Michelle Cordeiro Grant | The Long Game w/ Jay Roberts #29

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On this episode of The Long Game, Prosper Group CEO Jay Roberts sits down with Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of Gorgie, one of the fastest-growing better-for-you energy drink brands in the United States.

Michelle shares her journey from growing up in rural Pennsylvania as the daughter of Indian immigrants to building a career at companies including Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, and Thrillist Media Group.

She explains how those experiences helped her launch Lively, grow it into a powerful community-driven brand, and sell the company for more than $100 million just four years later.

Jay and Michelle discuss raising her first $1.5 million, learning startup financing in real time, finding mentors, and building teams that could support rapid growth.

Michelle also shares how she created Gorgie through focus groups, taste tests, social media, and constant customer feedback. Today, the brand is sold in more than 15,000 stores nationwide, has achieved 600% year-over-year retail growth, and counts Jon Bon Jovi and Alix Earle among its investors.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship, consumer brands, grassroots marketing, customer retention, resilience, and why progress over perfection is essential when playing the long game.

🎯 TAKEAWAYS:

• How Michelle built and sold Lively for more than $100 million
• Why experience, mentorship, and curiosity are essential for founders
• How customer feedback shaped Gorgie from the beginning
• Why community is more powerful than traditional marketing
• How Gorgie expanded into more than 15,000 stores nationwide
• Why retention and repeat purchases matter more than attention alone
• How Jon Bon Jovi and Alix Earle became investors in the brand
• Why founders should choose progress over perfection

Stay up to date with Jay Roberts:

Instagram: @jayroberts
Website: ProsperGroup.com