Brand Architects

Bora Celik
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Brand Architects

Bora Celik talks to leaders who build remarkable brands. Presented by collabs.io - building the opportunity economy for creators and brands.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Unlocking the Gut-Lung Axis: Dr. Vivek Lal's Journey from Scientist to Entrepreneur

    In this episode, Bora delves into the fascinating journey of Dr. Vivek Lal, a double board-certified physician scientist and an authority in microbiome research. Discover the following key topics discussed in detail: Dr. Vivek Lal's Journey: Explore Dr. Lal's path from medical school to becoming a research scientist, highlighting his realization of the need for research to create a broader impact in healthcare. Challenges in Academic Research: Understand the inefficiencies in the current academic and research system, where a significant portion of research funding does not reach consumers or patients, prompting Dr. Lal to venture into commercialization and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship in Biotech: Learn about Dr. Lal's transition from a physician to an entrepreneur, founding companies like resbiotic Nutrition and Alveolus Bio, and the integration of business, clinical, and research expertise. The Gut-Lung Axis: Delve into the innovative research on the gut-lung axis, where Dr. Lal and his team discovered the impact of gut microbiome on lung health, leading to the development of lung-specific probiotics. Scientific Entrepreneurship: Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of scientists becoming entrepreneurs, and the importance of product expertise in building a successful business. Sanctifying the Supplement Industry: Explore Dr. Lal's mission to bring scientific validation to the supplement industry, emphasizing the need for clinical trials and efficacy in product development. Marketing and Consumer Education: Examine the strategies employed to educate consumers about the science behind supplements without overwhelming them, and the importance of building trust through effective marketing. Product Development and Market Fit: Analyze the process of achieving product-market fit for resbiotic's lung probiotic, and the subsequent development of additional products like prebiotics and postbiotics. International Expansion and Future Goals: Look into resbiotic's plans for international market expansion and the challenges of entering new markets while maintaining product integrity. Join us for an insightful conversation that bridges the gap between science and entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners alike.

    33 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    How One Couple's Honeymoon Led To Austin's Most Beloved Cheese Shop: Antonelli's

    In this episode, Bora chats with John Antonelli, who reveals how a moment of clarity during his honeymoon transformed him from a CPA into the co-founder of Austin's first cut-to-order cheese shop. This episode is packed with invaluable insights for entrepreneurs and brand builders, including: • The power of redefining success: Learn how John and his wife Kendall set themselves up for success by focusing on achievable goals rather than traditional metrics, and how this mindset helped them survive their crucial first 18 months • Strategic business rollout: Discover their innovative approach to maintaining relevance and buzz by methodically introducing new services every 2.5 months, from cheese tastings to event spaces • Pivoting from product to experience: Understand how they transformed from a simple cheese shop into an "experience economy" business, hosting over 16,000 people during the pandemic and winning "Best Pivot in Austin" • Building authentic brand differentiation: Learn how they competed with retail giants like Whole Foods by focusing on personalized experiences and product quality • The evolution of vision: Follow their journey from a 700-square-foot shop to a multi-location business with 38 team members, and how a mental health crisis led to a complete business vision overhaul Whether you're dreaming of starting your own retail business, looking to pivot your existing brand, or seeking inspiration for creating memorable customer experiences, this episode provides a masterclass in authentic brand building and business evolution. Perfect for entrepreneurs who believe in the power of passion with purpose and want to learn how to turn their expertise into unforgettable customer experiences.

    39 min

  3. JAN 17

    How Luis Gramajo & Hans Schrei Built Wunderkeks and Pivoted to AI Storytelling

    In this episode, Bora chats with immigrant entrepreneurs Luis Gramajo and Hans Schrei and shares their remarkable journey from selling cookies at Austin farmers markets to building Wunderkeks, a million-dollar cookie brand that caught the attention of celebrities and landed them features in Vanity Fair and Wall Street Journal. Learn how they: - Transformed a pandemic crisis of 25,000 unsold cookies into a viral social media sensation - Scaled from zero online presence to $1.7M in e-commerce sales in just 9 months - Used farmers markets as a testing ground for product development, pricing, and brand messaging - Discovered unexpected customer demographics that shaped their marketing strategy - Built powerful brand storytelling that attracted celebrity partnerships and national media attention - Navigated the challenges of scaling rapidly while maintaining product quality and customer experience - Dealt with a devastating investor situation that led to losing their beloved brand But the story doesn't end there. Luis and Hans reveal how they rose from the ashes to create The Sunday Afternoon Project, helping other entrepreneurs harness the power of authentic storytelling through AI-powered narrative analysis. Perfect for: Brand builders, entrepreneurs, especially immigrant founders looking to stand out in competitive markets through authentic storytelling and brand building. This episode offers practical insights on testing products, scaling operations, and using personal narrative to create deeper connections with customers. A must-listen for anyone interested in how to build a brand that goes beyond just selling products to creating meaningful customer experiences and lasting impact.

    37 min

  4. JAN 15

    How Marina Larroudé Built a Multi-Million Dollar Shoe Brand During the Pandemic

    In this episode, Bora sits down with Marina Larroudé, founder of the luxury footwear brand Larroudé. She shares her remarkable journey from being the VP of Fashion at Barneys to launching her own successful shoe brand during the pandemic. For brand builders and entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with invaluable insights on: - The reality of bootstrapping a luxury brand: Learn how Marina and her husband launched their shoe brand with just $4,000 for their website, operating from their dining room for two years to save costs - Manufacturing insights: Discover how they navigated shoe production without prior manufacturing experience, and how they evolved to owning their own factory - Market positioning strategy: Understanding the white space in the $300-350 luxury shoe market that bigger retailers claimed "shouldn't exist" - Marketing on a budget: How they leveraged industry relationships, built their first campaign with traded services, and grew through authentic influencer partnerships without paying for endorsements - Rapid market adaptation: Learn how they pivoted their inventory strategy when post-pandemic "revenge shopping" completely changed customer preferences - Data-driven decision making: Their approach to balancing creative instincts with analytical insights for product development and marketing - Operational scaling: Current challenges and solutions in managing rapid growth, including hiring 200 people for manufacturing - Future innovations: Their expansion into sneakers and how they're using AI to enhance their creative processes Whether you're planning to launch a fashion brand or scaling an existing business, Marina's candid insights about bootstrapping, manufacturing, marketing, and scaling a luxury brand provide a masterclass in entrepreneurship. This episode is especially valuable for founders who want to understand how to build a premium brand without massive capital investment.

    35 min

  5. 12/20/2024

    Pioneer to Powerhouse: How Sidra Qasim Led Pakistan's First YC Company & Built Atoms' Cult Following

    Join Bora for an inspiring conversation with Sidra Qasim, co-founder of Atoms, as she shares her remarkable journey from building Pakistan's first Y Combinator company to establishing a thriving direct-to-consumer shoe brand in New York City. In this episode, you'll learn: • The power of "building in public" and how transparency helped Atoms build a 40,000-person waitlist before launch • How constraints can become advantages - learn how Atoms turned their limitation of only having size 10.5 samples into an exclusive testing program • The art of community building - from leveraging Twitter in the early days to collaborating with artists and taste-makers • Strategic insights on transitioning from Pakistani artisans to Korean manufacturing to Vietnamese supply chains • How Atoms pivoted during COVID by launching masks that became popular with Hollywood celebrities • Practical lessons on balancing growth with quality control in DTC brands • Real talk about marketing channels - why organic and email worked while paid acquisition remained challenging • The importance of finding your unique angle - how Atoms positioned themselves at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling Whether you're just starting your brand or scaling an existing one, Sidra's experience offers valuable insights on building authentic connections with customers, navigating manufacturing challenges, and growing a brand with limited resources. She also shares candid thoughts on what's working in today's DTC landscape and exciting opportunities in personalization and automation for the future of retail brands. This episode is particularly valuable for founders interested in building community-driven brands, those navigating cross-border manufacturing, and entrepreneurs looking to understand how to leverage their unique story and constraints into competitive advantages.

    46 min

  6. 12/18/2024

    From At-Home Spray Tans to 30+ Locations with $1000: How Courtney Claghorn Built SUGARED + BRONZED

    In this episode, Bora chats with Courtney Claghorn, co-founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, who reveals how she transformed a humble apartment-based spray tanning service into a thriving beauty empire with over 30 locations across multiple states. Starting with just $1,000 in initial capital ($500 each from her and her co-founder), Courtney shares the remarkable journey of bootstrapping a business while maintaining a full-time job in fintech. What You'll Learn: - The exact moment Courtney knew she had product-market fit and decided to quit her stable job - How they acquired their first customers using creative marketing techniques and built a loyal client base through referrals - Their strategic approach to location selection and expansion, from a small upstairs space to prime real estate in Union Square, NYC - The power of intuition in real estate decisions, even in the age of data-driven algorithms - Their journey from using third-party products to developing their own product line and the challenges of timing the launch during the pandemic - Practical insights on pricing strategy, including how they identified and filled a market gap in premium beauty services - Marketing evolution across different platforms, from pre-Facebook era to modern digital strategies - Key lessons on scaling a service-based business while maintaining quality and brand consistency Perfect for entrepreneurs who want to understand: - How to validate a business idea while keeping your day job - When and how to make the leap from side hustle to full-time business - Strategic approaches to expanding from one location to multiple markets - The balance between intuition and data in business decision-making - The challenges and opportunities in transitioning from a pure service business to a hybrid service-product model Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your existing business, Courtney's journey from bootstrapped startup to beauty industry leader offers valuable insights for any entrepreneur's playbook.

    38 min

  7. 12/13/2024

    From Peace Corps Discovery to Making Moringa Mainstream in America with Lisa Curtis of Kuli Kuli

    In this episode, Bora chats with Lisa Curtis who shares her remarkable journey from discovering Moringa as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger to transforming it into a mainstream superfood ingredient through her company Kuli Kuli. Here's what brand builders will learn: Key Business Insights: - The strategic path from farmers' markets to national retail presence - Critical lessons in consumer testing and messaging evolution - How to navigate the complex world of food distribution and retail partnerships - Successful fundraising strategies that secured over $11.5 million in investment Essential Brand Building Takeaways: - Converting social impact into market opportunity - Testing and refining product messaging through direct consumer interaction - Building relationships with major retailers like Whole Foods - Leveraging press and partnerships (including collaborations with Jose Andres and the Clinton Foundation) - The reality of scaling from handmade products to national distribution The episode offers invaluable insights into: - Early-stage market validation strategies - The transition from direct-to-consumer to retail distribution - How to position an unknown ingredient in the American market - Building valuable industry relationships and securing strategic partnerships - Managing rapid growth and the associated challenges Lisa also shares her current challenges and exciting plans for 2025, including major retail expansions into Kroger, Target, and Walmart, offering listeners a real-time look at scaling a CPG brand. Whether you're launching a food brand or building any consumer product company, this episode provides actionable insights from someone who built a successful brand from scratch.

    39 min

  8. 12/06/2024

    From Oscar de la Renta to Mi Golondrina: How Cristina Lynch Built a Mexican-Inspired Fashion Brand

    In this episode, Bora chats with Cristina Lynch, who shares her remarkable journey of building Mi Golondrina, a luxury fashion brand that bridges Mexican artisanal craftsmanship with modern fashion. As a former Oscar de la Renta sales executive, Cristina reveals how she transformed her $20,000 investment into a thriving business working with over 850 artisans across Mexico. For brand builders and entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with invaluable insights: • Learn how to bootstrap a luxury brand from scratch and maintain 100% ownership while scaling • Discover the power of authentic storytelling and community building in brand development • Understand how to balance artisanal production with modern business demands • Get practical insights on launching a brand with limited resources (including DIY marketing techniques) • See how cultural heritage can become a unique selling proposition • Master the art of combining social impact with profitable business • Understand the evolving landscape of influencer marketing and authentic partnerships Cristina shares candid details about her early days - from setting up DIY photoshoots with a tripod to hosting home pop-ups - and reveals how she built a loyal customer base through word-of-mouth marketing. She also discusses how she navigates the challenges of slow fashion in a fast-paced market and offers insights into maintaining product quality while scaling operations. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur looking to connect your business with your cultural roots, or an established brand builder seeking to understand the power of authentic storytelling, this episode offers a masterclass in building a purpose-driven luxury brand.

    32 min
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About

Bora Celik talks to leaders who build remarkable brands. Presented by collabs.io - building the opportunity economy for creators and brands.

Information

  • Creator
    Bora Celik
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bora Celik
  • Show Website
    Brand Architects

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