How I Built This with Guy Raz Advice Line with Miguel McKelvey of WeWork
27 snips
Mar 5, 2026 
Miguel McKelvey, WeWork co-founder and mentor to founders, and Melissa Jenski, co-founder of Good Grief, an online care-package startup. They tackle scaling local premium apparel, reviving customer acquisition after ad performance drops, SEO and AI-friendly content for discovery, partnerships and B2B gifting, and lowering CAC ahead of big sales moments.
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AI Valuations Lack Clear Monetization Path
- AI companies face unclear monetization unlike tangible services like rides or workspaces, so valuations may be harder to justify long term.
- Free distribution by big platforms risks a race-to-the-bottom and forces startups to prove sustainable business models.
Scrubs Sparked A Side Hustle Pants Brand
- Jane Barthel started Copa Threads by deconstructing scrubs she loved for comfort and reimagining them in printed 100% cotton canvas with structure and silhouette.
- She launched as a side hustle while working full-time as a neonatologist and reached $15,000 in sales in her first year.
Explain Why Your Pants Cost $295
- Double down on telling the full manufacturing story so customers understand the $295 price: made in Minneapolis, woman-owned factory, US-sourced canvas, and small-batch craftsmanship.
- Use Instagram, UGC ambassadors, local placements (servers, baristas) and repeat storytelling to repeatedly surface the provenance and craft to buyers.