Episodes

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

    551: From $0 to $30M in 3 Years Selling Fashion | Aimee Smale [VIDEO]
    Feb 14 2025
    In this episode, Aimee Smale, founder of Odd Muse, shares how she went from designing £10 logos to building a £24M self-funded fashion brand. Aimee takes us behind the scenes of how she spotted a gap in the market, launched Odd Muse with just £12,000, and created an iconic blazer that turned her brand into a viral success. She explains how she leveraged pre-orders to scale without investors, handled copycats like PrettyLittleThing, and built a fashion label that prioritizes quality over fast trends. Entrepreneurs will gain insights into organic brand building, mastering influencer marketing, and scaling a business while maintaining authenticity. Listen to Nathan and Amy discuss: - The origin of Odd Muse and why Aimee saw a gap in the mid-luxury fashion market - How she self-funded the business and used pre-orders to fuel growth - The power of community-driven marketing and leveraging organic influencer relationships - Dealing with copycats and protecting brand integrity in the fashion industry - Expanding into retail with pop-ups and global growth strategies - And much more 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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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 550: He Went From $0 to $50M Selling THIS Product | Mike Smith [VIDEO]

    550: He Went From $0 to $50M Selling THIS Product | Mike Smith [VIDEO]
    Feb 7 2025
    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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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 549: How Popflex Became Taylor Swift's Favourite Clothing Brand | Cassey Ho [VIDEO]

    549: How Popflex Became Taylor Swift's Favourite Clothing Brand | Cassey Ho [VIDEO]
    Jan 31 2025
    In this episode, Cassey Ho, founder of POPFLEX and Blogilates, shares her journey from rock bottom to building two eight-figure brands. Discover how Cassey combined her passion for fitness and design to create unique products that solve real problems. She opens up about overcoming toxic environments, handling copycats, and the challenges of scaling while maintaining authenticity. Listen to how Taylor Swift’s unexpected endorsement of her signature skort skyrocketed demand and why community trust remains her greatest asset. Entrepreneurs will gain actionable insights on building brands, creating viral content, and navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Listen to Nathan and Cassey discuss: - How Cassey started Blogilates with a single YouTube video in 2009 and turned it into a fitness empire - The pivotal moment when Taylor Swift wore a POPFLEX skort, leading to 20,000 preorders - Cassey’s transparency about reaching rock bottom and how her husband’s encouragement led to a business turnaround - The importance of maintaining trust and authenticity with a loyal community - Practical advice on creating short-form viral videos that drive sales And much more 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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    55 mins
  • 548: He Made $20M in a Year Selling Supplements | Caleb Marshall [VIDEO]

    548: He Made $20M in a Year Selling Supplements | Caleb Marshall [VIDEO]
    Jan 24 2025
    In this episode, Caleb Marshall, founder of Tropeaka, opens up about his journey from battling chronic fatigue to building a global health brand. After discovering the life-changing benefits of quality nutrition, Caleb and his co-founder launched Tropeaka to make healthy living accessible and appealing. Caleb shares his insights on scaling a brand with no initial marketing budget, leveraging influencer marketing, and competing in a saturated wellness market. Listen to Nathan & Caleb discuss: - Caleb’s personal health journey and how it inspired Tropeaka - Leveraging influencer marketing in the early days to grow on a budget - Insights into product development and creating high-quality superfoods - Lessons in competing in a saturated health market with a unique brand identity - Strategies for customer retention and building a loyal community And much more entrepreneurial 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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    52 mins
  • 547: In Retrospect - Building a $200M Selling Swimwear | Erin Deering

    547: In Retrospect - Building a $200M Selling Swimwear | Erin Deering
    Jan 17 2025
    In 2014, Erin Deering gifted Triangl swimwear to relatively unknown legacy celebrities Hailey Bieber (Baldwin) and Bella Hadid. Their friend, Kendall Jenner, loved the products and reached out to Erin directly to get Triangl samples. Then Jenner posted on Instagram and tagged Triangl–that’s when everything went mad. But the success of Triangl didn’t come from just celebrity endorsements. It came from developing a product that looked and felt like nothing else before. In 2018, Erin exited the business, but that’s when she stepped back and learned more about who she is as an entrepreneur and person outside of the multi-million dollar brand she built. Listen to Nathan and Erin discuss: How Triangl started on a second date at the beach When their manufacturer stole their idea Why businesses undervalue word of mouth Their “one bikini sale a day” mindset Connecting with Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and the Kardashians Dealing with copycats and competitors How they stayed lean amongst extreme growth Her mental health challenges in coping with success Coaching and mentoring women in business 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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    47 mins
  • 546: In Retrospect - Building BigCommerce: Mitch Harper’s Guide to Scaling a SaaS Empire

    546: In Retrospect - Building BigCommerce: Mitch Harper’s Guide to Scaling a SaaS Empire
    Jan 10 2025
    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 investors 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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    52 mins
  • 545: In Retrospect - How Kendra Scott turned $500 Into a $1 BILLION Jewellery Empire

    545: In Retrospect - How Kendra Scott turned $500 Into a $1 BILLION Jewellery Empire
    Jan 3 2025
    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 Shine And 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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    38 mins
  • 544: Foundr’s BEST of 2024: Hear From The World's Greatest Entrepreneurs [VIDEO]

    544: Foundr’s BEST of 2024: Hear From The World's Greatest Entrepreneurs [VIDEO]
    Dec 27 2024
    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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    49 mins