5 Questions for FounderMade CEO Meghan Asha

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By Marcy Medina | for The SKUpe

Meghan Asha is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of FounderMade, a platform and conference series that connects best-in-class consumer brands to retailers, distributors and investors. Over her career, she’s experienced entrepreneurship from every angle: She’s worked as an analyst for a venture capital firm, interviewed technology leaders for a weekly internet talk show and built her own digital media platform. She began bringing together her contacts from those earlier jobs as part of an intimate dinner series, which eventually evolved into FounderMade. 

What kinds of retailers do the FounderMade Innovation Shows attract? What are they looking for?
Our Innovation Shows attract a mix of large national retailers and smaller boutique stores. They’re looking for fresh, innovative products that their customers will love — especially from brands that stand out with a great story, unique features, or a focus on trends like sustainability and wellness.

How has retailer feedback shaped how you curate the show?
Retailers have told us they value innovative brands, so we focus on featuring brands that are retail-ready and category-defining for next-gen customers. We also offer panels and workshops to help retailers and brands learn from each other and stay ahead of trends. Their input makes our shows more focused and useful for everyone.

What was the most interesting takeaway from this month’s show?

In one of the best panels, retailers like Target, Whole Foods and Bluemercury talked about what they look for in brands. The biggest takeaway was how important storytelling is — retailers want products that connect with people emotionally. They also shared tips on using data and technology to improve the shopping experience, which was really eye-opening.

What are the biggest challenges for SMB retailers today?
SMB retailers face tough competition, especially from big online platforms. They also have to keep up with changing customer expectations, like wanting more personalized shopping experiences. Balancing in-store and online sales is another big challenge for them.

What’s your best piece of advice for a retail brand founder?
Authenticity and truth are key. Stay genuine in your mission and connect with your audience honestly. At the same time, avoid overcomplicating things — let concrete data guide your decisions. Balancing authenticity with a data-driven approach creates trust and drives success.

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The SKUpe is curated and written  by Marcy Medina and edited by Bianca Prieto