Kim Perell | She Borrowed $10K From Grandma… Then Built a $235M Company

Kim Perell | She Borrowed $10K From Grandma… Then Built a $235M Company

Author: The School of Hard Knocks September 16, 2026 Duration: 39:45

Kim Perell is a nine-time entrepreneur, angel investor in more than 100 companies, and the founder behind a business that grew from a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to a $235 million exit.


In this episode, Kim shares how she built through uncertainty, what she looks for when investing in early-stage founders, and the lessons she learned scaling companies from their first million toward nine-figure and billion-dollar outcomes.


She also breaks down mentorship, founder resilience, building valuable relationships, increasing a company’s attractiveness to buyers, and why focus matters more than diversification in the early years.


Kim closes with her philosophy on family, money, creativity, long-term thinking, and why no one becomes successful alone.


Find Kim Perell here:

Website: https://kimperell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/


Check out Kim’s books: https://kimperell.com/books/


Learn more about Juni: https://drinkjuni.com/


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There's a certain kind of wisdom you can't get from a textbook, forged instead in the unpredictable fires of real-world experience. The School of Hard Knocks Podcast is built on that principle, offering a front-row seat to unfiltered conversations with some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs and visionary creators from across the globe. Each episode moves beyond polished success stories to dig into the gritty, often unspoken challenges these individuals faced on their journeys. You'll hear about the pivotal failures that became turning points, the difficult decisions made under pressure, and the personal philosophies that guide them through uncertainty. This isn't about theoretical business models; it's a deep dive into the resilience, adaptability, and raw determination required to build something meaningful. Brought to you by The School of Hard Knocks, this podcast serves as an ongoing masterclass in navigating the complexities of modern creation and enterprise. Tune in for authentic dialogues that reveal the human effort behind the headlines, providing not just inspiration but tangible insights you can apply to your own path.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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