The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan Foundr Media

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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: 

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