S'well: Sarah Kauss
Sarah Kauss, founder of S'well, explains how she launched a $100 million reusable water bottle company in 2010 by combining industrial design with a social mission to eliminate plastic waste. She details her bootstrapped journey, from designing the bottle in PowerPoint and manufacturing 3,000 units in China to securing early retail placements with Crate and Barrel and a breakthrough feature in O, The Oprah Magazine. Kauss also discusses the critical decision to remain 100% owner-controlled, the strategic use of TED conference sponsorships for influencer marketing, and the legal battles against counterfeiters who copied her logo and design.