The Business Model by Inc.

The peptide craze has taken hold with entrepreneurs and executives hoping to further optimize their performance in all aspects of life — and maybe live forever, while they’re at it.   Their interest in peptides is more than personal, though. Many founders see tremendous opportunity in startups focused on getting peptides into the mainstream and even corporate wellness packages. &nbs...

It’s not a sports drink or an energy drink — it’s a lifestyle electrolyte.   That’s the pitch from Leisure Hydration, one of the newest entrants in the soft drink game.   Alex and Steve Michaelsen, brothers from Los Angeles, are determined not to become one of the hydration industry’s many zombie brands.   They even told Inc.’s Ali Donaldson that they think they’ve ha...

Just a couple years ago, The Onion was on the verge of extinction. Revenue had dipped into the six figures, and only a handful of writers and editors remained.    Enter the unlikely duo of tech executive Jeff Lawson and journalist Ben Collins, who met while bidding to acquire the satire outlet.     Their partnership is leading The Onion back to its glory days, with equally...

Everyone has an idea for your business. It’s true.     But on this Founder Group Chat, we’ve got three people who are experts: Anne Fulenwider of Alloy Health, Hailey Swartz of Actual Veggies, and Will Bradley of Turtlebox Audio.     Each of these founders is in a crowded field. But they’ve figured out how to stand apart — and grow. Listen as they share with Inc.’s Re...

Every founder wants their own niche. But committing to a unique idea and making it work takes a unique combination of courage, audacity, and business acumen.   On this Founder Group Chat, we have a group of business leaders who have cut through the noise and found massive success. We’re back for another episode with Anne Fulenwider of Alloy Health, Hailey Swartz of Actual Veggies, and Wi...

Private equity and bakeries don’t tend to mix well.    Sprinkles shuttered all of its locations in the wake of a private equity acquisition. Milk Bar and Crumbl closed many of their stores after PE entered the picture.     But Magnolia Bakery is determined to change that pattern. It has a bold plan for expanding its global reach under RSE Venture’s ownership — without lett...

What do Alloy Health, Actual Veggies, and Turtlebox Audio have in common?     Well, it’s certainly not their industry. Could it be that they’re all on this year’s Inc. 5000 list? That’s true, but it’s not the only reason they’re on this episode of Founder Group Chat.     Instead, it’s that each of these companies started in a highly personal way. Covering friendships...

In this special custom episode, Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hoffman joins Dina Apostolou, CMO of Agentforce Sales at Salesforce, to explore the biggest lessons from this year’s exclusive Inc. 5000 CEO survey. As AI shifts from experimentation to everyday execution, the nation’s fastest-growing companies are using it to strengthen sales teams, improve forecasti...

What do Patagonia, American Girl, and LinkedIn have in common?     All three started as small businesses but beat the odds to become household names.     Along the way, each landed on the Inc. 5000, the list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.    Inc. has published this list for over 40 years and it has included&nbsp...

The THC products scattered across the country on restaurant menus and in gas stations and grocery stores are all legal because of a loophole.   Now, Senator Mitch McConnell and the alcohol lobby are leading a group that is battling to close that loophole as the burgeoning hemp-derived THC industry fights for its very survival.&n...

Veterans gain a lot of valuable insight from their service that makes them stand out in the market. A lot of the time, it helps propel them in their careers and shapes them into great leaders and employees. However, not all of their skills and experiences easily translate in business.   In this last episode for&nb...

In honor of the dog days of summer, Inc. finance reporter Brian Contreras brings us a story on the pitfalls of private equity. Why is it summery? It focuses on a national swimming pool company!  Together with host Chloe Aiello, Brian walks us through the fascinating rise and decline of Leslie’s Poolmart, once valued at $3.8 billion and now holding a market cap of about $13 million.  On t...

Nearly all companies claim they recruit military veterans. But many of those companies don’t have staff trained to recruit those vets. At the same time, data shows that former military personnel face high levels of underemployment.      How can we fix that? Well, on Founder Group Chat, Inc. senior editor Rob Verge...

We’re continuing our Founder Group Chat with a panel of military veterans who now run their own companies.     The path from military service to the boardroom almost guarantees one thing: That you’ve tried a lot of different paths. That’s definitely true for Brad Genser of Farther, John Keh of Valtec, and Tim...

Cat litter may seem unsexy. But Daniel Rotman was able to turn PrettyLitter from $1 million in capital into a $1.4 billion exit.    Inc. reporter Ali Donaldson discusses her conversation with Daniel Rotman and shares his advice to look for “unsexy” categories, why staying scrappy and small can sometimes pay off, and th...

Over the next four episodes, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger is going to chat with three veterans about how they made the jump from military life to the private sector and start their own businesses. Our three founders are:  Brad Genser, founder and chief technology officer of Farther, an intelligent wealth company  John Keh, foun...

Venture capital is throwing cash at body scan companies. Firms like Prenuvo, Function, and Sweden’s Neko Health are promising they’re the future of health care.     But what’s the limit of these costly, out-of-pocket tests?      Inc. reporter Chloe Aiello went deep into the world of body scans and she explains it all to senior editor Rebecca Deczynski on this episode of 1 Smart Business Story.    ...

Before Zoom meetings, FaceTime calls, and Microsoft Teams, there was Skype.  In the early 2000s, Skype revolutionized the way people communicated, making it possible to call anyone in the world over the internet for little to no cost. The company grew at a staggering pace, attracted hundreds of millions of users, became a household name, and helped turn video calling from a novelty into a necessit...

Rivian Automotive has been losing a lot of money—around $3.6 billion in 2025 alone. That may soon change. Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe hopes that with the release of the R2, Rivian’s highly anticipated electric SUV, the company can drive toward profitability.     On this episode of One Smart Business Story, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger talks about his visit to Rivian’s factory, his test drive of t...

Unlike their Asian counterparts, American retailers have tried their hands at live shopping to no avail. That is until Whatnot took a swing at it. Spoiler alert: Live shopping is working for the $11.5 billion startup.    On this episode of The Business Model, Inc. senior editor Rob Verger sits down with Inc. senior writer Jennifer Conrad to unpack Whatnot’s magic, why live shopping is resonating w...

Standing out in an oversaturated market is a tough challenge to overcome for entrepreneurs. Luckily, these founders have some tips on just how to do that. On this Founder Group Chat, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey sat down with three experts:  Ron Holloway, co-founder and co-CEO of Woofbowl  LeAnn Darland, co-founder and co-CEO of TALEA Beer Co.   Gabi Lewis, co-founder and co-CEO of Magic Spoon.  They sha...

In the 2010s, Sweetgreen was all the rage with Millennials who loved its fast casual but health-conscious approach to their office lunch. But since then, the world has changed. More young people are working from home and not taking those coveted breaks away from the office to reset and recharge with a $20 salad bowl.     In a recent piece for Inc. magazine, journalist and screenwriter Mickey Rapki...

As a founder, you want to see your company grow and succeed. But how fast do you want to grow your company? How fast is too fast? And how do you maintain quality at scale?     Fortunately, on this Founder Group Chat, Inc.’s Graham Winfrey chatted with three experts who know how to overcome certain challenges when it comes to expanding their businesses:  Ron Holloway, co-founder and co-CEO of Woofb...

In today’s economic climate, business leaders, particularly those of small and medium-size businesses, are rightfully cautious. However, despite inflation, ongoing war, and other factors, Sharon Miller, Bank of America’s president of Business Banking, says this of BoA’s client base:    “As we enter 2026, balance sheets were stable and profitability had actually risen from a year ago. So, when you...

While venture capitalists have been pouring money to fund companies aligned with “American Dynamism,” there is a new crop of startups focused on building sustainable companies for the supply chain to support the country’s future.     Inc. senior editor Leah Carroll led a recent story on the top 17 companies that are rebuilding America. On this episode of The Business Model, Carroll joins Inc. staf...