What was Danny's first business after telemarketing?

Danny's first business at age 24 was a restaurant, which he ran for three to four years before moving into the hotel furniture import/export business.

How did Danny get into the supplement industry with IM8?

After Prenetics faced a significant market cap drop post-COVID, Danny met David Beckham, who shared challenges with managing multiple supplements. This led Danny to explore the supplement category, convincing Beckham to co-found IM8 with him, focusing on a simplified daily essentials drink.

What makes IM8 different from other supplement brands?

IM8 stands out with its 'red drink' formulation (containing ingredients like beets), a focus on taste, premium unboxing experience, and a simple daily powder that replaces 16+ supplements. It also emphasizes scientific backing with a world-class advisory board and third-party testing.

How did Prenetics become a major COVID-19 testing provider in Hong Kong?

Initially offering at-home PCR tests at a lower price than hospitals, Prenetics was later contracted by the Hong Kong government for mass community testing. Their technological background and accurate, reliable testing (avoiding false positives/negatives) led to them becoming the mandated testing provider for all arrivals.

What is Danny's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Danny stresses building the best product, being involved in every part of the business, and maintaining a balance between 'delusion' (faith in the vision) and 'hyper-realism' (data-driven decisions). He emphasizes that true entrepreneurship involves taking calculated risks that employees or CEOs might avoid.

How does IM8 market its products so effectively?

IM8 leverages a massive volume of scaled Meta ads, testing hundreds of creators weekly. They maintain a 'creative machine' utilizing ambassadors and affiliates, actively managing creator fatigue. They also emphasize offline events to build brand authenticity and connection, especially in the age of AI.

What key lessons did Danny learn from his early telemarketing days?

Telemarketing taught Danny resilience, the importance of a thick skin, and how to handle rejection by 'pricing the word no.' This experience made him comfortable approaching anyone and reinforced that success often comes after numerous 'nos,' which is critical for fundraising and sales.

Key Moments

I've scaled 3 different companies to 9 figures. Here's how.

My First Million

Entertainment5 min read53 min video

Sep 7, 2026|19,240 views|159|64

my first million my first million podcast my first million podcast episodes the hustle the hustle daily the hustle trends shaan puri sam parr sam parr the hustle the hustle podcast the hustle podcast my first million startup podcast

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Danny Yeung scaled three companies to nine figures, including a $200M supplement brand in 18 months, by prioritizing product quality, relentless testing, and a founder's grit.

Key Insights

Yeung's company, IM8, achieved a $100M annual revenue run rate in 11 months and a $200M run rate in 18 months, significantly faster than competitors like Huel (22 months to $1.2B acquisition) and AG1 (10 years to $100M).

During COVID-19, Yeung's company Prenetics performed 40,000 PCR tests daily, generating over $700 million in revenue in three years and listing on NASDAQ in 2022.

IM8 replaced 16 different supplements with a single daily powder, costing $90 per month, compared to an estimated $250-$300 for individual supplements.

To ensure product efficacy, IM8 partnered with a scientific advisory board including Dr. Don Musum (Mayo Clinic) and James Green (former NASA chief of science), and conducted clinical trials and third-party testing by Eurofins and NSF.

IM8 runs 2,000-3,000 ads live at any given time, testing 500-800 creators weekly, and invests heavily in offline events (200+ held) to build brand authenticity and community.

Yeung attributes his entrepreneurial resilience to his early experiences dropping out of high school and working in telemarketing, where he learned to handle rejection and operate with limited information.

Rapid ascent in the supplement market with IM8

Danny Yeung's latest venture, IM8, has achieved remarkable growth, reaching a $100 million annual revenue run rate in just 11 months and a $200 million run rate in 18 months. This pace outstrips established players like Huel, which took 22 months to reach a valuation leading to a $1.2 billion acquisition, and AG1, which took a decade to hit $100 million in revenue. IM8's success is attributed to its innovative product, which consolidates 16 different supplements into a single daily powder, offered at $90 per month, a significant reduction from the estimated $250-$300 cost of purchasing those supplements individually. The company's strategy centers on a superior product, unique branding (a red powder instead of the common green), and aggressive, data-driven marketing.

Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic for explosive growth

Yeung's previous company, Prenetics, a life sciences and DNA testing firm founded in 2014, was strategically positioned to capitalize on the COVID-19 pandemic. Within two weeks of the pandemic's onset, Prenetics developed and launched a COVID PCR testing kit, quickly becoming Hong Kong's and the UK's leading provider. At its peak, the company was conducting 40,000 PCR tests daily, ultimately performing 28 million tests over three years. This period saw Prenetics generate over $700 million in revenue, with net profits exceeding $100 million. The company's significant role led to its listing on NASDAQ in 2022, making its tests mandatory for all arrivals in Hong Kong.

Navigating market cap collapse and pivoting to supplements

Following the boom of COVID-19 testing, Prenetics experienced a dramatic market cap decline, falling from over $1 billion to approximately $50 million within 18 months. This significant drop highlighted the volatile nature of businesses tied to specific market conditions. During this challenging period, Yeung met David Beckham, who shared frustrations with the overwhelming number of supplements required for a daily routine. This conversation sparked the idea for IM8. Yeung proposed a co-founder role to Beckham, emphasizing that the brand needed to transcend celebrity status and establish its own longevity. This pivot into the highly competitive supplement market, initially met with skepticism from his board due to his lack of direct experience, became the foundation for IM8.

Building a product based on science and consumer needs

Yeung's approach to creating IM8 prioritized scientific validation and consumer experience. He assembled a world-class scientific advisory board, including Dr. Don Musum from Mayo Clinic and James Green, former chief of science at NASA, to help formulate the product. The company also conducted clinical trials and secured third-party testing from Eurofins and NSF, ensuring the product is free from banned substances, a critical factor for athletes. A key focus was also on taste, with Yeung spending a week testing dozens of flavors to ensure palatability, recognizing that even the best product won't succeed if consumers dislike drinking it. This meticulous attention to both scientific backing and user experience is central to IM8's value proposition.

Aggressive marketing and content creation machine

IM8 employs a massive-scale marketing strategy, running 2,000-3,000 ads simultaneously on Meta platforms and testing 500-800 creators weekly. The company leverages a combination of famous ambassadors, affiliate creators, and internal studio production to generate a constant stream of diverse content tailored to different customer personas. This relentless testing and creative output are crucial for maintaining engagement and overcoming creative fatigue. Furthermore, IM8 has hosted over 200 offline events, a strategy Yeung believes is vital for building brand authenticity and community, especially in an age of AI-generated content. These events allow direct interaction with scientific advisors and formulators, reinforcing the brand's commitment to science and transparency.

The genesis of an entrepreneurial mindset: resilience and street smarts

Yeung's entrepreneurial philosophy is deeply rooted in his challenging youth, including dropping out of high school and working as a telemarketer at 15. This experience taught him invaluable lessons in resilience, handling rejection, and operating with limited information. He views his ability to 'figure things out' on the fly as a critical asset. This 'street smart' approach allowed him to secure significant deals, such as the $4 million contract with MGM for hotel furniture, by persistently cold-calling and demonstrating value. The high rejection rate in telemarketing (90-95%) instilled a thick skin, which he applies to investor pitches and business negotiations, viewing each 'no' as a step closer to a 'yes'—a concept echoed by his uncle's strategy of 'putting a price on the word no'.

Founder's duality: balancing delusion and realism

Yeung emphasizes that successful entrepreneurship requires a delicate balance between delusion and realism. Founders must possess the delusional belief to pursue ambitious goals with little evidence, fostering faith and conviction against market or expert advice. However, they must also be capable of switching to hyper-realism to make sound decisions and navigate challenges. He argues that those who are never delusional become employees, while those who are only delusional end up as failed founders. The art lies in knowing when to employ each mode, a skill Yeung demonstrated when pivoting Prenetics' business model post-COVID and when launching IM8 into a crowded supplement market despite his board's initial reservations. This ability to take calculated risks, stemming from a founder's deep stake in the venture, differentiates them from hired CEOs.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Supplements

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●People Referenced

Entrepreneurial Success Factors

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Focus on building the best product in the market.

Be deeply involved in all key aspects of the business.

Maintain a balance between delusion (faith in vision) and hyper-realism (data-driven decisions).

Prioritize delivering greater value to customers and partners.

Be persistent and resilient in the face of rejection.

Develop a thick skin and learn to 'price the word no'.

Avoid This

Don't rely solely on celebrity endorsement; ensure the brand lives beyond them.

Don't ignore taste profile; it's crucial for product adoption.

Don't enter new markets like China with the same business model as the US.

Don't be afraid to make drastic cuts when necessary, even if difficult.

Don't mistake a CEO's conservative approach for a founder's necessary risk-taking.

Don't think there are 'hacks' to success; focus on being genuinely better.

Supplement Brand Growth Comparison

Data extracted from this episode

Brand	Time to $100M Revenue Run Rate	Acquisition Value (if applicable)
IM8	11 months	N/A (Public Company)
Groom	22 months	$1.2 billion
Ag1	10 years	N/A

IM8 Financials

Data extracted from this episode

Metric	Value	Timeframe
Revenue Run Rate	$100 million	11 months
Revenue Run Rate	$200 million	18 months
Monthly Revenue	$20 million	Recent (after 20 months)
Average Order Value (AOV)	$230	Q1
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)	$305	Q1
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)	$301	Q2 (after doubling marketing spend)
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)	$239	July
Marketing Spend	$17 million	Q1
Marketing Spend	$33 million	Q2

Common Questions

Danny started telemarketing at 15 selling timeshares, which taught him resilience, street smarts, and how to handle rejection. This foundational experience, coupled with his ability to adapt and learn, paved the way for his later ventures in restaurants, hotel furniture, e-commerce, and life sciences.

Topics

Health & Longevity Business & Entrepreneurship Product Development Brand-building Marketing Strategy Supplement Industry Entrepreneurial Mindset Startup Scaling

Mentioned in this video

Companies

Groupon

Danny's first e-commerce company in Hong Kong was acquired by Groupon, making it the largest e-commerce company in the region.

Prenetics

Danny founded Prenetics, an early life sciences DNA testing company, which later pivoted to COVID-19 testing and listed on NASDAQ.

IM8

Danny's current business, a supplement brand co-founded with David Beckham, focusing on daily essentials in a powder form.

Starter Story

Mentioned as a source for vetted business ideas based on real problems and market gaps.

Method Soap

A brand mentioned as an example of successful packaging and positioning, differentiating itself in a crowded market.

Golden Hippo

Craig Clemens' e-commerce company that generates hundreds of millions in sales.

MGM

Danny secured a $4 million contract with MGM for hotel furniture after persistent cold-calling.

Q Health

A COVID-19 testing company that, along with others, went bankrupt after overbuilding post-pandemic.

Lucera

A COVID-19 testing company that went bankrupt after overbuilding post-pandemic.

Locations

MGM City Center

Danny worked on hotel furniture projects for the MGM City Center in Las Vegas.

People

David Beckham

Danny met David Beckham, which led to a collaboration in the supplement category and the co-founding of IM8.

Victoria Beckham

Mentioned alongside David Beckham as experiencing the overwhelm of the supplement category.

Don Musum

A member of IM8's scientific advisory board from Mayo Clinic, who helped formulate the product.

James Green

Former chief science officer at NASA and a member of IM8's scientific advisory board.

Suzanne Decoda

Director of microbiome at Cedar Sinai and a member of IM8's scientific advisory board.

Eric Ryan

Co-founder of Method and Olly, known for his expertise in packaging and positioning.

Craig Clemens

A guest on the podcast and founder of Golden Hippo, who also started in telemarketing.

Uncle Vinnie

A door-to-door salesman who taught the host the value of 'pricing the word no' to overcome rejection.

Paul Graham

Author of the 'founder mode' blog post, which discusses the unique mindset required for entrepreneurs.

Mike Whitmire

Sold his company, a leader in buying/selling gold online, to the host and shared insights on SEO and the importance of being the best rather than relying on 'hacks'.

Products

AG1

Ag1 is mentioned as a competitor in the supplement market, noting it took 10 years to reach $100 million in revenue, contrasting with IM8's faster growth.

Supplements

CoQ10