Fellow Founder Jake Miller's Passion-Driven Journey: From 73 Rejections to $30M Success
Jake Miller, the visionary founder behind the innovative coffee accessory company Fellow, firmly believes that pursuing one's passion is the cornerstone of true career fulfillment. In a revealing interview with Fortune, Miller detailed his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, which was marked by an astonishing 73 rejections from institutional investors before achieving breakthrough success.
The Litmus Test of Passion
Miller, now 41, described how the challenging early days served as a crucial litmus test for his commitment. "Does this career get me out of my bed in the morning without any pay?" he questioned. For Miller, founding Fellow provided the resounding answer. "Great entrepreneurs all think the same way. Nothing was going to stop me," he declared with conviction.
The San Francisco-based company has grown impressively, now employing over 100 dedicated professionals. Fellow's journey from humble crowdfunding beginnings to attracting substantial venture capital is particularly noteworthy. The company recently secured an impressive $30 million in a Series B funding round, with notable participation from venture capitalist Peter Fenton, whose early investments included industry giants like Yelp and Twitter (now X under Elon Musk's leadership).
From Stanford Idea to Global Enterprise
Miller's entrepreneurial spark ignited during his MBA studies at Stanford University, where he conceived the idea for a minimalist, dual-purpose coffee steeper designed for both hot and cold brews. This innovative concept has since evolved into a comprehensive company that retails an extensive range of coffee accessories, including premium kettles, precision coffee grinders, and sophisticated coffee makers through major US retailers like Costco, Nordstrom, and Target.
The company's expansion continues with its official website displaying options for a store in Thailand, indicating growing international presence. Miller's initial breakthrough came through a 2013 Kickstarter campaign for his "Duo" coffee steeper, demonstrating the power of crowdfunding in bringing innovative products to market.
Overcoming Investor Skepticism
"It was very hard to convince people to see the future the way I did," Miller recalled about his early struggles. The entrepreneur faced 73 rejections from angel investors and small funds before finding success, but this formidable challenge only strengthened his resolve. "Nothing was going to stop me. Each no was simply one step closer to the eventual yes, and if it would have only been no's, like, I would have figured out how to sell a kidney," he stated with characteristic determination.
Finding True Career Alignment
Miller's career path illustrates the importance of aligning work with genuine passion. He initially found success in construction but realized within 18 months that he lacked the necessary obsession for the field. "You have to wake up every day crazy-obsessed with what you're working on. I wasn't obsessed with construction—and that's how I knew it was the wrong category," he explained.
The turning point came during his marketing role at Caribou Coffee, an 800-chain coffee company, where he identified a significant equipment gap in the home-brewing market. This insight propelled him toward his career transformation, leading him to Stanford's MBA program and ultimately to founding Fellow.
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Miller maintains that "great entrepreneurs all think the same way"—they pursue their passions with relentless dedication. This philosophy resonates with advice from renowned business leaders like Warren Buffett and Ray Dalio.
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio advises his followers: "Make your passion and your work one and the same and do it with people you want to be with." Similarly, Warren Buffett has counseled University of Florida students: "There comes a time when you ought to start doing what you want. Take a job that you love. You will jump out of bed in the morning."
Miller's journey with Fellow exemplifies this powerful approach to entrepreneurship, demonstrating how passion, persistence, and vision can overcome even the most daunting obstacles to create meaningful success.
