287: How July Founder Richard Li Grew His Luggage Company From $0 to $5 Million in 1 Year

What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, Nick Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU, shares how a backyard hot air balloon project turned into a global toy and consumer goods empire with over $3 billion in projected revenue. He shares: • Why he and his brother lived off cents for 7 years in China to make ZURU work • The brutal lessons learned from getting sued as young entrepreneurs • How their first viral product generated $100M+ in revenue • The “2% better every week” mindset that helped them outpace Hasbro & Mattel • Why they never raised VC money—and still scaled to billions This is a raw, relentless look at what it actually takes to go from zero to global dominance—without outside funding. If you want to scale fast, build lean, and think bigger, you’ll want to listen to this one. Foundr Community Offers Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching: → Starting your ecom biz? ⁠Click here⁠ → Already selling and want to scale? ⁠Click here⁠ Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → ⁠Click here⁠ Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. ⁠Click here⁠ to get started. Connect With Nathan Chan Instagram → ⁠Click Here⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠Click here⁠ Connect With Nick & ZURU Nick's Instagram → ⁠Click here⁠ ZURU Website → ⁠Click here⁠ ZURU's Instagram → ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠ ZURU's LinkedIn → ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠ Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies YouTube → ⁠Click here⁠ Website → ⁠Click here⁠ Instagram → ⁠Click here⁠ Facebook → ⁠Click here⁠ Twitter → ⁠Click here⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠Click here⁠ Podcast → ⁠Click here

18 Huhti 202543min

What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, Jake Kassan, co-founder of MVMT Watches, reveals the emotional rollercoaster of building and selling a business for $100M—and what came after. He shares: • How he scaled Movement from a $5,000 credit card to a $100M exit • The loneliness and identity crisis he faced after selling • Why chasing money alone didn’t fulfill him • The creative spark that led him to YouTube • His advice for founders struggling with burnout or searching for meaning If you’re a founder chasing big goals, feeling stuck, or wondering what comes next—this episode is packed with raw, honest insights that rarely get shared. Foundr Community Offers Want 1-on-1 mentorship to launch or scale your brand faster? Apply for eCommerce coaching: → Starting your ecom biz? Click here → Already selling and want to scale? Click here Want all-access to step-by-step training from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders? Start your Foundr+ $1 trial today → Click here Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Click here to get started. Connect With Nathan Chan Instagram → Click Here LinkedIn → Click here Connect With Jake Kassan Instagram → Click here YouTube → Click here Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies YouTube → Click here Website → Click here Instagram → Click here Facebook → Click here Twitter → Click here LinkedIn → Click here Podcast → Click here

11 Huhti 202549min

In this episode, Tori Gill shares how she transitioned from being a barber to launching a six-figure sunscreen brand in just three months. She dives into how she identified a gap in the market, built a brand that resonated with parents, and leveraged Instagram and organic marketing to drive rapid sales. Tori also reveals how she balanced starting the business while still working her day job and the lessons she’s learned about manufacturing, branding, and scaling a product-based business. Listen to Nathan and Dan discuss: - How Tori built a waitlist and used urgency to generate first-day sales - The viral Instagram moment that helped Sun & Daughter take off - The challenge of getting TGA approval for sunscreen and how she navigated regulations - The role of upsells and complementary products like hats and brushes in boosting revenue - The future of Sun & Daughter and plans for expansion beyond sunscreen And much more early stage 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

4 Huhti 202545min

In this episode, Jess Hatzis shares the journey of how she and her co-founders built Frank Body into a $100M skincare brand with just $10,000. Jess dives deep into the power of brand voice, why traditional beauty marketing was broken, and how Frank Body pioneered influencer-driven marketing before it became mainstream. She also reveals how the brand navigated copycats, expanded into retail, and evolved beyond its Instagram-famous coffee scrub. Entrepreneurs will gain insights into creating a standout brand, scaling without losing authenticity, and adapting to market shifts over time. Listen to Nathan and Jessica discuss: - How Frank Body’s first Instagram marketing campaign changed the beauty industry - The power of crafting a unique brand voice and treating brands like people - Why Frank Body stopped sending free products to influencers and pivoted to a structured ambassador program - The strategy behind shifting from an "Instagram brand" to a serious player in the skincare market - The challenges of growing a team, defining co-founder roles, and learning to delegate And much more 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

28 Maalis 202542min

In this episode, Dan Martell shares his journey from troubled youth to building and exiting multiple SaaS businesses. Dan reveals the strategies behind his Buy Back Your Time framework, showing entrepreneurs how to scale efficiently without burning out. He also discusses his early business failures, the lessons he learned from selling companies, and why understanding leverage is the key to sustainable success. This conversation is packed with insights on hiring, leadership, and building a high-growth SaaS company while maintaining balance. Listen to Nathan and Dan discuss: - Dan’s journey from rock bottom to building successful SaaS businesses - The Buy Back Your Time framework and how to scale without burnout - The 1-3-1 method for decision-making and empowering teams - The four types of leverage every entrepreneur needs to scale - Bootstrapping vs. raising capital: when and why to take funding - How SaaS founders can optimize pricing, retention, and customer success - And much more 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

21 Maalis 202541min

In this episode, Matthew Orlic shares how he built Qure Skincare into a $50M+ brand in just three years. After losing $5M when Dick Smith collapsed overnight, Matthew had to reinvent himself, shifting from wholesale to digital marketing and mastering a multichannel e-commerce approach. He dives into how he applied four key leverage points—product, audience, margin, and operating costs—to scale sustainably without relying on Meta ads. This conversation is filled with invaluable insights for entrepreneurs on mindset, resilience, and building a profitable brand in today’s competitive market. 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

14 Maalis 202553min

In this episode, Rachael Wilde, founder of TBH Skincare, shares how she went from a marketing career in the medical devices industry to creating a leading skincare brand. She talks about discovering patented acne-fighting technology, securing licensing rights, and launching TBH Skincare with her mother as a co-founder. Rachael dives deep into how she leveraged influencer marketing, TikTok virality, and retail partnerships with Priceline to scale the business. Entrepreneurs will learn about bootstrapping, brand storytelling, and the power of community in building a product-based business. Listen to Nathan and Rachael discuss: - Rachael’s transition from corporate marketing to co-founding a skincare company - How she secured the licensing rights to a groundbreaking acne technology - The viral TikTok moment that turned TBH Skincare profitable overnight - Her approach to handling funding, from friends and family investments to equity crowdfunding - The process of merging TBH Skincare into York Street Brands and what’s next for the business - And much more 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

7 Maalis 20251h 8min

In this episode, Nick Sharma, founder of Sharma Brands, shares his incredible journey from managing celebrity social media accounts as a teenager to becoming one of the most sought-after names in direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing. Nick dives into the strategies that helped him scale brands like Hint Water and Feastables, including the importance of building trust, leveraging content for conversions, and mastering customer retention. Entrepreneurs will gain actionable insights into creating standout DTC brands, understanding the power of creative content, and executing innovative marketing campaigns. Listen to Nathan and Nick discuss: - How Nick turned his passion for social media into a thriving career in DTC marketing - Scaling Hint Water’s online presence from 80 to 5,000 new customers a day - The secrets behind Feastables’ record-breaking launch on Shopify - Practical tips for building trust and creating organic content that drives sales - Nick’s “Grandma Test” and “Drunk Funnel Test” for ensuring seamless user experiences - 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

28 Helmi 202554min