Jake Kassan, a 33-year-old entrepreneur known for his remarkable journey from a struggling student to a multimillion-dollar business owner, has redefined his life's purpose beyond financial success. Kassan, who embarked on his entrepreneurial path at a young age, discovered that money alone could not fulfill him. His story is one of self-discovery and finding passion in unexpected places.
Kassan's early education years were challenging. He openly admits, "Academically, I've just never done [well]. I've always been probably just a little below average." Despite these hurdles, Kassan's entrepreneurial spirit emerged in the seventh grade when he ventured into selling lollipops. This small enterprise was the first glimpse of his potential as a business pioneer.
After one year at Santa Barbara City College, Kassan decided to drop out. He was driven by an innate desire to pursue more engaging ventures. In 2008, he launched an interactive glow-in-the-dark T-shirt business, marking his entry into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. This was just the beginning of a series of ventures that would define his career.
In 2013, Kassan co-founded MVMT Watches with his college roommate Kramer LaPlante. The company adopted a savvy online marketing strategy that resonated with a younger audience, amassing a million followers on Instagram and building a team of 45 employees. The brand's success culminated in its sale for $100 million in 2024 when Kassan was only 27.
However, the windfall did not bring the happiness Kassan anticipated. He grappled with anxiety and panic attacks both before and after the sale. Reflecting on a particularly harrowing experience in Australia, he shared, "I've had panic attacks before, but this was… completely out of left field." The episode marked a turning point for him.
"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," said Jake Kassan.
The realization that material wealth was not the key to fulfillment led Kassan to reassess his priorities. "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 explained. Rather than fixating on an ultimate goal, he embraced the process of working diligently once again.
"Rather than being so concerned over the destination, he decided he would simply start working again like he did when building MVMT."
Kassan likens his renewed approach to life to working out in a gym: "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." This shift in mindset empowered him to rediscover joy in daily endeavors.
Initially, post-sale life was enjoyable for Kassan as he savored newfound freedom. "It was great at first because I was just enjoying being in the moment," he recalled. However, this enjoyment soon turned monotonous. "But at some point… it just felt like Groundhog Day. It's like, there's got to be something more," he admitted.
"As time passed, I couldn't help but start to feel this void growing inside me," he confessed.
This void led him to explore new avenues, culminating in a passion for videography and storytelling. With a newfound sense of purpose, Kassan is now channeling his energy into building his YouTube channel. This creative pursuit allows him to connect with audiences and share narratives that inspire and entertain.
"I finally climbed to the top of my mountain, but I didn't find what I was looking for," he stated about his journey with MVMT Watches.
Turning 30 brought additional challenges for Kassan, including a personal breakup and feelings of loneliness despite having friends. "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 candidly.
Kassan's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and adaptability. Despite his struggles with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which he describes as both a strength and weakness due to his hyper-focus abilities, he has consistently pushed through barriers to redefine success on his terms.
"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."