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20VC: Cotopaxi: From Selling $6M of Pool Tables to Scaling $150M in Revenues and Challenging Patagonia, Fundraising Lessons from 100+ Rejections & What Founders Do Not Understand About VC with Davis Smith, Founder @ Cotopaxi

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Dec 15, 2023

Davis Smith, Founder and former CEO of Cotopaxi, shares his remarkable journey from selling pool tables to scaling a $150M outdoor apparel brand. He reveals how overcoming 100 investor rejections shaped Cotopaxi's trajectory. Davis delves into the impact of his childhood experiences on his entrepreneurial mindset, the challenges of aligning values with business missions, and the importance of purpose in entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the need for new financial products to support long-term goals and the balance between integrity and impact in business.

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INSIGHT

Need for Long-Term Funding

The current financial landscape lacks long-term funding options for purpose-driven businesses.
Traditional VC's short-term focus on exits creates a misalignment with founders seeking lasting impact.

INSIGHT

Finding Happiness

Chasing happiness directly is often misguided, as true fulfillment comes from serving others.
Focusing on a greater cause and helping others brings more lasting joy than material possessions.

ANECDOTE

Navigating the Pandemic

During the pandemic, Cotopaxi avoided layoffs by implementing temporary pay cuts across the board.
They doubled down on their social mission, donating 3% of revenue and innovating with new products like face masks.

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Davis Smith is the Founder and Chairman of Cotopaxi, an outdoor brand with a humanitarian mission. The company has assisted over 4 million people living in poverty. The company has been profitable for the last 4 years and is expected to do $160M in revenue in 2023, up from $55M just two years before. In April 2023, Davis resigned after 10 years as CEO to lead a mission for his church in Brazil for three years. Davis is an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and was recognized as Utah's Businessperson of the Year in 2022. He is an adventurer who has floated the Amazon on a self-made raft, kayaked from Cuba to Florida, and explored North Korea.

In Today's Episode with Davis Smith We Discuss:

1. From Selling $6M Worth of Pool Tables to the Amazon of Brazil to Founding Cotopaxi:

How did Davis scale a pool table business to $6M in revenue?
What were Davis' biggest takeaways from building the Amazon of Brazil, raising millions in VC funding and the business failing?
How did depression and 36 hours on a sofa lead to the a-ha moment for Cotopaxi?

2. The Billion Dollar Company, Rejected by 100 Investors:

How was the early fundraising journey for Davis with Cotopaxi? Why did so many investors say no?
What was the best VC meeting he has ever had? Why do women understand Cotopaxi better?
What does Davis believe are the biggest misalignments between VCs and Founders?
Why does Davis believe we need a new type of financial product to fund long term projects?
What are the biggest elements of fundraising that Davis believes founders do not understand?

3. Scaling Cotopaxi to $150M in Revenue:

What are Davis' biggest lessons on what works and what does not from scaling Cotopaxi to $150M in revenue?
Why did Davis not lay anyone off but decide everyone should take a pay cut instead? How did that go down?
Why does letting people leave work earlier lead to better talent wanting to join your company?
Why does Davis believe that you absolutely can build a huge business with balance in your life?

4. Life, Parenting, Marriage:

Why does Davis believe that so many entrepreneurs chase the wrong thing? What do they chase? What should they be chasing instead?
How does Davis analyze his relationship to money today? Does it make you happy?
What does great parenting mean to Davis? How has that changed over time?
How does marriage change when comparing pre-kids and post-kids?
Was Davis nervous about becoming a father for the first time at the age of 24?