Podcast Summary: B2B Breakthrough Podcast

Episode: Don’t Lose Your Momentum: How Product Founders Enter 2026 Strong
Host: Sierra Christo (A)
Guest: Kareem Raslan (B), Co-founder of Brain Gain
Release Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on helping product founders enter 2026 on strong, sustainable footing. Host Sierra Christo interviews Kareem Raslan, co-founder of Brain Gain, a fast-growing D2C home gym equipment company. The conversation centers on operational discipline, the importance of focus and simplification, lessons learned from rapid scaling, and the value of building resilient systems. Kareem shares tactical advice for founders looking to maintain their momentum and highlights foundational business principles that have driven Brain Gain’s success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Brain Gain’s Origin & Growth Journey

[00:34 – 02:12]

• Founded during the COVID pandemic from a spontaneous idea when home gym equipment was scarce.
• Started small ("we kind of stumbled across Alibaba actually on a Facebook ad, bought in kind of 20-25 dumbbells, started selling from our parents'… garages, driving around London, dropping dumbbells off to anyone and everyone" – Kareem, 00:59).
• Rapid scaling to 30+ countries and 100,000+ customers across Shopify and Amazon in six years.
• Main challenges were on the operational (not sales) side—specifically logistics and scaling infrastructure.

Overcoming Scaling and Operational Challenges

[02:12 – 05:34]

• Early issues with physical logistics (unloading containers at parents’ house, manual shipping, unreliable couriers).
• Transitioned to third-party logistics as the first major operational leap.
• Faced cash flow and working capital challenges as they grew.
• Overextended in 2025 with too many SKUs and markets; refocused by scaling down and doubling down on top-performing products and channels:
  • “In 2025 … we were trying to do too much too quickly. Then now focusing on look what’s really working, what’s not working and doubling down on the winners and either optimizing or killing the losers.” (Kareem, 03:46)

Team & Partnering Decisions

[05:34 – 08:57]

• Operates with a lean team of 10, augmented by third-party agencies and contractors.
• Kareem emphasizes investing in quality partners and staff, not just focusing on price.
• Past mistakes with third-party warehouses highlighted the need to do thorough due diligence.
  • “In sales mode … they'll promise you the world. But ... small things can actually magnify to be quite big things.” (Kareem, 06:56)
• Importance of maintaining a high-quality team culture: "Good performers, A-team players ... want to be surrounded by A-team players." (08:57)

2025 Reflection: Wins & Lessons

[09:35 – 13:31]

• 2025’s main wins: simplification and focus.
• Reduced SKUs, zeroed in on winning products and core channels.
• Conducted in-depth unit economics analysis for each SKU; identified and eliminated unprofitable products.
• Example win: shifting warehouse location reduced fulfillment costs by 20–30%.
  • “By changing one small thing … has actually had a massive impact.” (Kareem, 12:20)

Strategic Mindset for 2026

[13:14 – 16:38]

• Avoided the “new year, new big idea” trap; sticking with what already works.
• Emphasizes short, sharp sprints with quarterly focus—three months at a time—before revisiting new ideas.
• Uses a value-versus-effort matrix for prioritization.
  • “Just because it’s a good opportunity doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right opportunity for you.” (Kareem referencing Alex Hormozi, 15:45)
• Careful gatekeeping of new opportunities ensures only those fitting strict criteria are pursued.

Navigating Seasonality & Market Opportunities

[17:54 – 20:36]

• Seasonality impacts sales (peak: Nov–Jan for home training; summer slumps due to European holidays).
• Exploring B2B opportunities (e.g., selling to Airbnbs and hotels pre-summer to offset seasonality).
• Emphasis on localized, targeted marketing in Europe.

Evolution as a Founder: Mindset Shifts

[20:12 – 23:54]

• Importance of adapting to customer feedback and continuously learning.
• Kareem’s transition from 13 years in banking: skills transferred, but the value of learning through direct entrepreneurial action is greater.
• The need for balance—not going to either extreme of “always on” hustle or forced disconnection.
  • “It’s a very personal journey … you need to find what works for you. I’m still in that process, but ... I think I’m getting slightly better to my, hopefully my optimum equilibrium.” (Kareem, 22:59)

Building Systems That Enable Scaling

[23:54 – 26:46]

• Major personal learning: let go and trust others, delegate effectively.
• Investment in process automation freed up founder time for higher-value work.
• Kareem and his co-founder now rigorously track and evaluate their own time, seeking to automate or systematize repetitive tasks for themselves and the team.
  • “Everyone’s time is precious.” (Kareem, 26:33)

Operational Planning & Looking Ahead

[26:46 – 29:13]

• Deliberately restraining the impulse to make drastic annual changes; instead, focusing on marginal gain and natural improvement through consistency.
• Actively monitoring trends in AI, digital marketing, and evolving SEO/AI-driven search to future-proof strategy.

Foundational Advice for Founders

[29:15 – 34:13]

• Kareem’s top recommended audit: SKU-by-SKU unit economics analysis (breakdown every cost per product and assess true profitability).
  • Example: Best-selling dumbbell was not truly profitable after a deep dive, prompting a shift in focus.
• Start with a clear understanding of financials and contribution margins; build the operating structure around those numbers.
• Clarity in operations and economics leads to aligned priorities and sustainable scaling.

Practical Takeaways: Habits to Keep, Drop, and Build

[34:13 – 36:22]

• Keep: Clarity on unit economics and doubling down on winning products.
• Drop: Chasing every new opportunity (ditch FOMO).
• Build: Weekly/daily clarity on two to three non-negotiable tasks—a focus habit that drives real results.
  • “FOMO is not a feature of 2026. So we kill that.” (Kareem, 34:48)
  • “Having that clarity of priorities I think is something that we should all strive to have as well.” (Kareem, 35:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On finding your niche:
  "You can't be everything to everyone and you have to find where to carve out that special space where you really resonate with your audience and that you're reaching people and that you yourself aren't getting burnt out in the process." — Sierra, 04:21

• On SKU rationalization:
  "In the pursuit of trying to do everything, we were basically doing kind of not a lot well. So what we've done this year is narrow down the SKU count to really, really focus on those that are kind of winning and doing well." — Kareem, 10:17

• On opportunity selection:
  “Just because it’s a good opportunity doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right opportunity for you.” — Kareem citing Alex Hormozi, 15:45

• On optimizing team & culture:
  "Good performers, A-team players … want to be surrounded by A-team players. So ... it's not a case if it's an isolated problem, it does actually impact everyone else." — Kareem, 08:57

• On AI & marketing evolution:
  “We now need to … invest time, effort and energy into the new ways of marketing.” — Kareem, 29:11

• On foundational audits:
  “The biggest and kind of most profound thing we did in this year was … SKU by SKU unit economics.” — Kareem, 30:28

Key Segment Timestamps

• Kareem’s founding story: 00:34 – 02:12
• Scaling operations, logistics lessons: 02:12 – 05:34
• Hiring, team dynamics, partner pitfalls: 05:34 – 08:57
• Reflections & wins of 2025: 09:35 – 13:31
• 2026 strategy & operational focus: 13:31 – 16:38
• Handling seasonality, new markets: 17:54 – 20:36
• Mindset and delegation evolution: 20:12 – 23:54
• Building scalable systems: 23:54 – 26:46
• Foundational business questions: 29:15 – 34:13
• Rapid-fire tactical advice: 34:13 – 36:22

Bonus: Small Business Spotlight – Solaro Shades

[38:01 – 43:06]

• Interview with Jesse Haynes, co-founder of Solaro Shades, an innovative, affordable, athlete-centered sports eyewear brand.
• Started with $7,000 in 2023, now a team of 6 with $1.5M revenue trajectory.
• Product innovation: adaptive nosepiece design for universal fit, based on direct athlete feedback.
• Competitive edge via community engagement, lifetime warranty, and responsive manufacturing partnerships.
• Key advice: “You scrape your knees as you learn to run... manage to pick up a lot of good nuggets from the stumbles and the falls.” — Jesse, 41:28

Resources & Links

• Brain Gain: braingain.fit (UK/EU Shopify + Amazon)
• Kareem Raslan: LinkedIn
• Solaro Shades: solaroshades.com, @solaroshades on socials

Conclusion

This episode offers a roadmap for founders to enter 2026 with momentum. Kareem’s story demonstrates the power of operational discipline, focused execution, and continuous improvement. His tactical playbook—audit your unit economics, double down on winners, resist the urge to chase every trend, and streamline both your products and your own workload—will resonate with business owners at every stage.

Memorable closing tip:
“Pick up a pair of adjustable dumbbells and get training at home. That’s the other final call out as…” — Kareem, 36:22