How Kass & Mike Sold Their Startup for $1 Billion to Salesforce

On this powerful episode of The Truth Hurts Show, Brian and Makan are joined by legendary founders Kass and Mike Lazerow, whose journey spans billion-dollar exits, devastating losses, and a mission to uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs.Together they built Buddy Media, sold to Salesforce for nearly $1B, and now lead a $400M venture fund investing in dreamers and doers. But behind the numbers is a story of family, resilience, and hard-won lessons from the trenches.They talk trauma, teamwork, radical transparency, and why building a company is the “best kind of hell.” If you’re building anything — or rebuilding yourself — this episode will light a fire under you.This is legacy leadership, startup war stories, and real talk for anyone chasing greatness.Kass and Mike's Links:Website: https://kassandmike.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassandmikeFollow US!YouTube: @TruthHurtsShow Brian's LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangoldphdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briangoldphdMakan's Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makan_mostafaviTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makanmostafaviTimestamps: 0:00 Welcome Kass and Mike!02:21 – The Journey of Buddy Media04:40 – Early Ventures and Lessons Learned11:48 – The Birth of Buddy Media18:17 – Scaling and Success of Buddy Media22:21 – Acquisition by Salesforce28:48 – Family Dynamics and Personal Reflections29:20 – Entrepreneurial Traits 30:15 – Balancing Family and Business30:38 – Investing in Startups and Deal Flow37:16 – Operational Strategies and Cheat Codes44:39 – Focus and Prioritization in Business50:32 – Humility and Giving Back01:02:58 – The Value of Failure01:03:10 – Hiring Cheat Codes: Athletes, Vets, and Moms01:03:50 – The Importance of Team Sports01:04:40 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship01:07:15 – Generational Workforce Concerns01:09:46 – The Role of Money and Family01:10:29 – Meeting Maha and Building Relationships01:22:17 – Advice for Entrepreneurs01:28:45 – Where to Find UsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.