Philipp Renner, Founder & CEO of Dr. Shiba, joins Jeremy Au to share his journey from a global childhood to building one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing pet wellness companies. He reflects on how eight years at McKinsey, the personal challenges of long COVID, and the limits of corporate consulting led him to take the leap into entrepreneurship. They discuss the realities of product market fit iteration and the decision to pursue a semi-bootstrapped model rather than a VC-funded growth path. Philipp also shares how his toughest teenage year in Shenyang shaped his resilience and why focus on what truly matters became his personal north star, guiding him as he built Dr. Shiba from functional supplement treats into a wellness ecosystem now serving millions of customers across Southeast Asia and the UK.

02:00 Childhood across Germany, China, and Singapore built resilience and cultural fluency: Philipp recalls being the only foreigner in Chinese kindergarten, summers in Germany with extended family, and adapting to contrasting environments.

07:28 McKinsey years taught structure but came with high pressure: Philipp learned problem solving, investor communications, and performance systems, but he also faced unsustainable hours and a constant cycle of pressure.

14:23 Long COVID forced clarity and career reset: Contracting the virus in New York and suffering heart issues left Philipp fearful and uncertain, which led him to reassess his values and priorities in life.

18:54 Partnership revealed as a golden cage: Observing partners’ constant travel, endless client demands, and limited upside compared to entrepreneurship convinced Philipp to leave consulting.

22:21 Transitioning to founder life meant unlearning: Moving from slide decks to execution, Philipp raised funds, managed co-founder conflicts, and worked from a Manila coffee shop with no salary while building Tyger Brands.

27:36 Product market fit narrowed focus to Dr. Shiba: Starting with three consumer brands, Philipp and his team doubled down on the pet supplies line that scaled fastest, allowing the others to fade.

31:32 Bravery defined by survival in Shenyang: At 16, Philipp lived through minus 30 winters, two-hour commutes, and forgotten Chinese in an industrial city, which tested and built his resilience. 

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/philipp-renner-brave-brand-leap

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