# Advice Line with Bobby Trussell of Tempur-Pedic

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-12-18
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic

## Summary

Tempur-Pedic founder Bobby Trussell joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders: Leif Gildersleeve of Flying Fish Company, who struggles with scaling his restaurant and fish market; Colleen King of Hala Gear, seeking growth strategy for her niche river paddleboard business; and Amanda Haran of Line + Cleat, looking for fundraising advice for her stylish life jacket brand. Trussell emphasizes focusing on core competencies, replicating success before franchising, and using personal networks to secure early capital. The episode highlights the importance of data, clear unit economics, and strategic partnerships in scaling physical product businesses.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic#t=0) Introduction: Bobby Trussell and Tempur-Pedic Story
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic#t=353) Leif Gildersleeve and Flying Fish Company Scaling
- [18:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic#t=1098) Colleen King and Hala Gear Growth Strategy
- [29:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic#t=1765) Amanda Haran and Line + Cleat Fundraising
- [41:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-18-advice-line-with-bobby-trussell-of-tempur-pedic#t=2518) Trussell's Advice to His Younger Self

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tempur-Pedic (company)
- Flying Fish Company (company)
- Hala Gear (company)
- Line + Cleat (company)
- Sealy (company)
- Brookstone (company)
- Bane Capital (company)

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- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-18-founder-fundraising-journey-craig-dubitsky-happy-products) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-21-179-bootstrap-heroes-hazards-hop-water-swair-gourmend-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [085: Scaling Your Product Up After Crowdfunding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-21-085-scaling-your-product-up-after-crowdfunding) (Product Startup)
- [024: Aligning passion & business with Terry Lin of Forever Home Blankets](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-10-25-024-aligning-passion-business-with-terry-lin-of-forever-home-blankets) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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