Get All Access for $5/mo

This Founder and Inventor Overcame Early Setbacks to Create a Successful Company (and a Temperature-Controlled Coffee Mug) Cold scrambled eggs actually became the catalyst for Ember's first product, a temperature-controlled coffee mug.

By James McKinney

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In this video, James McKinney's guest is Clay Alexander, the inventor and founder of temperature control brand Ember. The company's first product, the Travel Mug, launched in 100 Starbucks locations, but the brand has grown in reach and offerings since.

Alexander has a great story, because his upbringing offered plenty of obstacles: Not only was his family, in his words, "dirt poor," but Alexander was also diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia. That he managed to find success in the business world proves that it's possible to achieve great things from all walks of life.

Listen to the full interview here to learn more about his story and Ember.

Related: Can Media Platforms Excel by Promoting Empathy Rather Than Fear or Division?

James McKinney

Creator & Host, The Startup Story

James McKinney is the Founder & Host of The Startup Story, a multi-channel brand platform that brings the lessons of highly successful founders directly to the everyday founder. Whether it is through The Startup Story podcast or via the Startup Story LIVE event series, entrepreneurs everywhere can receive tactical and practical guidance from founders who are a few steps ahead.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

She Had Less Than $800 When She Started a Side Hustle — Then This Personal Advice From Tony Robbins Helped Her Make $45 Million

Cathryn Lavery built planner and conversation card deck company BestSelf Co. without any formal business education.

Business News

How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Transformed a Graphics Card Company Into an AI Giant: 'One of the Most Remarkable Business Pivots in History'

Here's how Nvidia pivoted its business to explore an emerging technology a decade in advance.

Business News

Want to Start a Business? Skip the MBA, Says Bestselling Author

Entrepreneur Josh Kaufman says that the average person with an idea can go from working a job to earning $10,000 a month running their own business — no MBA required.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.