Scaling a startup into a national or international brand is rarely clean, predictable, or glamorous.

Recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, this panel brings together founders who have scaled in very different industries but faced the same uncomfortable decisions along the way. From compliance and capital to branding, product reality, and investor relationships, this conversation focuses on what actually holds when growth accelerates.

Guests:

Mark Rushmore, Co-founder of SURI

Laura Fullerton, Founder of monk

Claire Warner, Co-founder of Aecorn

Melissa Snover, Founder of Remedy Health & Nourished

Jeannette Linfoot, Host of Brave Bold Brilliant (moderator)

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why compliance and financial clarity cannot be delayed

When rebuilding is the real growth decision

How to think about scale before demand explodes

What raising capital really looks like in tougher markets

If you are building something you want to last, this episode will help you see scale more clearly.

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00:00 Welcome to the Festival of Entrepreneurs  

00:12 What It Really Takes to Scale a Startup  

01:25 Meet the Founders  

04:17 Early Scaling Lessons  

05:48 Strategic Bets vs Rushing to Scale  

07:04 Building Compliance Before Growth  

08:18 Choosing a Market That Can Scale  

10:25 Lessons From Before This Business  

13:20 When Customers Reject the Product  

16:40 Branding Before the Product Exists  

18:14 Understanding the Numbers  

20:57 The Reality of Raising Capital  

21:55 The Screw It Just DO It Moment  

24:35 Handling Rejection as a Founder  

27:51 Choosing the Right Investors  

29:58 Scaling With the Right Partners  

32:17 Building a Brand in a New Category  

34:43 Final Thoughts From the Panel