S4. Ep. 314 Natalie Holloway: Innovating Fitness, How Bala Changed the Game
Natalie Holloway reveals how a simple idea sparked during a frustrating yoga class grew into a fitness brand that reshaped an entire category.
Joining Lindsay Pinchuk, Natalie traces Bala’s beginnings from a gut-level insight to a Kickstarter launch and then to the turning point that came with Shark Tank. She talks openly about rapid growth, the reality of running out of inventory, and the tough moment when she realized their team had grown faster than the business itself. Natalie explains how scaling back helped Bala regain clarity and why a lean structure now drives their strongest year yet. She also offers practical direction for early founders who want a business that can last. How do you know when to trust an idea that feels small? What protects a young company when momentum hits faster than expected? Natalie’s answers land with experience and honesty, and this episode will leave you with a clearer sense of what sustainable growth really looks like.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Community And Support Matter For Women Founders Over 40
05:17 Who Is Natalie Holloway And What Is Bala Fitness
06:11 Leaving Advertising Burnout, Traveling Asia And Discovering The Bala Bangles Idea
11:34 From Side Hustle To Kickstarter Funding Bala’s First $40K Production Run
14:19 Grassroots Marketing On Shopify, Social Media And In Studios To Prove Product Market Fit
17:43 Shark Tank Appearance, Pandemic Fitness Boom And Bala’s Explosive Growth
21:47 Building Then Shrinking The Team: Lessons In Hiring Fast And Scaling Smarter
26:44 Expanding Beyond Bangles: Volifying Dumbbells, Power Rings And The Fitness Category
27:50 Best Year Yet: How Bala Became A Lean Profitable Business With Trusted Agency Partners
30:51 Natalie’s Top Three Lessons For Female Founders On Profit, Hiring And Passion
35:33 Three Immediate Action Steps For New Entrepreneurs: Research, P&L And Documenting On Social
Connect with Natalie Holloway:
Links:
