Billionaire Mike Repole Warns Against Entrepreneurship

The Dark Side of Building a Business

Mike Repole, the billionaire entrepreneur behind successful brands like Smartwater and Vitaminwater, is sounding a cautionary note for aspiring entrepreneurs. Despite his own success - having co-founded Glaceau and BodyArmor before selling them to Coca-Cola for a total of $9.7 billion - Repole advises against pursuing entrepreneurship.

High-Risk Reality of Business Ownership

Repole shares his candid perspective in an interview with The School of Hard Knocks, a platform known for featuring interviews with wealthy entrepreneurs. He emphasizes that the first five years of running a business are essentially a 'survival period'. The risk of bankruptcy is ever-present during this time, with Repole stating, "Every day, you could go bankrupt."

From Startup to Billion-Dollar Exit

Repole's entrepreneurial journey began in 1999 when he co-founded Glaceau with J. Darius Bikoff. The company started with just $1 million in sales in its first year but grew rapidly to over $1 billion by 2007. This success culminated in Coca-Cola acquiring the company for $4.1 billion. Repole later co-founded BodyArmor, another brand that achieved significant success before being acquired by Coca-Cola.

Lessons from a Seasoned Entrepreneur

While Repole's story is often cited as an example of entrepreneurial success, he chooses to focus on the challenges and risks involved. His warning to potential entrepreneurs is clear: the path to building a successful business is fraught with difficulties, and the risk of failure is constant. This perspective serves as a counter-narrative to the often-glorified stories of startup successes.