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The athlete turned investor helps Tessa Barton prepare to scale her bootstrapped photo editing startup. Tezza. Not many entrepreneurs have both professional football and private equity on their resumes. But [...]

Veeraj Chugh was fed up with webcams. A head of product operations at Uber with a flair for design, Chugh couldn't stand the quality of the images produced by his [...]

Vinnie Campo wants a virtual power plant in every home. A former U.S. country manager at the British renewable energy company Bulb and general manager at Uber's e-bike division, Campo, [...]

The founder of Panera helps John Yarusi, founder of Johnny's Pork Roll and Coffee Too, plan the next steps for his small but mighty breakfast-sandwich business. John Yarusi loved the [...]

The co-founder of seven-time Inc. 5000 company Honest Tea helps Ron Holloway, co-founder of healthy dog treat brand Woofbowl, grow his company on wheels into a brand with staying power. [...]

Drybar co-founder Alli Webb helps Leanne Viola, co-founder of plant-based snacks brand Whims Delights, turn early growth into a lasting business. LEANNE VIOLA HAS a sweet tooth for the record [...]

Legendary restaurateur Meyer dines out with Tacombi founder Dario Wolos to discuss the recipe for growing a food chain into a household name. DARIO WOLOS WAS MISSING a key ingredient [...]

IN 2016, IMMIGRATION LAWYER ALEXANDRA LOZANO DECIDED TO TRY A CASE THAT SEEMED HOPELESS. The client, an undocumented Mexican immigrant from Monterrey, Mexico, named Manuel, had been living in the [...]

The jewelry entrepreneur helps Hopie Stockman, co-founder and CEO of the home goods and apparel brand Block Shop Textiles, foster a culture of sustainable growth. HOPIE STOCKMAN NEVER met a [...]

Shan-Lyn Ma, co-founder of the wedding e-commerce firm Zola, helps Tiffany Kelly, founder of the adtech company Curastory, navigate the highs and lows of running a fast-growing tech startup. IN [...]

The Shark Tank star, FUBU founder, and best-selling author says he has refocused his energy on his family, friends, and health. If only he weren't still tirelessly working every angle. [...]

Method co-founder Eric Ryan has built a billion dollars'worth of companies. Cast co-founder Rachel Skelly is facing impostor syndrome head-on. Together; they're launching a business in an unfamiliar industry--one roller [...]

This American tech company CEO didn't lose hope when Russia invaded Ukraine, where he had 150 employees. Instead, he joined them. IN THE FALL of 2021, as rumors of a [...]

Environmental Services CEO: Caroline Vanderlip | Area of Impact: Sustainability Caroline Vanderlip got sick of the all the garbage that piles up on the streets of New York City on [...]

The article discusses the challenges of scaling a business and provides insights from three founders who have faced unique obstacles in growing their companies. The founders of Milk Bar, M. M. LaFleur, and Zeera share their experiences and tips for scaling a business that is inherently difficult to scale. They emphasize the importance of hiring early, pivoting when necessary, establishing trust with partners, and being willing to ask for help. The founders also discuss the challenges of storytelling, hiring people with different expertise, and the need for trust in the scaling process. [Extracted from the article]

Joe Thomas and his co-founders were two weeks away from running out of money for their software startup when, in 2016, they launched a new product and went all in [...]

Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff founded her eponymous brand in New York City in 2005, starting with handbags and expanding into clothing and shoes. Global supply chain issues flattened sales in [...]

SURVIVING A CRISIS IS HARD ENOUGH. BUT CAN YOU ACTUALLY THRIVE THROUGH ONE? SQUARE CO-FOUNDER JIM MCKELVEY AND MYDIGITALOFFICE FOUNDER ALI MOLOO SHARE STRATEGIES FOR DOING JUST THAT-LIKE GIVING IT [...]

Ransomware attackers are coming for you. And if they can get to your data, they can destroy your business. Don't become a victim. Every 11 seconds, business servers--even small-business servers--are [...]

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Private Equity Firms list has shined a light on the PE outfits that support founder-led companies through both good times and, well, global [...]

He was the living embodiment of the American Dream, a tireless entrepreneur who fought his way from Detroit's meanest streets. Then Delane Parnell faced the moment that would define his [...]

* Michelle Penczak could see the look on prospective employers' faces when she told them her husband was a Marine Corps pilot. Like many military families, the Penczaks moved every [...]

* When Hollywood stars need to get the hype train rolling an increasing number of them call on Ernest Dukes. As the founder of Los Angeles-based Nottingham Agency (2022 revenue: [...]

Silicon Valley startups are taking aim at deadly wildfires. But saving lives will require cutting through red tape, fast. DAVE WINNACKER stood on a hill in Northern California as flames [...]

When Walter Driver co-founded the mobile gaming company Scopely in 2011, he never thought that one day it would have more than 100 million monthly players. As it approached that [...]

Tough times call for tasty treats: Candy sales are up across the U.S. as we seek out life's small pleasures. Spangler Candy Company, maker of candy canes and old favorites [...]

Truff, a hot sauce brand founded by Nick Ajluni and Nick Guillen, aims to become the "Cîroc of hot sauce" by incorporating truffles into their products. Truff's signature black truffle sauce quickly became Amazon's top-selling hot sauce, and the company received a minority investment from Kim Kardashian's private equity firm, valuing Truff at $250 million. Daniel Lubetzky, founder of Kind snack company, has been mentoring Ajluni and helping guide Truff's growth. Lubetzky emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and balancing qualitative and quantitative perspectives in entrepreneurship. [Extracted from the article]

Last year, 50 million Americans bought mascara, toilet paper, and just about anything else touting the calming, analgesic effects of a dash of cannabidiol, or CBD. The non-high extract of [...]

Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan are the co-founders of De Soi, a nonalcoholic apéritifs maker. They met in 2020 while both pregnant and decided to create a company that offers sophisticated and flavorful nonalcoholic drinks. De Soi has gained popularity and secured a $4 million seed round in 2022. The drinks are made using a combination of fruit juices, teas, botanical extracts, and adaptogens, which are medicinal plants that help reduce stress. The brand aims to provide a pleasurable drinking experience without the negative side effects of alcohol. [Extracted from the article]

Anne Wojcicki Co-founder and CEO of 23andMe I was raised in this family culture where there was the assumption that you're never done--you can always make something better. I would [...]

This article discusses the benefits and challenges of launching a company with a public figure, such as a political activist or a Hollywood celebrity. It specifically focuses on the experience of Kate Foster, a beauty executive who partnered with Scarlett Johansson to launch a skin care company called Outset. Additional pairings are detailed, including Michael Mohr’s work with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg at Houseplant, a cannabis company that produces home goods for cannabis enthusiasts. [Extracted from the article]

A decade after founding the eyewear disrupter Warby Parker in 2010, co-founders and co-CEOs Dave Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal knew an IPO was probably inevitable. The New York City-based company [...]

Entrepreneur Craig Dubitsky was at his local pharmacy in 2012 when he noticed something off about toothpaste: Every brand had hard-to-pronounce ingredients and language about killing or destroying. Teeth, Dubitsky [...]

When Georgetown student Jonathan Neman couldn't find a healthy lunch option near campus, he decided to create one himself. In 2007, Neman and two classmates founded fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen. [...]

With online apparel retailer American Giant, Bayard Winthrop is trying to do what few have done in the past several decades: produce high-quality clothing entirely in the United States. The [...]

The article discusses the Southeast region of the United States, which includes states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Southeast region has seen a significant influx of Americans moving to booming cities like Miami, Atlanta, and Nashville. This region has the highest number of successful companies, with 223 winners, and has created the most jobs compared to other regions. Additionally, the Southeast boasts a diverse group of founders. The article highlights the success stories of various companies in the Southeast, including Six Degrees Agency, which experienced significant growth and success by leveraging their outsider status in the marketing industry. The article also provides a list of the top 25 companies in the Southeast based on their two-year growth rates. [Extracted from the article]

No.374 Keri Mungo SABG Three-year growth 1,228.9% | 2018 revenue $21.7m Arlington, Virginia | Founded in 2005 Keri Mungo is co-founder and CEO of SABG-the Strategic Alliance Business Group--which provides [...]

The rent on your warehouse. The price of essential supplies. Your top salesperson's salary. You constantly negotiate to grow your business. Yet no one can be an expert on all [...]

The article discusses the current state of funding for entrepreneurs in the United States. It highlights the decline in venture capital and private equity activity in recent years, as well as the higher cost of debt financing due to interest rate hikes. However, there are reasons to expect a rebound in 2025, such as large stockpiles of capital and interest rate cuts. The article emphasizes the importance of finding a capital provider that offers support and partnership rather than just financial resources. It also mentions the growing popularity of debt financing as an alternative to equity funding. The article encourages entrepreneurs to consider private equity as a means to accelerate growth and fund acquisitions, and advises conducting due diligence when choosing a capital provider. It also addresses the lack of funding for female founders and the importance of deep industry knowledge and problem-solving skills for entrepreneurs. Finally, the article suggests that entrepreneurs should consider debt financing as a powerful growth tool and prioritize finding a reliable and supportive lender. [Extracted from the article]

The smartest entrepreneurs don't only look ahead--they also check the rear-view mirror. 'Tech founders tend to assume that everybody in the past has done things badly. I think that's a [...]

PRODUCT design contests invariably lend themselves to superlatives. Winning designs are inevitably the most beautiful, elegant, disruptive, and accessible products yet created, But sometimes what's most important in recognizing excellent [...]

Reggie Aggarwal led Cvent through an IPO, in 2013, as well as a $1.65 billion sale that took the event-software company private three years later. Then, in the middle of [...]

Inc. Insider The jewelry entrepreneur helps Hopie Stockman, co-founder and CEO of the home goods and apparel brand Block Shop Textiles, foster a culture of sustainable growth. Scott transitioned from CEO to executive chair in 2021, but continues to be hands-on at the company, while also investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs. A college dropout who began working in retail when she was 14, Scott founded her eponymous jewelry company in Austin in 2002 and waited a decade before raising capital. Good thing Kendra Scott knows how to grow a boot-strapped business. [Extracted from the article]

Luvleen Sidhu was just 28 when she founded BankMobile with a lofty mission: to reinvent banking for millions of Americans through the power of tech. The 2015 launch presciently anticipated [...]

At the height of the 1990s dotcom boom, when high-concept companies like Urban Fetch, Kozmo, and Boo.com had investors reaching for their checkbooks, starting a soap company wasn't exactly trendy: [...]

Furry friends come in handy during a pandemic, and more people with pets means more business for vets. Austin-based Pathway Vet Alliance started getting busier in the spring but has [...]

Imagine receiving a mysterious box in the mail one day. You open it up, and inside you find a typed letter from an investigator, a century-old playbill, and some cryptic, [...]

The devastating wildfires that swept through Northern California in recent years have left a new problem in their wake: dead trees that threaten people, roads, and gas and water lines. [...]

When Covid-19 began confining people to their homes last March, panicked urban dwellers sent demand for the company's bicycles and treadmills through the roof. In some areas, sales soared as [...]

Susan Yara, a former journalist in the beauty industry, started a YouTube channel in 2014 offering makeup tutorials. After gaining a million subscribers, Yara co-founded the skin care brand Naturium, which became successful and attracted private equity investment. In 2023, e.l.f. Beauty acquired Naturium for $355 million. Yara discusses the decision to sell the brand and the benefits of aligning with a strategic acquirer. The acquisition has helped Naturium gain more recognition and expand into new markets. [Extracted from the article]