# HIBT Lab! MKBHD: Marques Brownlee

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-11-03
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee

## Summary

Marques Brownlee, creator of the tech review channel MKBHD, explains how he turned a high school hobby into a multi-channel media business with 16 million subscribers. He details his early days reviewing gadgets like the HP Pavilion and LG G Flex, his decision to maintain editorial independence by rejecting corporate job offers, and his 'octopus' philosophy for building a team of 13 to handle production, accounting, and strategy while he focuses on content. Brownlee also discusses the evolution of his revenue model from YouTube ads to selective sponsorships, and his long-term vision of potentially launching his own hardware product.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=0) Introduction: Marques Brownlee and MKBHD
- [2:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=121) Early Tech Obsession and First Video
- [11:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=671) The LG G Flex and Viral Growth
- [17:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=1053) Transitioning to Full-Time Creator
- [24:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=1486) Building the Team and the Octopus Analogy
- [30:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=1820) Revenue Model and Sponsorship Integrity
- [35:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=2139) Business Structure and Future Product Vision
- [47:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee#t=2823) The Future of YouTube and Creator Economy

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- MKBHD (product)
- HP Pavilion (product)
- LG G Flex (product)
- YouTube (company)
- Waveform (product)
- Autofocus (product)
- CES (other)
- Stevens Institute of Technology (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [416: Ichabod’s Big Boy Pants](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-10-27-416-ichabods-big-boy-pants) (Making It)
- [Mike Burroughs (Founder / Creator, Stanceworks)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-08-26-mike-burroughs-founder-creator-stanceworks) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [397: The Gift Curtain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-05-05-397-the-gift-curtain) (Making It)
- [408: If You Build It… Some people might come.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-08-18-408-if-you-build-it-some-people-might-come) (Making It)
- [Episode 029: How to be a sellout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-07-23-episode-029-how-to-be-a-sellout) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-03-hibt-lab-mkbhd-marques-brownlee. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.