How Too Many Bad Nights of Sleep Inspired This Entrepreneur to Launch His Dream Business A conversation about the launch and growth of mattress and bedding company Molecule.

By Ashley-Victoria Smith Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Molecule

Founded in 2017, MOLECULE is a digitally-native mattress and bedding brand whose mission is to provide people with "recovery sleep" to enhance performance. Michael Phelps, Russell Wilson, and Alex Morgan are among its high-profile ambassadors. I had the pleasure of interviewing Albert Oh, founder and CEO of MOLECULE, and we pulled back the sheets to find out how he brought his dream business to life.

Why did you decide to start a mattress company?
As an athlete and serial entrepreneur, I have always wanted to perform at peak performance — for my family, my work colleagues, my friends, and my own health, and sleep is absolutely critical to that. I realized the item I spent 1/3 of my life on wasn't cutting it for me, so I decided we could build a team to create something better.

What was your business background before you launched?
I've always been an entrepreneur. I've launched both technology B2B and B2C products, a proprietary touch interface company that later sold to Google and Verifone (acquired), a licensing network backed by Khosla, and a few others.

Related: Why Aren't Entrepreneurs Getting Enough Sleep?

What separates do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
We knew we needed to have a great product and thus partnered early on with sleep scientists from Cornell University and a few sleep doctors. We learned that the average person moves 77 times per night, with the majority of that movement being attributable to heat build-up. We also saw the detriment of heat buildup in another group: bedridden hospital patients. These patients often develop bedsores, and the solution in hospitals is to install fans under the mattresses to keep air flowing. This was the "aha moment." We needed a mattress and bedding portfolio that had maximum heat dissipation and airflow and one that was supremely comfortable and supportive for our bodies. Our patent-pending top mattress layer offers this through the use of a proprietary foam and form factor.

You were recently acquired by FXI. What went into that decision-making?
We have highly respected FXI from the early days of working with them, as they have been our mattress supplier. They have unparalleled access to thousands of foam blends, many of which are proprietary, and a nationwide footprint that allows us to reach 97% of all US customers within 48 hours. So we are confident that their IP and distribution, combined with a world-class retail sales team, will propel MOLECULE to be a brand with longevity for decades to come.

Related: 8 Reasons Sleep Is Crucial for Entrepreneurs and Leaders

What do you credit with your success in growing your business?
The driving force behind MOLECULE's banner 2021 was finding the optimal mix of digital/DTC business and wholesale partners to create a true omnichannel strategy. We also have an incredible team here at MOLECULE. It's a small but very mighty, teamwork-oriented and goal-driven group.

Ashley-Victoria Smith

I help small businesses do big things.

Ashley Smith quit her corporate job at 27 and never looked back — that was 10 years ago. Today, Smith runs multiple businesses and helps others do the same.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Franchise

The 10 Best Franchises to Open in 2018

Here's everything you need to know about the startup costs, training and investment opportunities from the top 10 companies in our Franchise 500.

Business News

'Nothing More Powerful': How to Transform Companies From Within as an 'Intrapreneur,' According to a Microsoft Office and Yahoo! Shopping Cofounder

Elizabeth Funk wrote the first code for Yahoo! Shopping on her own, based on skills she acquired from an "HTML for Dummies" book.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

How Meta Generated $32 Billion in Ad Revenue Last Quarter — and How You Can Create Million-Dollar Weekends Using the Same Strategies

Meta's staggering $32 billion quarterly ad revenue isn't just about size; it's about strategy, systems and execution as well.