Nick Chen has built his life by trusting his instincts and betting on himself. From growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to navigating global moves, launching startups, pivoting through a pandemic, and scaling Golden Gate Fulfillment, Nick’s story is all about turning uncertainty into opportunity.
In this conversation, we discuss resilience, reinvention, and what it truly means to grow on your own terms. Nick shares how he spotted an opportunity where others saw risk, why embracing change is key to entrepreneurship, and the lessons he’s learned building businesses rooted in values, not hype.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a life and business outside the usual playbook, this episode will inspire you to trust the pivot and define success your way
Listen to the episode
What you’ll learn
Why growing up around entrepreneurship shaped how Nick thinks about risk and reward
The power of pivoting: how Welcome shifted from Airbnb boxes to corporate gifting
Why fulfillment logistics became his next big move — and how he scaled it organically
What to know before raising money — and why owning 100% of your business can be the real win
When to outsource fulfillment (and when to just do it yourself)
Lessons learned from working with hundreds of CPG founders — and spotting the ones who scale
Why empathy, timing, and adaptability are underrated business skills
Favorite Quote
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
— The Golden Rule
Favorite Book
📖 Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Nick’s mixed-race upbringing and early friendships rooted in shared identity
(05:00) Lessons from working in real estate during the 2008 crash
(12:00) Starting Welcome — and pivoting hard during COVID
(20:00) How Welcome led organically to Golden Gate Fulfillment
(28:00) When bootstrapping makes more sense than VC
(34:00) Operational growing pains and what CPG brands get wrong
(39:00) When not to scale — and why timing matters
(42:00) Going back to school at USC and rediscovering teamwork
(47:00) Hiring for heart, not just experience
(50:00) Life between LA and SF, and learning from founders in both
(53:00) What success looks like now
Where to find Nick Chen
📦 Golden Gate Fulfillment: goldengatefulfillment.com
📍 Porto’s Bake at Home: store.portosbakery.com
Referenced in this episode
Welcome Gift Box
Golden Gate Fulfillment
Porto’s Bakery (Bake at Home)
Love + Chew Foods (Lauren Chew)
USC MBA Program
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
