EP 112: How He Built and Sold a $100M Startup Twice | Dan Rosenberg

<p>He built a $100M creator platform—and sold it twice. Here’s what actually happens after the deal closes.</p><p>Daniel Rosenberg, cofounder of Represent.com, shares how he helped creators and celebrities sell products without upfront cost using on-demand production. This removed the biggest barrier for creators: launching a business without upfront cost or inventory risk.</p><p>In this episode, he explains how Represent grew by working with top talent, why they focused on fewer, higher-value creators, and the risks that came with scaling fast. He also breaks down what really happens when you sell a company—from long deal processes to post-acquisition challenges.</p><p>Daniel also shares how the creator economy is changing. Today, creators don’t just want sponsorships—they want ownership and equity.</p><p><strong>What you’ll learn in this episode:</strong>If you’re building a startup or thinking about exits, this episode gives you real, practical insights.</p><ul><li><p>How creators sell products without upfront cost</p></li><li><p>Why choosing the right market matters</p></li><li><p>The risks of scaling through big deals</p></li><li><p>What actually happens during an acquisition</p></li><li><p>Why many deals fall apart</p></li><li><p>How the creator economy is shifting toward ownership</p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Raising capital?</strong></p><p>Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here:<a href="https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders"> </a><a href="https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+112&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits"><u>https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders?utm_source=Youtube&amp;utm_medium=EP+112&amp;utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits</u></a></p><p>Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips:</p><p><a href="https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=EP+112&utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits"><u>https://blog.thunder.vc/funding-101?utm_source=Youtube&amp;utm_medium=EP+112&amp;utm_campaign=%24100M+Exits</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Here&#39;s what you&#39;re in for:</strong></p><p>00:00 Meet Daniel Rosenberg </p><p>00:49 Represent Origin Story</p><p>03:07 Landing Big Talent</p><p>05:26 Growth Engine Explained</p><p>07:49 Mayweather Cash Drop</p><p>10:06 Licensing With Major IP</p><p>11:01 Affiliate Versus Celebrity Focus</p><p>15:05 Custom Ink Acquisition</p><p>18:18 Deal Terms And Earnout</p><p>19:59 Diligence Distraction Lessons</p><p>21:40 Post Merger Integration</p><p>25:10 Selling To Cameo</p><p>29:37 Cameo Integration Reality Check</p><p>33:33 Why Dan Stepped Away</p><p>35:51 Ownership Shift In Creator Economy</p><p>38:20 Partnering With Creators</p><p>40:57 Risks And Who Should Worry</p><p>43:12 Resources And Closing</p><p><br></p><p><strong>ABOUT DANIEL ROSENBERG </strong></p><p>Daniel “Dan” Rosenberg is a founder and entrepreneur best known for building Represent.com, a platform that helped creators and celebrities sell merchandise without upfront cost.</p><p>He scaled the company to a $100M+ exit, selling it to Custom Ink, and later helped lead another sale to Cameo.</p><p>Today, he focuses on the creator economy through Material Group, where he works with creators to build businesses where they have ownership—not just sponsorship deals.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>You can reach out to Daniel through:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn:<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrosenberg1/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrosenberg1/</u></a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.materialgroup.co/"><u>https://www.materialgroup.co/</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>ABOUT JASON KIRBY</strong></p><p>Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder, a tech-enabled investment bank helping founders reach their ideal target outcomes through capital strategy and M&amp;A. </p><p>He is a serial entrepreneur with four exits and decades of experience in fundraising, M&amp;A, and business building. In his ca