How She Cut Tech Swag Costs 50% | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Founder's Factory-Direct AI Solution

In this episode of Curve of the Head, host Brian Wiles interviews Julia Xu, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and CEO of Wayo, who's revolutionizing how tech startups source merchandise.

After spending a year visiting hundreds of overseas factories and serving as Chief of Staff at Alibaba North America, Julia built a platform that cuts out middlemen and saves tech companies 50% on custom conference swag and team merchandise.

KEY INSIGHTS:
Why niching down is essential for startup success
How AI is transforming manufacturing communication
The brutal truth about outsourcing vs. doing it yourself
Balancing conference networking with heads-down production
Turning a Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition into actual business value

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction to Julia and Wayo
01:30 - Launching a factory-direct platform in today's market
02:53 - The most brutal challenge in startup go-to-market
04:59 - Finding success through strategic partnerships
06:27 - The real impact of Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition
08:31 - When to network vs. when to build
10:45 - How founders should prioritize their limited time
14:12 - Staying focused while wearing many hats
15:01 - The humbling experience of knowing what to outsource
17:49 - Creating a culture of brutal honesty
19:46 - Breaking down traditional swag procurement inefficiencies
25:11 - How AI transforms manufacturing communication
29:17 - Navigating global manufacturing challenges in 2025
31:10 - Connect with Julia and Wayo

RESOURCES:
Wayo website: https://wayo.com
Connect with Julia on LinkedIn:   / julialxu  

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