Brian Elliot: Co-founder, Faubion
The Old Grad Story:
Brian’s always had the entrepreneurial bug. As a Captain, Brian began running test cases for entrepreneurship ideas and after leaving the Army, he helped take Aldyn through two rounds of funding (totaling $3.1M), then left to cofound Faubion Jewelry.
Old Grad Knowledge:
I think advice for people who are thinking about starting is the only barrier to entry is yourself. You could be working on something right after this call. Anything that you think is less than ideal with significant space and is 2/3 of either better, faster, or cheaper and you’re probably going to be wrong but that’s okay. It’s more or less getting over your own self doubt which is the biggest barrier to entry for most folks.
The Faubion Jewelry Pitch
· Faubion offers a new way to get an engagement ring – as a couple, with the consultation of expert jewelers who can walk them through the process.
· Couples submit photos they like and receive both 3-D models and customized prototypes within 72 hours, all without the steep deposits charged by competitors.
· Advantages in 3-D printing, industry context, supplier connections and vertically integrated manufacturing make this possible and differentiate Faubion from their competitors.
· Faubion is currently investing in a rebranding effort and website overhaul to create a premium customer experience; the company’s new site is set to launch 10/1/2021.
· Through their novel approach to jewelry shopping and personalized consultation to each customer, Faubion hopes to become the lifelong jeweler for all of their clients, and to expand into more markets.
Charlie Hanna's Venture Capital Perspective
· Bringing in the industry experience and connections provides Faubion an enormous advantage.
· The focus on developing a premium brand and superior customer experience is critical in luxury consumer goods markets.
· Winning over influencers is a significant advantage and should be a focus area on go to market.
