111: Why You Should Never Give up on Your Dreams as an Entrepreneur with Eugene Woo of Venngage

We're diving into another episode from the Foundr Archives to revisit our interview John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods. In this episode, John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, shares the story of building one of the most recognized brands in the organic and natural food industry. From humble beginnings to being acquired by Amazon, John discusses the evolution of Whole Foods, the principles of conscious leadership that shaped its growth, and the challenges of leading a company through the COVID-19 crisis. He provides insights into how businesses can create value for all stakeholders, the importance of leading with purpose, and why love and integrity are essential in business. This episode is packed with wisdom for entrepreneurs on how to build a brand that resonates with both customers and employees. In this interview you will learn: - The founding of Whole Foods and its rise in the natural foods industry - The principles of conscious capitalism and leadership - Leading during challenging times like the COVID-19 crisis - The importance of creating value for all stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers) - Integrating a company culture based on purpose and integrity - How Whole Foods thrived after its acquisition by Amazon 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

27 Sep 202444min

In this episode, Lindsay Shearer, founder of BrandRanx Media, takes us through her journey from running a holistic medical clinic to becoming an SEO powerhouse in the e-commerce world. Lindsay shares the story of how a chance encounter led her to help build the marketing strategy for Manscaped, sparking her passion for SEO. She discusses the importance of validating your product before diving into SEO, the best practices for on-page and off-page SEO, and how to maximize your SEO budget for long-term growth. Lindsay also reveals her approach to finding high-value keywords, the impact of AI on SEO, and the essential tools every e-commerce brand should be using. This episode is packed with actionable insights and strategies for anyone looking to scale their e-commerce business through SEO. In this interview you will learn: - Lindsay’s journey from running a holistic medical clinic to leading an SEO agency - How she helped develop the marketing strategy for Manscaped - Best practices for on-page and off-page SEO, including specific tools and tactics - The importance of building credibility through link building and press releases - Insights into the future of SEO, including the role of AI and long-term strategies for e-commerce success - And many more SEO tips for Entrepreneurs 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

20 Sep 202433min

In this episode, Allison Ellsworth, founder of Poppi, takes us through her incredible journey from humble beginnings at farmers markets to achieving national recognition with her modern soda brand. Allison shares the challenges she faced in the early days, including the pivotal decision to appear on Shark Tank, where she secured a deal that helped propel Poppi to success. She discusses the strategic rebranding that transformed her business, the impact of her Super Bowl commercial, and how she’s built a brand that resonates deeply with consumers through authentic, community-first marketing. In this episode, you'll learn: - Allison’s journey from kitchen experiments to a successful Shark Tank pitch - The rebranding process that led to Poppi’s breakthrough - How a last-minute Super Bowl ad tripled Poppi's brand awareness overnight - Leveraging TikTok and social media to build a strong, engaged community - Key strategies for scaling a beverage brand in a competitive market - Allison’s advice for founders on navigating rapid growth and maintaining brand integrity - Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs 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

13 Sep 202457min

In this episode, Sheena Zadeh-Daly, founder of Kosas, shares her journey from selling lipsticks from her home to building a clean beauty brand that’s taken the industry by storm. Sheena discusses the early challenges of launching Kosas, including her hands-on approach to everything from product development to shipping orders in the early days. She reveals the moment when Kosas was first recognized by Sephora and the strategy behind positioning her brand as a prestige color line. Sheena also talks about the importance of brand DNA, the power of obsession in business, and how she balances creativity with the demands of scaling a successful company. Listeners will gain valuable insights into building a brand that resonates with consumers, the role of innovation in product development, and the importance of staying true to your vision. Listen to Nathan and Sheena discuss: - Starting and scaling a clean beauty brand from scratch - The importance of brand DNA in building a successful brand - Leveraging personal passion and creativity in product development - Navigating the challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship - Strategies for positioning a brand in a competitive market - The role of strategic partnerships, including landing Kosas in Sephora - And much more beauty brand 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

6 Sep 202450min

In this episode, Hudson Leogrande, the founder of Purely White Deluxe and Comfrt, shares his remarkable journey from packing products in his mother's basement to building two multimillion-dollar brands. Hudson discusses the early struggles of launching Purely White Deluxe, including the challenges of marketing a teeth whitening product with no prior experience and the breakthrough moment when he discovered the untapped potential of Snapchat. He also dives into the creation of Comfrt, a brand born from his personal struggles with anxiety, and how he used the same influencer-driven strategy to scale the business rapidly. - Hudson’s journey from a basement startup to a global brand - The challenges and successes of launching Purely White Deluxe - How he leveraged Snapchat to build a strong customer base - The creation of Comfrt and its unique approach to alleviating anxiety through clothing - Hudson’s approach to influencer marketing and how it drove massive growth - Insights into scaling an e-commerce brand in today’s digital landscape - Many more valuable insights for entrepreneurs 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

30 Aug 202452min

Today, we're diving into another episode from the Foundr Archives to revisit our interview with marketing guru and multiple New York Times bestselling author Seth Godin, who explains why you should focus less on doing what you're told and more on doing work that's worth doing. In order to take advantage of the unique opportunities afforded by our times, some rules just have to be broken. Some people just get it. They grasp the spirit of the times in ways that ordinary people don't. They understand the patterns and progression of history, and can interpret current events and trends with rare wisdom and insight. Seth Godin is one such person. You might say his knowledge about the world of business borders on the prophetic. You could also safely say Seth Goden is a man who sees the world not for what it is, but for what it could be. He's in the business of change: predicting it, implementing it, and watching it unfold. You've probably seen his TED talks, his books, his blog, his podcast; he's the one of those characters who are grounded, yet somehow still larger than life. For those late to the Godin party, he's a marketing guru, founder of Squidoo.com and world-renowned author of 17 business bestsellers including Linchpin, Unleashing the Ideavirus, Tribes, and Purple Cow. For a man who understands tribes, he has proved time and again that he can walk the talk, building, in the process, a legion of raving fans-people who thrive on his entertaining blend of business and sociology.  In this interview you will learn: - How to know when to ship a project and when its ready to be released into the world  - Why perfect doesn't exist - The best analogy we have ever heard for good marketing - Seth's failures - Why it's YOUR turn! - The importance of blogging every day - & So MUCH MORE! 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

23 Aug 202430min

In this interview, Rina Gocaj and Floriye Elmazi, the co-founders of SISTERWOULD, share their inspiring journey of creating a beauty brand that prioritizes inclusivity and purpose. From struggling with postpartum hair loss to discovering the need for better hair care solutions, Rina and Floriye explain how their personal experiences led to the creation of SISTERWOULD. They dive into the challenges of developing their innovative products, including the decision not to patent their tactile imprinting system to encourage industry-wide inclusivity. The duo also discusses their strategic pre-launch efforts, which included building a community and leveraging their backgrounds as influencers. In this episode, learn learn: - How to leverage personal experiences to create innovative products - The importance of inclusivity in the beauty industry - How to build a brand with purpose with a focus on community - Strategic pre-launch marketing and influencer collaborations - Overcoming challenges in product development and manufacturing - Tactics for building customer loyalty and driving repeat sales - And much more beauty brand 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

16 Aug 20241h 3min

Today, we're diving back into the Foundr Podcast archive to bring back a true highlight of an interview with Airbnb co-founder, Joe Gebbia. How do you raise capital for your startup? Well, if you ask the co-founder of Airbnb Joe Gebbia, he’ll tell you what worked for him: Cereal. That’s right, the company that started with a single air mattress and grew to a $100 billion empire was kept afloat by selling custom cereal boxes. It was bizarre but it worked. Gebbia muses in this episode of the Foundr podcast: “We made $20,000 in breakfast cereal, and we're able to basically pay off our credit card debt...The cereal, funnily enough, was how we were able to help keep the options open for us until eventually, the invitation came for Y Combinator.” In undoubtedly one of our most riveting episodes, Gebbia recounts his incredible journey from struggling to pay rent, to Airbnb’s first angel investor, to one of the biggest brands in the world and Gebbia’s incredible charity work. Gebbia is candid about how he overcame countless rejections and problems. Listen in as he shares specific advice for entrepreneurs looking to create the next industry disrupter: “You can see what’s hot. You can go after an emerging industry... Or you can solve a problem. Your own problem. Airbnb was our own problem. We had a rent check that we couldn’t pay. And it forced us to come up with a new way of making ends meet.” 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

9 Aug 202445min