Start and Scale Review (2026): Gretta van Riel's Brand-Building Course Behind a $1 Trial
On This Page
- Start and Scale in One Minute
- Who Is Gretta van Riel?
- What the Course Covers
- What Foundr+ Includes
- The Real Cost of Building a Brand
- The $1 Trial and the Guarantee
- Brand Building vs Dropshipping
- Is Start and Scale a Scam?
- Pros and Cons
- Who It Might Suit
- Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
- Other Programs Readers Compare
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Verdict on Start and Scale
Start and Scale in One Minute
Start and Scale is an ecommerce course from Foundr, the entrepreneur education company, taught by Gretta van Riel. Rather than dropshipping, it teaches you to create your own product brand: finding an idea, developing and manufacturing a product, building an audience before launch, using influencer marketing and scaling the store.
It's sold through Foundr+, Foundr's membership: a 14-day trial for $1, then $99 a month (or $499 a year, per Foundr's help center). Foundr+ includes 30+ other courses. Here's what you get and what it really costs.
| Course | Start and Scale (version 3.0) |
|---|---|
| Company | Foundr |
| Instructor | Gretta van Riel |
| Access | Foundr+ membership |
| Trial | 14 days for $1 |
| Then | $99/month or $499/year |
| Guarantee | 90-day success guarantee (conditions apply) |
Who Is Gretta van Riel?
Gretta van Riel is an Australian entrepreneur known for founding SkinnyMe Tea and co-founding brands including The 5th Watches and Drop Bottle. Foundr says her framework was used to build several multi-million-dollar brands. Those are Foundr's and her own claims about past businesses, not results students should expect.
What the Course Covers
| Module | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Discovering your product idea |
| 2 | Branding and store setup |
| 3 | Developing and planning your product |
| 4 | Making your product profitable |
| 5 | Building an engaged audience |
| 6 | The influencer marketing blueprint |
| 7 | Launch checklist and operations |
| 8 | Strategies to scale your store |
The latest version, Start and Scale 3.0, adds AI tools at each stage.
What Foundr+ Includes
- 30+ courses and 1,000+ lessons from about two dozen instructors.
- Weekly live mentorship sessions and a members' community.
- Templates, tools and software discounts.
The Real Cost of Building a Brand
The membership is the small part. Creating your own product means paying for samples, a first inventory order, branding, a store and marketing before you make a sale.
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Foundr+ membership | $99/month or $499/year |
| Product samples and prototypes | $50 to several hundred |
| First inventory order | Often $1,000 to $5,000+ |
| Shopify and apps | From $39/month |
| Influencer seeding and ads | Hundreds to thousands |
The $1 Trial and the Guarantee
The $1 trial lasts 14 days, then renews at $99 a month unless you cancel. You can cancel from your account. Foundr also offers a 90-day success guarantee: a refund if you actively apply the methods and engage with the community but see no measurable results. Read the conditions before relying on it.
Brand Building vs Dropshipping
Owning a brand usually means better margins, more control over quality and a business you can sell later, but it takes more money and time than dropshipping. If you have little capital, the risks are higher. Our Wholesale Ted review covers lower-cost ecommerce training.
Is Start and Scale a Scam?
No. Foundr is an established education company, the course content is real and the pricing is published. The main risk is the cost of actually launching a product, plus remembering to cancel the trial if it isn't for you.
Pros and Cons
What Stands Out
- Teaches real brand building, not just dropshipping
- Experienced instructor
- $1 trial and access to 30+ other courses
- 90-day conditional guarantee
What to Weigh Up
- Renews at $99 a month after the trial
- Launching a product needs real capital
- Guarantee has conditions
- Results depend on your product and marketing
Who It Might Suit
People with a product idea and a few thousand dollars who want structured help creating a brand.
Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
If Start and Scale isn't the right fit for you, here's what we suggest instead.
After comparing hundreds of programs over the years, we know what works and what doesn't. In fact, most of the business opportunities are either instant cash grab schemes or scams or they require experience. However, this beginner-friendly system stood out and is our #1 recommendation for 2026.
Other Programs Readers Compare
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Start and Scale?
It's included in Foundr+: $1 for 14 days, then $99 a month or $499 a year.
Who Teaches Start and Scale?
Gretta van Riel.
Is There a Refund?
Foundr offers a conditional 90-day success guarantee.
Is It a Dropshipping Course?
No, it teaches building your own product brand.
Our Verdict on Start and Scale
Start and Scale is a legitimate brand-building course at a fair membership price. Budget for inventory and marketing before you start the trial.
Looking for a Better Starting Point Than Start and Scale?
Consider our #1 recommendation for making money online in 2026.