# M.M.LaFleur: Sarah LaFleur

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-02-03
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur

## Summary

Sarah LaFleur, co-founder of MM LaFleur, explains how she pivoted from a failed private equity career to building a $100 million apparel brand for working women. Partnering with designer Miyako Nakamura, she initially struggled with a DTC website that failed to sell inventory, leading to a negative bank balance. The company found product-market fit by launching 'Bentos,' a curated clothing subscription box that allowed customers to try on garments before buying, driving revenue from $300,000 to $8 million in one year.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=0) Introduction: Sarah LaFleur and MM LaFleur
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=241) LaFleur's Career Path and the Idea for MM LaFleur
- [26:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=1610) Finding Designer Miyako Nakamura and Early Prototyping
- [33:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=2025) Initial Funding and the Failure of the First Website
- [48:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=2892) Running Out of Cash and Finding Bob Deutsch
- [55:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=3335) The Bento Box Pivot and Product-Market Fit
- [1:02:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-03-m-m-lafleur-sarah-lafleur#t=3770) Scaling to $100 Million and VC Rejection

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- MM LaFleur (company)
- Miyako Nakamura (other)
- Zach Posen (company)
- Bain (company)
- Starwood Capital (company)
- TechnoServe (company)
- Bob Deutsch (other)
- Stitch Fix (company)
- Trunk Club (company)
- Metaphor Dice (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [052: The business model behind custom window coverings, Alice Orozco of Pret-a-Portiere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-05-09-052-the-business-model-behind-custom-window-coverings-alice-orozco-of-pret-a-por) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Bar Bruhis of Boostcous](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-24-founder-feature-bar-bruhis-of-boostcous) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Marilyn Yang of Popadelics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-11-founder-feature-marilyn-yang-of-popadelics) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [159: Build a Community to Sell Your New Product Invention](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-01-18-159-build-a-community-to-sell-your-new-product-invention) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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