{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Growth Mavericks","title":"Bootstrapping, Burnout, and Breakthroughs with Po Campo Founder Maria Boustead","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/d0c14c63\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3359,"description":"In this episode of Growth Mavericks, Adam Callinan sits down with Maria Boustead, founder of Po Campo, to unpack one of the most honest startup journeys you’ll hear.Maria didn’t raise venture capital. She didn’t scale overnight. And for years, it didn’t look like it was “working.”But she kept going.From building prototypes with stapled fabric and Home Depot parts to landing major retail accounts like REI, Maria shares the real story behind building a consumer brand the hard way.This is a masterclass in patience, resilience, and staying in the game long enough to win.If you’re building something and wondering if it’s worth it — this episode is for you.🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS Why “overnight success” can take over a decade  The truth about product-market fit (and how long it really takes)  How to start a company without quitting your job  Why bootstrapping builds stronger businesses  The pros and cons of raising venture capital  How Maria scaled Po Campo into major retailers like REI  Why timing matters just as much as execution  The importance of staying in the game long enough to win ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro 01:00 – The Po Campo origin story 05:30 – Building the first prototype 10:00 – Finding manufacturers (the unconventional way) 15:00 – Early struggles and slow growth 22:00 – Why wholesale didn’t work at first 30:00 – The pricing problem 38:00 – When to quit your job (and when not to) 45:00 – The turning point after 10+ years 52:00 – COVID, e-bikes, and market timing 58:00 – Why VC funding isn’t always the answer 01:05:00 – Lessons on resilience and longevity🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Growth Mavericks Podcast: https://www.growthmaverickspodcast.com Pentane: https://www.pentane.com Po Campo: https://www.pocampo.com Po Campo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pocampobags Maria Boustead LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/AeBQQxJbUf-WSyMMarfVQi6SvNL8t1mMzevKk-UNMwA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jNmUw/MDA5ZGE4NzFhZWE0/YThiN2I0ODFkNzM0/YWRmNC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}