LARQ co-founder & CEO Justin Wang
Our latest guest is Justin Wang, who, back in 2017, decided that the way we drink water could use an upgrade.
Justin left a successful corporate career to tackle an everyday problem all of us face at some point: icky water bottles.
He is the co-founder & CEO of LARQ, the company behind the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle that it says can eliminate up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria and is meant to ensure you’re not worrying about how clean the water is when you’re traveling.
What started as a crowdfunded product quickly turned into a multinational brand, earning a spot on Shark Tank, where he walked in with the highest valuation seen in the show’s history. Most recently, the company was acquired by BRITA.
Prior to LARQ, Justin served as president of FOREO, the beauty tech company, and earlier as an investor with L Catterton, one of the world's top PE firms.
In this interview, we dive into:
How a cabinet full of dusty bottles sparked the concept
Leaving behind the so-called “golden handcuffs” to build something new
What it really takes to launch and 10x a Kickstarter campaign
Tackling 100 investor conversations to close their Series A back in the day
Surviving Covid, tariffs and supply chain chaos
Having conviction, not chasing an exit or a deal
Knowing when your startup is truly ready for retail
Breaking into dream stores, from MoMA to Target to Apple
What it’s really like to pitch on Shark Tank — and tips for fellow entrepreneurs
How a cold email led to LARQ’s acquisition by BRITA
Where LARQ is headed next
Watch the full episode on YouTube or Spotify, or listen to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon.
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