The 'messy' path to start-up success (with Kass & Mike Lazerow from SXSW) | Masters of Scale

Serial entrepreneurs and investors Mike and Kass Lazerow are best known for co-founding Buddy Media, the social media marketing platform that sold to Salesforce for $745 million. Host Jeff Berman joins the Lazerows on stage at the 2025 SXSW conference to discuss their extraordinary career journey as co-founders and spouses. They’ve distilled their most meaningful business lessons into a new book: Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success.

Chapters:
00:00 Introducing Kass and Mike Lazerow
01:44 Inside Golf.com’s messy exit
11:19 The origins of Kass & Mike Lazerow
14:15 Mike’s first early internet company
16:55 The initial vision for Buddy Media
21:11 Kass & Mike’s philosophy on managing a board
25:45 Lessons for building strong cultures
28:31 How adding a salesperson fueled Buddy Media’s acquisition
31:20 Buddy Media’s acquisition to Salesforce
34:49 Kass & Mike’s investment strategy
37:36 Advice to young people right now

📫 THE MASTERS OF SCALE NEWSLETTER
35,000+ read our free weekly newsletter packed with insights from the world’s most iconic business leaders. Sign up: https://hubs.la/Q01RPQH-0

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://mastersofscale.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://mastersofscale.com/Spotify

💻 LEARN MORE
Our website: https://mastersofscale.com

🚀 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
LinkedIn:   / 11096326  
Facebook:   / mastersofscale  
Instagram:   / mastersofscale  
X/Twitter:   / mastersofscale  
TikTok:   / mastersofscale  

💡ABOUT US
On Masters of Scale, iconic business leaders share lessons and strategies that have helped them grow the world's most fascinating companies. Founders, CEOs, and dynamic innovators (from companies like Uber, Airbnb, Apple, and Disney) join candid conversations about their triumphs and challenges with a set of luminary hosts, including founding host Reid Hoffman — LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock partner. From navigating early prototypes to expanding brands globally, Masters of Scale provides priceless insights to help anyone grow their dream enterprise.

#mastersofscale #leadership #leadershiplessons #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #tech #technology #ai #startup #startupbusiness #startuplife #startupjourney #startupideas #scaleup #scaling #scalingstories #scalemodels #business #businesslessons #businessleadership #founder #founderstory #buddymedia #kassandmikelazerow