Building Brands that Attract Capital: DTC Fundraising in 2025

In this episode of Chew on This, hosted by Ron and Ash, Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies and Marathon, discusses the evolution of brand building from 2011 to the present day. Preston shares insights on standing out in a crowded market, the importance of consistent iteration and feedback loops, and the enduring value of email marketing. He emphasizes the need for brands to balance demand generation with demand capture, advocating for a shift from solely focusing on bottom-funnel performance to building broader brand awareness. Preston also recounts humorous anecdotes from Chubbies' early days, including their playful rivalry with Abercrombie & Fitch and a memorable "worst sellers" email campaign. He offers advice on fundraising, stressing the importance of aligning with investors who share the company's vision and values, and concludes with a call to action for businesses to prioritize sustainable growth through balanced marketing strategies.