap album from 2019

In 2008, Jeff Rosenthal and his co-founders Elliott Bisnow and Brett Leve convinced 19 people they admired to go on a ski trip with them to Park City, Utah. They wanted to spend one-on-one time with this small group of thought leaders to learn from them and glean some knowledge.Little did they know that this was only the beginning of their long and successful entrepreneurial journey. What started off as a small event production company has morphed into a global behemoth that includes everything from nonprofits to funds to a major ski resort that all fall under the Summit brand.While the company is still primarily known for its famous invitation-only events, its biggest impact is its tight-knit community of innovative, creative individuals from around the world.In this podcast episode, Rosenthal talks about Summit’s explosive growth, what it takes to host a truly extraordinary event, and more entrepreneurial gold.If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com.Key Takeaways What inspired Rosenthal and his co-founders to start their event production company Summit in 2008 How Summit expanded into a family of companies, nonprofits, and funds over the last 12 years What makes a spectacular event, according to Rosenthal Why Rosenthal believes “keep it real” is terrible advice when it comes to events, and what he recommends instead The importance of leadership when it comes to event planning The correlation between creativity and capital How Rosenthal manages to lead the multiple entities under Summit The best advice on delegation Rosenthal received from his mentor Why profitability isn’t the only measure of an event’s success What it takes to attract top-notch speakers (and how to set them up for success) The way Rosenthal approaches balancing quality of experience and scaling

When Tiffany Masterson was a stay-at-home mom, she was always looking for ways to make a little extra money. So when the opportunity came around to start selling a brand of bar cleanser as a side hustle, she didn’t think much of it.Little did she know that she would soon develop a passion for skincare, cultivate her own philosophy around what skincare should look like, and launch Drunk Elephant—a brand that was eventually sold to Shiseido in 2019 for a whopping $845 million.In this podcast episode, Masterson takes us through her unexpected journey as an entrepreneur—from having her brother-in-law as her first investor to snagging a partnership with Sephora, to building an incredible company culture.If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com.Key Takeaways How Masterson, a stay-at-home mom of four children, started selling bar cleanser as a side hustle Why she developed a fascination with the world of skincare Masterson’s skincare philosophy, and how she started to create her dream product on paper What it was like to have her brother-in-law as her first investor Why Masterson kept the launch of Drunk Elephant in 2013 as minimal as possible How Drunk Elephant caught the eye of Sephora The cost of formulating, producing, and packaging 5,000 units of six products The tough financial conversations Masterson had to have Why Masterson chose to take things day-by-day instead of looking too far into the future The biggest trap Masterson believes most founders fall into How Masterson has kept her turnover rate at less than 2% since 2013 The reason why people get excited about the Drunk Elephant brand Why Masterson doesn’t believe in trying to “outcompete” other brands

Parker Conrad is no stranger to hard times.His first startup, Wikinvest, failed to take off during the seven years he was with the company. He then had a falling out with his co-founder, which caused him to leave and start over. Conrad’s next venture, Zenefits, faced scrutiny while he served as the CEO. And now, his current company Rippling is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.But Conrad’s strength has always been approaching problems with a realistic and humble attitude. Despite the fact that Rippling’s existing customer base has shrunk since the pandemic hit, the company's top-of-funnel performance hasn’t been impacted. They’re setting up record numbers of demos and doubling down on product investment. Most importantly, Conrad is being strategic about finances and still has three years of runway left.In this podcast episode, Conrad shares his most honest thoughts on the challenges of Covid-19, what he’s been doing to get through this transition, and what he thinks other struggling founders should do.If there’s any other type of content you’d like to see that would be valuable to you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at support@foundr.com.Key Takeaways Conrad’s most challenging chapter as an entrepreneur of a failing startup, and why he chose to stay for seven years The pain point that inspired the idea for Zenefits How Rippling provides an employee system that goes beyond HR How the pandemic impacted Rippling’s existing customer base Why Conrad is focused on burn, and what he’s doing to maintain runway The importance of acknowledging what’s not working while also looking toward a more promising future Why Conrad hates working from home, and how he got through the difficult transition Conrad’s unpopular advice for struggling founders