From Bootstrapped to Bought: Larry Kim’s $150M Journey l BRANDED+

Larry Kim built a $150 million company. Then he walked away.In this episode, Larry opens up about the pressure of scaling a company from nothing, the emotional toll of success, and why he chose to start again—this time betting on AI.As the founder of WordStream, Larry helped businesses spend over $1 billion on digital ads. But behind the numbers was a founder grappling with burnout, imposter syndrome, and a growing belief that the ad industry was broken.Now, as CEO of Customers.AI, he’s building something radically different—a platform that finds customers without wasting money on ads. He reveals the mistakes that nearly broke him, the moments that defined him, and what it really takes to walk away from something you built.This is a conversation about obsession, reinvention, and the uncomfortable truth behind growth at all costs.