Kim Perell - Serial Entrepreneur & Author | From Bankruptcy to $235 Million Exit Against All Odds

Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Kim Perell - Serial Entrepreneur & Author | From Bankruptcy to $235 Million Exit Against All Odds

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Published on Jul 23, 2025, 7:00:00 PM
Total time: 00:51:41

Episode Description

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Kim Perell is a powerhouse serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and keynote speaker who has founded and exited multiple tech companies, including turning Frontline Direct into a $100 million business and selling Adconion/Amobee for $235 million. A magna cum laude graduate from Pepperdine University, Kim has written two bestselling business books—The Execution Factor and Jump—and invested in over 100 startups, driving more than 10 successful exits. Recognized with awards like Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and AdAge Marketing Technology Trailblazer, she now leads the AI-powered brand incubator 100.co from Miami, balancing her high-impact career with life as a mother of two sets of twins.


➡️ Show Links

https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/ 

https://x.com/kimperell/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/ 


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➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro

01:27 – Mistakes Fuel Success

04:32 – Starting with Confidence

07:52 – No Support? Start Anyway

09:00 – #1 Trait for Entrepreneurs

10:06 – Can Anyone Be an Entrepreneur?

12:15 – Hard Lessons, Real Growth

14:34 – Best Hiring Advice

15:14 – Sponsor Break

17:22 – The Mistake No One Talks About

19:24 – The Power of Asking for Help

20:46 – What to Solve vs What to Ask For

23:37 – Business Is Personal

26:48 – What Drives Founders?

27:38 – Kim’s Personal ‘Why’

29:11 – Her 3R Mistake Framework

33:59 – Learning to Pivot

36:24 – Sponsor Break

38:02 – How Kim Builds Differently Now

39:16 – Which Problems Are Worth It?

41:31 – Stories That Excite Investors

42:26 – Mistakes That Kill Startups

45:17 – Top Takeaway from Her Book

45:41 – The Right Startup Motivation

46:11 – Entrepreneurship Misconceptions

48:00 – The Personal Cost of Success

50:54 – Advice for Her Kids

More about Success Story with Scott D. Clary

Welcome to the Success Story Podcast, hosted by entrepreneur, business executive, author, educator & speaker, Scott D. Clary (@scottdclary). On this podcast, you'll find interviews, Q&A, keynote presentations & conversations on sales, marketing, business, startups and entrepreneurship. Scott will discuss some of the lessons he's learned over his own career, as well as have candid interviews with execs, celebrities, notable figures and politicians. All who have achieved success through both wins and losses, to learn more about their life, their ideas and insights. He sits down with leaders and mentors and unpacks their story to help pass those lessons onto others through both experiences and tactical strategy for business professionals, entrepreneurs and everyone in between. To get more of the Success Story podcast, go to www.successstorypodcast.com.