
We Built a $30M Brand Without VC, and We’re Just Getting Started
About this episode
Alex and Lee are back with a brutally honest look at what it’s really like to build a profitable, non-venture-backed brand.
They reflect on:
- Scaling Hulken to $30M+ with a tiny team
- Saying no to VC—and why they’re not looking back
- What it means to build a “Kleenex-level” brand in a world of dupes
- DTC strategy, community magic, and the power of going slow
Plus: They tease new product drops (carry-on alert!), share their TikTok Shop strategy, and reveal what’s actually on their minds as founders in year two.
It’s fun. It’s raw. It’s the season opener you didn’t know you needed.
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