Inc. Magazine

Inc. Magazine is the only major business magazine written for the journey from startup to a fully managed company. Every issue of Inc. delivers real solutions for today's innovative company creators.

When You're the Client

Notes From a Unicorn Hunter

One Founder's Path to Six Figures in Funding

A Hard Pill to Swallow • Nutrafol hair care co-founder and CEO Giorgos Tsetis—along with co-founder Roland Peralta—shelled out for top-notch ingredients when developing the brand's first product. As Tsetis recounts for Inc., they almost lost it all.

The Sweet Smell of Success • After beating breast cancer, Sherry Jhawar made the decision to switch to an aluminumfree deodorant, but soon discovered: They all stink. She got curious and found there's no one perfect deodorant. There are three. That's the premise of Nez, the Los Angelesbased brand she co-founded with Allison Statter in 2022—which is on track to double revenue in 2024, according to industry sources. How? Jhawar persuaded customers to buy multiple deodorants, without breaking a sweat.

Eric Ryan, co-founder of Method Products, Olly, and Welly Health, answers: How do you expand a business into new categories?

READ TO LEAD

The Right Way to Fail • Clinical psychologist Samuel West believes you can learn more from a big swing and a miss than you can from a big win. That's why he curated the Museum of Failure, a globetrotting exhibit of more than 170 of history's most ill-advised products, which will next pop up in London in February. Here, West unpacks three lessons founders can learn from his collection of commercial catastrophes.

What's Your Company's Mantra and Why?

World Traveler Wellness • Methodology co-founder and CEO Julie Nguyen lives life as a nomad while running her San Francisco-based healthymeal delivery service.

Scaling a Meaningful Message • This founder's focus on community led her to win big.

Tapping Third-Party Expertise Helps SMBs Attract the Best Employees • Today's top candidates demand flexible and customizable compensation packages.

Don't Mistake Your Knowledge for Wisdom • The difference between them can be fuzzy, but understanding it is critical to both your growth andyour company's.

How One Firm Wants to Disrupt the Traditional Private Equity Model • Access Holdings is applying a new approach to private equity focused on digital innovation and entrepreneurial empathy.

Unpack What Your Company Does for You Before It Does You In • How I flourished after building a company that made me sick.

A Private Equity Firm that Values and Nurtures Long-Term Relationships • Boyne Capital knows that patience pays off—in both business and investing.

Who Don't You Trust?

Uncommon Knowledge • WHEN FOUNDERS GATHER, BUSINESSES THRIVE.

This Firm is Purpose-Built to Support Founders and Unlock Potential • Percheron Capital's tailored approach to investing in essential services businesses has enabled its partner companies to generate unimaginable growth.

John Yarusi Makes an Iconic New Jersey Sandwich. Panera Founder Ron Shaich Has a Recipe for Growth • The founder of Panera helps John Yarusi, founder of Johnny's Pork Roll and Coffee Too, plan the next steps for his small but mighty breakfast-sandwich business.

The Private Equity Firm Empowering Enterprise Software Founders • Vista Equity Partners, one of the largest U.S. investment firms focused exclusively on enterprise software, stands out for its experience and commitment to creating value for founders.

DEEPAK THE ETERNAL FLOW STATE OF DEEPAK CHOPRA • How the world's leading prophet of alternative medicine, meditation, and enlightenment ignited a multitrillion-dollar industry without really trying. And why he's not...