Foundr Magazine Podcast | Learn From Successful Founders & Proven Entrepreneurs, The Ultimate Startup Podcast For Business

We last chatted with Richard Li, the founder of the luggage brand July, right before the pandemic changed travel forever. In Li’s return to the podcast, we’ll hear how he survived the past three years and created a luxury brand coveted by travelers. He’ll also break down how to implement AI tools in your ecommerce business and why brand is your strongest competitive advantage.  Listen to Nathan and Li discuss:  Losing 100% of their revenue in 2020 Why retail is cheaper than digital ads  Nailing product color and style  Why July isn’t on Amazon  How branding can reduce acquisition costs  Using AI to build forecast models  Maintaining the personal touch of customer satisfaction  How do you make a great offer if you don’t discount? Why brand is the strongest competitive edge  And much more DTC branding advice… *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit that took place October 23 - 25, 2023.  Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave

Listener favorite Nick Shackelford returns to the podcast to share the current state of paid ads and how to incorporate AI in building them. Shackelford is the co-founder and managing partner at Structured Social, co-founder of Brez, and co-founder of Constant Creative. He’s spent the last ten years immersed in the performance marketing world. After working with legacy brands Pepsico and Apple, he quickly found his groove, going direct consumer with viral products like Fidget Spinners and Magnetic Eyelashes. Listen to Nick and Nathan discuss:  Nick’s origin story as a professional goalkeeper  Why Nick’s How to Run Facebook Ads course stands the test of time How Nick is walking the walk with his CDB beverage company, Brez The state of paid advertising  How Nick uses AI for his clients and business The four core areas of AI implementation  Using Canva and ChatGPT’s integration  What’s looming in 2024 for advertising  The challenges of transitioning from click to brick  How AI can help with customer s

Trinny Woodall returns to the podcast for a deep dive into AI and how she’s evolving Trinny London in a changing DTC landscape. Woodall is confident, direct, ambitious, and fabulous before fabulous was cool. She knows what she’s doing because she knows her customers. After a 20-year career in television and styling, she established Trinny London as a brand that gives everyone the tools they need to feel their best. Since launching in 2017, Trinny London has had 120% year-over-year growth, sells in 180 countries, and has a team of 200 employees. Woodall’s long-term goal is to eventually exit as one of the largest beauty brands in the world.  Listen to Nathan and Trinny discuss Why she built a brand targeting women over 35 The origin of Trinny Tribes and encouraging an organic community Why customer retention is such an essential building block The changing landscape of retail and D2C brands  Tapping into TikTok to reach future customers  The pros and cons of being a celebrity founder  Why she still per

Nat Choprasert, founder of Brand Nat and Future AI Lab, is an AI and automation specialist for businesses on a mission to demystify AI. After starting and exiting her successful ecommerce tea business, she's now helping companies implement "Humanized Automation" to save time and grow revenue. Nat has 400,000 followers across her platforms.  Listen to Nathan and Nat discuss:  Starting her tea business and the loneliness of solopreneurship  Gaining organic momentum by sharing business advice on TikTok  How one of her videos on ChatGPT gained a million views Growing to 400,000 followers across social platforms  Using a 60/40 percentage mindset with using AI  How to add the human touch to AI work Implementing AI and automation for beginners   How to use ChatGPT as a business coach  Using Claude for marketing hooks and ad creative  The common challenges of using AI for business And more AI tool recs for ecommerce… *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit that took place October 23 - 25,

Talia Datt returns to the podcast to share how her agency uses AI to produce viral content on TikTok. Talia Datt is the CEO and founder of The Social CliQ, a full-service digital marketing agency with a social media-first approach to online platforms. They leverage their group of 3,000 TikTok creators worldwide via their sister agency, The Content CliQ, to help plan, create, and execute so founders can easily harness the fastest-growing social media platform in the world. She’s also the instructor of a new Foundr course on creating a content marketing engine.    Listen to Nathan and Talia discuss: The TikTok algorithm’s AI foundation  Starting your strategy by consuming Proactive vs reactive content  The importance of using the native editor  Quality over quantity for content  Using AI for hooks and captions  Feeding ChatGPT for better outputs What tools her agency uses  Principles of a viral product video on TikTok ChatGPT email hacks  And more TikTok and AI strategies… *This interview was part

Brittany Stewart returns to the podcast to share how she’s building one of the fastest-growing ecommerce businesses in the United States using a stalwart ambassador program. Stewart co-founded BURST Oral Care, which sells double-digit millions on Amazon, has 30,000 ambassadors, and 800,000 members to their subscription program. Burst is currently stocked in 2,000 Walmarts and is launching in CVS this year. Listen to Nathan and Brittany discuss: How Brittany teamed up with her co-founder Hamish  Why their ambassador program is an R&D and acquisition channel  Launching their business at a dental convention  The ins and outs of building an authentic ambassador program How do you define the success of an ambassador  The difference between brand and financial results  Low-cost tools to get an ambassador program up and running Why AI is turning A players into A+ players What AI tools BURST is using And much more ambassador advice…  *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit that took place

Michael Fenech is ready to give back. After decades of building ecommerce businesses and getting mentorship from top executives, he’s passing on his wisdom to people like you. Fenech is an Australian entrepreneur, writer, startup advisor, and ecommerce expert. Fenech is the co-founder of SKUdrop, and VoiceByte, and an official member of the Fast Company executive board and Entrepreneur.com, where he writes about ecommerce and tech startups and shares his insights and experience for entrepreneurial success. Listen to Nathan and Michael discuss:  How SKUdrop helps founders save on supply chain costs  Improving bullet points and product descriptions with AI Using ChatGPT to turn negative reviews into positive reviews  Using the Merlin extension to create formulas for efficient spreadsheets Generative AI tools to edit, improve, and describe product images  Why you need to be inquisitive as an entrepreneur Using AI to start an ecomm business from scratch What AI will not replace in business The danger of

Sourcing specialist Kian Golzari returns to the podcast to share how to use AI tools when sourcing and developing products. Golzari has sourced over 3,000 products, and his global clients include the NBA, Olympics, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Tesco, Argos, and Aldi. He’s also an instructor on our foundr+ platform, teaching courses on product sourcing and product development.  Listen to Nathan and Kian discuss: The difference between innovating and imitating products  Sourcing products for the NBA, Steph Curry, and Neymar Jr.  How to use AI to scrape and summarize product reviews and pain points The necessary human element of product sourcing How to verify the top factories on Alibaba How not to get overwhelmed with the amount of AI tools Why relationships will always matter When to use and not use chatbots Why the Canton Fair is Disneyland for Kian And much more product sourcing advice... *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit that took place October 23 - 25, 2023.  Who do you want to

Why start from scratch when you replicate what’s already working? Tony Matusiak is the founder of Velocity, an AI ecommerce savant with over a million followers on social media. Since dropping out of college in 2019, he’s built nearly a dozen ecommerce brands selling everything from TikTok lighting to eco-friendly straws. He’s also developed a method for using AI to quickly adapt, launch, and scale ecommerce businesses using AI.  Listen to Nathan and Tony discuss:  Dropping out of school to pursue entrepreneurship Building his first ecommerce business How to spot trends using AI tools  His adoption method with TiKTok creators  How to use short-form video to grow your business  Replicating and combining ideas that have already worked  Validating and researching products through TikTok  How to start a business using AI  Why AI won’t replace creativity And much more ecommerce advice…  *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit from October 2023. Who do you want to see next on the podca

Sabri Suby returns to the podcast to share what’s working in digital marketing right now and his advice for early-stage ecommerce founders taking the first steps in digital marketing. Suby is the founder of Australia’s fastest-growing digital marketing agency, King Kong, and a featured Shark on Australia’s Shark Tank. In 10 years, King Kong has generated over $7.8 Billion in sales for its clients in 136 different countries.  Listen to Nathan and Sabri discuss: How his humble upbringing gave him the entrepreneur bug The number one problem that all businesses face Why all marketing starts with storytelling Why content marketing is like cold calling  Why founder-led content is fundamental  What’s working in paid advertising for ecommerce  King Kong’s most successful ads Interruption based marketing The power of native content video  AI tools and the future of AI And much more ecommerce marketing advice...  *This interview was part of the Foundr Ecomm-AI Summit that took place October 23 - 25, 2023.

The D’Amelio family—Marc, Heidi, Dixie, and Charli — have taken their social media fame and passion for content creation and parlayed it into a lifestyle media empire. The family members have a combined Instagram following of 72.1 million and 228.7 million on TikTok (and counting). They recently launched their own venture and cross-platform company, D’Amelio Brands, with their first brand launch, D’Amelio Footwear, debuting in May with plans to launch a skincare line ZitsAllright soon.  Listen to Nathan and the D’Amelios discuss: Charli and Dixie’s rise to fame through TikTok  Why their family was primed for success on the platform The virality of being authentic   How to build a community on TikTok Being family and business partners Partnering with the right brands  Building their product business  What's next for the family And much more... Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave us a 5-star review if you loved this episode. Wait, there's m

Today, instead of listening to one guest, you’re going to hear from multiple renowned founders about a specific challenge that we all face on our entrepreneurship journey. The guests will share their stories, solutions, and how you can learn to build your business better.  In this episode, we’re focusing on the challenge of finding the right business partners– everything from co-founders to influences–featuring:  Jean Oelwang, founding CEO and President of Virgin Unite and author of Partnering: Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen. Emma Grede, co-founder of SKIMS, Good American, and Safely.  Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic, co-founders of Hismile.  David Lester, co-founder of OLIPOP.  Raina Penchansky, co-founder and CEO of Digital Brand Architects and co-founder of Dear Media Erin Deering, founder of Triangl swimwear.  Jess Hatzis, co-founder of frank body. Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave us a 5-star review if you loved

If you’re young and looking to start a business with a friend, here’s the pathway to do it successfully. Chris Savage and Brendan Schwartz were friends at Brown University when they began dreaming about working together. After quitting their jobs, they created Wistia, a complete video marketing platform that helps teams create, host, and measure the impact of their videos — all in one place. Now, almost two decades into their business, Chris and Brendan still love working together and are just getting started.  Listen to Nathan chat with Chris and Brendan about: Why their college years formed their co-founding partnership The ingredients of starting a business with friends Profitability versus growth The trap of short-term focus  Why they bought out their investors Getting your team focused on the business details  The state of video marketing  And much more co-founder advice… Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave us a 5-star review if you l

Today, instead of listening to one guest, you’re going to hear from multiple renowned founders about a specific challenge that we all face on our entrepreneurship journey. The guests will share their stories, solutions, and how you can learn to build your business better.  In this episode, we’re focusing on the challenge of overcoming failure featuring:  Amy Porterfield, founder, author, and host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast. Jessica Rolph, co-founder and CEO of Lovevery.  Adrian Greiner co-founder of DuContra Ventures and Earth Speed Media. MaryRuth Ghiyam founder of MaryRuth Organics.  Evan Goldberg, founder of NetSuite.  Kendra Scott founder of Kendra Scott Jewelry.  And Jordy and Julia Kay, founders of Great Wrap. Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave us a 5-star review if you loved this episode. Wait, there's more… If you enjoy the Foundr podcast, check out our free trainings. Get exclusive, actionable advice from some of th

Brad Pedersen says the best gifts come wrapped in ugly paper. And he’s seen some ugly paper. From going bankrupt three times to getting fired from his company after a merger, Pedersen has persevered through eras of defeat. Now, he’s helping lead two startups tackling our world’s greatest challenge–climate change. So, if you’re facing rock bottom in your business, Pedersen knows how you feel. In this episode, he’ll share how he emerged stronger through the darkest moments of his career.  Listen to Nathan and Brad discuss:  Why his childhood business was perfect How he got through bankruptcy three times Learning from his mistakes to form anti-goals  The circle of control for founders  The 40/70 decision-making principle  Why AI won’t change human behavior  Why starting over is a good thing The courage flywheel  Why an airport delay led to Pela  Creating a $9 million crowdfunding campaign for Lomi  And much more advice on failure… Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know

Evan Goldberg is the founder of the very first cloud software company, NetSuite. After his first failed attempt at a tech startup, he invested $2,000 into building a cloud accounting software that eventually transformed into the world's leading cloud-based business management software. Evan says his success in businesses through uncertain economic times and 25 years of tech evolution comes down to consistency.  Listen to Nathan and Evan discuss: 1998: The craziest year of his life His relationship with Oracle founder Larry Ellison The importance of consistency of vision Why mergers are like marrying a cousin Hiring people that you want to have lunch with  The tension of watching your competition  Entering a niche vs. a major market  The AI hype cycle  Getting through uncertain economic seasons And much more founder advice… Who do you want to see next on the podcast? Comment and let us know! And don't forget to leave us a 5-star review if you loved this episode. Wait, there's more… If you enjoy

For over 25 years, Philip Fierlinger has created digital products and experiences that have set new design, business, and technology standards. He was embedded in the Silicon Valley community since it started, crossing paths with the people who created products synonymous with today. In 2006, he co-founded the ASX-listed online accounting platform Xero. Three years ago, he launched the food service marketplace Upstock, a B2B marketplace for the hospitality and food service industry. He shares his UX and design-thinking advice for early startup founders.  Listen to Nathan and Philip discuss: Working at the most important startup nobody’s heard of Co-founding ASX-listed online accounting platform Xero  How to get your first customers by validating your idea  Early-stage startup UX design advice  What it means to “go slow to go fast” Create your operating system by defining your values How Upstock is innovating in the dated food service industry Why launching Upstock during Covid-19 was perfect timing 

Are you camera shy? Talia Datt says if you’re a founder, you need to be in front of the camera because it’s the most effective way to build an audience is on social channels like TikTok. In her new foundr course, she’ll teach how to make a social media content strategy that leads to growth and profits. Datt is the CEO and founder of The Social CliQ, a full-service digital marketing agency with a social media-first approach to online platforms. They leverage their group of 3,000 TikTok creators worldwide via their sister agency, The Content CliQ, to help plan, create, and execute, so founders can easily harness the fastest-growing social media platform in the world. Listen to Nathan and Talia discuss:  Why engagement is more important than followers How to use low-barrier tools to scale your content  How to drive sales through TikTok  How to work with content creators  Proactive and reactive content strategy  Why the founder needs to be in front of the camera Why relatable content wins over aspirationa

Sebastian Siemiatkowski says financial uncertainty is the best thing that can happen to you. Siemiatkowski is the CEO and co-founder of Klarna, the world’s biggest “buy now pay later” company, bringing consumers a low-cost and low-risk alternative to traditional high-cost credit. Sebastian came from humble beginnings and built Karna into a finance and banking industry disruptor that now has over 150 million users worldwide. Learn how he’s overcome negative public perception, co-founder breakups, and market lows to sustain Klarna’s influence in the industry.  Listen to Nathan and Sebastian discuss:  Starting a tech company with no coding skills Filling a gap of buy now pay for digital businesses Why profitability was their main focus early on  Why financial success ruined his co-founder relationships  What would he do differently with co-founders  Why banking is the perfect industry to disrupt  Dealing with negative public perception  Why economic uncertainty is good for entrepreneurs And much more f

In just nine years, Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic built their smile care brand into a category disruptor on track to earn over a billion in annual revenue by next year. Mirkovic and Tomic don’t want shortcuts, so they’ve remained bootstrapped since they started Hismile at ages 19 and 20. Hismile’s teeth-whitening kit has become an internet sensation, making the brand a favorite among influencers and celebrities. But the co-founders aren’t resting on success. They want to make Hismile a category champion and take on businesses with an extra century of experience. Listen to Nathan, Nik, and Alex discuss:  Why living on the Gold Coast keeps them focused Growing up together and having a passion for competition  Narrowing in on teeth whitening as a problem to solve Formulating their first product and its overnight success Bringing R&D in-house and shifting their business model Why character matters more than experience Taking on category giants like Colgate and Crest Why they have no plans to sell And much