The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

In this episode, Ruslan Kogan, founder and CEO of Kogan.com, dives into his journey from selling electronics out of his parents’ garage to building one of Australia’s most successful e-commerce brands. Ruslan shares key insights on identifying market gaps, the importance of customer focus, and how he scaled Kogan.com by challenging traditional retail norms. He also discusses the power of data-driven decision-making, his early struggles with capital, and the lessons learned from rapidly scaling a business.

Listen to Nathan & Ruslan discuss:

- The early days of Kogan.com and starting a business from scratch

- Identifying market gaps and leveraging customer insights

- The role of data in guiding business decisions and scaling

- Strategies for building a customer-first brand in e-commerce

- Lessons on resilience and navigating challenges as an entrepreneur

- Strategic growth and Kogan.com’s approach to expanding product offerings

And much more entreprenurial advice...

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In this episode, Adam Schwab, founder and CEO of Luxury Escapes, shares his entrepreneurial journey from humble beginnings to creating one of the leading travel brands in the world. Adam reflects on the strategic decisions that helped him scale the business, including early challenges, pivotal business shifts, and successful acquisitions. He provides insights into how he built Luxury Escapes into a trusted brand known for premium travel experiences and shares advice on maintaining long-term growth in a competitive industry.

Listen to Nathan and Adam discuss:

- Adam’s journey from lawyer to entrepreneur

- Critical pivots that led to Luxury Escapes’ success

- Strategic acquisitions that helped scale the business

- Navigating the travel industry during the Covid-19 crisis

- Building a brand and maintaining customer loyalty in a competitive market

- Key lessons on resilience and adapting to changes as an entrepreneur

And much more business advice…

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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We're diving back into another episode from the Foundr Archives to revisit my interview with Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix.

It’s every entrepreneur’s dream: create a product that is so disruptive to an industry, that it forces a shift in how we do business. Be so good, that they can’t ignore you, and they have to completely reimagine the way they do things in order to compete with you. That’s what Netflix did.

Randolph has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years before the word “entrepreneur” was even a thing. With an insight into the business game like no other, Randolph knows the importance of action and acceleration colliding with ideas.

Listen in as Randolph reveals his journey, from failed business ideas and last-minute pivots, to being laughed at during a $50m pitch with Blockbuster. Find out why he believes that the most important step in having an idea is to start.

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Anthony Katz, founder of Hyperice, shares his incredible journey from being a high school teacher with a passion for sports to building a global recovery brand used by some of the world’s top athletes. Anthony talks about the inspiration behind Hyperice, his early struggles in product development, and the pivotal moment when Kobe Bryant agreed to test his product. He reveals how he leveraged athlete partnerships to build credibility for Hyperice and how the company’s innovations in recovery technology have set them apart in the industry. Listeners will gain insights into the power of networking, the importance of resilience, and the strategies Anthony used to build a nine-figure company from scratch.

In this episode, listen to Anthony & Nathan discuss:

- The inspiration and initial development of Hyperice products

- Working with top athletes like Kobe Bryant and leveraging partnerships for growth

- The challenges of building a hardware startup from scratch

- The role of innovation in creating market-leading products

- Strategies for building credibility and brand recognition in a competitive market

- The importance of storytelling in building a successful brand

- Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Matteo Franceschetti, founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, shares his incredible journey of transforming sleep into a science-backed, performance-enhancing tool. Matteo, a former athlete, speaks about the inspiration behind Eight Sleep and the importance of optimizing sleep for peak performance. He takes us through the product development journey, from the first iterations to the game-changing Pod, and discusses how the company achieved product-market fit by listening to customers. Matteo also dives into the challenges of building a hardware startup, the importance of team dynamics, and how Eight Sleep is expanding globally.

Listen to Nathan and Matteo discuss:

- The journey from athlete to sleep tech pioneer

- The development of Eight Sleep’s Pod and its unique features

- How customer feedback shaped product innovation

- The challenges and rewards of scaling a hardware startup

- Navigating the sleep tech industry and global expansion

- The future of sleep technology and its impact on wellness and performance

- Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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We're diving into another episode from the Foundr Archives to revisit our interview John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods.

In this episode, John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, shares the story of building one of the most recognized brands in the organic and natural food industry. From humble beginnings to being acquired by Amazon, John discusses the evolution of Whole Foods, the principles of conscious leadership that shaped its growth, and the challenges of leading a company through the COVID-19 crisis. He provides insights into how businesses can create value for all stakeholders, the importance of leading with purpose, and why love and integrity are essential in business. This episode is packed with wisdom for entrepreneurs on how to build a brand that resonates with both customers and employees.

In this interview you will learn:

- The founding of Whole Foods and its rise in the natural foods industry

- The principles of conscious capitalism and leadership

- Leading during challenging times like the COVID-19 crisis

- The importance of creating value for all stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers)

- Integrating a company culture based on purpose and integrity

- How Whole Foods thrived after its acquisition by Amazon

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Lindsay Shearer, founder of BrandRanx Media, takes us through her journey from running a holistic medical clinic to becoming an SEO powerhouse in the e-commerce world. Lindsay shares the story of how a chance encounter led her to help build the marketing strategy for Manscaped, sparking her passion for SEO. She discusses the importance of validating your product before diving into SEO, the best practices for on-page and off-page SEO, and how to maximize your SEO budget for long-term growth. Lindsay also reveals her approach to finding high-value keywords, the impact of AI on SEO, and the essential tools every e-commerce brand should be using. This episode is packed with actionable insights and strategies for anyone looking to scale their e-commerce business through SEO.

In this interview you will learn:

- Lindsay’s journey from running a holistic medical clinic to leading an SEO agency

- How she helped develop the marketing strategy for Manscaped

- Best practices for on-page and off-page SEO, including specific tools and tactics

- The importance of building credibility through link building and press releases

- Insights into the future of SEO, including the role of AI and long-term strategies for e-commerce success

- And many more SEO tips for Entrepreneurs

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Allison Ellsworth, founder of Poppi, takes us through her incredible journey from humble beginnings at farmers markets to achieving national recognition with her modern soda brand. Allison shares the challenges she faced in the early days, including the pivotal decision to appear on Shark Tank, where she secured a deal that helped propel Poppi to success. She discusses the strategic rebranding that transformed her business, the impact of her Super Bowl commercial, and how she’s built a brand that resonates deeply with consumers through authentic, community-first marketing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Allison’s journey from kitchen experiments to a successful Shark Tank pitch

- The rebranding process that led to Poppi’s breakthrough

- How a last-minute Super Bowl ad tripled Poppi's brand awareness overnight

- Leveraging TikTok and social media to build a strong, engaged community

- Key strategies for scaling a beverage brand in a competitive market

- Allison’s advice for founders on navigating rapid growth and maintaining brand integrity

- Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Sheena Zadeh-Daly, founder of Kosas, shares her journey from selling lipsticks from her home to building a clean beauty brand that’s taken the industry by storm. Sheena discusses the early challenges of launching Kosas, including her hands-on approach to everything from product development to shipping orders in the early days. She reveals the moment when Kosas was first recognized by Sephora and the strategy behind positioning her brand as a prestige color line. Sheena also talks about the importance of brand DNA, the power of obsession in business, and how she balances creativity with the demands of scaling a successful company. Listeners will gain valuable insights into building a brand that resonates with consumers, the role of innovation in product development, and the importance of staying true to your vision.

Listen to Nathan and Sheena discuss:

- Starting and scaling a clean beauty brand from scratch

- The importance of brand DNA in building a successful brand

- Leveraging personal passion and creativity in product development

- Navigating the challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship

- Strategies for positioning a brand in a competitive market

- The role of strategic partnerships, including landing Kosas in Sephora

- And much more beauty brand advice...

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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In this episode, Hudson Leogrande, the founder of Purely White Deluxe and Comfrt, shares his remarkable journey from packing products in his mother's basement to building two multimillion-dollar brands.

Hudson discusses the early struggles of launching Purely White Deluxe, including the challenges of marketing a teeth whitening product with no prior experience and the breakthrough moment when he discovered the untapped potential of Snapchat.

He also dives into the creation of Comfrt, a brand born from his personal struggles with anxiety, and how he used the same influencer-driven strategy to scale the business rapidly.

- Hudson’s journey from a basement startup to a global brand

- The challenges and successes of launching Purely White Deluxe

- How he leveraged Snapchat to build a strong customer base

- The creation of Comfrt and its unique approach to alleviating anxiety through clothing

- Hudson’s approach to influencer marketing and how it drove massive growth

- Insights into scaling an e-commerce brand in today’s digital landscape

- Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs

Click here to start your business for $1. You’ll get all-access foundr+, where you’ll find more in-depth, proven strategies from founders like our guest today and support and advice from our global community of 30,000 founders.

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