Startup To Scale

In this episode of Startup to Scale , I dive into the essential backend tools that brands need to streamline their operations, manage cash flow, and access working capital. I sit down with the Mel and Branden from Settle   to discuss: ✅ The key challenges brands face when scaling—especially aligning sales, operations, and financing. ✅ When to transition from spreadsheets to more robust business...

Struggling to run effective e-commerce ads? It might just be your landing pages and offer. I’m having this problem with Joyful Co, so I reached out to Andrew at AdCrunch to break down how to build effective landing pages that actually drive sales. We cover: Creating Compelling Messaging Landing Pages that Answer All Your buyer’s Questions Making an Irresistible Offer Unlock Winning Hooks & CTA...

How do you turn an ancient Italian superfood into a modern snack brand that stands out in the crowded U.S. market? Aaron Gatti , founder and CEO of Brami , set out to do just that. Inspired by the Mediterranean diet and his Italian roots, Aaron discovered the lupini bean —a protein-packed, fiber-rich legume with incredible health benefits. But while lupini beans were popular in Europe, they were v...

Eric Skae is the CEO of Carbone Fine Food , the premium pasta sauce offshoot of New York’s Iconic Carbone Restaurant. Over his career, Eric has led and scaled multiple consumer brands across beverages, snacks, and specialty foods – think New Leaf iced tea, Iceland Spring water, Popcornopolis popcorn, and the famous Rao’s Specialty Foods sauce line, where he took over as CEO and led the company thr...

I thought TeaSquares’ unique multi-serve pouch would stand out—it did, but for the wrong reasons. Customers were confused by the packaging, and sales suffered. We switched to single-serve bars that aligned with category norms, and sales improved significantly. In this episode, I sit down with Sanders , founder of NUEX Creative , to discuss how packaging design can make or break your product on the...

 Soon, AI will just become a commonplace tool in business. Are you prepared? Join me as I talk with Andreas Duess, from 6 Seeds about the structure of the CPG industry and how emerging brands can utilize AI to navigate data complexities and drive growth. We discuss the importance of integrating AI tools while ensuring that these technologies enhance rather than replace the human touch that is so c...

Expo West is coming up, and it’s like the Super Bowl for CPG. while I won’t be there, I invited on Heather Holmes to share some tips and suggestions on how to make the most of the show. We discuss: Setting clear goals and outcomes Creating a content plan Being proactive about building relationships Gathering data and feedback Generating press and PR Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an o...

Retailers are raising the bar when it comes to liability coverage, and the process of securing the right insurance is becoming more complicated than ever. Not only are brands facing higher coverage limits, but the third-party companies verifying Certificates of Insurance don’t always understand how coverage works—leading to unnecessary denials and costly delays. To help us make sense of this evolv...

In this episode, I’m joined by Yuval Selik, CEO of Promomash , to explore the challenges and strategies of securing investment for CPG brands in today’s tight market conditions. Despite the availability of capital, the CPG sector often struggles to attract investment. Yuval shares expert advice on making your brand more appealing to investors by honing in on crucial aspects of your business, parti...

Join us as Rachel Kane, co-founder of Sprinkle Bites, shares her journey of bringing a Dutch-inspired snack, Hagelslag, to kids in the U.S. Sprinkle Bites isn’t just about sprinkles—it’s a high-protein, sugar-free treat packed with plant-based nutrients, perfect for on-the-go snacking. Learn how Rachel and her co-founder Nicole are revolutionizing snacking with sprinkles that are as nutritious as...

 Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Orleatha Smith, co-founder of Sip Herbals —a caffeine-free, prebiotic-rich herbal coffee alternative. From overcoming personal health challenges to creating a groundbreaking product loved by the wellness community, Orleatha shares her story of innovation, resilience, and the lessons learned along the way.  Discover what it takes to grow a brand in...

Popadelics , founded by wife and husband team Marilyn and Michael makes crunchy mushroom chips. They’re a bootstrapped company that’s used creative debt financing to fund their operations and grow to over 3000 stores. They worked with Kickfurther , which offers inventory financing to decrease their cashflow gap when producing orders for the new distributor and retailer launches. Marilyn is also st...

Storytelling is crucial to building your brand, and PR is a great way to get your message out in the world. But where to start? On this episode I talk with Heather Holmes , founder of Publicity for Good to break down how to think about PR for CPG Brands to build awareness and ultimately drive sales. We also do a live virtual PR audit for my brand, Joyful Co and discuss which elements of our story...

Building a profitable CPG business is possible, but it takes a special product and business model. Join me as I sit down with Sean Hall one of my favorite bootstrapped entrepreneurs who founded Wellious as we talk through what it took to build a profitable business, how he carefully chose a category and built a product in a crowded category.  Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online c...

Founded by former KIND Snacks Exec Lindsay Hancock, My Better Batch was created to make baking from scratch as effortless as possible. Lindsay did 90% of the work by sourcing premium ingredients and crafting an easy, mix-and-bake solution so customers can make cookies that taste homemade with just the addition of egg and butter. In this episode, learn how she is starting her company and getting in...

In this episode I dive into the essential strategies for building successful relationships with service providers that help your business thrive. From aligning on goals to fostering transparent communication, we cover actionable tips to maximize the value of these critical partnerships. Joining me is Brad Ebenhoeh, CEO of Accountfully . Key topics include: Alignment : Setting clear expectations an...

 In 2024, Sarjesa , founded by Alexandra Sangster announced that she acquired Buzzd Nutrition , a superfood creamer brand founded by Lauren and Alex Burrows. What’s really exciting is that Sarjesa is an emerging brand itself and co-manufactured the Buzzd product. I had a lot of questions for Alexandra about what it looks like for one emerging brand to acquire another, and we break down all the det...

As a startup you need a bank account to transact business, but who should you partner with? Retail banks like Chase and Wells Fargo? Or online banks? Let’s talk with one of my favorite partners, Aion Financial that offers free online banking tools for businesses of all sizes including: Banking Debit Cards Bill Pay Receivables Credit and Lending Watch Video Here Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foo...

Discover the latest Amazon marketing tools and strategies designed to help your brand thrive this holiday season. In this episode, we explore Amazon Brand Tailored Promotions, a powerful feature that enables you to connect with targeted audiences, including: New Customer Acquisition: Convert customers interested in your brand. Customer Retention: Boost loyalty by engaging existing customers. Re-en...

One of the biggest challenges growing a brand is aligning sales and operations. What systems did you put in place to do so? I talk with Corey Stary, VP Revenue & Ops at Kahawa 1893 on when their spreadsheets broke, and how they set the business up for the next stage. Joining us is Wiley Jones, co-founder of Doss to talk through how to build your operational system. Startup to Scale is a podcas...

Debt financing is a tool that can be incredibly useful for emerging CPG brands, but is also fretted with questions. When is debt the right tool for you? What are the different financing types? How much should I take out? For this episode I invited Daniel Taylor, CEO of Bags to help break down these answers. Interested in connecting with Bags? Book a free financial growth session with their team he...

Do you have a set plan on how to launch into new retailers? If not, this episode is for you. We break down how to plan your first 30-60-90 day selling periods, how to drive traffic to store, increase velocity, and measure data along the way. I’m joined by Tate Glasgow and Harrai Khalsa , both with extensive CPG sales experience to discuss everything you need to know. Sponsor: This episode is suppo...

The intersection of digital and retail marketing is made easier with digital sampling. Now you can use trackable digital marketing tactics to drive customers to purchase in store, while simultaneously intercepting customers in-store through demos and adding them to your digital marketing and loyalty program. Join me for a conversation on how to use advanced digital product sampling and rebate prog...

 AI is taking over every industry, which begs the question, can AI act as your Bookkeeper? I invite on Alice Zhang, founder of MyPocketCFO who’s been integrating AI into their accounting software for CPG Brands. In this episode we discuss what AI can and can’t do, and what the future may hold.  Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and...

 Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Isabel Washington , the founder of Laurel's Coffee, a brand that’s redefining canned coffee. Isabel's journey from concept to cup has been one of passion, persistence, and purpose. Her focus on ethically sourced, high-quality beans paired with using A2 dairy makes Laurel's Coffee stand out in a crowded marketplace.  Startup to Scale is a...