FIGS: Trina Spear and Heather Hasson. The $2.5 Billion Scrubs Brand That Investors Said Would Never Work

How I Built This · 26 Oct 2026 · 1h 11m

What this episode covers

Heather Hasson and Trina Spear, co-founders of FIGS, explain how they reinvented the stagnant scrub industry by focusing on fit, fabric, and direct-to-consumer community building. They detail their journey from selling scrubs out of a car and facing 300-400 investor rejections to securing funding from Thomas Tull and navigating a $40 million legal battle with Strategic Partners. The founders discuss their decision to fight the lawsuit rather than settle, their rapid pivot to PPE during the pandemic, and their eventual IPO, emphasizing that their net worth is transient and distinct from their self-worth.

Mentioned

Companies
Blackstone, Legendary Entertainment, Strategic Partners
Products
FIGS, Cherokee, Dickies, Lululemon, Nike, Under Armor
Tools
Shopify
Also
Thomas Tull, Craigslist

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