Episodes

  • 515: Building Yeezy with Kanye and Why He Left Adidas | Eric Liedtke

    515: Building Yeezy with Kanye and Why He Left Adidas | Eric Liedtke
    Jun 8 2024
    When Kayne calls you on a Sunday night, you pick up. That was Eric Liedtke’s life for years as the head of global brands at Adidas, where he was instrumental in building the Yeezy brand and scaling the Adidas ecommerce platform to a multi-billion dollar business. After a 26-year corporate career, Liedtke gave it up and started from scratch as the CEO and co-founder of UNLESS Collective, a plant-based streetwear brand designed to leave zero plastic waste. Nathan Chan and Liedtke go deep into his war stories from Adidas, working with celebrity talent like Kayne, and why starting UNLESS was a humbling experience. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Liedtke climbed from a sweeper to a board member at Adidas The origins of Yeezy, its growth, and what went wrong That Adidas built Kayne a sample room in Calabasas What Kayne taught him about branding Why UNLESS partnered with skate, surf, and snow influencers The different skills between a corporate leader and an entrepreneur Why he thought starting a business would be easier Why Kayne almost bought UNLESS Why you always need to have a Plan B Supplying t-shirts for Robert Downey Jr. And much more product branding 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    55 mins
  • 514: He Made $2.8M Getting People High | Nick Shackelford

    514: He Made $2.8M Getting People High | Nick Shackelford
    May 31 2024
    Nick Shackelford wants to get soccer moms buzzed. His brand, BRĒZ, targets consumers who want to relax without a hangover in the morning. The challenge is getting BRĒZ sold online to soccer moms when selling the product isn’t fully legal. Shackelford is the co-founder and managing partner at Structured Social and is Foundr’s How to Run Facebook Ads course instructor. But in this episode, Nathan Chan talks to a different Nick–the co-founder of THC beverage brand BRĒZ. He started the business in 2023 to show his clients that Facebook ads work. What happened next is truly extraordinary. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Shackelford started over with a THC beverage product How BRĒZ earned $2.8M in sales in the first 10 months Why BRĒZ came at the highest price point in the market Why did they target soccer moms trying to get a buzz About Shackelford’s sympathy for his advertising clients Competing against the massive alcohol market How Shackelford structures his ad campaigns The grey area around THC product advertising Why they spend $25K on ad per day And much more CBD and THC product 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    30 mins
  • 513: Why Twitter Rejected His AI Tool | Alex Elias

    513: Why Twitter Rejected His AI Tool | Alex Elias
    May 24 2024
    When Alex Elias started Qloo, “artificial intelligence” was a dirty word. A decade later, Qloo is a pioneer in AI. Qloo is an AI decision-making platform that helps corporate clients predict audience tastes and preferences. Elias says that we’re still in “the Napster era of AI” and that the hype will eventually become a subtle integration into our lives. In this episode, Elias shares about being an early adopter of AI and how he’s endured the hype to build a trusted business that Twitter once rejected. In this interview, you’ll learn: Why AI brings more problems for entrepreneurs to solve The advantages and disadvantages of being an early adopter When Qloo landed and lost Twitter as a client How not to lose your identity in your business How to develop long-term stamina as a founder Why Elias biked commuted in NYC for years How to use AI for your business beyond generative tools Why AI will become more subtle in the future And much more AI and founder mindset 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    57 mins
  • 512: How Shay Mitchell Is Disrupting a $17B Industry

    512: How Shay Mitchell Is Disrupting a $17B Industry
    May 17 2024
    Shay Mitchell loves it when people approach her in public and ask about her luggage instead of a selfie. The multi-hyphenate founder never wanted her brand to be BÉIS by Shay Mitchell; she wanted her business to stand alone as a solution for customers. Mitchell is an actress, producer, entrepreneur, activist, mother, and author. She’s best known for her work on the hit show "Pretty Little Liars,” but has transitioned the Hollywood glitz for the boardroom blitz. Since 2017, she’s founded three companies: Amore & Vita Productions, BÉIS travel wear, and Onda canned sparkling tequila. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the name play a huge part in BÉIS development Mitchell’s philosophy of learning Why she’s still a consumer first About the lengthy sampling and design process for BÉIS How BÉIS turned negative publicity into a viral pop-up event Four ways to partner with talent for your business. How Drake became Onda’s first and best customer About Mitchell’s new upcoming travel show Thirst If she’s ever returning to YouTube And much more brand, business, and founder 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    1 hr
  • 511: How One Product Made Him $40M | Ezra Firestone

    511: How One Product Made Him $40M | Ezra Firestone
    May 10 2024
    Ezra Firestone’s businesses generated $70M in revenue last year, but he says he’s just “some guy.” He started his first ecommerce store in 2006, selling Marge Simpson wigs. Despite being a high school dropout with no experience or education, he was determined to make his business work. Two decades later, he’s invested and co-founded five successful businesses, including Smart Marketer, an ecom education platform that helps entrepreneurs run stores that generate over $20 million in yearly revenue. In this episode, Firestone leans on his decades of experience to outline the fundamentals of a revenue-generating ecom business. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why you don’t have to be “book smart” to be successful Firestone’s step-by-step sales funnel Why you need a basket-building product at the beginning The benefit of a merchandising strategy The three core aspects of business What conversion-based commerce means A TikTok Shop secret How he almost went broke selling 8,000 Marge Simpson wigs Why having fun helps you win in business And much more ecom strategies and 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    40 mins
  • 510: How to Create Pain Killer Products | Guy Kawasaki

    510: How to Create Pain Killer Products | Guy Kawasaki
    May 3 2024
    At 67, Guy Kawasaki is still evangelizing about products. After building a tech career at Apple under Steve Jobs, Kawasaki set out on a winding career path, including founding startups, giving viral Ted Talks, investing in unicorns like Canva, and writing 16 books. Eight years after his last podcast appearance, Nathan Chan catches up with Kawasaki to distill his decades of wisdom down to the essential functions of creating a painkiller product that people love. In this interview you’ll learn: The two key functions of entrepreneurs Why remarkable people have a growth mindset When Steve Jobs tricked Guy while working at Apple Getting mistaken for Jackie Chan What makes a mission-led a**hole worth working for How to create painkiller products for customers To build confidence in small successes Why failure is okay, but you should try and prevent it What is evangelism marketing and how to use it for business And much more founder advice and stories… 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    56 mins
  • 509: Shark Tank Winner Reveals How to Create a Million-Dollar Beauty Brand | Alicia Scott

    509: Shark Tank Winner Reveals How to Create a Million-Dollar Beauty Brand | Alicia Scott
    Apr 26 2024
    A year after filming, Alicia Scott anxiously watched her appearance on Shark Tank surrounded by friends and family. Her pitch was first on the episode, and she nailed it by securing a deal from Emma Grede, the business mind behind Kardashian brands like SKIMS and Good American. Scott then pulled up her Shopify store. The numbers were shocking. In one weekend, she made six months' worth of revenue. Two years after the air date, Scott's built Range Beauty into a million-dollar ecommerce beauty brand that’s inclusive of all skin shades and types. In this episode, you'll learn: To start your business by social listening How Range Beauty 10x sales after Scott quit her job Why you should date your manufacturers What Shark Tank is like for an indie brand What it's like to have Emma Grede as a mentor and investor Why losing her first brand name was a blessing in disguise How to differentiate your brand in the beauty industry You need to love sharing your pitch Challenges as a Black founder in the beauty space To treat your audience like investors 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    49 mins
  • 508: How Hexclad Hooked Gordon Ramsay as a Partner | Daniel Winer

    508: How Hexclad Hooked Gordon Ramsay as a Partner | Daniel Winer
    Apr 19 2024
    When Gordon Ramsay follows your Instagram account, you take notice. That’s how Daniel Winer, co-founder of Hexclad, started his business relationship with the superstar TV chef, which has become a full-fledged partnership. Winer launched Hexclad in 2016 by maxing out credit cards and emptying his savings. Today, the $400 million business is a DTC darling in the cookware industry, endorsed by celebrities and Michelin star chefs. In this interview, you’ll learn: How Winer lost hundreds of thousands in his first business The hostile reaction he got from investors while pitching Hexclad Risking everything he had for Hexclad’s breakthrough How to deliver the right message for your business Why Costco was a cheat code for Hexclad How to make a compelling value proposition The steps to develop a unique product How he got Gordon Ramsay as a partner Advice on monetized relationships with celebrities And much more DTC 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. If you loved this conversation and learned something new, rate and review this episode. Stay in touch with us, follow foundr on your favorite platform: Foundr.com Instagram YouTube Facebook X LinkedIn Magazine
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    46 mins