The Freedom Framework Show

David Groechel: Building a $15M Lean AI Ecommerce Biz (1 Employee!)

• Sam Silverman • Season 1 • Episode 23

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How do you build a multi-million dollar e-commerce business with just one employee? Is it possible to escape the corporate grind without raising venture capital or hiring a huge team?

On this episode of The Freedom Framework Show, host Sam Silverman sits down with David Groechel, founder of the successful pickleball brand 11SIX24. David shares his incredible journey from early entrepreneurial hustles and corporate sales roles at places like HubSpot (plus a candid story about a failed bar!) to launching and scaling a $15 million potential e-commerce operation built on lean principles, AI automation, and zero paid advertising.

Discover David's playbook for hyper-efficiency, including:

  • Lessons learned from corporate bureaucracy and how it inspired his lean mindset.
  • Leveraging AI agents for customer support and marketing (even if you're not technical).
  • Building a powerful brand through founder-led content, community engagement, and a thriving affiliate network.
  • The power of focusing on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of revenue.
  • How he started his business for under $10,000 and prioritized action over analysis.
  • Maintaining impressive profit margins through operational efficiency.
  • Actionable advice for anyone currently in a high-paying W2 role who dreams of building their own freedom and sustainable wealth.

This conversation is packed with insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, current business owners looking to optimize, and anyone feeling trapped in the 9-to-5. Learn how simplicity scales and how modern tools can help you build your own version of the Freedom Framework.

Find David's paddles at: https://11six24.com/

Learn more about building your own freedom at The Freedom Framework Show.

(Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Lean Startup, AI in Business, Ecommerce, W2 Escape, Financial Freedom, Business Automation, Sam Silverman, David Groechel, 11SIX24, Pickleball, Side Hustle, Building Wealth, Corporate Escape, Small Business Owner, Profitability, Zero Ad Spend)