I Rebuilt My 9 FIGURE BRAND After Almost Losing it All - Here's How. | Natalie Holloway
Foundr
692 views • 2 days ago
Video Summary
Short Highlights
- Bala, a nine-figure wellness brand, was bootstrapped with $5,000, shipping 75,000 units from a garage while co-founders worked full-time.
- The initial prototype cost around $4,000, with the remaining $1,000 covering initial production and marketing efforts, including a website built by co-founder Max.
- The company raised $40,000 through a Kickstarter campaign, which served as early validation before launching on Shopify.
- Co-founders Natalie Holloway and Max eloped shortly before launching Bala on Shopify and later appeared on Shark Tank, securing $900,000 for 30% of the company.
- Bala experienced rapid growth from $2 million to $20 million in revenue in one year, followed by a period of near bankruptcy due to over-hiring and a post-pandemic market dip, leading to significant layoffs and a drastic reduction in team size to three.
Key Details
Burnout and the Genesis of Bala [00:00]
- The co-founders, Natalie and Max, were burnt out from demanding advertising jobs in Los Angeles, working late nights and weekends.
- They decided to take a "gap year" to travel and reassess their careers, aiming to return to advertising afterward.
- During a yoga class, Natalie realized the workout was too easy and desired a way to incorporate weights, leading to the idea of stylish wrist and ankle weights.
- Existing neoprene weights from the 80s were unappealing and largely unused, presenting an opportunity for a modern, fashionable alternative.
- Max, a product designer, sketched the initial concept, sparking the idea for Bala.
"We were doing a yoga class and it was far too easy. We wanted to sweat and there was no sweat happening."
