“I Didn’t Think I’d Return” After Hardbacon’s Collapse, Founder Julien Brault Launches New Affiliate Business

Last time I spoke with entrepreneur Julien Brault, he was feeling unequivocally pessimistic about affiliate marketing – even going as far as to say, “If I had shares in any public company that does affiliate as revenue, I would sell them,” and “Google decided it was the end of affiliate marketing.”

So, it was a surprise to see that he had launched a new affiliate site, just over a year on from the bankruptcy of his former site, Hardbacon. 

It’s the first thing I mention as we hop on a call, that I remember him feeling very cynical about affiliate marketing.

“I still am!” he says. “I didn’t think I would launch another company in the space.”

His new business, MooseMoney, is a financial advice content provider that primarily monetises through affiliate marketing.

Despite his reservations, he secured a successful funding round from a single investor. He says he likely wouldn’t have embarked into the affiliate world again without this capital. 

“I would have to go to a more service-oriented model where I can bootstrap and spend all my time in sales,” he says. “(Affiliate) takes some time before it starts being profitable.”

While that explains the move a little bit, I’m still curious what caused the 180 on his perspective.