Events

Inside Bala: Building (and Bootstrapping) a $100M Brand Without a Traditional Startup Playbook

​In this conversation, we’re sitting down with Natalie Holloway, cofounder and CEO of Bala, the design-led fitness company behind the viral Bala Bangles.

Date

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 10:00 AM PDT


RSVP HERE - REQUIRED TO ATTEND

In the world of consumer brands, the dominant narrative often centers around venture capital, rapid fundraising, and hyper-growth. But some of the most enduring brands are built differently, through discipline, creative positioning, and founders who learn to turn limited resources into real momentum.
 
In this conversation, we’re sitting down with Natalie Holloway, cofounder and CEO of Bala, the design-led fitness company behind the viral Bala Bangles. Since launching in 2018 with just $5,000, Natalie has helped grow Bala into a global brand with more than $100 million in sales. Along the way, the company landed a deal on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova, expanded into major retailers, and built a devoted community around modern movement and wellness.
 
For founders building consumer brands today, Natalie’s journey offers a different kind of blueprint. One rooted in thoughtful product design, early brand clarity, disciplined growth, and the willingness to bootstrap long enough to build real leverage.
 
In this LinkedIn Live conversation, we’ll unpack what it actually takes to build a breakout consumer brand without following the traditional startup playbook. Natalie will share the practical lessons behind Bala’s growth, including how to launch with limited capital, how to create early momentum around a product, how to make smart hiring decisions as the business grows, and how founders can think about scaling a brand without losing control of the vision that made it work in the first place.
 
Whether you’re in the earliest stages of launching a product or already navigating the messy middle of growth, this session will offer a candid look at the systems, mindset, and decisions behind building a brand from the ground up.


About Natalie Holloway
Natalie Holloway is the co-founder of Bala, the cult-favorite fitness brand known for redefining the movement category. Since launching in 2018, she has helped grow Bala into a household name in wellness, landing a deal on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova, generating well over $150 million in sales, and building a devoted global community along the way. She is also an angel investor and the author of Bootstrap Empire (Wiley, 2026), a practical guide to building a brand from the ground up. A mother of three, Natalie shares the real highs and lows of entrepreneurship on her podcast Hot Takes, Big Stakes, where she interviews successful founders and operators to inspire and guide the next generation of business leaders.

Events

Upcoming Events

From summits, to courses, to workshops, to meet-ups and ask-me-anythings - there is something for everyone here. Listen in, attend in person or virtually, ask questions, or simply add to your when-you-can checklist of everything you need to know.

Already a member? Click here!

Apr

8

10th House HUddles

Bridal Huddle

Members only!

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Are you a building a Bridal business? Come join this 10th House Huddle to meet and network with fellow founders!

Register now

Apr

10

Community Conversation

Early-Stage Relationship Pitching and Deck Designs

Members only!

Friday, April 10, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Register now

Apr

14

LinkedIn Live

Inside the Investor Mind: What Makes a Consumer Brand Fundable

Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:30 AM PDT

In this LinkedIn Live conversation, we sit down with Cristina Nuñez, cofounder of True Beauty Ventures, to unpack what investors are actually looking for when evaluating early-stage consumer brands.

Register now

Apr

15

10th House HUddles

Fashion & Accessories Huddle

Members only!

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Are you a building a Fashion or Accessory business? Come join this 10th House Huddle to meet and network with fellow founders!

Register now

Apr

15

City Sessions

New Year Refresh: FFC x Belong NYC Happy Hour

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT

Join us at a special evening hosted by FFC x BELONG NYC.

Register now

Apr

17

The Pitch

Business Services Huddle

Members only!

Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Are you a building a Business Services business? Come join this 10th House Huddle to meet and network with fellow founders!

Register now

Apr

22

10th House HUddles

Health & Wellness Huddles

Members only!

Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Are you a building a Health or Wellness business? Come join this 10th House Huddle to meet and network with fellow founders!

Register now

Apr

23

LinkedIn Live

Inside Bala: Building (and Bootstrapping) a $100M Brand Without a Traditional Startup Playbook

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 10:00 AM PDT

​In this conversation, we’re sitting down with Natalie Holloway, cofounder and CEO of Bala, the design-led fitness company behind the viral Bala Bangles.

Register now

Apr

23

City Sessions

{CHICAGO, IL} Member Mingle

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 12:30 PM CDT

Join Chicago's female founders for 90 minutes that feel less like networking and more like coming home.

Register now

Apr

24

10th House HUddles

Home & Design Huddle

Members only!

Friday, April 24, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Are you a building a Home or Design business? Come join this 10th House Huddle to meet and network with fellow founders!

Register now

May

1

City Sessions

{ASTORIA, NY} Member Mingle

Friday, May 1, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT

Join celebrity hairstylist and Beauty Social Salon founder Angela Calisti for a hands-on beauty event focused on achieving the perfect blowout and everyday styling techniques.

Register now

May

6

Community Conversation

From Idea to Impact: Building Products Customers Love

Members only!

Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

Join us for an in-depth conversation exploring the product-building frameworks behind the world’s fastest-growing companies!

Register now