Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products
Craig Dubitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy Products, discusses his journey building brands like eos, hello, and Method, and his current venture, Happy, which partners with NAMI. He explains that Happy is in the 'Happy business' with coffee as the delivery system, and details how NAMI holds equity on the cap table from day zero. Dubitsky shares fundraising strategies, emphasizing the importance of an advisory board, identifying manufacturers, and managing expectations that projects will cost more and take longer than anticipated. He also reflects on the acquisition of hello by Colgate, framing it as an 'entrance' rather than an exit, and highlights the critical role of product-market fit, repeat sales, and cross-channel distribution.