How MetaLabs built a supplement brand for the outsiders | Stitch Elevate Chats

Jake Axelrod, founder of MetaLabs, joins Ushir Bhoolia live at Stitch Elevate in Johannesburg to share the story behind one of South Africa's most distinctive wellness supplement brands. In this episode, Jake covers: • Building a premium supplement brand as a creative introvert and "outsider" • Bootstrapping from life savings and navigating chronic stock-outs in the early days • Turning down four acquisition offers before finding the right partner in USN • The transition from D2C-only to nationwide retail in Checkers • Why belief matters more than communication when leading a team • Product philosophy: improving existing categories rather than chasing trends • Plans for physical retail and bringing Metalab into the real world Metalab: https://www.metalab.co.za Stitch: https://stitch.money #StitchElevateChats #Metalab #Supplements #Wellness #SouthAfricanBusiness #D2C #Entrepreneurship #Branding #RetailExpansion