Leap Academy Podcast · Episode 154 · Apr 14, 2026
9x Founder Kim Perell: How I Turned a $10K Loan Into a $235M Company
When Kim Perell was fired, she had to fire all her friends on the same day. The company she thought would make her a millionaire had just gone bankrupt, leaving her with no income or backup plan. Instead of giving up, she took a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to start her first company from her kitchen table. That bet led to a $20 million exit and eventually, a $235 million company. In this episode, Kim joins Ilana to share how to turn setbacks and mistakes into million-dollar breakthroughs and how to overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back. She also reveals the four pillars that helped her achieve success without burning out.
Kim Perell is a 9x founder, 3x bestselling author, and investor in 100+ companies. Kim became a multi-millionaire by the time she was 30, and sold her last company for $235 million to Singtel, while simultaneously running multi-million-dollar companies.
In this episode, Ilana and Kim will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:08) Growing Up in the Shadow of Her Twin Sister
(07:07) Learning Risk and Failure from Entrepreneur Parents
(09:46) How Getting Fired Led to a Career Pivot
(13:31) Her Grandma’s Life-Changing $10K Loan
(16:37) Using The 70% Rule to Make Business Decisions
(18:48) The Four Pillars of Business Success
(23:50) Selling Her Business for $20 Million
(28:02) Building a Money Mindset
(30:59) The Dangers of Failing to Pivot Or Make Mistakes
(40:13) Teaching Your Children Resilience
(45:01) Q&A: How to Chase Success Despite Fear
Kim Perell is a 9-time founder, 3-time bestselling author, top keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. Her book, Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire, offers a transformative guide to turning setbacks into million-dollar opportunities. An award-winning entrepreneur, Kim has appeared on major platforms and serves as a judge for Entrepreneur Magazine’s Elevator Pitch. She is dedicated to empowering the next generation of business leaders for success.
Connect with Kim:
Kim’s Website: https://kimperell.com/
Kim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/
Kim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/
Resources Mentioned:
Kim’s Book,
Mistakes that Made Me a Millionaire: How to Transform Setbacks into Extraordinary Success: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637747128
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-trainingRead more ↓Show less ↑
When Kim Perell was fired, she had to fire all her friends on the same day. The company she thought would make her a millionaire had just gone bankrupt, leaving her with no income or backup plan. Instead of giving up, she took a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to start her first company from her kitchen table. That bet led to a $20 million exit and eventually, a $235 million company. In this episode, Kim joins Ilana to share how to turn setbacks and mistakes into million-dollar breakthroughs and how to overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back. She also reveals the four pillars that helped her achieve success without burning out.
Kim Perell is a 9x founder, 3x bestselling author, and investor in 100+ companies. Kim became a multi-millionaire by the time she was 30, and sold her last company for $235 million to Singtel, while simultaneously running multi-million-dollar companies.
In this episode, Ilana and Kim will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:08) Growing Up in the Shadow of Her Twin Sister
(07:07) Learning Risk and Failure from Entrepreneur Parents
(09:46) How Getting Fired Led to a Career Pivot
(13:31) Her Grandma’s Life-Changing $10K Loan
(16:37) Using The 70% Rule to Make Business Decisions
(18:48) The Four Pillars of Business Success
(23:50) Selling Her Business for $20 Million
(28:02) Building a Money Mindset
(30:59) The Dangers of Failing to Pivot Or Make Mistakes
(40:13) Teaching Your Children Resilience
(45:01) Q&A: How to Chase Success Despite Fear
Kim Perell is a 9-time founder, 3-time bestselling author, top keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. Her book, Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire, offers a transformative guide to turning setbacks into million-dollar opportunities. An award-winning entrepreneur, Kim has appeared on major platforms and serves as a judge for Entrepreneur Magazine’s Elevator Pitch. She is dedicated to empowering the next generation of business leaders for success.
Connect with Kim:
Kim’s Website: https://kimperell.com/
Kim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/
Kim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/
Resources Mentioned:
Kim’s Book,
Mistakes that Made Me a Millionaire: How to Transform Setbacks into Extraordinary Success: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637747128
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training
56 minutes
Leap Podcast9x Founder Kim Perell: How I Turned a $10K Loan Into a $235M Company
New to Leap Academy? Ilana Golan has helped 70,000+ professionals reinvent their careers. Watch her free training to see the framework.
Watch the free training →Watch the conversation
On YouTube
Listen
Open this episode in your podcast app
Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeOr paste this episode title into any podcast app: 9x Founder Kim Perell: How I Turned a $10K Loan Into a $235M Company
About Leap Academy
Where ambitious professionals leap to their next chapter.
Founded by Ilana Golan — Forbes contributor, board director, investor in 100+ companies, and former F-16 flight instructor commander — Leap Academy has helped 70,000 people across 4 continents reinvent their careers and build lasting reputations.
- American Business Awards Startup of the Year, 2023
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
- Featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance, NBC, CBS, ABC

Founder & CEO
Ilana Golan
Hosts every episode. Has guided thousands of professionals through career reinventions, leadership leaps, and brand building.
70,000
Lives impacted
$60M
Market value
4
Continents
Featured episodes · Editor's picks
Don't miss these conversations
Jason FriedHow Basecamp's CEO Lost 30% of His Team, Faced Backlash, and Came Back Stronger
Benchmark Partner, Bill Gurley: The Strategy That Makes You Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market
Nir EyalBehavioral Design Expert: The Hidden Belief Blocking Your Growth- Leap PodcastLEAP ReplayRichard Branson: Virgin Group Founder on Turning Bold Risks into a Billion-Dollar BusinessLEAP ReplayRichard Branson: Virgin Group Founder on Turning Bold Risks into a Billion-Dollar Business
Latest episodes
New on the show this month
From Skype to Wix: Mark Tluszcz’s Formula for Turning Bold Bets into Billion-Dollar Successes
Self-Made Billionaire: How John Paul DeJoria Built Paul Mitchell with $700
George BarriosFormer WWE President: The Hard Decisions That Built a Global Media Business
The Lean Startup: Eric Ries Reveals the #1 Mistake New Founders Make