Native Founder Tells ALL: $100M Portfolio, Investment Strategy & Business Ideas | My First Million

Intro

In this episode of the “My First Million” podcast, Moise Ali, the founder of Native Deodorant, shares his journey from bootstrapping a $100 million business to his current investments and business ideas. Moise discusses his investment strategy, experiences in the gas station business, and the inspiration behind Native Deodorant’s branding. He also explores the potential for a stock market for residential real estate and offers insights into real estate investing. Additionally, Moise provides valuable advice on building businesses, investing, and wealth management.

Main Takeaways

Building a Successful Business

• Moise Ali bootstrapped Native Deodorant from a kitchen table to a $100 million exit to Proctor and Gamble.
• Despite having no prior knowledge of deodorant, Moise successfully launched a natural deodorant brand.
• Moise and his brother’s business acumen and willingness to invest in distressed assets have contributed to their success.
• Moise believes in raising earnings per share and focuses on businesses with a clear vision for making money and exiting.

Gas Station Ventures and Cash Checking

• Moise and his brother previously owned gas stations and provided cash checking services.
• They cashed up to $250,000 worth of checks on any given Friday.
• While cashing checks was initially risky, it turned out to be a highly profitable venture.

Native Deodorant’s Branding and Confusion

• The branding of Native Deodorant was inspired by Harry’s and Casper’s websites.
• Native Juice Co, located next to the post office where Native Deodorant packages were sent from, caused confusion for customers.
• Kate, the founder of Native Juice Co, received customer service calls meant for Native Deodorant and requested them to stop.

Stock Market for Residential Real Estate

• Moise suggests creating a stock market for residential real estate, where shares of rental homes are sold.
• This would create a liquid market for buying and selling residential properties.
• Local entrepreneurs could be empowered to buy and sell houses on the platform, with reviews ensuring trustworthiness.
• Real estate investing provides a tangible and safer option for retail investors to invest in their local communities.

Investment Strategies and Wealth Management

• Moise shares his investment portfolio, which includes short-term bonds, real estate, and startup investments.
• He prefers investing in stocks when they are down and has conviction in his investments.
• Moise has had negative experiences with wealth managers prioritizing their own fees over clients’ interests.
• He emphasizes the importance of not needing a lot of money in the future due to real estate investments.

Alternative to Shopify and Discount Memberships

• Moise suggests developing a platform for businesses doing north of $100 billion as an alternative to Shopify.
• He explores the concept of discount memberships for smaller businesses to negotiate bulk deals with brands.
• Similar discount memberships exist for niche industries, such as the AARP for people above 60.

Summary

Building a Successful Business

Moise Ali’s journey as the founder of Native Deodorant showcases the power of perseverance and strategic decision-making. Despite lacking knowledge in the deodorant industry, Moise successfully built a $100 million business by focusing on raising earnings per share and investing in distressed assets. His story serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Gas Station Ventures and Cash Checking

Moise and his brother’s experience in the gas station business highlights the importance of taking risks and seizing opportunities. Their cash checking service, initially risky, turned out to be highly profitable. This demonstrates the potential for unconventional ventures to yield significant returns.

Native Deodorant’s Branding and Confusion

The branding journey of Native Deodorant reveals the inspiration behind its logo and color scheme. However, the proximity of Native Juice Co to the post office caused confusion among customers, leading to customer service challenges. Despite the confusion, Native Deodorant’s success was not hindered.

Stock Market for Residential Real Estate

Moise’s vision for a stock market dedicated to residential real estate presents an innovative approach to investing in the housing market. This platform would enable local entrepreneurs to buy and sell shares of rental homes, creating a liquid market. It offers retail investors a safer and tangible investment option in their local communities.

Investment Strategies and Wealth Management

Moise’s investment portfolio, consisting of short-term bonds, real estate, and startup investments, reflects his balanced approach to wealth management. He emphasizes the importance of investing in stocks when they are down and having conviction in one’s investments. His negative experiences with wealth managers highlight the need for personalized and client-centric financial advice.

Alternative to Shopify and Discount Memberships

Moise suggests the development of an alternative platform to Shopify that caters to businesses doing north of $100 billion. He also explores the concept of discount memberships for smaller businesses to negotiate bulk deals with brands, similar to the AARP for older individuals. These ideas provide opportunities for businesses to access cost-effective solutions and drive growth.

Conclusion

Moise Ali’s entrepreneurial journey, investment insights, and innovative ideas offer valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors. From building a successful business to exploring new investment opportunities, Moise’s experiences demonstrate the importance of strategic thinking, adaptability, and a willingness to take calculated risks. Whether it’s creating a stock market for residential real estate or reimagining existing business models, Moise’s perspectives inspire listeners to think outside the box and pursue their own paths to success.