Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

What Are Special-Purpose Acquisition Companies, and Why Should I Know About Them? Bark co-founder Matt Meeker explains his experiences with special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), which can help you take a company public without offering an IPO.

By James McKinney

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In this episode, James McKinney speaks with Matt Meeker, the co-founder of Bark. You might be familiar with the company's flagship product, BarkBox, which has more than 1.7 million active subscribers, but Bark also offers product lines that can be found in more than 23,000 retail outlets.

Meeker breaks down his journey and experiences, starting as one of the early digital advertisors to co-founding Meetup, which eventually sold to WeWork for $156 million in 2017. Meeker also goes into detail on one of his specialties, special-purpose acquisition companies, which you can learn more about by listening to the full episode here.

Related: This Philosophy Professor Used Kickstarter to Grow His Business. Now, Popsockets Has Sold More Than 200 Million Units.

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.

Business News

Apple iPhone 7 Users May Be Owed a Slice of a $35 Million Settlement — Here's How to Claim Your Share

Previous (and current, no judgment) iPhone 7 users may be entitled to up to $349. The deadline to file a claim is June 3.

Business News

Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice? 5 Critical Lessons for Entrepreneurs in The AI Era

Did OpenAI steal Scarlett Johansson's voice? OpenAI has since paused the "Sky" voice feature, but Johansson argues that this is no coincidence. In response, Johansson delivers a masterclass for entrepreneurs on navigating the AI era successfully.

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.

Innovation

How Corporate Investment Helps Startups Deploy Technology Faster Than Ever

Financial resources, strategic alignment, access to expertise, market validation and operational support make this deployment possible.