{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Going from Startup to Shark Tank with Krish Himmatramka","description":"Brian chats with Krish Himmatramka, the founder of Do Amore, which sells ethically sourced engagement rings to further its mission of providing clean water to people in developing countries. On the episode, Krish shares his journey from mechanical engineer to mission-driven entrepreneur, including his experience on the hit TV show Shark Tank. He also provides insights into building a for-profit brand that makes an impact and details how he scaled his business from an $18,000 investment to netting $40 million in sales. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses change lives. Krish defines a mission-driven business as one where you want to make money and use some of that money to improve a community -- whether that community is small and local or the entire world. His company, Do Amore, fulfills its mission by bringing clean water to a person in a developing country every time a customer buys an engagement or wedding ring. \u201cDo Amore is basically the most ethical engagement ring and wedding ring company in the world,\u201d Krish said. \u201cThis way a couple can use their life-changing moment to actually change another life forever.\u201d Make an ethical case for a for-profit company. Before Krish started Do Amore, he saw many nonprofit businesses trying to bring people clean water, but few that made a significant impact at fulfilling that mission. Rather than starting yet another nonprofit, he thought he could positively change more lives by funding nonprofit work with the sales from a for-profit business that sold something expensive at a large volume -- like engagement rings. \u201cI focused on making an ethical ring for my girlfriend that actually helped the world,\u201d Krish said. \u201cThe best way to do this was to sell something expensive that was high volume and high profit margin, so that every time we sell something, we could make a massive difference.\u201d Keep a startup mentality. Krish saved $18,000 to start his business, and it\u2019s the only money he needed to invest. He largely credits the success to avoiding inventory costs by only making orders after receiving payment from a customer, but he also says putting his savings into the company forced him to make the business work. \u201cIt was a very slow and steady process,\u201d Krish said. \u201cYou start with selling one ring a month, then the next month selling three, then five.\u201d Advertise your mission -- especially on SharkTank. After years of slow but steady growth, Krish says two decisions were crucial to building Do Amore\u2019s momentum: (1) Migrating to a \u201creal website\u201d that he didn\u2019t build himself and (2) paying for advertising. Another great way to advertise? Being on the hit TV show Shark Tank, as Krish can attest since he was featured on Season 13 of the show. \u201cHaving people like Mark Cuban and Kevin O\u2019Leary talking to you on the screen adds some trust,\u201d Krish said. \u201cI think it added a trust component for us.\u201d Resources + Links Watch Krish\u2019s Shark Tank episode Do Amore: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest Krish\u2019s Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn Brian\u2019s Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast Brian Thompson, JD\/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit. On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too. ","author_name":"Mission Driven Business","author_url":"https:\/\/btfinancial.com\/podcast","html":"