Founders Future

From Music to Mushrooms: How Kieve Huffman Scales Taboo Wellness Brands

Closers.io

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive deep with Kieve Huffman, founder of Engager Labs, a boutique consultancy helping alternative wellness brands (from cannabis to psychedelics to functional mushrooms) scale beyond 7 figures. Kieve shares his unconventional journey from music/tech to becoming LinkedIn’s "Top Voice" in wellness entrepreneurship, revealing how his "plant-over-pills" philosophy drives his mission to disrupt Big Pharma. He breaks down his 3-month brand acceleration framework—from competitive analysis to investor-ready decks—and why protecting founder energy is the most underrated scaling strategy.

Kieve also opens up about the challenges of marketing regulated wellness products, his organic LinkedIn lead-gen engine (with zero cold outreach), and why he vets clients through a "vibe check" before engagements. Listeners will walk away with tactical advice on balancing hustle with energy management, plus Kieve’s non-negotiable morning routine (hint: never check your phone first!). For founders in taboo or regulated industries, this episode is a masterclass in building authentic cultural brands while navigating platform landmines.