Jake Kassan, a 33-year-old entrepreneur whose story blends success, struggle, and self-discovery, has embarked on a journey that redefined his understanding of achievement and purpose. Known for his entrepreneurial acumen, Kassan co-founded MVMT Watches and sold the company for $100 million at the age of 27. Despite this monumental financial success, Kassan found himself grappling with unexpected challenges, leading him to explore new avenues for fulfillment.
Kassan's path to entrepreneurship began in his early years when he was more interested in business than academic accolades. He admits to struggling in school, often finding himself below average academically.
"Academically, I've just never done [well]. I've always been probably just a little below average," said Jake Kassan.
Despite these academic challenges, his entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. In the seventh grade, he started his first business selling lollipops and later ventured into launching an interactive glow-in-the-dark T-shirt business in 2008. His journey took a significant turn when he dropped out of Santa Barbara City College after his first year to pursue his dreams.
In 2013, Kassan co-founded MVMT Watches with his college roommate Kramer LaPlante. The company adopted an innovative online approach and quickly amassed a following of a million on Instagram, reflecting its widespread appeal. Under Kassan's leadership, MVMT Watches expanded into a team of 45 employees and achieved massive success, culminating in its sale for $100 million.
However, Kassan's experience post-sale was not as he anticipated. He initially believed the financial windfall would bring happiness but found himself struggling with anxiety and panic attacks instead. During a trip to Australia in 2024, he experienced a severe panic attack in his hotel room.
"I've had panic attacks before, but this was… completely out of left field," Kassan recalled.
"It was the first one that I had in years. This flood of thoughts just [came] in. It was a really dark moment that just crippled me," he added.
This pivotal moment prompted Kassan to reassess his priorities. He realized the need to channel his energy into pursuits that provided personal satisfaction and challenges.
"At one point, I think it might have been after the panic attack, where [I said]: 'Okay, I need to change my focus and really start to [work] more or less on showing up,'" he noted.
Rather than fixating on a specific destination, Kassan decided to immerse himself in the process of creation and growth once more.
"Rather than being so concerned over the destination, he decided he would simply start working again like he did when building MVMT," he explained.
Kassan likened this renewed approach to the gym experience, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and gradual progress.
"I think the gym is the best analogy for it. If you don't see results after week one or week two… when you're months down the road, you start to actually see all the benefits from your work," Kassan illustrated.
Despite initially enjoying the freedom and novelty of his newfound wealth and success, Kassan soon felt trapped in a cycle of monotony.
"It was great at first because I was just enjoying being in the moment. But at some point… it just felt like Groundhog Day. It's like, there's got to be something more," he reflected.
The sense of emptiness prompted him to seek deeper fulfillment beyond financial achievements.
"As time passed, I couldn't help but start to feel this void growing inside me," Kassan admitted.
His introspection led him to discover a passion for videography and storytelling. Today, he channels his creativity into building his YouTube channel, where he explores these interests further.
"I finally climbed to the top of my mountain, but I didn't find what I was looking for," Kassan confessed.
The journey has not been without its emotional challenges. Turning 30 brought additional introspection as he navigated personal changes and sought meaningful connections.
"I turned 30, I [had] just gone through a breakup… I had friends and stuff, but still, just finding people who understood [how] lonely it felt at times… it just felt emotionally depleting," he shared.
Kassan's story underscores the complexity of human fulfillment beyond material success. Reflecting on his past endeavors and current pursuits, he acknowledged both the strengths and pitfalls of his hyper-focused nature.
"Call it ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or whatever they want to label it as these days… I'm very good at being hyper-focused, and it's a strength and a weakness of mine, to be honest," Kassan observed.
He recognizes that while this focus can drive success, it sometimes leads to sacrifices in other life areas.
"I found that if there's something I'm interested in, I'm extremely focused and almost obsessive over that thing to the point that you kind of will it into being successful, but also sometimes you sacrifice other areas of life," Kassan concluded.
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