Today’s show is with two ex-Amazon execs who co-founded Foundry Brands—a portfolio brand operating company—sharing everything they know about buying and building the strongest, longest-lasting and most valuable ecommerce brands possible. Kyle Walker and Stefan Haney consider more than 30 variables when they assess the value of a business (and that number is growing as new aspects to business need to be measured), so they can give you a really good feel about how you should be thinking about your business.
Some context: In 2020 there were only five aggregators—private equity firms targeted at Amazon and ecommerce brands—and now there are more than 55. There is no doubt that investors are putting their capital to work in this area because of the enormous opportunities for growth and returns. There is a lot to be learned from Stefan and Kyle in this episode: everything from where investors are placing bets to what they expect to see in ecommerce to what strategies investors like Foundry are planning to use once they buy a company.
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Stefan Haney spent 16 years at amazon, working the last three years on their details page so he understands how to optimize for conversion and e-commerce shopping. He has a proven track record of launching new technology, delivering business results, mission critical programs, projects, and systems in a variety of industries. Stefan lives in Moscow, ID with his wife and kids. When not shuttling his seven kids to activities, you can often find Stefan adventuring on a bicycle.
Kyle Walker is an experienced digital brand builder who created and helped launch over 10K digital businesses while working at Amazon. He also founded three global multi-billion dollar Amazon programs and helped inform many of the Amazon tools and technology brand owners use today. Today Kyle uses this knowledge in his work with the company he co-founded, Foundry Brands. Kyle lives in Sammamish, WA, with his wife and two sports-obsessed boys.
05:47 - “About this time last year, I think there were 5—maybe 7—public aggregator companies, so it’s crazy to think that a year later it was like 55.” – Stefan Haney
11:36 - “The really memorable, powerful brands are engaged in customer connection.” – Stefan Haney
13:04 - “You can always find an exception to what a brand is.” – Kyle Walker
13:31 - “It’s less about the products you sell and more about the cohesion and the connection.” – Kyle Walker
21:15 - “There are a lot of folks who’ve taken the debt capital and try to go big, fast.” – Stefan Haney
22:52 - “We’re going to build for success, build big, be at the front of the pack.” – Stefan Haney
24:09 - “Both of us spent a lot of time at Amazon and there was always this focus on long-term thinking.” – Kyle Walker
26:27 - “What’s the liquidity event?” – Stefan Haney
28:59 - “Will this brand exist in a decade? – Stefan Haney
34:41 - “Amazon is different waters.” – Stefan Haney
36:54 - “How do we preserve the ongoing sustainability of cash flow growth? That is the same. We’ve got to make this business more valuable.” – Stefan Haney
40:24 - “At the end of the day, a business exists because of its ability to win the hearts and minds of customers.” – Kyle Walker
45:26 - “Do you have an end game?” – Stefan Haney
49:36 - “We’re not here to race and to beat. No, we need to find a good fit and help others find a good fit.” – Stefan Haney
52:05 - “Who do you want to trust your brand to?” – Stefan Haney
52:10 - “It’s not a child, it’s not a baby. It was a business and I got what I wanted out of it. But for others, they want to keep looking. ‘I was the origin of that brand and I’m proud of it.’” – Stefan Haney
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Today we’re talking about the role of a CFO and how timely, accurate and useful financials can help you see into the future of your business and make your company more valuable I have with me, the co-founder and my business partner at Arkona, Pat Hobby. During his 25+ year career as an outsourced CFO, Pat has been a part of over a dozen acquisitions and is one of the most brilliant people I know. Don’t worry… if you think this episode sounds boring, think again. Pat breaks down what it takes to turn your company into a cash generating machine by putting together world class financials (in a way any Visionary can understand) and how they can take your company to the next level AND a higher valuation. Pat will be talking about how to take your income statements, tie them to your balance sheets, and then understand how your budgets and your cash flow statements should all tie together to reflect your strategic plan. We’re also talking about how to take the information, KPIs, and data you need in order to know if you and your business are moving in the right direction. Tune in. It’s worth it. ;-) What you will learn The difference between a true CFO and a Controller The 3 financial statements that should tie together to help you see the future How your strategic plan should be integrated into your financials What goes into a good company budget and how to start (even if that word gives you a stomach ache ;-) How to tie your sales forecast to your financial budget and strategic plan Some of the top KPIs to measure and monitor to ensure your company is moving in the ...
Today I’m talking with Chris Ronzio. He is an author, a coach, a speaker, an investor, and an entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of a tool for growing businesses, called Trainual, as well as a business consulting agency, called Organize Chaos. What you will learn: How Chris fell in love with entrepreneurship How to effectively and smoothly sell a business Finding a hidden value of your business The importance of “There has to be a better way” How Chris builds a business Why a playbook is important The first steps in order to adopt a playbook Takeaways: You need to capture the things you and your employees have learned in your business. The asset in your business is your knowledge of the business. Links and Resources: Chris Ronzio LinkedIn Trainual Trainual Worksheet Organize Chaos 100 Hacks to Improve Your Business Design Pickle ARKONA Boot Camp About Chris: Chris Ronzio started his first business when he was 14, and throughout his entrepreneurial journey, he developed a passion for technology, efficiency, and making business easier. Chris spent a decade building a national video production company that would net over $3 million and sold that business before turning 25, at which point he started a consulting agency called Organize Chaos. After working directly with hundreds of entrepreneurs, Chris and his team created a software tool to help organize small and growing businesses. He is also an investor, part-owner, and/or ...
Access to capital is crucial in order to take a dream and turn it into a business, create wealth and build a future full of opportunities. Today’s show focuses on the impact access to capital (or lack thereof) has on a Black business owner’s ability to create wealth through equity in a business. Rachel Wilson and Elliott Holland from Collab Capital share why and how they raised $50 million to invest in Black entrepreneurs—with backers such as Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mailchimp and PayPal—as their debut move, making it one of the largest funds closed from an entirely Black-led firm solely committed to Black founders. Rachel and Elliott debunk the scarce Black tech founder myth, plus share the investment strategy that increases Collab Capital’s investors’ IRR while hitting the company’s goal to establish a path to economic parity for Black communities by giving Black entrepreneurs access to capital and establishing generational wealth in a community that has historically been denied it. Learn the biggest challenges faced entering the market as an investment firm, as well as the individual barriers Rachel and Elliott had to overcome — and how that compares to what their parents faced not so long ago. Be ready to be inspired by industry disrupters working to bring about real change at a crucial juncture. What You Will Learn In Today's Podcast Interview The generational impact of compounding equity and access to capital has The great benefits capitalism can have when aligned with the right mission How home ownership is similar to owning a business when it comes to growing wealth What equality really looks like in the business world Stories to better understand the underlying causes of ...
