In this episode, I sit down with Stefana Avera, founder of Liaison the Label, to talk about building a multimillion-dollar activewear brand from scratch—with zero experience in fashion or manufacturing. Stefana shares the raw, unfiltered journey of bartending to afford $80 product samples, crying over failed prototypes 3 years into development, and the delusional confidence it took to keep going when no one believed in her vision.

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Jeff Frommer sold his bootstrapped creative media company for $75 million, and now he's on a mission to change how creators and startups work together. In this episode, we dive deep into why traditional influencer brand deals are dying and how creators can build generational wealth through equity ownership instead of one-off cash payments.

Jeff shares the exact framework he used to build Malka from a two-bedroom apartment to a creative powerhouse working with celebrities and top influencers. We discuss why "impossible has many options," the importance of being famous for one thing, and how to turn your influence into actual ownership.

If you're a creator tired of trading time for money, or a founder wondering how to activate the people who want you to win, this conversation will change how you think about partnerships, equity, and the future of the creator economy.

0:00 - Introduction: Why Influencer Brand Deals Are Dead

🔗 Want to learn more about earning equity as a creator? Visit owm.ai or email Jeff directly at [email protected]

📩 Continue the conversation on my Substack, The Growth List: https://thegrowthlist.substack.com

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Venture capital is changing—fast. Erica shares her journey from outsider to fund founder, reveals the new rules for startup success, and explains why building your personal brand is now essential. If you want to stand out, raise money, and win in today’s VC world, this episode is for you.

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Welcome to Just Grow With It! In this episode, I reveal my honest approach to goal setting for 2026, what’s changed, and how you can finally make your goals happen.

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Ever wondered what it really takes to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list? In this candid conversation, we sit down with Zoya Hasan, Forbes editor and curator of the iconic list, to uncover the real process, the myths, and the hustle behind the headlines. From her journey as a chemistry major to leading one of the most competitive lists in the world, Soya shares insider stories, the importance of resilience, and why not everything you hear about Forbes 30 Under 30 is true.

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Thinking of starting a business in 2026? In this episode, I break down the business models I’d avoid, from influencer marketplaces to novelty AI startups. Learn from my experience, discover what makes a business sustainable, and get tips for success in the new year. Share your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more founder insights every week!

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In this episode, I reflect on the monumental lessons learned in 2025 as a founder and creator. Get 10% off your Squarespace purchase using code NATALIEBARBU or go to https://squarespace.com/nataliebarbu

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What does product-market fit really look like? In this episode, I share the raw, unfiltered story of how we spent two years building the wrong product, the painful lessons we learned, and how we finally found true product-market fit with Rella.

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After 200+ investor rejections, we finally raised $1M for our startup. In this episode, I share the real story behind our fundraising journey, lessons learned, and practical tips for founders facing rejection. Whether you’re starting out or deep in the process, this is the advice I wish I had.

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Welcome to "Just Grow With It"! In this episode, I share the biggest mistake we made as founders: not charging customers soon enough. We wasted two years and nearly lost our company before learning the hard truth about pricing. If you’re a creator, founder, or entrepreneur, this episode will save you time, money, and heartache.

Newsletter: https://thegrowthlist.substack.com/

00:00 – Why not charging was our biggest mistake

01:00 – The myth of traction vs. real revenue

02:30 – Why free users rarely convert to paid

04:00 – Our failed freemium launch and what went wrong

06:20 – The painful pivot: relaunching with a paywall

08:00 – How charging saved our business

09:30 – Should you charge from day one?

11:00 – Free trial vs. freemium vs. paid: what works

13:00 – The psychology of pricing and perceived value

15:00 – How to set your price and test your model

16:30 – Final lessons and advice for founders

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and sign up for my newsletter for more founder stories and lessons every week!

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