Logan LaMance ’18 to speak at Brook T. Smith Launchpad for College of the Week

In 2017, Logan LaMance ’18, Austin Maxwell ‘17 and Ryan Frazier ‘17 began working on an idea that would soon reach millions of consumers. What originally started as a class project to create a lightweight, insulated cooler that keeps beverages cold without ice eventually turned into a business venture.

Just two years ago, in 2023, the co-founders won a contest for Kanga Coolers and were featured in a video with popular YouTuber Mr. Beast.

“Being featured in that video was a game-changer for us,” LaMance said. “It put our product in front of millions of people overnight and gave us the kind of exposure that would have taken years to build otherwise.”

Since then, the company has grown and seen great success. “We’ve come a long way since our first prototype,” LaMance said. “Scaling the business has been challenging, but seeing our products in stores nationwide and hearing from customers who love them makes it all worth it.”

On March 4, LaMance will return to Clemson and speak at the Brook T. Smith Launchpad for College of the Week. He is excited to share his experiences as a student entrepreneur, the resources available at Clemson for student entrepreneurs and about his entrepreneurial career since graduating from the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business.

While creating, running and scaling his company, LaMance has learned several lessons along the way, including taking initiative, being resourceful, learning how to adapt, persevering and exhibiting patience.

1. Start before you’re ready.

Oftentimes the most intimidating part of jumping in or beginning a new entrepreneurial journey is having the confidence to start. When Kanga Coolers was just starting out, LaMance didn’t feel like Kanga was ready to go on SharkTank. They pre-sold but hadn’t yet made the product successfully. Still, Kanga pursued the show before they thought they were ready, and along the way, everything came together right on time. Kanga Coolers was featured on SharkTank Season 10 and secured a deal on the episode. Ready or not, he had to make the most of the experience, and, in the end, he had a fast-growing business with a real opportunity to capitalize on the exposure.

“There will never be a perfect time or place to start, so you just have to have confidence in yourself that you’ll figure it all out along the way. I don’t know if [Kanga Coolers]  would be here in the same capacity if we hadn’t taken that risk when we did.”

2. Be resourceful.

Being resourceful when beginning a new business venture is one of the most important traits, according to LaMance. LaMance and his co-founders didn’t have a lot of money to put into Kanga Coolers. In fact, at first, they put in less than $1,000 each to get started before a small friends and family loan. They had to learn how to network, explore available resources and figure out how to begin building a business from scratch.

“You don’t need a lot of money or backing to start a business. You just need to be masterful at using what you already have access to. We had to be very resourceful with what we had at our disposal and work with that. We had to learn everything as we went, and although it was challenging, it was worth it in the end.”

3. Never quit.

The entrepreneurial journey is a rollercoaster filled with peaks and valleys. Throughout the development of Kanga Coolers, LaMance and his co-founders have faced a lot of challenges but have always found a way to find a new perspective or change direction. Pivoting is one of the most important lessons as an entrepreneur. When something doesn’t work, figure out a way to adjust and execute.

“Our hardest moments have always led to our biggest successes because we didn’t give up. And that gives me a perspective. Our darkest darks have always resulted in the brightest of moments for us because we make it through. There’s also a lot of opportunity that you miss when you quit and stop moving in that direction.”

4. Execute.

Having the idea is just the first step as an entrepreneur. Developing the skillset to bring that idea to fruition is even more important. For LaMance, he had to learn a lot of different skills to ensure his vision became a reality. It took a lot of self-discipline and learning how to prioritize critical needs first.

“Everyone knows someone with a bunch of great ideas who never acted on any of them. And it’s a shame, but ideas don’t mean anything unless you execute properly on them. Whether it’s a product, a distribution channel or a team, you constantly have to be in a space where you’re envisioning the future and taking the steps to make a vision a reality.”

5. Play the long game.

Success takes patience, and creating a viable business doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of hard work, innovation and a willingness to learn. LaMance realized that while success may feel slow at first, every step forward builds momentum and leads to greater opportunities down the road.

“I think it’s the old adage—I’m not sure who said it—but you’ll be disappointed at how much you get done in one year and blown away by how far you can go in five. Most people give up after the first year, but there’s a time horizon to these things that you can’t possibly predict. Keeping the mentality of ‘whatever it takes for as long as it takes’ puts you in a position to be successful.”

To hear more about Logan LaMance’s entrepreneurial journey at College of the Week on March 4, visit the Brook T. Smith Launchpad webpage for more information or register for the event.

About the Brook T. Smith Launchpad

The Brook T. Smith Launchpad serves as the Entrepreneurship Hub of Clemson University. Located in downtown Clemson within the President’s Office, this 9,000 sq. ft. space offers a wide range of educational, networking, and support opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. The Launchpad is open to individuals and teams from all these groups. It provides access to dynamic, world-class resources, both physical and virtual, as well as financial and human support to assist anyone within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.