Operators Titans E005: Peak 21 (with President Roman Khan)

OPERATORS

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Founder anxiety. Sleepless nights. Standing on the brink of bankruptcy. Anyone who’s put their own chip on the table knows just how painful leading a brand can be. What if it wasn’t just one brand, but a portfolio of companies?

Join hosts Matthew Bertulli and Jason Panzer as they explore Roman Khan’s journey from staring into the abyss to building a holdco of multiple +$100M brands as the president of Peak 21.

Discover the challenges + triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of distribution over product, and Roman’s unique approach to scaling brands like Raycon, Linjer, Nutrition Kitchen, and more. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and brutally honest inspiration.

00:00 – The Titanic Moment: Facing Bankruptcy

02:46 – Learning From Failure and Founder Anxiety

04:20 – From Finance to Rocket Internet

06:09 – Starting Linjer: The $20K Kickstarter Gamble

07:56 – Pivoting to Jewelry and Early Wins

11:25 – Turning 40: Wealth, Purpose & Gratitude

15:26 – The Raycon Story: A $14M Playbook for Growth

25:55 – How to Buy and Scale Companies the Smart Way

39:00 – Leading Teams: Radical Accountability & Execution

47:00 – Marketing Deep Dive: Meta, AppLovin & the Future of Growth

01:05:00 – AI, Creativity & The Next Era of E-commerce

01:22:00 – TITANS 10: Rapid-Fire Founder Insights