Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds. New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays.
Founders Scott Tannen and Jamie Siminoff provide strategic guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of scaling niche businesses. Melita Cyril of Q4Quinn, a sustainable underwear brand, receives advice on the trade-offs of bootstrapping versus seeking outside investment, with the consensus being to maintain c...
Seventh Generation emerged from a mail-order catalog selling eco-friendly goods, eventually becoming a mass-market leader in sustainable household products. Founders Jeffrey Hollender and Alan Newman built the company on a foundation of environmental advocacy, though their partnership dissolved in 1992 after a bitter f...
Danny Meyer, founder of Union Square Hospitality Group, defines organizational culture as the balance between celebrated wanted behaviors and tolerated unwanted behaviors, shifting the focus from "family values" to clear, professional expectations. Maintaining a "day one" mentality—treating every day as if the business...
Brian Rudolph built Banza into a leading pasta brand by leveraging the nutritional and environmental benefits of chickpeas. Initially motivated by his own wheat sensitivity, Rudolph navigated significant manufacturing hurdles, including early production failures that forced him to innovate cooking methods and secure mo...
Founders often face significant hurdles when scaling, requiring a shift from initial product development to sustainable operations and effective customer communication. Michelle Wahler, co-founder of Beyond Yoga, emphasizes that raising capital is not a requirement for success; instead, founders should prioritize build...
Thrive Causemetics founder Karissa Bodnar transformed a personal mission into a multi-million dollar beauty brand by prioritizing product efficacy alongside social impact. After losing a close friend to cancer, Bodnar sought to create cosmetics that offered dignity and confidence to those in need, specifically developi...
The Advice Line on How I Built This Lab features former Container Store CEO Kip Tindell offering strategic guidance to emerging entrepreneurs. Retail success hinges on maintaining a relentless focus on customer service and sustainable, steady growth rather than rapid, high-risk expansion. Tindell emphasizes that buildi...
Kim Vaccarella built Bogg Bag into a $100 million enterprise by transforming a simple observation about durable, washable EVA material into a functional beach bag. After an initial, devastating shipment of defective products from China forced a temporary shutdown, the business found unexpected life when donated bags di...
Entrepreneurs navigate critical growth phases by balancing mission-driven quality with operational scalability. Ben Goodwin, co-founder of the $2 billion prebiotic soda brand Olipop, emphasizes that maintaining product integrity and a clear mission serves as a stronger foundation than compromising for market norms. Cal...
Nicole Bernard Dawes built a successful career in the food industry by bridging the gap between natural, organic ingredients and the mass-market appeal of conventional snacks. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, she launched Late July to address the lack of healthy, organic options in the cracker category. After n...
Successful entrepreneurship requires a high tolerance for pain, the ability to craft a compelling story, and a balance of confidence and vulnerability. Founders must clearly articulate why their product exists, why it matters now, and why they are the right people to lead it. When scaling, businesses should avoid the p...
YETI founders Roy and Ryan Seiders transformed the outdoor gear industry by addressing the durability failures of mass-market coolers. Growing up in Texas with an entrepreneurial father, the brothers leveraged their experience in the fishing tackle industry to develop a high-end, rotomolded cooler designed for serious ...
Scaling a business requires balancing product innovation with strategic delegation and market focus. Carlton Calvin, founder of Razor USA, emphasizes that while trend-seeking is a unique talent, institutionalizing these insights is essential for long-term growth. Entrepreneurs often struggle with the urge to manage eve...
Bobbie challenges the long-standing duopoly of infant formula giants by offering a transparent, European-style alternative for American parents. Founded by Laura Modi after her own isolating experience with breastfeeding, the company navigates a landscape defined by intense FDA regulation and industry stigma. Early gro...
Strategic business growth requires balancing personal brand presence with scalable, sustainable operations. Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Jones Road Beauty, emphasizes that founders must eventually move beyond founder-led sales to ensure long-term viability. For Cabbage Labs, this means leveraging l...
Nima and Salma Fotovat transformed their deep manufacturing expertise into MadeGood, a leading organic, allergen-free snack brand. After a forced exit from their family’s previous business in 2012, the siblings leveraged their extensive knowledge of supply chains and production to build a vertically integrated company....
Early-stage founders navigate complex operational challenges through expert guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs. Tony DeRosa of Hearsay Brewing explores the transition from solo founder to team-based leadership, weighing the risks of equity partnerships against hiring specialized managers for distinct business units l...
The growth of the luxury home goods brand Serena & Lily highlights the complex challenges of scaling a business while maintaining creative integrity and financial control. Founders Lily Kanter and Serena Dugan initially launched as a boutique baby bedding company, quickly finding success through a high-end catalog stra...
Early-stage entrepreneurs receive strategic guidance from UNTUCKit co-founder Chris Riccobono on scaling apparel and service-based businesses. Navigating modern retail requires moving beyond saturated paid social media channels toward community-focused growth and earned media. For niche brands like Eras Shorts, success...
Chuck Surack transformed a mobile recording business operated from a VW van into Sweetwater, a billion-dollar retail leader in musical instruments and professional audio equipment. His success centers on a philosophy of "adding credibility," where every employee is empowered to prioritize long-term customer relationshi...
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