The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Henrik Werdelin has never been about chasing money, power, or fame. Instead, his focus has always been on creating cool things with people he enjoys being around. That’s exactly how BarkBox, now one of many subsidiaries under BARK, came to be.Despite Werdelin’s non-material approach to BARK, the dog subscription box company has exploded in popularity since its launch in 2012. Today, it boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers and it is a nine-figure business.In our conversation, Werdelin shares the most important learnings he’s collected as an entrepreneur—from finding the right funding option for your business to maintaining the right headspace during challenging times. Werdelin also gives us a glimpse into BARK’s incredible company culture and how he managed to build a quirky, kind, and smart team of people to pave the path for the organization. As a bonus, we also get a sneak peek into Werdelin’s book, “The Acorn Method” to understand how companies can grow in an ever-changing environment.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 Werdelin and his co-founders decided to start creating cool stuff for dogs in 2012 The funny story of how Werdelin met one of his co-founders in a heart-shaped bed on a cruise ship What the pet industry was like when BarkBox first entered the market Werdelin’s advice on finding the right funding option for your business How BARK has dealt with the pandemic, and why the pet industry is recession proof The importance of staying in a good headspace during tough times How Werdelin and his co-founders approach leadership and decision-making Why BARK is an inside-out brand, and what that means A sneak peek into Werdelin’s new book, “The Acorn Method” and the advice it shares on how companies can continue growing during uncertain times Werdelin’s best advice for entrepreneurs who are struggling during the pandemic

As we start thinking about re-opening our businesses and offices after Covid-19, many people are wondering what the new “normal” will look like.While co-founder of Basecamp David Heinemeier Hansson doesn’t know for sure what the outcome will be, he certainly has an idea of what the new world of work should look like. As one of the biggest advocates of remote work, Hansson is hopeful that more and more companies will see the benefits of allowing employees to choose how and where they want to work.But his vision for work doesn’t stop there. Hansson is also passionate about creating an environment where employees can protect at least a few hours of their day to accomplish deep work. This means no daily stand ups, no open calendars, and no unnecessary distractions that take away from your ability to get s*** done—an approach that’s imbued in Basecamp’s own culture.If you’re fascinated by the topics of remote work and productivity, you don’t want to miss out on this conversation with Hansson.If there’s any other 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 The email from Hansson to Jason Fried that eventually led to the birth of Basecamp Why it’s difficult to tell what the new “normal” for work will be after Covid-19 A look at the most common misconceptions about remote work, and how the pandemic has proven them to be false Why Hansson believes we need to focus less on the number of hours we work and more on the quality of those hours The reason why Basecamp isn’t renewing the lease for its Chicago office Why Hansson doesn’t believe in daily stand ups and open calendars How to maximize deep work Why Basecamp’s approach to work is less about productivity, and more about human health and happiness A sneak peek into Hansson’s upcoming project, HEY Why the phrase ASAP is overused What Hansson’s schedule looks like on most days

Chris DeWolfe excels at creating massive user bases—a skill he has demonstrated with two companies you’ll likely recognize: Myspace and Jam City.After DeWolfe launched the biggest social network of its time in 2003, it was only a matter of months before Myspace completely took off and attracted millions of users around the world. Only two years after the start of his company, DeWolfe sold the platform for $580 million. But he wasn’t done yet.When DeWolfe asked himself ‘what’s next?’ he found himself drawn to the world of gaming. Not only was it easy to scale, but he also believed the current trends pointed toward an explosion in gaming. He wasn’t wrong. Today, Jam City is known for famous mobile games like Cookie Jam and Pop! and Panda, and it’s still going strong to keep up with the growing demand of casual gamers.In this interview, DeWolfe discusses the hyper growth of his companies, how to stay focused when running such a behemoth of a company, and what it takes to build massive user bases.If there’s any other 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 DeWolfe built the largest website in the world and the biggest social network of its time, Myspace The trends in pop culture and technology that led to the launch of Myspace in 2003 A look into the rapid growth and eventual sale of Myspace in 2005 for $580 million How Myspace created a roadmap for companies like Spotify and YouTube The top three lessons DeWolfe learned from his journey with Myspace How DeWolfe figured out his next step into the world of mobile gaming Why Jam City targets an underserved audience for gamers The acquisition of Mindjolt How to be a great storyteller and create amazing games What’s exciting for DeWolfe in the future of the mobile gaming business What it takes to build large user bases Why DeWolfe recommends taking measured risks in the pursuit of innovation A sneak peek into Jam City’s latest upcoming mobile game

By now, the story is legend. When Drew Houston boarded a bus from Boston to New York and discovered that he had—yet again—forgotten to bring his thumb drive, he was frustrated. So frustrated that he sat down and began writing the first lines of code of what would eventually become Dropbox.After over a decade of changing the way files are stored, synced, and shared, Houston is changing the way people work, once again. This time, to solve a problem that likely plagues every single knowledge worker today: our fragmented, overcomplicated workspaces.In this episode, you’ll learn more about Houston’s journey—from ideation to launch—with Dropbox Spaces, as well as the most important lessons he’s collected while building a multibillion-dollar company with over 500 million users.Key Takeaways The relatable experience that inspired Houston to come up with the idea for Dropbox Why Houston doesn’t believe there’s any “magic” involved in building a multibillion-dollar company The importance of decision making and learning continuously on the job How a conversation with a SpaceX engineer sparked the vision behind Dropbox Spaces Houston’s advice on “harvesting” versus “planting” when it comes to your business Why Houston is such a huge believer in intentionally designing your environment—at work and with your personal relationships

Alex Osterwalder is primarily known for developing the Business Model Canvas, a template that helps startups develop and document new or existing business models.In this interview, Osterwalder shares his best insights into the world of business models—ideas that are especially applicable now as entrepreneurs try to launch businesses during Covid-19. He explains why products, technology, and price alone aren’t enough to keep your company competitive. Osterwalder also breaks down the innovative models that Apple, Netflix, and Nintendo have used to become industry leaders (and why even these behemoths aren’t safe from disruption).We also get a sneak peek into Osterwalder’s latest book called “The Invincible Company.” Not only does it contain an entire library of business models for companies of all sizes, but it also provides guidance on how startups can continuously reinvent themselves to stay ahead of the curve.If there’s any other 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 Osterwalder came to study business models in graduate school Insight into Osterwalder’s latest book, “The Invincible Company” Why companies can’t compete on products, technology, and price alone (and why your business model can provide the ultimate competitive edge) The scalability of business models Why companies need to transcend industry boundaries The reason why Osterwalder urges entrepreneurs to test before they build How Apple, Netflix, and Nintendo are prime case studies of innovative business models in action—but why even they’re not safe from disruption Osterwalder’s stance on the “magic bullet” when it comes to business models (hint: there isn’t one)

Adam Hendle’s company, Ballsy, is eye-catching and humorous, which are some of the most defining characteristics of the brand.But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t take his business seriously. On the contrary, Hendle is obsessed with producing the highest quality products and finding creative ways to take his company to the next level. This is exactly how he brought in over $10 million in sales in just two years. And now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he is still finding opportunities to grow.In this podcast episode, Hendle discusses his unique approach to everything from community engagement to customer acquisition. He also opens up about his most challenging moments in business and explains how he finds opportunities in unexpected times and places (such as during a pandemic). This is a conversation you don’t want to miss!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.Want some training on ecommerce? Check out our free masterclasses: FREE Masterclass: Start a Profitable Online Store (In 12 Weeks or Less) FREE Masterclass: Discover the “5 Core Drivers” Behind Today’s Fastest-Growing 7-Figure StoresKey Takeaways What’s changed with Ballsy since the last time we talked to Hendle An overview of Ballsy’s growth from a sales, marketing, and team perspective How Covid-19 gave Hendle’s brand an opportunity for growth The approach Hendle took to lean into customer demand for subscriptions and stocking up on products How Ballsy stays engaged with its community in fun and creative ways A deep dive into one of Ballsy’s most unique customer acquisition channels: podcast advertisements Why it’s important to test your assumptions Insight into some of the biggest business obstacles Hendle has had to face Why Hendle has Ballsy’s influencers on a monthly retainer The reason why product quality is paramount to the Ballsy brand

All three of Rory Boyle’s ecommerce businesses were negatively impacted by Covid-19.But thanks to his strategic—and insanely fast—pivot, two of his companies are now making double the revenue they were before and one (which historically made most of its money through conferences) is still pulling in around 50% of what it used to make.How did Boyle recover so quickly from the pandemic? In this interview, we were lucky enough to get a detailed analysis around his thought process and strategic decisions. Boyle takes us through how he shifted his sales and marketing tactics (which still includes getting on the phone) and explains how he’s using this time as an opportunity to give back to his community and customers. He also shares tons of tips around scaling sales efforts, the art of cadence emails, and other tactics you can use to grow your revenue.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 to let us know.If you need want some training on ecommerce, check out our Free Masterclasses:Learn How You Can Start a Profitable Online Store (In 12 Weeks or Less)Discover the “5 Core Drivers” Behind Today’s Fastest-Growing 7-Figure StoresKey Takeaways The origin stories of Hampers With Bite, Promotions Warehouse, and Snacks With Bite What Boyle means when he says to “control the controllables” How COVID-19 impacted all 3 of Boyle’s businesses—and how he pivoted all of them at breakneck speed The approach Boyle is taking to sales and marketing during the pandemic (and why his team is still hopping on the phone to talk to customers) Why Boyle believes every ecommerce entrepreneur needs to be thinking about the next step instead of focusing on current performance How Boyle is giving back to his community and customers How he’s planning around stocking challenges, especially for the upcoming holidays A super deep dive into Boyle’s best sales tactics and strategies Why Boyle would encourage entrepreneurs to launch their business in today’s climate

Today, we’re excited to share another valuable interview to help you overcome business challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.We had the opportunity to pick the brain of Ashwin Sokke, the founder of WOW Skin Science. His global 8-figure skincare and haircare business is extremely popular in India and across the U.S., and it has been a top-selling brand on Amazon for the last four years in those countries.In this interview, Sokke shares how his company dealt with the impact of Covid-19 which shut down half of his business for several weeks. For businesses who are going through similar pains, he provides incredible insights across many topics—from how to communicate with customers (he believes we should be sending them more emails and texts during this time) to getting creative with your marketing tactics (remember giveaways?). Sokke even digs down into the nitty gritty and breaks down his thoughts on subscription models, ad investments, and SKUs.We believe this conversation will be valuable for any entrepreneur to listen to, especially those with ecommerce businesses. 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 to let us know.If you need want some training on ecommerce, check out our Free Masterclasses:Learn How You Can Start a Profitable Online Store (In 12 Weeks or Less)Discover the “5 Core Drivers” Behind Today’s Fastest-Growing 7-Figure StoresKey Takeaways How Sokke got into the health and beauty space The path to growing WOW Skin Science in India and the U.S. and becoming a top-selling brand on Amazon Why Sokke develops all of his products from scratch A glimpse into the company’s incredible numbers: 8-figure revenue and 370% growth in the U.S. last year The impact that Covid-19 had on Sokke’s global company Why Sokke believes companies should be sending more emails during this time (and how to be strategic about it) Why giveaways have been a successful tactic during Covid-19 An overview on a winning stock keeping unit (SKU) Sokke’s thoughts on how to win with subscription models The best advice Sokke can offer to the community during Covid-19

The latest installment of the Foundr podcast is a landmark—our 300th episode! So to mark the occasion, we’ve got something a little different for you today.Daniel DiPiazza, the founder of Rich20Something, was on the cover of Foundr Magazine last year, and today, he returns to Foundr to “reverse interview” our own CEO, Nathan Chan, ahead of the relaunch of Foundr’s beloved Instagram Domination course.Together, Nathan and Daniel share the details of how they each found success on Instagram for their respective brands. They also explore Instagram’s algorithms, how it compares to other social media platforms, and the right way to use this powerful tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, they swap stories about their friendly competition, their time in the “Motivation Mafia,” and more!If you want to learn more about our remastered Instagram Domination course when it launches, sign up for the Free VIP waitlist here (Get a FREE Lesson!).Key Takeaways The reason for this special “reverse interview” How Nathan and Daniel got started on Instagram and are still finding success with the platform today Why Instagram is the most powerful tool for both personal branding and ecommerce A glimpse into Instagram’s algorithms and metrics Why Instagram needs to be about more than just follower numbers How Instagram can be a powerful tool through the current pandemic A throwback story about the “Motivation Mafia” Why Nathan would still pick Instagram as his platform of choice if he were to start a new company today A comparison of Instagram vs. YouTube How Daniel’s Instagram account helped him seal a six-figure book deal The question that stumped Nathan (and why he prefers to focus on the present) Why Daniel owes Nathan a trip to San Sebastián

Dylan Mullan took an extremely unconventional path to entrepreneurship.While he was in school, Mullan was convinced he wanted to be a lawyer, until he started taking classes at university and realized that he hated them. After that, he spontaneously took an acting course and spent almost five years as an actor. It was eventually a desire to have more control over his life that led him and his business partner to launch Happy Skin Co together.Through a mixture of hard work, strategic decisions, and a deep investment in understanding their target customer, Mullan managed to grow his at-home hair removal business from $0 to $20 million in just two years.In this interview, Mullan maps out exactly what this path to explosive growth looked like. He breaks down his approach to everything from market research to Facebook ads and explains why mindset is ultimately an entrepreneur’s most valuable tool.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 to let us know.Key Takeaways The path from aspiring lawyer to aspiring actor, and how Mullan eventually wound up in the world of entrepreneurship A look into Happy Skin Co’s early days, from long nights of planning to packaging products in Mullan’s living room with friends and family The turning points that catapulted the company from $0 to $20 million in 2 years How Mullan approached market research and influencer marketing in the early days What the impact of Covid-19 has looked like for Mullan and his team, and the new opportunities it has opened up Mullan’s best advice when it comes to creating profitable Facebook ads An overview of the Happy Skin Co product development process and a sneak peek into what’s next How to deal with industry copycats Why Mullan is a huge advocate for visualization and believing in yourself