What do you do when your only options are a job you don’t want or a business that doesn’t exist yet? Angus Willows, the founder of Kangaroo Hanger, chose the harder path — and made it work. As a college student with a 3D printer under his bed, he designed a better hanger, taught himself how to file a patent, launched a second business to fund it and bet everything on a TikTok challenge that changed his life.

But this isn’t just a story about going viral. It’s about building something real without a safety net and how you could trust yourself long before the world gives you permission. Host Andrea Marquez unpacks how Angus bootstrapped his way from a scrappy cardboard prototype to retail shelves and why he kept going, starting business after business, even when the stakes got higher. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re ready, Angus’ story might show you that readiness isn’t the goal — resilience is.

Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

(02:30) Can entrepreneurship start at six years old? Angus shares how selling bow ties as a kid sparked a lifelong obsession with inventing.

(04:46) Would you major in something you’re bad at — just for the challenge? Angus explains why struggling through engineering made him a better builder.

(06:26) What problem do you want to solve? Angus shares the frustrating dorm room moment that sparked the idea for Kangaroo Hanger. 

(08:40) Could adding less make your product sell more? Angus talks about the power of simplicity.

(11:25) What if your side hustle exists just to fund your dream? Learn how Angus started a second business to avoid getting a full-time job after graduation and fund Kangaroo Hanger.

(14:46) Is it possible to write your own patent? Hear how Angus did it — with a book and no legal training.

(16:32) What happens when you give yourself 30 days to go viral? Angus’s TikTok experiment and how going viral helped him reach his pre-order goal. 

(22:34) When does going retail make more sense than selling direct? Angus explains how shipping costs drove a big strategic shift and how to get into retail.

(24:57) How many businesses can one person build? Angus talks about his third company — and what he’s learned from jumping into new ventures and taking risks.

(27:07) How do you manage the stress of debt as a founder? Angus shares his mindset around pressure, calculated risk, and staying grounded.

(28:15) Not sure you can bet on yourself to take a big risk? Angus explains how self-trust is built — and why it starts with the smallest decisions.