# VICE: Suroosh Alvi (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-09-04
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017

## Summary

Suroosh Alvi, co-founder of Vice Media, recounts his journey from a heroin addiction and rehab in Montreal to launching the magazine *Voice of Montreal* with friends Gavin McInnes and Shane Smith. After being forced to rename the publication to *Vice* due to trademark issues, the trio bootstrapped the company, eventually securing an investment from Richard Solwinsky that allowed them to expand into fashion and e-commerce before the dot-com bubble burst. Alvi details how they bought back the company, pivoted to video journalism with MTV, and grew Vice into a multi-billion dollar media empire. In a postscript, Kent Sheridan of Voila Coffee discusses overcoming freeze-drying production failures to deliver high-quality instant coffee to Kickstarter backers.

## Chapters

- [0:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=45) Introduction: Suroosh Alvi and the origins of Vice
- [2:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=177) Alvi's addiction, rehab, and entry into publishing
- [9:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=584) Launching Voice of Montreal with Gavin McInnes and Shane Smith
- [14:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=872) Rebranding to Vice and securing Richard Solwinsky's investment
- [22:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=1338) Scaling to New York, fashion ventures, and the dot-com crash
- [26:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=1601) Buying back the company and pivoting to video journalism
- [36:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-09-04-vice-suroosh-alvi-2017#t=2173) Postscript: Kent Sheridan and Voila Coffee's production challenges

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Vice Media (company)
- Voice of Montreal (product)
- Voila Coffee (company)
- Kent Sheridan (other)
- Gavin McInnes (other)
- Shane Smith (other)
- Richard Solwinsky (other)
- MTV (company)
- CNN (company)
- Stumptown Coffee (company)

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- [Founder Feature:  Elan Halpern & Kiki Couchman of Sourmilk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-07-founder-feature-elan-halpern-kiki-couchman-of-sourmilk) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Looking on the Starryside with co-founders Liz Seelye & Erin Fasano](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-04-12-looking-on-the-starryside-with-co-founders-liz-seelye-erin-fasano) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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- [#68 How to Raise $10 Million: Fundraising Aura Bora Style with Paul Voge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-11-08-68-how-to-raise-10-million-fundraising-aura-bora-style-with-paul-voge) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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