# Birchbox: Katia Beauchamp

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-03-16
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp

## Summary

Katia Beauchamp, co-founder of Birchbox, explains how she and co-founder Hayley Barna launched the subscription beauty box service from Harvard Business School in 2010. Beauchamp details the initial struggle to secure brand partnerships, the pivot from angel to venture capital funding, and the operational chaos of scaling to one million subscribers. She reflects on the psychological toll of rapid growth, the necessity of layoffs to achieve profitability, and the strategic shift from a sample-focused model to a long-term beauty platform.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=0) Introduction: Katia Beauchamp and Birchbox
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=271) Early Life and Harvard Business School
- [13:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=818) Ideation and Beta Testing
- [23:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=1418) Securing Brand Partnerships and Funding
- [36:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=2182) Rapid Growth and Operational Challenges
- [45:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=2751) Scaling, Layoffs, and Strategic Pivot
- [58:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-03-16-birchbox-katia-beauchamp#t=3491) Reflections on Founder Wellbeing and Legacy

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Birchbox (company)
- Benefit Cosmetics (company)
- LVMH (company)
- Estée Lauder (company)
- Vassar College (company)
- Harvard Business School (company)
- Stitchfix (company)
- Dollar Shave Club (company)
- Blue Apron (company)
- Kiehl's (company)
- NARS (company)
- Walgreens (company)
- Viking Global (company)
- Amazon (company)
- SheCar (company)
- Live Tinted (company)
- Maiden Home (company)
- Globar (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [023: Making Personal Connections to Customers with the Cheerbox, Tamar Lucien of Mental Happy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-10-18-023-making-personal-connections-to-customers-with-the-cheerbox-tamar-lucien-of-m) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Veena Krishnan and Whitney McElwain of Daybird](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-10-founder-feature-veena-krishnan-and-whitney-mcelwain-of-daybird) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Liv Truesdell of FROST Buttercream](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-12-founder-feature-liv-truesdell-of-frost-buttercream) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Akua Boakye Okunseinde of Karité](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-21-founder-feature-akua-boakye-okunseinde-of-karite) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [019: Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-20-019-organic-haircare-products-with-susana-stewart-caroline-maina-of-fro-butter) (Product Startup)

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