The Launch Hour Eva Chan + Jane Lee

Jenn, the founder of Embody, reflects on her journey over the past few years. She started the company with the goal of taking her mother's skincare brand mainstream and making her proud. Initially, she faced many challenges and almost ran the company into the ground. This led her to start something of her own. Embody experienced rapid growth, reaching half a million in sales, benefiting from a niche market and the increased interest in skincare during the pandemic.
Jenn also shares her experiences with retail wins, such as securing partnerships with JCPenney and a major vitamin retailer – expanding Embody's presence in stores across the country.

She emphasizes the importance of focusing on her brand's unique selling point and not comparing herself to other companies or getting caught up in external pressure. Jenn mentions her personal growth throughout the journey, gaining confidence and clarity about Embody's and her own identity and purpose. She acknowledges the importance of enjoying the entrepreneurial experience and staying true to oneself. Jen remains motivated by her desire to help women embrace aging and feel confident in their own skin.

Learn more about Jenn and Embody:
Embody Website
Embody Instagram

Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

This week on "The Launch Hour Podcast" we are joined by the co-founders of immi ramen, Kevin Lee and Kevin Chanthasiriphan to discuss various aspects of their company's growth and their evolving roles as co-founders and friends.

We dive into the team's expansion, funding announcements, and retail partnerships. They talk about the development of their product line, specifically focusing on improving their noodles and introducing new flavors. They discuss the challenges of scaling a remote company and the need for effective communication and alignment as the team grows. They balance friendship and business emphasizing the importance of complementary skill sets and shared values. There were many heartwarming moments with customer feedback that create a sense of pride felt by their team members in contributing to a product that positively impacts people's health.

Follow along with immi:
immi Website
immi Instagram

Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

*There is explicit language and content in this podcast episode. It is not meant to encourage or promote the use of explicit language or other materials. It is meant to help in telling an entirely authentic, truthful story.* 

Sara, the founder of Gem, shares her journey from the early days of the company. She talks about her previous venture, Plant Water, and her passion for exploring the untapped potential of new age plants. She recalls the moment when she had the idea for Gem and was unsure about its positioning and name. Despite feeling burnt out from her previous company, she wanted to start a profitable company and reached out to Jane and her team, who had previously led a successful crowdfunding campaign. They quickly responded, and together they started working on the idea of Gem.
Sara emphasizes the importance of testing and experimentation in their early stages. They created Facebook ads and tested different positioning and names to see what resonated with people. This three-month journey of testing became a core methodology at Launch Pop. Sara reflects on the challenges of building a team and admits that she initially underestimated the importance of investing in her team and building a strong culture. She shares her struggles with raising money and the setbacks they faced, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal moments, such as a breakup, also affected Sara during the early years of building Gem. She emphasizes the importance of following one's instincts and wishes she had listened to her gut more often, especially when facing difficult decisions. Despite the challenges, Sara is grateful for the support of her team and the lessons she has learned along the way. She discusses her recent practice of documenting her weekly thoughts and decision-making processes, which allows her to reflect on her instincts and make more informed decisions.
Sara's excitement and passion for the company shine through. She looks forward to the future and is grateful for the experiences that have shaped her as a founder.

Learn more about Sara and GEM:
GEM Website
GEM Instagram

Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

In this episode of Launch Hour, we chat with John Sherwin from Hydrant. Hyrdant's mission is to empower people to live healthier by creating and promoting the most effective, science-driven hydration possible. We discuss the journey of the brand, from its early stages to where it is today.

John reflects on the highlights of the past few years, including the addition of a Co-Founder, Jay, and the growth of the team. We also discuss the importance of building a solid network and the challenges of being a solo founder. John shares his thoughts on the departure of Jay and how it affected the business dynamics.

Despite the ups and downs, John remains motivated by his sense of duty to his team and investors. He believes there is still work to be done and envisions a future where he can focus on his strengths while others handle different aspects of the business.

Follow along with Hydrant:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

*There is explicit language and content in this podcast episode. It is not meant to encourage or promote the use of explicit language or other materials. It is meant to help in telling an entirely authentic, truthful story.* 

In this episode of Launch Hour, we are joined by Jake Liu, the Co-Founder and CEO of Outer, a premium outdoor living brand. Today we discuss the origins of Outer and how it aims to be the leading brand for outdoor living. Outer initially launched as a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, but they also created a unique neighborhood showroom program where customers can visit nearby Outer customers to experience the product before purchasing. The showroom concept was inspired by the idea of an "Airbnb of retail" and has been successful in building a community around the brand.

This episode also explores some of the challenges Jake faced in building Outer, including the complexities of the supply chain and the highs and lows of launching a new startup. Despite the difficulties, Jake remains resilient and shares how he copes with the mental challenges of entrepreneurship, including meditation and finding joy in his family. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring founders in the consumer brand space, emphasizing the importance of aligning the brand with the Founder's values.

Learn more about Jiake and Outer:
Outer Website
Outer Instagram
Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

*There is explicit language and content in this podcast episode. It is not meant to encourage or promote the use of explicit language or other materials. It is meant to help in telling an entirely authentic, truthful story.* 

Today on “The Launch Hour” we are thrilled to feature Sisun Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of More Labs, a consumer goods company behind Morning Recovery. He takes us on the raw, unconventional journey of the start-up world, leaving the company as Founder, the origin of his inspirations and revelations, his new crypto business and more!
Prior to founding More Labs, Sisun worked as a product manager at Facebook, Uber, and Tesla.
Three messages for future founders from Sisun:
You need resilience.It’s painful and hard.Don’t just idolize successful Founders. Focus on who you are.“Happiness is a mindset. So it became about what is a lifestyle I want that gives me the most energy?” – Sisun Lee
Learn more about Sisun and More Labs:
Who is Sisun Lee?
More Labs Website
More Labs Instagram
Want to learn more about the creators of "The Launch Hour?" Learn more or follow along with the full-stack Launch Pop team.
Email: hello@launchpop.io
https://linktr.ee/launchpop

*There is explicit language and content in this podcast episode. It is not meant to encourage or promote the use of explicit language or other materials. It is meant to help in telling an entirely authentic, truthful story.*