one-time Startups

Yuga Labs, co-founded by Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow, launched the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection in spring 2021. The collection achieved explosive growth, attracting major celebrities like Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and Madonna, and rapidly propelling the company to a $4 billion valuation within a year—making it one of the fastest companies to achieve unicorn status. The founders plan to expand their vision into the metaverse.

Bluemercury started as a failing online cosmetics business in 1999 before founders Marla and Barry Beck pivoted to brick-and-mortar retail in Washington, D.C. They differentiated through high-end brand curation and personalized service, strategically locating stores in fashionable urban neighborhoods rather than malls. Today, the company operates nearly 200 locations across the U.S. under Macy's ownership.

Anthony Wood launched Roku in 2008 as a $99 hardware device that connected TVs to the internet with a simple, accessible remote interface. Despite initial skepticism from investors and media executives, Roku grew into an expansive media company that creates and distributes content to over 65 million accounts worldwide, fundamentally changing how people consume television.

Alienware was founded in the mid-1990s by Nelson Gonzalez and cofounders as a custom gaming PC shop in Miami, targeting a largely underserved market of gamers willing to pay premium prices for high-performance machines. Despite sourcing challenges and financing difficulties, the company became one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. before being acquired by Dell in 2006 for an undisclosed amount.

Kodiak Cakes began as an 8-year-old Joel Clark's door-to-door pancake mix sales operation in a red wagon, which he and his brother scaled into a Mazda sedan business by the mid-90s. After navigating near-bankruptcy from risky decisions, the brand achieved a major turning point by securing distribution in Target. Today, Kodiak Cakes is one of America's best-selling pancake mixes.

Health-Ade is a kombucha brand founded in 2012 by Daina Trout, Justin Trout, and Vanessa Dew. Starting with homemade brewing and local farmer's market sales, the company grew to produce 120,000 bottles daily and achieve close to $200 million in retail sales within seven years.

Zumiez is a physical retail retailer specializing in action sports merchandise for teenagers, founded in 1978 by Tom Campion and Gary Haakenson. Starting with a single store called Above the Belt in Seattle, the company grew by creating engaging mall-based spaces that appealed to the youth demographic and capitalized on the boom in surf, skateboard, and snowboard culture. Today, Zumiez operates roughly 750 stores worldwide and is the largest action sports retailer globally.

Michael Kors is a global fashion brand founded by designer Michael Kors, who began designing dresses as a teenager and had his work displayed on 5th Avenue by age 19. After early success and a period of bankruptcy following a failed partnership, he recovered and successfully expanded into eyewear, fragrances, and handbags. Today, the brand has grown into a massive conglomerate that owns Jimmy Choo and Versace.

Xero Shoes was founded by Steven Sashen in 2007 after he experienced barefoot running and created minimalist sandals. Starting as a DIY sandal kit business driven by word-of-mouth referrals from friends, the company expanded to ready-to-wear sandals and closed-toe shoes despite facing significant obstacles including manufacturing issues, debt, investor pressure, and international trade challenges. Today, Xero Shoes generates nearly $50 million in sales and maintains a devoted global customer base.

Halo Top ice cream became the best-selling pint in America just six years after launch, created by frustrated lawyer Justin Woolverton who developed a low-calorie recipe in his Cuisinart. The product went viral on social media, outselling Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's by 2017, but faced increased competition and declining interest before being sold in 2019.

Peter Sterios accidentally launched Manduka, a premium yoga mat company, after discovering a superior mat while practicing yoga. He invested $25,000 in inventory and grew the business by targeting prominent yoga teachers as influencers, building it into one of the best-known yoga accessory brands in the U.S. despite early cash flow challenges.

Suitsupply was founded by Fokke de Jong in the late 1990s as a dorm room side hustle selling luxury suits at affordable prices. By 2000, the business became his full-time focus, leveraging Italian fabrics and production while pioneering online suit sales before e-commerce was mainstream. Today, Suitsupply operates over 150 locations worldwide, having expanded across major cities like London, Milan, and New York through unorthodox marketing and aggressive growth strategies.

Melissa Butler launched The Lip Bar in 2010, creating bold lipstick colors designed for Black women's complexions after becoming frustrated with the lack of diversity in cosmetics. Despite a failed Shark Tank pitch, she successfully pitched to Target and launched a new color on their online store in 2016. Today, The Lip Bar (rebranded as TLB) is the largest Black-owned makeup brand sold in Target stores nationwide.

Solo Stove grew from a modest DIY camping stove project into a 9-figure brand over nine years. Founded by brothers Spencer and Jeff Jan in 2010, they launched using Kickstarter and Amazon while operating remotely from Shanghai and Dallas. The brand achieved two 9-figure acquisitions, making both founders wealthy.

Supergoop! was founded in 2005 by Holly Thaggard, a former harpist inspired by a friend's skin cancer diagnosis to create sunscreen products. After an initial failed attempt to market to schools, she pivoted to retail and hired a publicist, eventually securing placement in Sephora, which transformed Supergoop! into a multi-million dollar brand.

Vuori is a men's athleisure brand founded by Joe Kudla in 2015 that grew to a $4 billion valuation by identifying an underserved market. After initial struggles with B2B wholesale placement in yoga studios, Kudla pivoted to DTC and discovered men preferred versatile activewear suitable for multiple activities. The company became profitable within two years after committing to a major marketing campaign.

Priority Bicycles is a hardware company founded by Dave Weiner in 2014 that creates low-maintenance bikes with rust-proof aluminum frames and carbon fiber belt drives. The company achieved major traction through a Kickstarter campaign that generated 1,500 orders, and has since grown to sell approximately 25,000 bikes annually across 25 models, with partnerships including hotels providing bikes for guests.

Everlane was founded by Michael Preysman, who initially had no fashion background but wanted to test if he could build an online platform that generated buzz. By manufacturing and selling a cotton T-shirt for $15 while transparently showing production costs, he disrupted the fashion industry by exposing how luxury brands marked up prices by up to 7x. The company has since grown into a multi-million dollar business with expanded product lines including sweaters, denim, outerwear, and accessories, though it faced criticism during the Covid era as it shifted focus toward sustainability and social responsibility.

Aviator Nation is a California-based fashion brand founded by Paige Mycoskie in 2009, known for handmade boldly striped clothing. Starting from street-level word of mouth and direct customer demand, Paige grew it into a multi-million dollar brand by opening retail locations in Venice Beach and beyond using word-of-mouth marketing and shrewd landlord negotiation. The company maintains all manufacturing in California and has become a recognized lifestyle brand despite early operational challenges.

Drunk Elephant was launched in 2013 by stay-at-home mom Tiffany Masterson with no prior experience in skin care, retail, or business. Despite industry skepticism about her brand name, product design, and strategy of focusing on a single high-end retailer, she built the company into a $845 million acquisition by Shiseido in just six years through strategic instincts, determination, and belief in her products.