But Jason discovered another passion along the way. And now, it’s his love for brands that evoke emotion in their consumers that drives his day-to-day. For Jason, identifying worthwhile brands really comes to what the founder represents — and how well the audience will connect to the brand’s message. What does he look for in a founder? It’s simple. “What we want is someone who is obsessed with the mission of what they’re trying to build,” he says.

On this episode, Jason discusses what brands need to do in order to cut through the noise of today’s marketplace, how founders should approach the process of raising funds, and why the majority of businesses ​shouldn’t ​work with venture capital. And which once-popular marketing tactic does he believe is out the window? Listen in to learn.

• Maveron
• Dolls Kill
• Flywear
• Everlane
• Booster Fuels
• Stitch Fix
• Connect with Jason Stoffer on LinkedIn