“I don't think you need to raise money. And I feel like everybody tells you that you have to.… You don't have to be the next anthropic and you probably won't be.” Michelle Wahler · How I Built This (Guy Raz)
Startups & Venture · September 2026
Guy Raz asks the Beyond Yoga co-founder which startup advice she thinks is BS. She says bringing on investors makes the exit the focus and changes a company's trajectory, and she argues for smaller, sustainable businesses on the founder's own terms.
Transcript
Yes. And, you know, I'm trying to share whatever nuggets of wisdom I have, whether it's, you know, the storytelling, whether it's, you know, sometimes people just want you to listen. Sometimes people need advice. Sometimes people need a connection to somebody who can do, you know, the web programming or the marketing or, you know, help them with inventory. And so that's the fun part. Like for me, I always kind of wanted to be a matchmaker. That was like my thing when I was in high school and college. And now I feel like I get to be a matchmaker by helping people find the right things they need for their business, but also helping entrepreneurs find the right people that they need at the right time.
I mean, now that you, again, you have some distance from it and you've looked back on it, we did on the show. What is a piece of startup advice that many people get and maybe you got that you think is just a bunch of BS?
Oh, BS. I don't think you need to raise money. And I feel like everybody tells you that you have to. I think you need to know what motivates you and what you want your business to be. I know you don't have to have it all figured out at the beginning, but I think a lot of people like come in it with an exit plan. And you don't need to do that. You need to think about what is motivating you. Why are you starting this? And really lean into that and build a sustainable business and not focus on the exit. You know, once people start bringing on investors, that becomes the focus and that changes the trajectory of your company. So as long as you can do things on your terms, I say do it. You don't have to be the next anthropic and you probably won't be. But there's nothing wrong with building a smaller, sustainable business that gives you the freedom to live your life and support yourself. And you don't have to chase a mammoth exit.
Yeah, fair enough. Michelle, what do you say? Should we take our first call?
I love it. Let's do it. All right,
let's do it. Welcome to the advice line you're on with Michelle Wheeler, co-founder of Beyond Yoga. Please tell us your name, where you're calling from, and just one line, please, about your business.
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