Making Cents

Join us on Byside for a special compilation episode where we extract the greatest lessons in food brand building and massive M&A exits. We dive into how RXBAR bootstrapped their way from a line of credit to a highly competitive 600 million dollar exit in just four years. Then, we explore how Simple Mills managed explosive demand at Costco, scaling from 70 million to 240 million dollars while u...

Join us on Byside as we welcome Robbie Patterson to unpack the playbook behind Astō Consumer Partners. Robbie breaks down how his team recently raised a 350 million dollar fund to back profitable consumer brands in food, VMS, and personal care. We explore why Astō prefers buying secondary shares at a 10 to 20 percent discount to align with founders, how they identify brands with massive gross marg...

How do you scale from $1 million to $100 million in revenue without taking a single dollar of outside capital?. In this episode, we are joined by Kevin Gould, the co-founder of Glamnetic. Kevin takes us through his career starting in the WME mailroom, his transition into influencer management, and the eventual creation of one of the fastest-growing brands in the beauty space. We discuss the high-s...

Horatio, CEO of Buddha Juice (NYSE American: BUDA), shares how they pivoted from ~18–19 retail stores to a profitable wholesale model built on an “ultra-fresh” cold chain (~35°F, 8–12 day shelf life). We unpack Costco roadshows, the decision to IPO vs private equity, and how automation + operational discipline can drive strong margins in CPG. We also dig into the unit economics behind a ~45% gross...

This Making Cents compilation brings together top beauty and personal care insights from Tara Hyland (Main Post Partners), Sean Riley (Dude Wipes), and Geologie founders Nick Allen and Dave Skaff. Hear why investors love beauty and personal care (better margins and multiples than food and beverage), how hero products like Dr Dennis Gross’ two step peel pads drove a $450M Shiseido exit, and what $2...

Isaac Mertens (Flux Footwear CEO) reveals how he quit CPA exams, scaled Etsy furniture to 7 figures, then built $43M in barefoot shoes, self funded through 6 month supply hell, sellouts, and 80% margins.​ From Indiegogo $50K flops to $300K to $43M explosions via SBA loans plus supplier hacks (50% deposits to 20%). Footwear repeat nightmares solved: sub 10% to 30% rates, first order profits, LTV to...

In this episode of Making Cents, Drew hosts Sam McBride, former COO of RXBar and founder of Colter Ventures. Sam breaks down the legendary bootstrap journey of RXBar, which scaled from $2 million to $125 million in revenue in just four years before selling to Kellogg’s for $600 million. They discuss the "No BS" rebrand that experts hated but customers loved, the discipline of using bank...

In this conversation, Drew introduces Amy Haas, former CFO of Simple Mills, who shares her journey from the corporate finance world into the startup environment and the experience of building a successful food brand. Amy reflects on Simple Mills’ early mission, its growth, particularly following the launch of its cracker line and the role private equity played in scaling the business while preserv...

Drew Fallon sits down with David Rabie, co-founder and CEO of Tovala, to unpack how the company is reinventing home cooking by pairing a smart oven with a seamless meal subscription service.  David dives into Tovala’s unconventional business model, the highs and lows of fundraising, and the hard-earned lessons behind achieving true product-market fit. He reflects on scaling the company through the...

Drew Fallon talks with Nick Allen and Dave Skaff, the founders of Geologie — about their journey building a personalized men’s skincare brand and ultimately selling it. They dig into the financial realities behind the business: balancing a capital-hungry DTC model, expanding SKU count from trial kits to full product lines, navigating the shift into retail, and managing a balance sheet that no long...

In this episode, Drew Fallon sits down with Reese Wabara, founder of Manière De Voir, to unpack how he went from playing professional football to building one of the UK’s most disciplined and profitable fashion brands. Reese breaks down the evolution of MDV, how he’s navigated trend cycles, and the bold strategic pivots that protected margins and long-term growth. He shares why timeless product be...

In this enlightening conversation, Drew Fallon speaks to Danny Yeung, CEO of Prenetics, who shares the journey of his entrepreneurial ventures, the pivot to at-home PCR testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the launch of IM8, a revolutionary supplement brand co-founded with David Beckham. He discusses the importance of science-backed formulations, customer acquisition strategies, and the compa...

In this Making Cents episode with Drew Fallon, Ryan Babenzien breaks down how he went from building GREATS to $20M and selling it to Steve Madden, to launching Jolie with a completely different business model focused on recurring revenue, high margin filters, and profitable growth from day one. Ryan explains how he started Jolie in 2020/2021, why the showerhead-plus-filter structure created a powe...

Drew Fallon introduces Sean Riley, co-founder and Chief Executive Dude of Dude Wipes, a personal care brand born from a simple idea among friends in Chicago who wanted better hygiene solutions after college. Sean shares the story of building Dude Wipes "brick by brick," starting with selling individually wrapped flushable wipes designed especially for men. The interview covers Dude Wipes’ journey...

In this episode, Tara Hyland, a Partner at Main Post Partners, breaks down how growth equity approaches the beauty and personal care sector. She shares how Main Post evaluates brands around the $25M–$35M revenue range, writes $30M to $100M+ equity checks, and looks for repeat purchase behaviors of 2–3 times per year. Tara walks through the Main Post investment in Dr. Dennis Gross — including their...

In this episode, Drew sits down with Jordan Nathan, Founder & CEO of Caraway, to unpack the financial blueprint behind building a $100M+ profit-first brand. They break down the real numbers driving Caraway’s growth - from achieving first-purchase profitability and maintaining strong margins to leveraging factory payment terms for 3× inventory turns before payment. Jordan shares how disciplined...

In this conversation, Drew Fallon and Wayne Wu discuss the evolution of the health and wellness movement, the dynamics of corporate divestitures, and the importance of aligning goals between founders and investors. Wayne shares insights from his 18 years at VMG, emphasizing the significance of consumer demand signals, gross margin discipline, and the need for entrepreneurs to diligently assess pot...

In this episode, Evan Zhao shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing his experiences with Ravella, a company focused on innovative beauty products and its eventual acquisition. He discusses the importance of intellectual property in consumer products, the challenges of navigating public markets and the significance of brand equity and consumer connection. Evan also introduces...

In this episode, Scott Norton, co-founder of Sir Kensington's, shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the evolution of the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions and the current trends affecting large CPG companies. He reflects on his experience with Unilever, the lessons learned from the acquisition process and the impact of consumer trends on...

In this episode, Adam Draper discusses his journey as a venture capitalist and his recent investment in Allbirds. He shares insights into the deep tech sector, the challenges faced by consumer brands, and the importance of understanding market dynamics. Draper emphasizes the need for bold marketing strategies and a clear brand identity to succeed in today's competitive landscape. He also reflects...