Bloomberg Talks – Fubu Founder Talks Entrepreneurship

Host: Bloomberg
Guests: Damon (Entrepreneur, Fubu Founder/Shark Tank Investor), Kareem (Supply Chain Expert)
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Bloomberg Talks dives into the realities of building and scaling brands with Damon, founder of Fubu and Shark Tank investor, and Kareem, a veteran supply chain expert. The discussion centers around the evolving challenges in entrepreneurship—particularly supply chains, sourcing, price pressures, and the imperative of agility. Real-world anecdotes, lessons from the global pandemic, and shifts in consumer and industry behavior frame the conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Product Success & Honest Entrepreneurship ([00:34]–[00:54])

• Damon highlights what makes a product successful on Shark Tank:
  • Focus on authentic founders and clear value propositions
  • Example: Bombas Socks, a straightforward yet high-performing innovation
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding manufacturing, delivery, and numbers for growth.

Notable Quote:

“It always is very honest, the entrepreneur. And then you back in to how they're making good manufacturing and delivering it, and then you go into the numbers.”
— Damon ([00:42])

2. Challenges in Sourcing & the Ever-shifting Supply Chain ([00:54]–[03:28])

Supply Chain Volatility

• Interviewer: Points out the critical challenges in sourcing, materials, and logistics, linking to Kareem’s expertise.
• Kareem:
  • Describes supply chain as “the most consistent, inconsistent market.”
  • Urges the need for agility and having contingency plans (plan B, C, D, and E):

    “The only consistency is inconsistency.” ([01:23])

  • Stresses the blend of controllable and uncontrollable variables:
    • Example disruptions: pandemic, tariffs, port strikes.
  • Strong supply chain = diverse supply chain:

    “Anybody who has a strong supply chain has a diverse supply chain.” ([03:21])

Lessons from the Pandemic

• The pandemic was a wake-up call, but lessons fade quickly as companies revert focus to urgent day-to-day issues.
• Kareem pushes for maintaining alternative supply solutions even as crises pass:
  • It's critical not to have “all your eggs in one basket.”

3. Brand Founders: The Multifaceted Demands ([03:28]–[04:38])

• Damon: Brand building today is more complex.
  • Founders juggle not only product design, but also manufacturing, shipment, finance, and social media.
  • His journey: Started manufacturing in Guatemala, shifted to Korea, then China, Turkey, and India—factories and conditions can change overnight.
• Why experts matter:
  • Damon sought out Kareem for supply chain expertise:

    “I don't have time to deal with all that.” ([03:55])

  • There’s never a single answer—tariffs, legality, war all introduce fresh challenges daily.

Notable Quote:

“When you are somebody who's building a brand...all of a sudden, now you have to learn manufacturing, shipping, finance, social media, and all this other stuff.”
— Damon ([04:09])

4. Pandemic’s Silver Lining: Innovation & Best Practices ([04:38]–[05:25])

• Interviewer: Suggests the supply chain crisis forced organizations to rethink and innovate.
• Kareem:
  • Agrees; more companies are developing best practices and seeing the value of supply chain management.
  • Points to growth of supply chain-focused degree programs:

    “We have generations of supply chain professionals that are learning from the issues of the past.” ([05:14])

5. Consumer Realities & Pricing Constraints ([05:25]–[06:10])

• Interviewer: Asks Damon about the state of consumer prices and retailer dynamics.
• Damon:
  • Describes increasing direct-to-consumer transactions, but notes rising overseas costs (20–50% increases).
  • Retailers, especially big-box, cap prices on popular products; brands must absorb extra costs or risk losing shelf space:

    “I am not making, I'm not selling this to my consumer more than $9.99. That's your problem.” ([05:49])

  • The retailer’s mindset: If a supplier can’t meet price points, they’ll find someone who will.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kareem:

  “The supply chain is the most consistent, inconsistent market you could ever think of.” ([01:22])

• Damon:

  “When you are somebody who's building a brand … all of a sudden, now you have to learn manufacturing, shipping, finance, social media, and all this other stuff.” ([04:09])

• Kareem:

  “Anybody who has a strong supply chain has a diverse supply chain. Regardless of what we're talking about, whether it's a pandemic or it's tariffs or whatever it may be, the diversity of the supply chain is going to be the key to success.” ([03:21])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:34 – Damon shares insight about winning products and the importance of founder honesty.
• 01:22 – Kareem explains the volatile nature of supply chains.
• 02:29 – Discussion on resilience and lessons (or lack thereof) learned post-pandemic.
• 03:41 – Damon’s journey through different manufacturing countries; the founder’s growing skillset demands.
• 04:53 – Pandemic-driven innovation in supply chain management.
• 05:38 – Damon addresses retailer and consumer price pressure realities.

Final Thoughts

The conversation underlines that entrepreneurship has never been more complex. Agility, contingency planning, and a broad knowledge base—or the right partnerships—are now fundamental. While crises like the pandemic have forced innovation and attention to supply chains, only organizations that stay nimble and diversified can turn disruption into advantage. Damon and Kareem’s insights offer a candid, practical roadmap for founders navigating today’s unpredictable economic world.