Building Billion-Dollar Consumer Brands with Michael Jones

From Dollar Shave Club to Liquid Death, Michael Jones has helped launch and scale consumer companies worth over $6B. In this episode, he shares how venture studios work, why TikTok Shop is a key growth channel, and how AI is changing the speed and cost of building businesses.

About the Guest:
Michael Jones is the General Partner at Science Inc., a Los Angeles–based venture studio and fund. Over his career, he’s led companies to more than $6 billion in exits, including early investments in Scopely and Goodreads.

The No.1 eCom Operations hack:
“A smaller portion of a bigger company is typically a better outcome than a larger portion of a smaller company.”

You Will Learn:

Why obsession beats traction when backing founders
How Science Inc. builds companies from scratch with entrepreneurs
Why TikTok Shop is a game-changer for early-stage brands
The advantages of venture studios over traditional VCs
How AI is transforming product launches and marketing

Show Notes:

(00:03:34) The Hidden Challenges of Building Companies from the Inside
(00:05:37) The Tech Stack Behind Successful E-Commerce Launches
(00:07:04) Navigating Walmart and Major US Retail Channels
(00:08:45) Venture Studio vs. Traditional VC
(00:11:08) Why Obsession Beats Traction Every Time
(00:12:34) Deal-Breaking Red Flags Despite Strong Numbers
(00:14:58) The Logic Behind Selling Successful Companies
(00:17:33) Shock Value and Brand Differentiation in Today's Market
(00:18:39) Product Testing Strategy: From Concept to Big Brand
(00:21:09) AI's Role in D2C Over the Next 2-3 Years
(00:22:30) Can AI Replace Human Creativity in Marketing?
(00:24:01) The Biggest E-Commerce Mentor
(00:26:16) Question for the Next Guest