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41m 3s

How They Built a $745M Company Together ...

Hampton
About this episode

Thinking about selling your company? 24 founders told us what really happens after the wire hits. — joinhampton.com/exit-report

Kass and Mike Lazerow built two companies together, sold one for $25M… and the next for $745M. Along the way, they went bankrupt, survived dot-com busts and Facebook booms, and figured out how to build a business without destroying their marriage. 

Here’s what we talk about:

  • What it’s actually like to sell your company for $745 million
  • The early Golf.com bankruptcy scare, and how Tiger Woods saved the business
  • Why their co-founder relationship works (and where it almost blew up entirely)
  • Mixing work and love: the brutal fights, trust, and one-liners from the delivery room
  • Full breakdown of their first splurge, and what “enough” money really means
  • Raising $50M without meaning to sell, and getting a surprise offer from Salesforce
  • The $12M flop that reminded Mike why Kass is the only co-founder he needs
  • Co-founder red flags, communication rules, and how they manage disagreements
  • Living rich vs. feeling rich: the moment they finally felt secure

Cool Links:


Sponsors:


Chapters:

  • (1:26) The $745M Buddy Media exit
  • (4:29) What people get wrong about working with a spouse
  • (6:22) How Kass and Mike met
  • (8:44) The Golf.com story
  • (15:33) Managing team dynamics as married co-founders
  • (23:17) Handling finances as a married couple
  • (28:18) What they did with the money after the exit
  • (32:33) Lessons learned and what they'd do differently
  • (36:58) Closing thoughts on finding the right co-founder

This podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances. Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.


Your Host: Harry Morton

  • Founder of Lower Street, a podcast production company helping brands launch and grow top-tier podcasts.
  • Co-parents a cow named Eliza.
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