601: The Couple Who Built a 9-FIGURE Brand While Working Full-Time Jobs | Natalie Holloway

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7d ago 57:38

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Natalie Holloway turned a $5,000 side hustle into Bala — a globally recognized fitness brand worn by millions and backed by Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova. In this interview, the Bala co-founder breaks down how she and her husband Max bootstrapped the brand from their garage to $20M+ in sales, weathered near-bankruptcy after the post-COVID crash, and rebuilt into a nine-figure company with 20+ products and collaborations with brands like Spanx and Pucci. From surviving massive layoffs to mastering profitability and rebuilding from the ground up, this is a raw, unfiltered look at what it takes to build, lose, and rebuild a modern fitness empire. What you’ll learn from this interview: • How Bala grew from a $5K side hustle to a nine-figure global brand • The story behind their $900K Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban & Maria Sharapova • What really happened after the COVID fitness boom — and how they recovered • The leadership lessons from scaling a 30-person team down to 3 and back again • How to manage co-founding a company with your partner without burning out • The strategy behind Bala’s collaborations with Spanx and major lifestyle brands • How to protect your IP, handle copycats, and stay focused on innovation • Why Natalie is now mentoring founders and writing The Bala Playbook to share hard-won lessons By the end of this interview, you’ll walk away with a roadmap for building a resilient, profitable, and enduring brand — and the mindset to navigate every high and low along the journey.

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602 episodes

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