200: Foundr’s Story: How a Humble Side Project Became a Global Brand, with CEO Nathan Chan [Special 200th Episode]

Four months into starting Foundr, I landed an interview with billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson — without connections, without experience, and while building my very first business from scratch. In this episode, I break down the exact networking and outreach strategy I used to connect with one of the world’s most famous founders, plus how you can apply it to land meetings, partnerships, or interviews with anyone in your industry — even if you’re starting from zero. Here’s what you’ll take away: • The “serve first, ask later” networking strategy every entrepreneur should know • How to identify and connect with gatekeepers to reach high-profile people • Creative ways to create value so industry leaders want to give you their time If you’ve been holding back from reaching out to someone you think is “too big,” this episode will give you the exact steps and confidence to make it happen. This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠ to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠ CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠ Website → ⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠ Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠ Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠ Twitter → ⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠ Podcast → ⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast

19 Aug 20257min

In this episode, Toni Ko, founder of NYX Cosmetics, shares how she built one of the fastest-growing cosmetics brands in the world—scaling from a $250,000 investment to a $500M exit to L’Oréal. She reveals: • How she turned 18 SKUs into millions of units sold in year one • The simple packaging strategy that disrupted the beauty industry • Why she avoided debt and scaled profitably without VC pressure • Her raw take on selling her “baby” and facing post-exit depression • The lessons from a failed second business—and why it was her best teacher • Her blueprint for launching multiple influencer-led brands under Bespoke Beauty Brands If you want to learn what it really takes to build, scale, and exit a product brand—this is a must-listen. 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 Toni Ko Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠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

15 Aug 202546min

I almost walked away from Foundr. Not because the business wasn’t working—but because I wasn’t. In this episode, I’m sharing the truth about burnout. After seven years of building nonstop, I hit a wall—mentally, emotionally, and physically. What followed was one of the hardest seasons of my entrepreneurial journey. But it also forced me to change everything: how I work, how I lead, and how I show up in my life. Here’s what you’ll take away: • The real signs of burnout I ignored for too long • The boundaries and routines that brought me back • How to grow your business without sacrificing your health This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. 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 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

12 Aug 202510min

Brittany Stewart turned toothbrushes into a breakout DTC success story—co-founding one of America’s fastest-growing eCommerce brands: Burst Oral Care. In this episode, she shares how Burst launched at dental conventions, scaled through hygienist word-of-mouth, and partnered with A-list influencers like Khloé & Kim Kardashian—all while keeping product quality and customer obsession at the center of their brand. What you’ll learn: • Why they skipped traditional launch playbooks and scaled through hygienists • The two growth levers that made Burst explode • How Brittany navigated inventory stress, funding rounds & 75-day lead times • Her philosophy on hiring, culture, and leadership • Why they chose the more expensive delivery option—and how it paid off • How they gave back with campaigns that also drove profit If you’re building a physical product brand and want to do it the smart, scrappy way—this is a masterclass in operational excellence and brand building. 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 Brittany Stewart Website → Click Here Instagram → Click Here Brittany’s Instagram → 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

8 Aug 202542min

I got sued just a few months into starting Foundr—and it nearly crushed everything I was building. In this short episode, I’m sharing the full story behind how I was forced to change the name of my business, the legal mistakes I made, and the surprising reasons it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. If you’re launching a brand or picking a name right now, this lesson could save you years of pain. Here’s what you’ll take away: • The #1 mistake I made when choosing the original name for Foundr • How to know if your brand name could get you in trouble • The simple steps to protect your brand before it’s too late This is a brand new solo series I’m testing, and I’d love your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it. 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 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

5 Aug 20259min

In this episode, Ty Haney, founder of Outdoor Voices, shares how she turned her public downfall into the blueprint for an even bigger comeback—building multiple new brands and redefining how community drives growth. She reveals: • How she built Outdoor Voices into a $100M cult brand by age 30 • Why the DTC playbook failed—and what she’s doing differently now • The four-part community-building formula that makes customers 4x more valuable • Her biggest mistakes as a first-time CEO—and how she’s fixing them with Joggy and TYB • Why owning your story and controlling your cap table is non-negotiable • The future of founder-led content, brand building, and consumer trust If you’re building a product brand, fighting for comeback, or want a masterclass in turning failure into fuel—don’t miss 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 Ty Haney Ty's Instagram → Click Here Joggy's Instagram → Click Here TYB's Instagram → Click Here Joggy's Website → Click Here TYB's Website → 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

1 Aug 202551min

In this episode, Andrew Lacy, founder of Prenuvo, shares how he went from two startup exits to building one of the fastest-growing health tech companies in the world—revolutionizing preventative healthcare with full-body MRI scans. He reveals: • Why most healthcare systems are reactive and backwards—and how Prenuvo flips it • How Prenuvo scaled from one small Canadian clinic to global recognition • Why he struggled to raise funding (even with traction!)—and what changed • How Kim Kardashian and other celebrities discovered Prenuvo organically • The scrappy marketing strategies that created viral word of mouth • Lessons from multiple exits, failed startups, and why timing matters more than talent • Why saving lives—not vanity metrics—is his #1 business KPI If you want a masterclass in building a mission-led brand from scratch—this is an absolute must-listen. Connect With Nathan Chan Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect With Andrew Lacy Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click Here⁠ Trinny's Instagram → ⁠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

25 Juli 202551min

In this episode, Trinny Woodall, founder of Trinny London, shares how she turned her mission to help women feel confident into a multi-million dollar global beauty brand. She reveals: • Why she focused on the overlooked 35+ market and won their loyalty • How she started with just £150,000 and her own wardrobe to fund the dream • The retention-first strategy behind Trinny London’s explosive growth • How the Trinny Tribe community drives word of mouth and deep trust • Her honest take on raising capital vs. bootstrapping—and how to protect your vision • The future of beauty retail, DTC, and the AI-powered personalization fueling their expansion If you're building a community-led brand or want to grow with purpose and authenticity—this episode is packed with practical takeaways. 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 Trinny Woodall Website → ⁠⁠Click Here Instagram → ⁠⁠ Click Here Trinny's Instagram → 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 Juli 202551min