Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Retail Growth, and Building a Modern Hydration Brand with Alex Michaelsen of Leisure Hydration and Ryan Springer of Midnight
Alex Michaelsen, Co-Founder and CEO of Leisure Hydration, and Ryan Springer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Midnight, discuss the journey of building a modern hydration brand and the nuances of founder-investor relationships. They detail Leisure's unconventional fundraising path, which included NFT sales and early traction in tech offices, leading to a Series A round led by Midnight and placement in Whole Foods and Target. The conversation highlights the importance of building trust over years, maintaining high margins, and avoiding the trap of copying outdated industry playbooks.