Charlie Razook

Who are you and what do you do?

I'm Charlie, the founder of clean men's skincare brand Jackfir. I started Jackfir after a leukemia diagnosis. I became freaked out by the quality of our food and products, and when I went to make a cleaner swap for my skincare, I could only find less toxic versions for women and babies. So...I decided to make my own men's version!

What did it take/how did you get started?

Once I decided to start Jackfir, it was daunting. I had start-up experience but in fashion not skincare. To get off the ground, I attended trade shows, networked, and found a product development consultant and contract manufacturer that checked all of our rigorous clean product capability boxes. Once we got going and I ran out of my savings that I put into the business, I raised $1m in a private funding round to raise inventories and launch the business.

What does the future look like for you and your business?

The future for us is slow and steady. We launch around one new skincare/personal care product a year and would like to be the go to source for clean products for men, beyond just skincare. We are currently expanding out retail network that already includes Erewhon, Fellow Barber, and more!

What drives / motivates you on a daily basis?

I am motivated by my passion for men's health. After learning that I was sick, I dove into clean living research. Men are unhealthier than women across the board. Men go to the doctor less, die earlier, and some studies have shown sperm counts are down by 50% since 1970. It's time for men to wake up and start caring about their health. Our cleaner skincare products are just a small part of the puzzle. We want men to care about chemicals that are potential endocrine disruptors and carcinogens in all their products, food, and water.

What advice would you give someone interested in doing what you do?

Just click go! It is so daunting to launch a product/brand. You can noodle on it forever but you have to realize it won't be totally perfect when you launch. It will involve iterations and if you aim for total perfection, you will be too scared to ever bring your product to market.

What has been the hardest part of your business journey?

Fundraising! Launch a business requires more money than you'll ever realize. Some form of debt or equity will be required on an annual basis for the foreseeable future and with the proliferation and democratization of launching new businesses, it can be a tough market.

How have you managed burnout thus far?

After a cancer diagnosis, you prioritize physical and mental health. I always promised myself that if this business became too toxic to me, I would close it. To avoid that, I exercise almost daily, I take walks when the day is becoming too stressful, and I step away from my desk at 5pm every day. I might continue to do emails, but I officially try to close my laptop around then.

What are a few resources that you'd recommend?

Podcasts I love are How I Built This with Guy Raz and Oprah's Super Soul. Books I love are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight and Zero to One by Peter Thiel.