Betting on Yourself: How Anne Mahlum Built a $100M Empire
From a North Dakota childhood shaped by reinvention to a $100M exit and a $35M investing run, Anne Mahlum’s story is a masterclass in conviction, resilience, and ownership.
In this powerful episode, the founder of Back on My Feet and solidcore pulls back the curtain on the defining moments that shaped her rise. In this episode, you’ll learn:
The unconventional decisions that shaped Anne’s rise
What conviction looks like when the stakes are high
Lessons from scaling solidcore far beyond virality
How to turn adversity into fuel — not fear
The ownership mindset every founder, investor, and leader needs to hear
Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, Anne's philosophy is a blueprint for betting on yourself — loudly, unapologetically, and with full skin in the game.
Before we dive in, a special thank you to our episode sponsor, Newton Street — a women-led strategic communications firm that brings people and ideas together to change the world. They advise global health organizations, philanthropies, family offices, high-profile leaders, social impact groups, and forward-looking companies tackling some of the most complex issues of our time. Their work sits at the intersection of influence and impact — and we’re proud to have them support this episode.
Timestamps / Key Takeaways
0:00 - Intro
01:42 - North Dakota beginnings and how her father’s gambling addiction shaped her drive
03:40 - From running to purpose: The birth of Back on My Feet
05:51 - Reinvention & “This is my next thing” — solidcore
09:09 - “I went all in”: turning down the $75K offer & fighting against lawsuits while scaling
12:49 - Bootstrapping to 25 studios; the first PE deal with nearly $60M valuation
15:24 - “I wanted $100M and I did it,” — the exit from solidcore
18:43 - Growing $35M from the $100M; Anne’s investment playbook
23:03 - Billion Dollar Questions with Anne Mahlum
25:37 - Recap: conviction, ownership, and leadership that lasts
About Anne Mahlum
Anne Mahlum is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and keynote speaker. She founded Back on My Feet in 2007 — a nonprofit that uses running and community to help individuals experiencing homelessness achieve self-sufficiency.
In 2013, she launched solidcore, a boutique fitness company; she bootstrapped it with her life savings (~US$175,000), scaled it to over 100+ studios, raised more than US$200 million, and eventually sold her shares in 2023.
A self-made entrepreneur with a net worth exceeding US$100 million, Anne is now focused on investing, advisory work, writing, and speaking on leadership, boldness, and social change.
FOLLOW ANNE:
https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum
https://x.com/AnneMahlum
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Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network
In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies.
From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond.
Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder.
This isn’t just another business podcast. This is your billion-dollar playbook.
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