🚀How Two Brothers Turned $500 into a $100M Powerhouse

Hey Deal Lifters! 👋

What if I told you two brothers took just $500, a dash of creativity, and a whole lot of hustle—and turned it into a business worth over $100M? 💰 Yeah, it sounds wild, but Justin and Nick Mares made it happen.

Their story is more than inspiring—it’s a blueprint for taking risks, spotting opportunities, and lifting your deal-making game to the next level. So, let’s dive into this epic rise! 🚀

Every Great Deal Starts with a Problem (and a Bowl of Broth) 🍲

Back in 2014, Justin was immersed in San Francisco's CrossFit scene, where “bone broth” was the buzzword. Meanwhile, Nick was nursing a sports injury, and bone broth came up as the ultimate recovery hack.

Problem? No high-quality, shelf-stable options existed. Instead of settling, these two thought: “Why not us?”

That’s the first lesson of Deal Lift: Spotting gaps is where deals begin. 💡

Turning $500 into a Test Run 💻

The brothers didn’t jump straight into production. They used $500 to test their idea smartly:

• Built a landing page on Unbounce.

• Hired a Fiverr designer for $10 to create a logo.

• Ran Facebook and Bing ads.

Result? $2,000 in presales in just a month—for a product that didn’t even exist yet! (Refunds followed, of course. 😉)

Deal Lift Takeaway: You don’t need to start big; start smart. Validate first, then invest.

A Cold Email to Mark Cuban 🔥

When finding a manufacturer felt impossible, Nick did something bold: he cold-emailed billionaire Mark Cuban. 🤑 And guess what? Cuban replied, connecting them to someone who helped secure a manufacturing partner.

Here’s a Deal Lift Pro Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a well-timed ask. Big doors swing open on small hinges.

All-In for the Win 🎲

With a manufacturer lined up, the brothers faced their next challenge: funding. Their supplier required $30K minimum runs, and Justin risked everything—his entire life savings from selling a previous startup—to make it happen.

In their first year, Kettle and Fire sold $2.8M worth of bone broth! 🥳

A Deal That Changed the Game 🛒

Their big break? A Whole Foods buyer spotted an influencer hyping Kettle and Fire. Within six months, the product hit Whole Foods shelves. 📦

They later raised $8M from Cavu Venture Partners, valuing the business at $60M. Today, Kettle and Fire is worth over $100M, pulling in at least $40M in yearly revenue—and likely much more. 💸

What Deal Lifters Can Learn 🔑

Justin and Nick didn’t wait for perfect conditions—they jumped in, learned on the fly, and scaled fast.

Here’s what you can take away:
1️⃣ Start small, but start smart. Test your ideas before going all in.
2️⃣ Be bold. Whether it’s cold-emailing a billionaire or risking it all, guts make deals happen.
3️⃣ Leverage the power of partnerships. A good intro (or investor) can accelerate your growth.

What’s Your $500 Idea? 💭

Whether you’re eyeing your next business move or looking to turn a side hustle into a main event, this story is proof that anyone can lift a deal to new heights.

So, here’s your challenge: What’s the small step you can take today to start lifting your deal? Let us know—we’d love to hear your ideas and share them in future newsletters!

🔥 Lift Off Your Hustle—Now!
Ready to take action? Share this story with someone who needs a little inspiration or reply to this email with your boldest idea. You never know—it might just lead to your own $100M moment. 💼

Stay bold, stay lifting,
Deal Lift

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