Discover how thriving entrepreneurs transformed their small businesses into industry success stories.
On a sweltering Georgia day in 2009, Army Drill Sergeant Daniel Alarik scribbled “Grunt Style” on a napkin — a name born from military slang for relentless work ethic. With $1,200 in savings, he launched a brand that would redefine patriotic apparel, sparking debates about identity, community, and the power of storytelling. This is how a bootstrapped startup became a $115.7 million cultural force. This is Grunt Style brand story
continue readingIn the world of clean beauty, few names spark both luxury and legitimacy like Ogee. But recently, beauty enthusiasts have been asking: Where is Ogee makeup made?
The answer lies in the quiet forests of Vermont, where Ogee was born — not in a giant cosmetics lab, but in a small kitchen with a big vision.
continue readingIn a cramped Ohio bedroom in 2011, Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag clutched a gaming controller, sweat beading on his forehead as he secured the Call of Duty World Championship. Fast-forward to 2024: that same intensity fuels 100 Thieves, a $460M empire where esports fashion meets gaming lifestyle and streetwear culture. This isn’t just a brand — it’s a revolution.
continue readingIn a cramped Fayetteville kitchen circa 2018, a group of Black millennials stared at their latest failed skincare experiment. Their skin burned from chemical-laden products, their frustration mounting with each reaction. “What if we created what our ancestors used—but for modern skin?” one asked, holding up a jar of turmeric. That moment sparked Ancient Cosmetics, a vegan skincare brand that grew from kitchen experiments to a $4.8M empire by resurrecting ancestral skincare for modern skin.
Founders: A collective of Black entrepreneurs united by personal battles with synthetic skincare. Their research revealed disturbing truths: mainstream products contained toxins like lead and mercury—legacies from Egyptian kohl to Victorian arsenic creams.
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