Read Receipt

james barry, founder of pluck, joins sean to talk about the surprising benefits of organ meats and how he’s turning them into a pantry staple. they discuss the challenges of scaling a mission-driven food business, the importance of making health effortless, and why authenticity and community-building are critical in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.

this episode dives into the story behind made in, a cookware company disrupting the kitchenware industry with a blend of heritage and innovation. founders chip malt and jake kalick share how they leveraged their complementary skills to create a brand that serves both home cooks and professional chefs. learn how authenticity, product quality, and a chef-first mindset turned their idea into a culina...

in this episode, sean chats with alison evans, co-founder of sayso, the brand reinventing cocktails with its tea bag innovation. alison dives into her journey from harvard business school to launching a completely new product category in mixers. hear about the challenges of scaling manufacturing, growing a brand in retail, and why the espresso martini may be your next go-to drink at home.

in this episode, sean sits down with sophia karbowski and austin patry, co-founders of realsy, to explore their journey from college students running food trucks to scaling a successful packaged snack brand. they share insights on creating a viral product, leveraging retail placement for growth, and why staying lean keeps them focused on profitability.

in this episode, éliou founders duda and cristy share their journey from running a miami-based creative agency to launching a luxury jewelry and lifestyle brand. with handmade products, celebrity endorsements, and a no-shortcuts attitude, the pair reveal their growth from side hustle to serious business—all while keeping operations fully in-house.

nicolas travis, the founder of allies of skin, shares the remarkable story behind building a skincare empire with a purpose. this conversation dives into the challenges of creating a global team, the lessons of overcoming personal trauma, and why heartfelt storytelling is at the core of his brand's success.

sean speaks with alannah connealy , founder of raena, on the origins of her brand, inspired by her family’s hormone health struggles. they discuss her pivot from twitter to hormone healthcare, building a brand from scratch, and the entrepreneurial grit that brought raena to life. alannah shares the ups and downs of transitioning from service to product-based growth and her journey to building raen...

In this episode, jake shares his journey from tiktok creator to cpg founder, discussing how he built an engaged community before launching his brand, his approach to product development, and why he's choosing to reformulate despite current success. the conversation explores the intersection of social media, direct-to-consumer business, and product innovation.

n this episode, Suzanne shares her journey from advertising creative director to clean beauty founder. She discusses the evolution of her brand's identity, the challenges of building an intentional wellness company, and her unique perspective on growth and creative leadership. The conversation explores the intersection of beauty standards, wellness, and authenticity in brand building.

join us as evah shares her journey from fashion design to creating a groundbreaking towel brand. learn how her background in product design and textiles led to the development of a revolutionary towel that combines antimicrobial properties with skin-friendly materials. she discusses the challenges of launching during the pandemic, building an international brand from australia, and balancing entre...

kathrin hamm, founder of bearaby, shares her transition from working at the world bank to creating a revolutionary weighted blanket company. she discusses the challenges of product development, bootstrapping, and scaling a business, as well as the rewards of entrepreneurship and the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset even as the company grows.  

taylor borenstein and millie blumka, co-founders of stakt, discuss their journey from college friends to successful entrepreneurs. they share insights on developing their innovative fitness mat, bootstrapping their company, appearing on shark tank, and their plans for expanding the stakt brand beyond their initial product.  

phantila phataraprasit, co-founder of sabai, discusses her journey from law school to launching a sustainable furniture brand. she shares insights on sabai's eco-friendly practices, the challenges of starting a furniture company, and how they're revolutionizing the industry with their repair and resale programs.  

mike, co-founder of windmill, discusses the journey of creating a modern air conditioning brand. he shares insights on product development, fundraising challenges, and marketing strategies in a competitive industry. the conversation covers windmill's growth from a small startup to a recognized player in the ac market, exploring topics such as team structure, profitability goals, and future expansi...

takeaways:   • jenny funded freja using profits from her successful dropshipping business   • she focused heavily on paid advertising from the start, unlike many other brands   • jenny kept freja a secret for the first 2-3 years, even from friends   • her approach was very data-driven, focusing on what customers want rather than personal preferences   • she's now transitioning to focus more on org...

alexandra, co-founder of foile, discusses her journey from the fashion industry to creating a sustainable skincare brand. she shares insights on product development, the challenges of custom packaging, and how running sauna studios laid the foundation for foile. the conversation covers foile's commitment to sustainability, their unique approach to retail, and their vision for the future of skincar...

michael lupo, founder of flewd, discusses his journey from working in corporate beauty to creating a revolutionary stress-relief brand. he shares insights on product development, the science behind stress, and the challenges of building a direct-to-consumer business in a new category.

jennifer and alice, co-founders of kindred black, discuss their transition from corporate fashion to launching a sustainable beauty brand. they share insights on eco-friendly production, working with artisan glassblowers, and the challenges of scaling a sustainable business.  

in this episode of read receipt, we sit down with sophia moradi, the multi-faceted entrepreneur behind avalon surgery center and sōm skin. sophia opens up about balancing multiple businesses, from ambulatory care to innovative skincare. she shares how her family's immigrant background fuels her drive, and why sticking to your vision is crucial when launching a brand. discover how sophia and her mo...

amy, founder of dear brightly, discusses her journey from software engineer to skincare entrepreneur. she shares insights on building a telehealth platform for prescription retinoids, going through y combinator, and scaling a business while balancing growth and profitability.

zeke bronfman, co-founder of the absorption company, discusses the launch and rapid growth of his innovative supplement brand. he shares insights on building a viral community, leveraging celebrity partnerships, and developing cutting-edge supplement technology. zeke also reflects on lessons learned from his previous beverage startup and how they informed his current venture.  

 jenelle manzi  shares her journey from professional ballerina to founder of get golden, an energy bar company. she discusses balancing her dance career with entrepreneurship, overcoming a major injury, and how her experiences as a dancer shaped her approach to business and product development.  

eddie cohen and calvin lien, founders of walden, share their entrepreneurial journey from creating a meditation-focused lifestyle brand to launching an innovative electric vehicle company. they discuss their approach to product design, brand building, and the challenges of scaling multiple businesses while maintaining quality and authenticity.  

ally dayon, founder of cliik, discusses his transition from real estate to launching an innovative food storage brand. he details the process of developing the product, building a team, and bringing a fresh perspective to a traditional category. the conversation covers brand identity, manufacturing challenges, and cliik's rapid growth in both direct-to-consumer and retail channels.  

lisa goodman, founder of good skin clinics, discusses her journey from medical dermatology to creating a unique approach to aesthetic treatments. she  hares insights on the challenges of scaling a quality-focused business, the importance of long-term results, and her mission to educate both clients and practitioners about holistic, science-based approaches to aging gracefully.