Dr Shannon Klingman's 10-year obsession with body odor led to a $100M exit
Dr Shannon Klingman knew her new deodorant, Lume, could control body odor unlike any other product on the market. She just needed to get it out there.
But she had no business experience. Development partners all turned her down. And she was 47 years old.
It was all up to her. So she mortgaged her home, cashed out her 401K, and rolled up her sleeves.
4 years later, she would sell Lume to Harry’s for an estimated $100M.
In this episode, I share Dr. Klingman’s journey from a medical professional discovering a widespread misdiagnosis of bacterial vaginosis to an entrepreneur who single-handedly developed and marketed her invention in the face of industry rejection. Despite having no business background, her perseverance led to a viral marketing success, dramatically boosting Lume's sales and leading to its presence in major retailers like Target and Walmart.
This is a story of pure grit and determination. Please enjoy, and if you do, I would greatly appreciate a rating and review!
- 00:00 Welcome to the Obsession Podcast: The Lume Story
- 01:18 The Genesis of Lume: Dr. Shannon Klingman's Journey
- 02:52 From Rejection to Revolution: Building Lume Against the Odds
- 04:43 The Marketing Challenge: Educating the Market on a New Solution
- 05:29 Going Viral with the Harman Brothers: A Risky Bet Pays Off
- 07:47 The Sale to Harry's: A Bootstrapped Success Story
- 08:47 Dr. Klingman's Vision Beyond the Sale
- 10:26 Lume's Expansion and Dr. Klingman's Legacy
- 12:01 Closing Thoughts: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Dr. Shannon Klingman
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Links & further reading
The Capitalism.com podcast interview with Dr Shannon Klingman
