Founder Files

Recent data shows 90% of founders sell within 7 years—but what if you could break that cycle? In this episode, I interview John, who founded a full-service Amazon growth agency at just 23, sold it for 8 figures in 2020 (to S4 Capital → Media Monks → Monks), and retired by age 40. Now, he’s running VantaFive, a unique venture studio designed to build the next wave of Amazon-like agency businesses.

✅ What You'll Learn

- Agency scaling secrets: How John built a 100-person team and 8-figure business from scratch

- Acquisition & earn-out insights: Why consolidation in 2020 was the right move

- Founder psychology: Balancing obsession, burnout, and building meaning

- Post-exit life: What real retirement feels like—and why it wasn’t enough

- What's next: Launching Vantafi to spot the next big opportunity in emerging marketing domains

- Hiring right: Traits needed in a CEO/founder—grit, humility, sales chops, and more

- Service expansion: How to add new offerings thoughtfully and profitably

- Marketing blueprint: Choosing alpha channels and focusing for 7- and 8-figure growth

CHAPTERS

⏱️ 00:00 – Intro: Building a $100M Agency

⏱️ 00:44 – Getting into agency life

⏱️ 03:00 – Why I started VantaFive

⏱️ 07:24 – First hires & early team

⏱️ 10:48 – Scaling content teams

⏱️ 15:02 – Our delivery tech stack

⏱️ 17:35 – Getting first 10 clients

⏱️ 22:27 – How we price services

⏱️ 25:45 – VantaFive financial model

⏱️ 28:39 – Launching new agencies

⏱️ 33:43 – Build vs. buy strategy

⏱️ 38:00 – What would make me sell

⏱️ 41:25 – Equity splits explained

⏱️ 45:29 – Hardest part of the journey

⏱️ 48:59 – Our 12-month game plan

⏱️ 51:46 – Final advice for founders

⏱️ 55:04 – How I hire top operators

⏱️ 59:17 – Systems vs. hustle

⏱️ 1:04:38 – Testing new services

⏱️ 1:09:01 – Picking agency markets

⏱️ 1:14:22 – Growth mistakes to avoid

⏱️ 1:18:00 – VantaFive’s future vision

🔑 Keywords & Topics

Amazon agency, agency exit strategy, founder retirement, scaling service business, venture studio, hiring founders, marketing strategy, product-market fit, remote leadership, direct-mail, subscription business, TikTok Shop agency, B2B growth, performance-based retainers

What does it really take to grow and sell a 7 or 8-figure Amazon brand?

In this episode, I sat down with Harry Nicholls, co-founder at eVenturing -- a firm that's helped 50+ U.S. Amazon brands expand into Europe, increase profitability, and successfully exit for 8 figures or more.

Tune in as we explore:

- The exact roadmap to a high-multiple Amazon brand exit

- How U.S. sellers can unlock international expansion (UK + EU)

- Why most brands leave 6-figures+ on the table by ignoring branded Amazon search

- Key metrics that influence valuation multiples (and how to improve them)

- What actually kills deals (and how to avoid it)

- The Amazon playbook to go from 6 to 8 figures

- How aggregators have matured—and what they’re really looking for today

Whether you're: an Amazon seller ready to expand or exit, a DTC brand ignoring Amazon (and leaking revenue), or a founder chasing global growth...

This episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world strategies from the front lines of Amazon growth, investment, and acquisition.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Harry Nicholls & eVenturing

00:52 – Why Combine Growth, Expansion & Exit Into One Agency?

03:38 – From Investment Banking to Amazon Strategy

06:04 – What Separates 7-Figure Brands From 8-Figure Exits

08:55 – The Most Overlooked Growth Lever on Amazon

11:36 – First Steps: How eVenturing Audits New Brands

14:42 – When You Should Not Scale a Product on Amazon

17:09 – What Founders Get Wrong About International Expansion

20:45 – The Biggest Mistakes in US ↔ EU Expansion

24:10 – Non-Negotiables for Entering a New Market

26:48 – When Is a Brand Actually Ready to Expand?

29:30 – Ideal Brands for US → UK Expansion

31:52 – Best Global Market to Launch in 2025?

34:07 – How Tariffs and Trade Risk Affect Growth Strategy

37:19 – How to Know You’re Ready to Sell Your Brand

39:41 – What Real Valuations Look Like in 2025

42:05 – What Separates Life-Changing Exits From Failed Deals

45:12 – Deal Killers: What Tanks Your Valuation

48:04 – How to Boost Brand Value Without Inflating Revenue

51:12 – The Biggest Shift in Amazon Strategy This Year

54:30 – What Buyers Are Looking for Now (That They Weren’t Before)

57:44 – Where to Learn More About eVenturing

58:29 – Who Should Be the Next Guest on the Pod?

1:01:00 – Why Harry’s Bullish on the Future of Amazon Brands

1:04:20 – Underrated Skills Founders Need to Scale Faster

1:07:55 – What’s Next for eVenturing in 2025 and Beyond

1:10:35 – What Harry Would Tell His Younger Self

1:14:12 – Final Takeaways for Founders on the Edge of Scale or Exit

Keywords:

Amazon brand growth, 8-figure exits, ecommerce expansion, UK/EU launch, FBA growth strategies, Amazon SEO, DTC to Amazon, private equity for ecommerce, Amazon deal structures, valuation multiples, international compliance, reverse engineering exits.

📣 Subscribe for more weekly interviews with top ecommerce operators, investors, and founders.

#AmazonFBA #EcommerceGrowth #BrandExit #DTC #AmazonExpansion #PrivateEquity #EcommerceStrategy #SellOnAmazon #BrandBuilders

What separates 7-figure agencies from the ones stuck spinning their wheels?

In this episode, I sit down with Joey, founder of Agent CFO, the go-to finance partner for high-growth agencies. We break down the entire financial strategy behind scalable, profitable service businesses.

You’ll learn:

✅ The 3 agency business models — and how your goal changes your entire strategy

✅ Why most agencies are leaving thousands on the table with bad forecasting

✅ What top-performing agencies spend on delivery, ops, and growth

✅ How to use financial models to scale faster, smarter, and with less stress

✅ Why one-time offers are exploding — and how to make them profitable

✅ Tactical benchmarks for sales, margins, team structure & utilization

✅ Tips for reducing churn, raising prices, and retaining top talent

If you're an agency owner doing $20K/month to $200K+/month and want to scale without guesswork — this episode is a must-watch.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro + Meet Joey, Founder of Agent CFO

00:03 - The 3 Types of Agency Founders

00:06 - Why Financial Clarity Matters

00:09 - Joey’s Backstory + Finding Product-Market Fit

00:12 - Agent CFO’s Onboarding Process

00:15 - The Power of a Custom Financial Model

00:18 - How Forecasting Should Really Work

00:21 - Breaking Down High-Growth Agency Patterns

00:24 - Offer Strategy + One-Time Offers

00:27 - Top Financial Metrics to Track

00:30 - Role of Finance in Agency Ops

00:33 - Benchmarks vs Reality

00:36 - Weekly Insights + Strategic Action Items

00:39 - Common Bottlenecks in Sales and Team Structure

00:42 - Utilization Rates + Scope Creep

00:45 - Who Owns the Data?

00:48 - When to Hire Finance Support

00:51 - Lifecycle of Finance Roles in Agencies

00:54 - Lifestyle vs Exit vs High-Growth Agencies

00:57 - Pricing Structures That Actually Work

01:00:00 - Should You Drop Low Paying Clients?

01:03:00 - How to Improve Collections

01:06:00 - Performance Pay Structures

01:09:00 - Hiring & Retaining A-Players

01:12:00 - Reducing Churn with Personal Touch

01:15:00 - How Top Agencies Use Pricing Models

01:18:00 - Maximizing LTV & Optimizing Offers

01:21:00 - What Should the Founder Focus On?

01:24:00 - AI’s Real Role in Agency Ops Today

01:27:00 - Where to Find Joey & Outro

🔍 Keywords:

how to scale an agency, agency finance, agency CFO, agency profitability, one-time offer model, agency forecasting, scaling service business, financial model for agencies, agency KPIs, retention for agencies, agency margins, high growth agencies

Ad Platform Attribution Is Broken – Here's How Smart Brands Are Fixing It (ft. Fabian from OneTrack)

Struggling to scale your eCom brand because your ad data doesn't add up?

You're not alone.

Meta, Google, TikTok—they all claim the win, but no one tells the full story. Attribution is broken. And in 2025, relying on in-platform reporting will keep your brand stuck.

In this episode, we're joined by Fabian, founder of OneTrack, the attribution and analytics software powering some of the fastest-scaling 7 and 8-figure eCommerce and lead gen brands.

🔥 What you’ll learn:

Why ad platform attribution is broken (and what to do about it)

How to unify your customer data and scale with confidence

Why brands stall after $50K/month in ad spend—and how to break through

The real difference between Triple Whale, OneTrack, and other tracking tools

A simple 3-step attribution framework: Collect → Transform → Postback

How to improve cross-device and multi-touch tracking accuracy

What your first-party data is actually worth—and how to leverage it

If you're running paid traffic across Meta, Google, TikTok, Pinterest, Taboola, or Outbrain… this is the playbook you’ve been missing.

Whether you’re a media buyer, eCommerce founder, or marketing operator—if you want cleaner data, better decisions, and more profitable scaling… tune in now.

👇 Chapters

00:00 - Why Attribution Is Broken

01:00 - The Problem with Relying on Ad Platforms

04:30 - When Brands Should Start Using Attribution Tools

08:45 - What Makes OneTrack Different from Triple Whale

12:10 - How Lookalike Audiences Actually Work Post-iOS

15:40 - Cross-Device and Cross-Network Tracking Explained

18:00 - Why Most Brands Misread Their Customer Journey

23:00 - Using Attribution to Improve Your Funnel Strategy

30:00 - Branding vs Direct Response Ad Strategy

35:00 - Why Offers Matter More Than Ad Hacks

38:00 - OneTrack’s Origin Story and Bootstrapped Journey

45:00 - Inside OneTrack’s Onboarding & Customer Success Process

50:00 - Word of Mouth Growth & Future Vision

🔗 Try OneTrack: https://www.1-track.io

📩 Subscribe for weekly interviews, eCom brand teardowns, and proven marketing strategies to grow smarter in 2025 and beyond.

#eCommerce #Attribution #DTCMarketing #OneTrack #MediaBuying #AnalyticsTools #CustomerData #AdTracking #FacebookAds #ScalingBrands

How to Build a World-Class Supply Chain (with Kian Golzari)

If you're scaling a DTC brand or launching your first product, this is the ultimate masterclass on product sourcing, supply chain optimization, and global manufacturing strategy.

Kian Golzari has sourced over 2,500+ products, worked with the NBA, Olympics, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, and helped brands scale from zero to 8 figures.

In this episode, he breaks down:

✅ When to move beyond Alibaba and start visiting factories

✅ How to cut product costs without sacrificing quality

✅ What the 2025 supply chain strategy should look like

✅ The real impact of Trump’s new China tariffs (125%) and how to adapt

✅ Building strong supplier relationships (and how to negotiate credit terms)

✅ His “PSP Framework”: Best Product, Best Supplier, Best Price

✅ The real reason visiting China gives your brand a competitive edge

✅ Secrets from the Canton Fair and how to dominate sourcing

✅ Scaling your product while protecting IP, molds, and margins

🎯 Whether you’re an Amazon FBA seller, Shopify brand, or physical product founder, this is a must-watch for 7 & 8-figure operators navigating a changing global landscape.

Follow Kian on Instagram: @kian_jg

🎙 Chapters:

00:00 – Kian’s journey from China to the NBA

04:00 – Visiting 500+ factories

10:00 – Leaving the family business to go solo

14:00 – Working with elite athletes & football clubs

20:00 – Tariffs, Trump, and navigating the new trade war

29:00 – Cost-saving supply chain tactics

37:00 – Canton Fair tips and sourcing playbook

46:00 – Picking the right factory: “The Horse & The Jockey”

54:00 – Product development: validate, iterate, scale

1:10:00 – Building a brand vs flipping products

1:20:00 – Protecting IP, patents, molds

1:23:00 – Eco-friendly sourcing & sustainable materials

1:27:00 – What's next for China and global manufacturing?

👍 Like the episode?

👉 Drop a comment

📩 Share with a founder

📅 Subscribe for weekly drops!

#SupplyChain #Alibaba #DTCBrands #ProductSourcing #KianGolzari #EcommerceGrowth #ChinaManufacturing #CantonFair #Tariffs2025 #ScalingBrands #AmazonFBA #ShopifyStores #EcomTips #GlobalTrade #BrandBuilders

Discover the exact Amazon strategies Jon Derkits uses to build, scale, and acquire 8-figure eCommerce brands. From M&A and brand building to PPC, first-party data, and off-Amazon traffic — this interview is a masterclass in Amazon growth.

Jon, a former Amazon exec turned founder of Color More Lines (a full-service Amazon agency), reveals what it really takes to win in 2025 and beyond.

👨‍💼 Whether you're a DTC founder, 7-8 figure brand operator, or agency owner looking to scale, this is your blueprint for success on Amazon.

What you’ll learn:

- How to use Brand Analytics + AMC (Amazon Marketing Cloud) to master first-party data

- The hidden costs of scaling bad systems — and how to avoid them

- How John builds his team using “curious achievers”

- The 3 biggest mistakes Amazon brands make in 2025

- Why CPCs are rising — and the smartest ways to drive off-Amazon traffic

- The M&A playbook John uses to grow his agency and acquire brands

- Tactical cash flow tips for capital-hungry eCommerce businesses

🧠 Plus: Real talk on burnout, balancing multiple ventures, and how John thinks through new opportunities using his "Hell Yes or No" filter.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – From 9-to-5 to 7-Figure Brand: John's Wild Journey

00:06:00 – Why Most Amazon Brands Are Built Backwards

00:12:00 – Traffic ≠ Sales: The Real Conversion Problem

00:18:00 – Scaling Secrets: What Most Sellers Miss

00:24:00 – How to Bulletproof Your Brand Before You Scale

00:30:00 – The M&A Playbook: Structuring for a Big Exit

00:36:00 – How to Actually Win on Amazon in 2025

00:42:00 – Advanced Funnel Tactics for Serious Growth

00:48:00 – Paid Media Mistakes That Kill Profit Margins

00:54:00 – What Investors Look For (That Founders Miss)

01:00:00 – Final Advice: Building a Brand That Prints Cash

👇👇 WORK WITH ME 👇👇

🚀 More Behind The Scenes Brand Growth Tips: https://jordan-doughty.kit.com/b8baebbd0f

📧 Learn About Retention Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJoNxvsFN8

☎️ Work With My Retention Agency ($50k/mo+): https://openhousemedia.agency/

👇👇 WORK WITH ME 👇👇

🚀 More Behind The Scenes Brand Growth Tips: https://jordan-doughty.kit.com/b8baebbd0f

📧 Learn About Retention Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJoNxvsFN8

☎️ Work With My Retention Agency ($50k/mo+): https://openhousemedia.agency/

----------

From filming backyard skits as a kid to running media for Gary Vaynerchuk and scaling Acquisition.com’s content engine with Alex & Leila Hormozi — Caleb Ralston has spent 16+ years behind the camera helping top-tier entrepreneurs grow unforgettable online brands.

Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight.

In this episode, we unpack Caleb’s wild journey and his hard-earned lessons on:

🔥 Building high-performance creative teams that don’t rely on the founder

🔥 Avoiding burnout while scaling content at breakneck speed

🔥 Storytelling that creates behavior change (and revenue)

🔥 Why copying top creators kills your brand — and what to do instead

🔥 His framework for building personal brands that actually convert

🔥 The real difference between info and transformation in content

Whether you're building a media team, creating a personal brand, or just want to get better at content strategy, Caleb brings the real talk most won’t say out loud.

👉 This is a masterclass in content creation, team leadership, and staying human in the process.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with creative leaders, DTC brand builders, and marketing strategists who are reshaping the future of digital business.

timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Meet Caleb and his creative journey

03:46 - Discovering Gary Vee and starting in video

10:22 - From bodybuilding brands to church media

18:10 - Burnout is real: Pushing through with purpose

23:00 - Caleb’s Harley escape and creative reset

26:40 - How Caleb approaches structuring content

34:27 - Wearing every hat: Caleb’s hands-on experience

42:30 - Building dream teams for content success

48:47 - Stop copying, start innovating: How top creators stand out

56:30 - Creating value-first content vs. monetization pressure

01:00:33 - Two-column exercise: Speaking to customer pain

01:05:10 - Why storytelling wins over dry tactics

01:12:10 - Creating a comfortable on-set environment

01:14:42 - Matching content format to creator comfort

01:19:10 - What great post-production looks like

01:20:50 - Key content roles and how to prioritize hires

01:23:47 - Platform-native content strategy: 3-phase approach

01:29:44 - On legacy, team relationships, and emotional leadership

#CalebRalston #ContentMarketing #BrandStrategy #CreativeLeadership #GaryVee #AcquisitionDotCom #PersonalBrand #BurnoutPrevention #ContentTeams #Hormozi #EcommerceMarketing #FounderStory #contentcreator

👇👇 WORK WITH ME 👇👇

🚀 More Behind The Scenes Brand Growth Tips: https://jordan-doughty.kit.com/b8baebbd0f

📧 Learn About Retention Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJoNxvsFN8

☎️ Work With My Retention Agency ($50k/mo+): https://openhousemedia.agency/

----------

Get ready for a masterclass in eCommerce growth, scaling subscription brands, and entrepreneurial balance with Grayson Cross. 🚀 In this in-depth interview, Grayson shares how he built and scaled multimillion-dollar brands, leveraged AI to optimize his life and business, and why subscription models are the future of eCommerce.

We cover real-world tactics for reducing churn, boosting LTV (lifetime value), scaling multiple businesses, and staying focused in a distracted world. If you're a founder, marketer, or entrepreneur looking to optimize your business and life, this is a must-watch.

In this video, you'll learn:

✅ How to scale eCommerce brands faster and more profitably

✅ Why subscription models create higher valuations and easier exits

✅ How to use AI tools like Limitless and Rewind to stay productive

✅ Real frameworks for balancing health, family, and scaling a company

✅ How to evaluate business investments and build a second brain with AI

✅ Insider strategies for boosting retention and reducing churn

✅ How Grayson shifted his definition of success after personal tragedy

Whether you're building a DTC brand, optimizing a subscription program, or just want to work smarter (not harder), this episode is packed with actionable advice you can use today.

👉 Subscribe for more weekly interviews, brand breakdowns, and eCommerce growth strategies!

#ecommerce #entrepreneurship #subscriptionbusiness #aiproductivity #scaleyourbrand #d2c

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Meet Grayson Cross and His Entrepreneurial Journey

00:01:49 Why Grayson Splits Time Between California, New York, and Idaho

00:04:02 Planning Travel for Maximum Productivity

00:05:13 How Grayson Schedules His Day Using AI

00:06:34 Life and Work Balance in Idaho

00:07:29 Deep Dive Into AI Wearables and Daily Optimization

00:09:17 Building a Second Brain and Fighting Decision Fatigue

00:10:37 Aligning AI Systems With Life Goals

00:11:54 Using AI for Business CRM and Personal Knowledge Base

00:13:18 Merging Business and Personal Growth Through AI

00:15:24 Staying Ahead of Trends and Top AI Tools

00:18:01 Redefining Success After Personal Tragedy and Health Scare

00:21:06 Shifting Life Priorities Beyond Career Goals

00:24:33 Finding Balance Between Ambition and Gratitude

00:25:54 Structuring Family Time, Health, and Leisure

00:27:10 Continuous Learning and Book Recommendations

00:29:38 Influential Mentors and Philosophies

00:31:21 Grayson's Career Journey and Serial Entrepreneurship

00:34:24 Scaling a Firearm Accessory Brand to Massive Revenue

00:35:18 Transitioning to Weekend Digital and Weekend Investments

00:37:08 Managing Multiple Projects and Teams Efficiently

00:39:23 How to Identify and Coach High-Potential Employees

00:41:03 The Trade-Off Between Focus and Managing Multiple Ventures

00:43:13 How Grayson Evaluates New Business Opportunities

00:44:33 Revolutionizing Weekend Digital’s Forecasting and Structure

00:45:49 Key Factors for Investment Decisions in E-Commerce Brands

00:49:13 The Four Levers to Scale Any Business

00:50:08 Why Grayson Prioritizes Subscription-Based Brands

00:51:32 Creative Ways to Launch Subscription Offers

00:53:50 How Subscription Offers Lower Acquisition Costs

00:57:02 Best Practices for Launching a Subscription Program

00:59:40 Preparing for Complaints When Launching Subscriptions

01:01:22 How to Test Subscription Offers and Pricing

01:04:36 Dealing With Data Uncertainty When Testing Subscriptions

01:05:58 Reducing Subscription Churn and Extending Customer LTV

01:09:45 Email and SMS Strategies for Subscription Retention

01:11:52 Handling Subscriber Communications Without Triggering Churn

01:13:10 Using Voicemails and Phone Calls to Reduce Churn

01:16:15 Leveraging Top Customers for Referrals and Growth

01:17:35 Building and Optimizing Subscriber Referral Programs

01:18:07 How to Optimize Existing Subscription Programs

01:19:53 Should You Start With One Product or Multiple for Subscription?

01:20:20 Final Thoughts: Why Subscription Models Are a No-Brainer

01:23:10 Where to Follow Grayson Cross for More Insights

👇👇 WORK WITH ME 👇👇

🚀 More Behind The Scenes Brand Growth Tips: https://jordan-doughty.kit.com/b8baebbd0f

📧 Learn About Retention Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJoNxvsFN8

☎️ Work With My Retention Agency ($50k/mo+): https://openhousemedia.agency/

----------

What do 125% tariffs, supply chain chaos, and China's manufacturing shift mean for your eCommerce brand? In this episode, we sit down with Kian Golzari, a global sourcing expert who's personally sourced 2,500+ products and worked with major names like the NBA, Olympics, and the UN.

We unpack what Trump’s latest tariff hikes actually mean for DTC and Amazon brands — and more importantly, how to respond with smart sourcing strategies, supplier partnerships, and a resilient China+1 plan.

If you're scaling a brand and rely on importing from China, this is essential listening.

🔍 In this episode:

- Trump’s “Liberation Day” and the rise of reciprocal tariffs

- What 125% duties mean for your margins

- Why China is okay losing factory jobs (and where they’re going)

- How to use tools like ImportYeti to find new suppliers

- The China+1 Strategy every brand should be working on

- How to survive and thrive through tariff disruption

- Why now is the best time to optimize your supply chain

Whether you’re doing 6 figures or 8, if you want to protect your profits, improve sourcing, or build a future-proof eCommerce business—hit play.

📈 Subscribe for weekly expert interviews, tactical breakdowns, and insights you won’t find on Twitter.

👇👇 WORK WITH ME 👇👇

🚀 More Behind The Scenes Brand Growth Tips: https://jordan-doughty.kit.com/b8baebbd0f

📧 Learn About Retention Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJoNxvsFN8

☎️ Work With My Retention Agency ($50k/mo+): https://openhousemedia.agency/

Chris Lang, founder of Fresh Chili Co, went from growing up without running water in rural Oklahoma to building an 8-figure DTC consumables brand that's breaking growth records. In this episode, we dive deep into his journey—from a traumatic upbringing to running one of the fastest-growing salsa brands in America.

🔥 Sales up 350% last year

🔥 Built a factory from scratch

🔥 30,000+ strong customer community

🔥 Facebook engagement beating household names like Tabasco and Heinz

🔥 A founder story that’s as authentic as the Hatch chiles he sells

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:40 – From Hobby to Top 1% Shopify Brand

04:55 – Brand Built on Family & Heritage

08:10 – Owning the Supply Chain

11:35 – Turning Customers into Superfans

15:22 – Paid Memberships That Convert

18:30 – Organic Content That Works

22:15 – Scaling Smart with the Right Tools

27:42 – Building Community with Move FWD

31:10 – Lessons in Leadership & Growth

34:50 – Rapid Fire Insights

38:25 – Wrap Up