Dani Kagan is the co-founder of Mave & Chez, a luxury ergonomic slipper brand designed for women. We talk about how the brand started from a real health problem she experienced during pregnancy, how she figured out manufacturing and product development with no background in either, and what it took to get from prototype to a Kickstarter that sold out in 12 hours.

We also get into building in public, why she thinks founders need to be the face of their brand, the realities of ethical sourcing and manufacturing costs, and why staying curious has kept her going more than any end goal ever could.

Follow Lani:

IG - @gettin_chai

YouTube - @gettinchaipodcast

Follow Dani:

IG - @maveandchez

Website - maveandchez.com

00:00 — Intro

04:18 — Why Collaboration Always Wins and the Story Behind the Name Maeve & Shea

07:13 — The Health Problem That Started It All and How She Built the Product

11:09 — Trusting Her Gut, Finding the Right Partner, and Getting Through the Hard Days

14:13 — Launching on Kickstarter, Selling Out in 12 Hours, and Why She Didn't Wait Until It Was Perfect

20:36 — Building in Public, Ethical Sourcing, and the Realities of Manufacturing

27:56 — Conscious Consuming, Profit for Purpose, and Why Founders Are the Brand Now

33:09 — Getting Comfortable Asking for Things and Sitting in Discomfort to Grow