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The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

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The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan
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  • The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

    647: I Started a Jewelry Brand With $25K and the WRONG Business Model | Noura Sakkijha

    2026/04/02 | 46 mins.
    Noura Sakkijha is a third generation jeweler who realized the entire fine jewelry industry was fundamentally broken—built on the outdated idea that men buy diamonds for women, not that women buy the diamonds themselves.

    In 2013, she launched Mejuri with a radical mission: create fine jewelry for women to buy for themselves. What started as a crowdsourcing platform quickly pivoted after just one year when sales didn't materialize. Over 11 years, Mejuri has sold 6.5 million pieces of jewelry and is now expanding globally.

    In this interview, the founder and CEO of Mejuri breaks down why she completely pivoted the business model after realizing there was no product-market fit, the brutal 2021 lesson about hiring ahead of growth that forced her to revise her entire approach to team building, and why she now refuses to hire until the team feels real pain.

    What you'll learn in this interview:
    • Why Noura pivoted from a crowdsourcing platform to direct-to-consumer after one year
    • How she started Mejuri with a $25,000 CAD grant while working full time
    • The moment she realized building a brand requires a specific POV and staying consistent
    • Why she prioritizes culture fit over skills when hiring every single time
    • The 2021 market crash lesson: why hiring ahead of growth is dangerous advice
    • How she rebuilt her hiring philosophy around waiting until the team feels pain
    • Why a bad culture hire creates noise that kills momentum and collaboration
    • Her mission to build one of the most loved jewelry brands in the world
    • How Mejuri is expanding internationally into Australia and the Middle East
    • Why she obsesses about brand distinctiveness more than ever in changing markets
    • Her biggest regret: returning to work three months postpartum instead of taking more time
    • Why 50% of the work is just showing up every single day and doing your best

    If you're building a DTC brand, navigating team growth decisions, or trying to challenge an industry that's been doing things the same way for generations, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about brand building, hiring strategy, and sustainable scaling.

    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.

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠

    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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    CONNECT WITH NOURA SAKKIJHA
    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nourasakkijha/
    LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/noura-sakkijha-8b229741/
    Website → https://mejuri.com/

    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
  • The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

    646: How Jesse Built A $450K/Year Brand Whilst Still Working in the Mines

    2026/04/01 | 31 mins.
    Most people with a full-time job, 14-hour shifts, and zero business experience don't start a brand — Jesse did, and he's closing in on half a million dollars a year to prove it.

    After 16 years working in the mining industry, Jesse knew the gear handed to workers on site was genuinely not fit for purpose. So he did something about it, building Wolf Workwear — durable, functional workwear for heavy industries — one hour at a time between fly-in, fly-out shifts. He still hasn't quit his day job. He's doing it anyway.

    In this episode, Jesse gets brutally honest about what those first two and a half years actually looked like — overspending $40-50K on a launch, building 4,000 Instagram followers who had zero intention of buying anything, and the UGC pivot that changed everything overnight.

    What you'll learn in this interview:

    Why 4,000 followers didn't translate to sales — and the critical difference between an engaged audience and a buying one

    How Jesse validated his product idea by handing samples to his workmates on site before ever building a brand

    The real cost of launching with too much conviction: a $40-50K first run and what he'd do differently

    How to build a business on 1-2 hours a day while working 14-hour shifts — and where to spend that time first

    Why switching from static product shots to UGC ads was an overnight game changer for paid performance

    How to find and iterate products on Alibaba without a design background — function and comfort as your only brief

    The B2B opportunity hiding inside a D2C brand, and how supplying mining companies unlocked a second revenue stream

    Why disappointing a customer hurts more than any slow sales period — and what that tells you about building a brand worth caring about

    The honest maths behind staying in your day job longer than everyone says you should

    What it actually feels like to build something from nothing when nobody's watching yet

    If you're trying to build something real around a full-time job and wondering whether it's worth the grind — this episode will change how you think about time, patience, and what early traction actually looks like. Jesse's story is proof that you don't need the perfect conditions. You just need to start.

    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.

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠

    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 JESSIE LIM
    Instagram → ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wolf_workwear/
    Website → ⁠⁠https://wolfworkwear.com/

    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
  • The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

    645: (Solo) Why Your Email List Is Your Most Valuable Asset in 2026

    2026/03/30 | 9 mins.
    Email marketing doesn't sound flashy. It's not the newest channel, not the trendiest platform, and it definitely doesn't get the same attention as TikTok, Instagram, or Meta ads. But that's exactly why it's so powerful.

    Here's the truth: while most founders are chasing reach on social media, the smartest ones are quietly building something much more valuable — an owned audience they can reach directly, not through an algorithm or platform. It's not rented. It's a relationship they control. And in a world where social platforms change constantly, this kind of ownership is incredibly valuable for your brand.

    In this episode, I share the lesson I learned early on at Foundr that changed everything — and why your email list, even if it's small, is one of the most powerful assets you can build in 2026.

    Here's what you'll take away:

    The story of how I learned the power of email from a mentor who asked, "How many names do you have on your list?"

    Why an email list isn't just about names — it's about the relationship and permission to show up in someone's inbox

    The revenue benchmark: you should be generating at least 20-30% of your total revenue from email marketing

    The biggest mistakes founders make: not optimizing flows, not running enough campaigns, and treating email as an afterthought

    How to build your email list: exit intent pop-ups, quizzes, giveaways, waitlists, exclusive offers, and educational content

    Why it doesn't cost more to generate sales from email — and how optimizing this channel is low-hanging fruit

    The golden rule: build your list and treat it like gold, but never abuse the relationship

    If you're not generating at least 20% of your revenue from email, or you've been neglecting this channel while chasing social growth, this episode will show you why email is still the most valuable asset you can own.

    If you're loving this solo series, I'd love to hear your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — 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.

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠

    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
  • The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

    644: This FBI Negotiation Trick Gets People to Say YES (By Saying NO) | Chris Voss

    2026/03/26 | 52 mins.
    Chris Voss spent decades as the FBI's lead international kidnapping
    negotiator, where a single wrong word could cost someone's life. After
    talking down armed bank robbers and negotiating with terrorists, he
    discovered something critical: the rational bargaining models taught in
    business schools don't just fail—they're dangerous. Compromise is
    guaranteed lose-lose. Win-win deals are often code for "I'm picking your
    pocket." And everything you've been taught about getting to yes is
    actually destroying your leverage and costing you millions without you
    even realizing it.

    In this interview, the former FBI negotiator and author of Never Split
    the Difference breaks down why forcing someone to say "no" is more
    powerful than chasing a yes, the exact calibrated questions that make
    aggressive counterparts solve your problems for you, and how to spot the
    verbal and tonal cues that reveal when someone is lying or hiding
    critical deal information.

    What you'll learn in this interview:
    • Why compromise is guaranteed lose-lose and destroys value in
    negotiations
    • How cutthroat negotiators use "win-win" terminology to pick your
    pocket
    • Why Chris responds with "mutual gain" instead of accepting win-win
    framing
    • The Black Swan skills: tiny tweaks that massively accelerate trust and
    profitability
    • How to gather information without making people feel questioned
    • Why asking questions decreases trust and what to do instead
    • The power of mirroring: repeating the last 1-3 words to uncover hidden
    information
    • How to use calibrated questions to make counterparts solve your
    problems
    • Why focusing on terms instead of price creates more profitable deals
    • The one negotiation habit that compounds over decades: summarizing
    their perspective
    • How to get "that's right" confirmations that create instant
    collaboration
    • Why understanding their perspective accelerates deals and employee
    alignment

    If you're raising capital, hiring executives, negotiating supplier
    deals, closing enterprise contracts, or navigating any high-stakes
    conversation, this episode will completely rewire how you communicate
    under pressure and extract value from every interaction.

    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.

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → https://foundr.com/operators

    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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    CONNECT WITH CHRIS VOSS
    Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefbinegotiator/
    LinkedIn → ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophervoss

    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
  • The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

    643: (Solo) Why Profitable Businesses Still Fail (And How to Avoid It)

    2026/03/23 | 12 mins.
    Most founders think if their company is profitable on paper, they're safe. But here's the truth I learned the hard way: businesses don't fail because they're unprofitable. They fail because they run out of cash.

    I had a really good run for about 6-7 years at Foundr before I ever faced a serious cash crunch. And when it hit, it was terrifying — that feeling when you don't know if you're going to make payroll is something I'll never forget. You can have strong revenue, good margins, be growing, and technically be profitable — but if the timing of when cash comes in and goes out isn't managed correctly, you can find yourself in serious trouble.

    In this episode, I break down why cash flow is the number one thing founders need to obsess over, and the practical moves you can make to manage it better before it becomes a crisis.

    Here's what you'll take away:
    • Why revenue is exciting but cash flow is what keeps your business alive — the timing gap can suffocate you
    • How e-commerce founders experience cash pressure differently: inventory upfront, ads before sales, seasonality cycles
    • Why scaling too aggressively with ads can grow your revenue while shrinking your bank balance
    • The unit economics you need to obsess over: contribution margin, payback periods, and CAC
    • Why subscription models and high-margin products (70-80%+) give you breathing room to scale profitably
    • Practical cash flow moves: negotiate payment terms, cut software bloat, increase AOV, optimize conversion rates
    • The cash buffer rule: maintain 2-3 months of operating costs in reserves and secure lines of credit before you need them
    • Why you should always plan for worst-case scenarios, not best-case forecasts

    If you've ever felt stressed even when your business looks healthy from the outside, or you're scaling fast but the bank balance tells a different story, this episode will show you how to build a sustainable business that doesn't just look good on paper.

    If you're loving this solo series, I'd love to hear your feedback. Email me directly at [email protected] — 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.

    WANT TO GROW YOUR BRAND WITH META ADS?
    Join the Foundr Operators Waitlist → ⁠⁠https://foundr.com/operators⁠⁠

    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

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About The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Hear the stories, learn the proven methods, and accelerate your growth and future through entrepreneurship. Welcome to The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan.  About the show:  For over a decade, The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan has been a leading entrepreneurship podcast for open-book conversations with, by, and for founders. Whether you're starting, building, or dreaming about your business, The Foundr Podcast is where you can access experienced founders who've been in your shoes to learn their proven methods, lessons from failure, and inspirational stories.  Past guests include Emma Grede, Mark Cuban, Neil Patel, Kendra Scott, Alex Hormozi, Trinny Woodall, Tim Ferriss, Sophia Amoruso, Simon Sinek, Tony Robbins, Amy Porterfield, Ed Mylett, Michelle Zatlyn, Reid Hoffman, Scooter Braun, Dany Garcia, Marc Lore, Ariana Huffington, Pat Flynn, Lewis Howes, Jordan Harbinger, and many more.  About the host:  Nathan Chan is the CEO of Foundr and the creator of The Foundr Podcast. Chan literally started from knowing nothing. He was just an average guy working in a 9-5 job he utterly hated. He knew nothing about entrepreneurship, nothing about startups, nothing about marketing, and nothing about online or how to build a business. In the past decade, Chan's built Foundr into a global leader in entrepreneurial education, helping tens of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses.  Need help with your business?  Visit foundr.com/foundrplustrial to join a global community of entrepreneurs, gain access to proven strategies, and fast-track your business growth confidently.
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