DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built

Brent Vartan, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Bullish, shares insightful strategies from his extensive experience with DTC brands like Peloton and Harry’s. He discusses the vital role of brand strategy in driving growth and the importance of customer lifetime value over traditional metrics. Brent emphasizes the unique hybrid model of Bullish, blending branding and venture capital, and provides tactical advice for founders on capital raising. His real-world playbooks highlight key elements for building iconic brands worth talking about.

Apoorva Govind is the founder and CEO of Bestever, a platform focused on helping brands and marketers generate ad creatives powered by real performance data and advanced AI models. With a background spanning technical roles at Apple, Uber, and Nvidia, Apoorva brings unique insights into the intersection of technology and growth marketing.In this DTC POD episode, Apoorva and Blaine discuss how the AI toolkit for advertisers is evolving, the reality behind AI-generated ads, and why strategic inputs—not just rapid content production—drive sustainable brand results. Apoorva outlines how Bestever AI analyzes existing ad data to identify winning creative elements, then automates the production of new assets using the latest AI models. The episode also covers practical advice for early-stage brands on managing creative ops, what workflows will look like as AI video matures, and the future role of platforms like Meta in creative automation.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Apoorva’s background at Apple, Uber, and Nvidia2. The early vision and pivot of Bestever AI3. The role of AI in modern creative production4. Ad creative strategy vs. pure output volume5. Measuring ad performance with data-driven insights6. Practical workflow tips for early-stage brands7. When and how to leverage agencies8. How to analyze competitors and learn from top-performing brands9. Demystifying AI video: state of the tech in 202510. Building workflows to leverage multiple AI models11. How Meta and other platforms are automating creative12. The importance of creative analysis and transparent reporting13. Future trends for agency and brand marketersTimestamps00:00 Intro and Apoorva's technical background01:19 Apoorva’s early career at Apple, Nvidia, and Uber03:04 Apoorva’s take on Apple’s iOS 26 glassmorphic UI and focus on AI06:09 Security, future, and mass adoption of self-driving cars13:30 Transition into ad creative, Bestever AI’s founding, and early pivots18:31 How Bestever AI analyzes ad data to inform new creative20:49 Current state and skepticism around fully AI-generated ad content23:44 Meta’s push toward creative automation26:56 Ad creative strategy for early and scaling brands35:24 How Bestever AI helps brands diagnose and double down on winning ads43:07 The reality of AI video: what’s possible now and what’s coming next46:18 Investing in workflows and abstraction layers for future-proof creative ops50:14 Where to connect with Apoorva and learn more about Bestever AIShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokApporva Govind - CEO and Founder of BesteverBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Chris Koch, the founder and CEO of VO/D, delves into the fascinating world of building consumer brands in partnership with celebrities. He emphasizes a product-first approach, sharing insights on how 1Up Candy rapidly soared to $10M by engaging the right influencers. Koch discusses the challenges of aligning talent with market needs and the significance of solid consumer insights. He also details strategies for structuring partnerships and creating profitable, independent brands that stand the test of time in a crowded marketplace.

Aaron Nosbisch, founder and CEO of BRĒZ, shares his journey creating a cannabis social tonic as an alternative to alcohol. He discusses identifying untapped market demand and the importance of lean startup practices. Aaron dives into early-stage funding challenges, effective cash flow management, and the significance of customer retention in the beverage space. He emphasizes the role of founder-led content and community engagement for scaling a D2C brand, all while navigating the complexities of production and retail expansion.

Marin Ištvanić, a partner at Inspire Brands and expert in Facebook advertising, shares his wealth of knowledge after spending over $150 million on ad campaigns. He emphasizes the critical role of achieving product-market fit and crafting compelling offers to scale brands successfully. Marin delves into the nuances of subscriber products and effective landing pages. He also discusses creative testing processes for ads and strategies like whitelisting to enhance engagement. Prepare to uncover the secrets behind profitable digital marketing!

Justin Sherlock is the co-founder and CEO of Caspian, an AI-native duty drawback platform designed to help brands navigate complex global trade and tariff environments. Prior to Caspian, Justin gained deep experience in finance and logistics at Flexport, where he led Flexport Capital, and previously had several years experience in private equity.In this episode, Justin breaks down the rapidly changing landscape of tariffs, duties, and global supply chains—especially relevant amid recent policy moves and volatile trade relations. He explains what customs brokers, tariffs, and duty drawbacks are, why these concepts matter for brands importing and exporting goods, and how most businesses are missing out on significant duty refund opportunities. Justin also offers real-world insights for DTC operators facing escalating tariffs, discusses strategies for mitigating increased costs, and shares how AI is making advanced trade advisory accessible beyond just Fortune 500 companies.Join us as a Guest on DTC POD: SUBMIT GUEST FORM HEREApply to join our DTC Pod Slack.On this episode we coverRising tariffs and global trade dynamicsSupply chain challenges for DTC brandsRole and importance of customs brokersDuty drawback: process and benefitsImpact of US-China tariff escalationTechnology and AI in trade complianceStrategies for brands to navigate tariffsTimestamps03:59 From Flexport to Caspian09:31 Customs Compliance11:11 Understanding Tariff and Duty Classification15:54 Trump's Tariff Strategy: A Provocative Move18:26 Debate Over Section 321 Provision22:46 "Supply Chain Opportunities and Challenges"25:03 Reshoring Critical Industries Strategy28:04 10% Tariff Impact on US Businesses32:53 Optimizing Supply Chain and Vendor Management36:22 Trade Predictions: Japan, Taiwan, India, Vietnam37:52 Geopolitical Isolationism and China's Rise41:41 "Navigating Duty Drawback Challenges"45:07 International Pricing and Tax Strategies48:07 Future of Supply Chain OptimizationPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokJustin Sherlock - Founder of CaspianBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Peter Czepiga, founder of Flighted and Ando, shares his expertise in scaling ads for DTC brands. He reveals how to prove product-market fit and the best budget strategies for new brands. Listeners learn about crafting effective ad creatives using Meta’s AI-driven Advantage+ campaigns and the importance of diverse content. Peter also discusses how DTC advertising tactics can benefit SaaS businesses. This insightful conversation emphasizes the blend of creativity and analytics in driving successful campaigns.

Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby, the co-founders of Parker Thatch, share their journey of bootstrapping a luxury brand to 8-figures over 20 years. Irene, with a rich fashion background from Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, and Matthew, skilled in tech and marketing, discuss their transition from e-stationery to fashion. They touch on pivotal lessons in inventory management, the significance of flexibility, and the importance of understanding market timing. Their insights on building community and adapting business strategies are both inspiring and practical.

Caleb Alvarez, founder of Shadow Light Studios, dives into content creation for brands like Monster Energy and Snapchat. He shares insights on building a powerful content engine and the importance of storytelling in enhancing emotional connections with consumers. Caleb reveals how he scaled Nectar Hard Seltzer's revenue from $2M to $5M using organic strategies. He also discusses the balance between paid and organic content, emphasizing key pillars for effective founder-led marketing.

Ben Matthews, a general partner at Night Ventures, dives into the world of early-stage consumer brands that leverage powerful creators like Mr. Beast and Hasan Piker. He shares insights on the essentials of building talent-driven brands and the importance of audience engagement. The discussion highlights the intricacies of selecting suitable partnerships and the future of creator commerce, particularly in the evolving landscape of TikTok and innovative monetization strategies. Expect valuable lessons for anyone interested in the creator economy!