From Vision to Traction: Scaling with Chris Van Dusen

In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Chris Van Dusen—a seasoned operator, investor, and marketer—who has built and scaled brands from scratch, led three successful exits, and now serves as a Senior Partner at Salico Capital. Broadcasting from Huntington Beach, California, Chris shares how he went from “accidental entrepreneur” to leading strategic growth investments for top-tier clients.

Chris walks us through his journey from finance to founding a CBD brand, a craft distillery, and a beauty care company. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at scaling businesses quickly, the hard lessons learned during COVID, and what he looks for when evaluating operators and startups.

He also shares practical mindset advice for founders, including his powerful "buffalo vs. cow" metaphor and why discomfort is a daily training ground for success.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to identify high-potential operators and ideas

• Why discomfort is crucial for growth

• How to scale a business without sacrificing brand

• Lessons from rapid growth, leadership, and navigating uncertainty

• Why jiu-jitsu helps prepare you for entrepreneurship

 

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