The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan - podcast cover

The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Foundr Mediawww.foundr.com
Hear the stories, learn the proven methods, and accelerate your growth and future through entrepreneurship. Welcome to The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan.  About the show:  For over a decade, The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan has been a leading entrepreneurship podcast for open-book conversations with, by, and for founders. Whether you're starting, building, or dreaming about your business, The Foundr Podcast is where you can access experienced founders who've been in your shoes to learn their proven methods, lessons from failure, and inspirational stories.  Past guests include Emma Grede, Mark Cuban, Neil Patel, Kendra Scott, Alex Hormozi, Trinny Woodall, Tim Ferriss, Sophia Amoruso, Simon Sinek, Tony Robbins, Amy Porterfield, Ed Mylett, Michelle Zatlyn, Reid Hoffman, Scooter Braun, Dany Garcia, Marc Lore, Ariana Huffington, Pat Flynn, Lewis Howes, Jordan Harbinger, and many more.  About the host:  Nathan Chan is the CEO of Foundr and the creator of The Foundr Podcast. Chan literally started from knowing nothing. He was just an average guy working in a 9-5 job he utterly hated. He knew nothing about entrepreneurship, nothing about startups, nothing about marketing, and nothing about online or how to build a business. In the past decade, Chan's built Foundr into a global leader in entrepreneurial education, helping tens of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses.  Need help with your business?  Visit foundr.com/foundrplustrial to join a global community of entrepreneurs, gain access to proven strategies, and fast-track your business growth confidently.
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Episodes

581: How to Build a $100M Brand Without Raising a Dollar | Peach & Lily

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 • T...

Aug 22, 20251 hr 14 minEp. 581

580: (Solo) The Step-by-Step Method to Reach Anyone — Even Billionaires

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 ...

Aug 19, 20258 minEp. 580

579: The Strategy That Made NYX a Household Name | Toni Ko (Best of Foundr)

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 ...

Aug 15, 202547 minEp. 579

578: (Solo) The Wake-Up Call That Changed How I Work

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: • The real signs of burnout I ignored for too long • Th...

Aug 12, 202511 minEp. 578

577: The Genius Referral Model Behind Burst’s Multi-Million Dollar Brand (Best of Foundr)

Brittany Stewart turned toothbrushes into a breakout DTC success story—co-founding one of America’s fastest-growing eCommerce brands: Burst Oral Care. In this episode, she shares how Burst launched at dental conventions, scaled through hygienist word-of-mouth, and partnered with A-list influencers like Khloé & Kim Kardashian—all while keeping product quality and customer obsession at the center of their brand. What you’ll learn: • Why they skipped traditional launch playbooks and scaled thro...

Aug 08, 202544 minEp. 577

576: (Solo) This One Trademark Mistake Nearly Killed My Business - Here's What I Learnt

I got sued just a few months into starting Foundr—and it nearly crushed everything I was building. In this short episode, I’m sharing the full story behind how I was forced to change the name of my business, the legal mistakes I made, and the surprising reasons it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. If you’re launching a brand or picking a name right now, this lesson could save you years of pain. Here’s what you’ll take away: • The #1 mistake I made when choosing the origin...

Aug 05, 20259 minEp. 576

575: Ty Haney on Being Ousted From Her Own Company: The Lesson's Learnt & How to Bounce Back

In this episode, Ty Haney, founder of Outdoor Voices, shares how she turned her public downfall into the blueprint for an even bigger comeback—building multiple new brands and redefining how community drives growth. She reveals: • How she built Outdoor Voices into a $100M cult brand by age 30 • Why the DTC playbook failed—and what she’s doing differently now • The four-part community-building formula that makes customers 4x more valuable • Her biggest mistakes as a first-time CEO—and how she’s f...

Aug 01, 202553 minEp. 575

574: He's Building a $250M+ Business That Measures Success in Lives Saved | Andrew Lacy

In this episode, Andrew Lacy, founder of Prenuvo, shares how he went from two startup exits to building one of the fastest-growing health tech companies in the world—revolutionizing preventative healthcare with full-body MRI scans. He reveals: • Why most healthcare systems are reactive and backwards—and how Prenuvo flips it • How Prenuvo scaled from one small Canadian clinic to global recognition • Why he struggled to raise funding (even with traction!)—and what changed • How Kim Kardashian and ...

Jul 25, 202554 minEp. 574

573: Building a $74M a Year Beauty & Community Empire | Trinny Woodall

In this episode, Trinny Woodall, founder of Trinny London, shares how she turned her mission to help women feel confident into a multi-million dollar global beauty brand. She reveals: • Why she focused on the overlooked 35+ market and won their loyalty • How she started with just £150,000 and her own wardrobe to fund the dream • The retention-first strategy behind Trinny London’s explosive growth • How the Trinny Tribe community drives word of mouth and deep trust • Her honest take on raising ca...

Jul 18, 202553 minEp. 572

572: (Solo) How to Build a Brand That’s Uncopyable: Even If Your Idea Gets Stolen

Worried someone’s going to steal your business idea? You’re not alone — and you’re not powerless. In this short episode, I’m sharing exactly what to do when copycats come for your product — because they will. I’ll break down why fear of being copied holds so many founders back, how I learned this lesson the hard way, and the real strategies that protect what actually matters: your brand, your story, and your unfair advantages. Here’s what you’ll take away: • Why you can’t stop people copying you...

Jul 11, 202511 minEp. 572

571: No Funding, 104 Rejections & $411 Left in the Bank - How She made $65M+ on Flowers

In this episode, Christina Stembel, founder of Farmgirl Flowers, reveals how she built a $65M+ floral business from her dining room—with no funding, no degree, and no industry experience. She reveals: • Why she chose a perishable, logistics-heavy product in a recession • How she scaled with no marketing budget and $411 left in the bank • The scrappy strategies that drove early word of mouth and virality • Why she received 104 VC rejections—and why she’s now grateful • How she handles seasonality...

Jul 04, 202543 minEp. 571

570: Your Toothbrush is GROSS - They Fixed it and Made MILLIONS | SURI

In this episode, Mark Rushmore and Gyve Safavi, co-founders of SURI (Sustainable Rituals), share how they turned a simple personal care item into a sustainable, design-led movement—challenging legacy players like Oral-B and Philips. They share: • Why the electric toothbrush was overdue for disruption • The intentional product and packaging design that drove early virality • Their approach to building a mission-led brand without greenwashing • How they scaled operations and manufacturing for a re...

Jun 27, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 570

569: The Email Expert - How to Get Your Customers Attention

In this episode, Rytis Lauris, co-founder of Omnisend, shares how he bootstrapped a leading email and SMS marketing platform used by over 125,000 eCommerce brands worldwide. He shares: • Why most ecommerce founders start email marketing too late • How to convert more website traffic into high-intent subscribers • The 2% of automations that drive 40% of ecommerce revenue • Why segmentation and personalization outperform batch-and-blast emails • Creative SMS tactics that build loyalty—not just con...

Jun 20, 202549 minEp. 569

568: No Experience, No Investors, 5 x Million Dollar Businesses - How Brittney Saunders Did it

In this episode, Brittney Saunders, founder of FAYT, Staple Swim, Form Active, and OUTDŌ, shares how she went from YouTuber to multi-brand empire builder—running multiple 7-figure businesses with a hands-on, no-agency approach. She shares: • How she transitioned from influencer to real founder with 40+ staff • The power of brick-and-mortar stores in an online world • Why she refuses to use agencies for content or growth • Her real thoughts on product quality, hiring, and customer experience • Th...

Jun 13, 20251 hr 21 minEp. 568

567: The Tiny Challenge Model - The Easiest Way to Get Your First 5 Clients | Richmond Dinh

What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, Richmond Dinh, founder of the Tiny Challenge model, reveals how he went from nearly going bankrupt to building a 7-figure coaching empire—without a big audience, paid ads, or complex funnels. He shares: • How he rebuilt his life after losing it all in property investing • The one framework that helped him launch 8-for-8 successful online programs • Why you only need a few high-quality clients to make 6 or 7 figures • The simplest way to land you...

Jun 06, 202547 minEp. 567

566: From Celebrity Deals to Creator Empire - Maggie Sellers on Building 'Hot Smart Rich'

In this episode, Maggie Sellers—founder, investor, creator, and force behind Hot Smart Rich—shares how she turned vulnerability, storytelling, and a scrappy content strategy into a multimillion-dollar movement and investing powerhouse. She shares: • The celebrity deal that taught her the power of owning your narrative • How she built Hot Smart Rich from a TikTok idea into a full-blown venture platform • The moment she knew she had a real business (hint: it wasn’t when she went viral) • Her strat...

May 30, 202556 minEp. 566

565: From 3rd Grade Teacher to Beauty CEO: How Supergoop! Built a $700M Brand From ZERO! | Holly Thaggard (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]

In this episode, Holly Thaggard, founder of Supergoop!, shares how she redefined the sunscreen category and built a globally recognized $700M brand from the ground up. She shares: • The heartbreaking moment that inspired her SPF obsession • How she created the world’s first chemical sunscreen without oxybenzone • Her failed school program—and why it led to retail success • The crazy story of how she landed in Sephora thanks to Burt’s Bees’ founder • How she brought Maria Sharapova on as an inves...

May 23, 202546 minEp. 565

564: From $0 to $100,000 a Day Selling Neckties | Fameez Haroon

In this episode, Fameez Haroon, co-founder of OTAA, shares how he and his brother bootstrapped a fashion accessories brand from a Melbourne bedroom to $40M+ in sales—without outside funding. He shares: • How they built OTAA from $2,000 and zero fashion experience • The customer pain point that sparked the brand idea • Their scrappy PR hustle that led to a $4K launch and 400K+ customers • Why investing in branded content (even when everyone said not to) paid off • How they scaled their Facebook A...

May 16, 20251 hr 9 minEp. 564

563: From $500 to 120 Stores - How She Lost It All | Kristina Karlsson

In this episode, Kristina Karlsson, founder of Kikki.K and Dream Life, opens up about building a $100M global brand, losing it all, and why she's starting again—this time, on her own terms. She shares: • The wild journey of scaling Kikki.K to 120 stores in 6 countries • How losing her business twice reshaped her view of failure and resilience • Why journaling became her most powerful tool for balance and clarity • The hard lessons from choosing the wrong investors and CEOs • How she’s building D...

May 09, 20251 hr 20 minEp. 563

562: The Billion Dollar Woman Behind The Rock & Henry Cavill | Dany Garcia (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]

In this episode, Dany Garcia - founder, producer, chairwoman, and the powerhouse behind brands like ZOA Energy, Teremana Tequila, GSTQ, Seven Bucks Productions, and the XFL—shares how she built a billion-dollar business empire from scratch. She shares: • How she went from finance to managing Dwayne Johnson and producing blockbuster films • Why she “fires herself” from roles to grow her companies faster • The mindset needed to lead high-performance brands across fashion, sports, and film • How sh...

May 02, 202546 minEp. 562

561: $300M Worth of Facebook Ads Advice in 45 Minutes | Jordan Menard

In this episode, Jordan Menard breaks down what it really takes to scale Facebook ads in 2025. He shares why creative is now the targeting, why brands need to focus more on offers than tactics, and how to fix your conversion economics to unlock serious scale. Jordan also walks through his exact ad creative process—including scripting, ad types, and how to test offers to find your hero. If you're spending money on ads and not getting results, this episode will change the way you approach performa...

Apr 25, 202545 minEp. 561

560: The College Dropout Who Built an $11 billion Toy Empire | Nick Mowbray (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]

What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, Nick Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU, shares how a backyard hot air balloon project turned into a global toy and consumer goods empire with over $3 billion in projected revenue. He shares: • Why he and his brother lived off cents for 7 years in China to make ZURU work • The brutal lessons learned from getting sued as young entrepreneurs • How their first viral product generated $100M+ in revenue • The “2% better every week” mindset that helped them ...

Apr 18, 202544 minEp. 560

559: How a $100M Exit Left This 30 Year Old Lost | Jake Kassan

What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, Jake Kassan, co-founder of MVMT Watches, reveals the emotional rollercoaster of building and selling a business for $100M—and what came after. He shares: • How he scaled Movement from a $5,000 credit card to a $100M exit • The loneliness and identity crisis he faced after selling • Why chasing money alone didn’t fulfill him • The creative spark that led him to YouTube • His advice for founders struggling with burnout or searching for meaning If ...

Apr 11, 202549 minEp. 559

558: She Made $100K in 90 Days Selling Sunscreen | Tori Gill

In this episode, Tori Gill shares how she transitioned from being a barber to launching a six-figure sunscreen brand in just three months. She dives into how she identified a gap in the market, built a brand that resonated with parents, and leveraged Instagram and organic marketing to drive rapid sales. Tori also reveals how she balanced starting the business while still working her day job and the lessons she’s learned about manufacturing, branding, and scaling a product-based business. Listen ...

Apr 04, 202546 minEp. 558

557: She Went From $0 to $100M Selling Coffee Scrubs | Jessica Hatzis (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]

In this episode, Jess Hatzis shares the journey of how she and her co-founders built Frank Body into a $100M skincare brand with just $10,000. Jess dives deep into the power of brand voice, why traditional beauty marketing was broken, and how Frank Body pioneered influencer-driven marketing before it became mainstream. She also reveals how the brand navigated copycats, expanded into retail, and evolved beyond its Instagram-famous coffee scrub. Entrepreneurs will gain insights into creating a sta...

Mar 28, 202543 minEp. 557

556: From Broke to $100M+ in SaaS – Dan Martell (Best of Foundr) [VIDEO]

In this episode, Dan Martell shares his journey from troubled youth to building and exiting multiple SaaS businesses. Dan reveals the strategies behind his Buy Back Your Time framework, showing entrepreneurs how to scale efficiently without burning out. He also discusses his early business failures, the lessons he learned from selling companies, and why understanding leverage is the key to sustainable success. This conversation is packed with insights on hiring, leadership, and building a high-g...

Mar 21, 202541 minEp. 556

555: From Losing $5M to Making $50M with just ONE Product | Matthew Orlic

In this episode, Matthew Orlic shares how he built Qure Skincar e into a $50M+ brand in just three years. After losing $5M when Dick Smith collapsed overnight, Matthew had to reinvent himself, shifting from wholesale to digital marketing and mastering a multichannel e-commerce approach. He dives into how he applied four key leverage points—product, audience, margin, and operating costs—to scale sustainably without relying on Meta ads. This conversation is filled with invaluable insights for entr...

Mar 14, 202553 minEp. 555

554: How She Made 10M at 27 Years Old Selling Skincare | Rachael Wilde

In this episode, Rachael Wilde , founder of TBH Skincare , shares how she went from a marketing career in the medical devices industry to creating a leading skincare brand. She talks about discovering patented acne-fighting technology, securing licensing rights, and launching TBH Skincare with her mother as a co-founder. Rachael dives deep into how she leveraged influencer marketing, TikTok virality, and retail partnerships with Priceline to scale the business. Entrepreneurs will learn about boo...

Mar 07, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 554

553: His Multi-Million Dollar DTC Playbook That Launched MrBeasts Feastables | Nick Sharma

In this episode, Nick Sharma , founder of Sharma Brands , shares his incredible journey from managing celebrity social media accounts as a teenager to becoming one of the most sought-after names in direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing. Nick dives into the strategies that helped him scale brands like Hint Water and Feastables, including the importance of building trust, leveraging content for conversions, and mastering customer retention. Entrepreneurs will gain actionable insights into creating st...

Feb 28, 202554 minEp. 553

552: She Went From $0 to $15M Selling Eyeliner | Iris Smit [VIDEO]

In this episode, Iris Smit , founder of The Quick Flick , shares her inspiring journey of creating a multi-million dollar beauty empire from her dorm room. Iris opens up about her struggles with self-doubt, turning down a Shark Tank deal, and hitting rock bottom before rebuilding her business from the ground up. Learn how Iris leveraged influencer marketing, radical transparency, and community engagement to grow her brand organically. This episode is packed with actionable insights on resilience...

Feb 21, 202553 minEp. 552
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