Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal, reveals how she built a billion-dollar resale marketplace that transformed luxury fashion. In this exclusive Foundr Podcast interview, Julie shares how she scaled The RealReal to over $1B in revenue, reached 38 million members, and took the company public on the Nasdaq.

From her early lessons at Pets.com to reinventing resale as “cool” and breaking into the luxury market, Julie unpacks the strategies, risks, and mindset shifts that fuelled her success. Whether you’re building an eCommerce brand, launching a marketplace, or navigating setbacks as a founder, this interview delivers invaluable lessons on execution, resilience, and scaling big ideas.

What you’ll learn from this interview:

By the end of this interview, you’ll walk away with proven insights from one of the most experienced entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley—so you can build, scale, and sustain your own eCommerce or marketplace business with clarity and confidence.

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠

CONNECT WITH JULIE WAINWRIGHT

Website → ⁠

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠

CONNECT WITH CAMILLE MOORE

Website → ⁠https://thirdrowcreative.com⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/realrealjulie

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠

Website → ⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠

Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠

Twitter → ⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠

Podcast → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast

Every business has one major constraint holding it back from the next stage of growth — and solving it is the fastest way to scale.

In this episode, I share the exact formula I use to identify the biggest problem in my business, find the right person who’s already solved it, and get the solution faster than years of trial and error. This is the same approach I’ve seen countless successful founders use to break through roadblocks and grow with speed.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

• How to identify the single biggest constraint holding your business back

• The fastest way to find and learn from people who have already solved your problem

• Why paying for expertise can save you months — or even years — of wasted time

If you’re stuck or plateauing, this episode will give you a clear, actionable way to diagnose the issue and solve it faster than you thought possible — so you can get back to growing your business.

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠

Website → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠

Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠

Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠

Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠

Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

Kian Golzari is one of the world’s leading experts in sourcing and product manufacturing—developing over 2,500 products and visiting 500+ factories.

In this episode, he shares how to go from idea to product without getting burned by bad suppliers or poor-quality manufacturing. Whether you're working with Alibaba or building a custom product from scratch—this is your playbook.

What you’ll learn:

• How to vet suppliers and avoid common sourcing mistakes

• His exact 3-step product development system

• How to approach factories like a pro (even if it’s your first product)

• Why negotiation is more about positioning than price

• What he’s learned from working with the NBA, UN & billion-dollar brands

• His best tips for working with Chinese manufacturers in 2025 and beyond

If you’re creating a physical product or want to improve your margins—this episode will save you time, money, and a ton of headaches.

Foundr Community Offers

Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching:

Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

Connect With Nathan Chan

Connect With Kian Golzari

YouTube → Click Here

Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies

After 12 years building Foundr, I finally committed to something I should have done a decade ago — posting online every single day for 90 days straight to grow my personal brand.

In this episode, I share what that commitment taught me about building trust, deepening connections with my audience, and why your personal brand is one of the most powerful assets you can create as a founder. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, these lessons will help you turn consistent posting into real business growth.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

If you’ve been hesitating to put yourself out there, this episode will give you the push — and the exact approach — to start posting, build authority, and unlock growth in your business.

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠

Website → ⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠

Instagram → ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠

Facebook → ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠

Twitter → ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠

Podcast → ⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast

In this episode of the Foundr Podcast, Nathan Chan sits down with

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to https://your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application

→ Already have a store? Apply here → https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/

CONNECT WITH CAMILLE MOORE

Website → https://thirdrowcreative.com

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thecamillemoore

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt

Website → https://www.foundr.com

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/foundr/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/foundr

Twitter → https://www.twitter.com/foundr

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/

Podcast → https://www.foundr.com/podcast

After interviewing over 100 billionaires and ultra-successful entrepreneurs, I’ve spotted three lessons that come up every single time — no matter the industry, background, or business model.

In this episode, I break down exactly what I’ve learned from these conversations so you can model the same habits, mindsets, and strategies that separate the world’s top founders from everyone else.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

If you apply even one of these lessons, you’ll put yourself on the same trajectory as some of the most successful entrepreneurs alive today — and start making decisions like the billionaires I’ve had the privilege to learn from.

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠

Website → ⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠

Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠

Twitter → ⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠

Podcast → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast

Alicia Yoon is the founder of Peach & Lily—the pioneering brand that brought Korean skincare to the U.S. before “K-Beauty” was a buzzword.

In this episode, she shares how her personal skin struggles turned into a lifelong mission, how she went from finance to esthetician school, and why she took the slow, principled path to build a category-defining brand.

What you’ll learn:

• How Peach & Lily built trust in a crowded industry

• Why Alicia avoided shortcuts, even when growth was slow

• The viral moment that changed everything—and how they prepared for it

• Her approach to formulation, transparency, and community

• Lessons from burnout and building with integrity

• Why "glass skin" wasn’t a trend—it was education

If you want to build a product people love and trust for years—not months—this episode is for you.

Foundr Community Offers

Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching:

Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

Connect With Nathan Chan

Connect With Alicia Yoon

Instagram → Click Here

Alicia’s Instagram → Click Here

Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies

Four months into starting Foundr, I landed an interview with billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson — without connections, without experience, and while building my very first business from scratch.

In this episode, I break down the exact networking and outreach strategy I used to connect with one of the world’s most famous founders, plus how you can apply it to land meetings, partnerships, or interviews with anyone in your industry — even if you’re starting from zero.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS

Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠ to get started.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER

Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+

Start your $1 trial → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠

PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING?

→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠

→ Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠

CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠

FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES

YouTube → ⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠

Website → ⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠

Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠

Twitter → ⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠

LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠

Podcast → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast

In this episode, Toni Ko, founder of NYX Cosmetics, shares how she built one of the fastest-growing cosmetics brands in the world—scaling from a $250,000 investment to a $500M exit to L’Oréal.

She reveals:

• How she turned 18 SKUs into millions of units sold in year one

• The simple packaging strategy that disrupted the beauty industry

• Why she avoided debt and scaled profitably without VC pressure

• Her raw take on selling her “baby” and facing post-exit depression

• The lessons from a failed second business—and why it was her best teacher

• Her blueprint for launching multiple influencer-led brands under Bespoke Beauty Brands

If you want to learn what it really takes to build, scale, and exit a product brand—this is a must-listen.

Foundr Community Offers

Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching:

Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

Connect With Nathan Chan

Connect With Toni Ko

Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies

I almost walked away from Foundr. Not because the business wasn’t working—but because I wasn’t.

In this episode, I’m sharing the truth about burnout. After seven years of building nonstop, I hit a wall—mentally, emotionally, and physically. What followed was one of the hardest seasons of my entrepreneurial journey. But it also forced me to change everything: how I work, how I lead, and how I show up in my life.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.

Foundr Community Offers

Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching:

Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

Connect With Nathan Chan

Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies