Building a consumer brand is one of the hardest things an entrepreneur can do.
 

Margins are tight. Inventory is expensive. Customer acquisition costs keep rising. And in Canada, raising venture capital for consumer products is almost impossible.

In this episode of The Profit or Pivot Podcast, I sit down with Dani Kagan, co-founder of Mave & Chez, to discuss what it really takes to build a premium consumer brand from scratch.

What started as frustration during pregnancy became a luxury slipper company backed by investors, featured on Dragons’ Den (getting a deal with 2 Dragons), and built around premium manufacturing, thoughtful branding, and obsessive product design.

We also discuss one of the most overlooked parts of fundraising: choosing the right investors.

We cover:

• Why consumer startups are so difficult to build
• Why founders should be careful who they take money from
• Dragon’s Den behind the scenes
• Building a luxury brand customers actually trust
• Building a business while raising a family
• Why Canada is such a difficult place to build startups

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or simply interested in how great brands are built, this episode offers an honest look at entrepreneurship beyond the headlines.

THIS IS NOT SPONSORED by Mave & Chez but they graciously offered a promo code to our viewers:

Mave & Chez slippers are available now – perfect for gifting or cozying up at home. Use the code PROFIT20 for 20% off your first order of MAVES. 

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ABOUT DANI KAGAN
Dani Kagan is a serial entrepreneur, community builder, and mom of two. She’s the Co-Founder & CEO of Mave & Chez, a luxury lifestyle brand known for ergonomic slippers for women. Dani has raised $1M+ in venture capital, appeared on Dragons’ Den, and been featured in Vogue, The Globe & Mail, and more. Passionate about empowering women through business, she also hosts the podcast *Raise it Up*.
 

Website: www.maveandchez.com
Instagram: @maveandchez https://www.linkedin.com/in/danikagan/