Hardware Podcasts

YETI: Roy and Ryan Seiders. How Two Brothers Turned a $400 Cooler Into a $2 Billion Brand

How I Built This · 24 Aug 2026 · 1h 25m

What this episode covers

Roy and Ryan Seiders, co-founders of YETI, explain how they bootstrapped a high-end cooler company by targeting independent sporting goods retailers with a durable, rotomolded product designed for serious outdoorsmen. After losing their sole manufacturing partner in the Philippines, they pivoted to U.S. production and later expanded into drinkware, launching the YETI Rambler cup which drove mass-market growth. The brothers discuss their strategic decision to avoid major retail chains, their bootstrapping approach, and their eventual exit from day-to-day operations to pursue personal interests.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Flexcoat, McBride's, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops
Products
YETI, Icy Tech, Igloo, Coleman, Waterloo Rods, YETI Tundra, YETI Rambler, Hydro Flask, Klean Kanteen

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