Meet Oliver Goulden of FounderSix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oliver Goulden.

Hi Oliver, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey wasn’t linear, to say the least. I spent 11 years at Ogilvy (my second ‘Bachelor’s Degree’), where I received the best holistic marketing training there is. I then served as the Head of Marketing for a fashion start-up called Grana, learning the fast-paced, data-centric world of ecommerce (my ‘Masters’). As a Portfolio CMO for a venture capital firm, I invested in brilliant new ideas and people, while helping the founders build out their teams and growth strategies (my ‘PHD’). My global adventures have also played a key role in my outlook. I cycled 16,000km from Shanghai to London through 16 countries in 2013, to name but one. FounderSix is really the accumulation of all these work and life experiences brought into what I hope will be my professional highlight. My co-founder, Pieter Wittgen and I saw huge potential in offering our experience to amazing digital creators – they had the audience, the trust, and the vision but needed structural, operational, and strategic support to translate that into a viable retail brand. That’s the gap we sought to fill. We do not see ourselves as a traditional incubator but really a small family that all works together to achieve success.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anyone who tells you their road was smooth is not telling the truth, especially when you are an entrepreneur. The part that people often forget is that every start-up that exists is blazing a new path. That will inevitably lead to unforeseen circumstances that have to be overcome. Being an entrepreneur is hard – long hours, stress, uncertainty of the future, pressure on your personal life – it’s not for the faint of heart. When it doesn’t go to plan, there are so many problems to sort out. When it does go to plan, there is a whole new set of problems that need sorting. There is never ‘downtime’ when you run your own business. However, there is an amazing sense of accomplishment knowing that this is something you have created.

We’ve been impressed with FounderSix, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
FounderSix works with digital creators to launch their own beauty brands. Each new brand created is its own business entity, and all parties have equity in the business. We are co-founders in the truest sense. Our investment into these companies doesn’t give an immediate payout to the influencers; it’s clear from the beginning that we are building the new company together from the ground up, with a long-term view. If influencers are looking for a quick buck, this is not the right model for them. But if they are serious about becoming an entrepreneur, we offer the most comprehensive support in the market to help them achieve this. We have built a unique infrastructure that includes investment, product development, and all operations, including fulfillment, customer service, system integrations, accounting, and finance. We generally give the influencer full autonomy to bring their vision of brand and product to life but with guidance from decades of experience in building new companies.

That is like asking me which of my children I love the most! I am exceptionally proud of all three brands we have launched so far. ARY WORLD has really unique branding and has a very important message of acceptance; Anablue has a beautiful heritage story and the products are simply stunning; And Ravie Beauty, oh Ravie! Our launch product Effortless Lips has been so well received by our audience and the overall response to the brand launch was phenomenal. Beyond the brands themselves, I am so proud of the co-founders for all their hard work and passion. Helping them become successful entrepreneurs is what FounderSix is all about.

FounderSix is not your average brand incubator. We have cultivated a much closer, more personal relationship with our co-founders, and we never want that to change. We are extremely selective with who we work with and search for influencers that have a balance of category authority, vision, commitment, and desire. We’re redefining how influencers connect with their audience, turning authentic personal narratives into physical brands. We run the engine behind the scenes that helps guide these new companies to market, operating them efficiently and building them for a successful future.

What matters most to you?
Authenticity matters most to us. In a saturated market, genuine stories are what make brands stand out and last; people buy from people, not from brands. We’re dedicated to creating brands that are true reflections of their founders, because those are the brands that resonate with people, and those are the stories that matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.foundersix.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundersix/