Founder to Mentor

In this episode, Mike is joined by Erika Rankin, the founder and CEO of Bro Dough. After being involved in the fitness industry for years, Erika took her passion and turned it into a business. Bro Dough is Canada's first better-for-you edible cookie dough - 100% vegan, contains plant-based protein, and uses natural sweeteners. Throughout this episode, Erika talks about her body building and fitnes...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Nima Fotovat, the Co-founder & President at Riverside Natural Foods, to answer questions from other founders. Riverside Natural Foods produces MadeGood, GOODTO GO and CookiePal, as well as private label products for leading retailers. Beyond their B Corp certification, Riverside Natural Foods is also a proud TRUE Zero Waste business with a silver rating, dive...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Nima Fotovat, the Co-founder & President at Riverside Natural Foods. Riverside Natural Foods produces MadeGood, GOODTO GO and CookiePal, as well as private label products for leading retailers. Beyond their B Corp certification, Riverside Natural Foods is also a proud TRUE Zero Waste business with a silver rating, diverting a minimum of 92% of waste for reuse...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Ian Walker. Ian is the Founder & President of Hippie Snacks, a British Columbia-based Certified B Corporation that is dedicated to using as few steps as possible in its manufacturing process to keep the ingredients close to nature. Ian answers questions from other founders about hiring and building a team, marketing sustainability, his process before product...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Ian Walker. Ian is the Founder & President of Hippie Snacks, a British Columbia-based company that is dedicated to using as few steps as possible in its manufacturing process to keep the ingredients close to nature. Ian talks about his experience with co-founders, his experience being a single founder, selecting products to distribute, strategies for product...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Greg Fleishman. Greg answers questions from other founders about marketing, packaging, direct to consumer, scaling a team, and so much more. Greg has had multiple 9-figure exits as the Co-Founder/Board Director of Foodstirs, Co-Founder of Purely Righteous, Co-Founder Up To Good Energy, Co-Founder of Eat Union, Board Director for Lily's Sweets (exited to Hershey’s...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Greg Fleishman. Greg is passionate about starting, nurturing, & funding Consumer Brands that help make the world better. He has had multiple 9-figure exits as the Co-Founder/Board Director of Foodstirs, Co-Founder of Purely Righteous, Co-Founder Up To Good Energy, Co-Founder of Eat Union, Board Director for Lily's Sweets (exited to Hershey’s June 2021), Once...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of Dream Pops, David Greenfeld. David founded Dream Pops in 2018 with the mission of shaking up the dessert category with delicious and healthy plant-based products. Throughout this episode,  David answers questions from founders about raising money from investors, marketing on social media platforms, what pivotal decisions he made early...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of Dream Pops, David Greenfeld. David founded Dream Pops in 2018 with the mission of shaking up the dessert category with delicious and healthy plant-based products. Throughout this episode,  David talks about what he credits the business’ success to, how he financed the company, selling direct to consumer, the impact of social media mark...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Peter Neal, co-founder of Neal Brothers Foods. Since Peter and his brother founded the company in 1988, Neal Brothers Foods has provided families throughout Canada with better-for-you snack options. Throughout this episode,  Peter answers questions from other founders about product manufacturing, what he looks for when making investments in other companies,...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Peter Neal, co-founder of Neal Brothers Foods. Since Peter and his brother founded the company in 1988, Neal Brothers Foods has provided families throughout Canada with better-for-you snack options. Throughout this episode,  Peter talks about the ups and downs that come with working with family, their innovation process, sourcing co packers, building company...

In this episode, Mike is joined by John Foraker, the co-founder and CEO at Once Upon A Farm, a leading kid nutrition business for the next generation. John is also the founder and former CEO of Annie’s Inc and went on to be President of the Annie’s Unit when the company became a subsidiary of General Mills. Throughout this episode,  John answers questions from other founders about how to find...

In this episode, Mike is joined by John Foraker, the co-founder and CEO at Once Upon A Farm, a leading kid nutrition business for the next generation. John is also the founder and former CEO of Annie’s Inc and went on to be President of the Annie’s Unit when the company became a subsidiary of General Mills. Throughout this episode,  John talks about his career journey in the natural food and...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Natasha Vandenhurk. Natasha is the co-founder and CEO of Three Farmers Foods, a Canadian brand that provides healthy, wholesome plant-based snacks. In this episode, founders ask Natasha questions about her initial distributions strategy and how she has built out her team throughout scaling the business. Follow Natasha on LinkedIn Connect with Mike on LinkedIn Fol...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Natasha Vandenhurk. Natasha is the co-founder and CEO of Three Farmers Foods, a Canadian brand that provides healthy, wholesome plant-based snacks. In this episode, Natasha shares her story of co-founding Three Farmers Foods with her sister and how they have built it to the successful brand it is today. She talks about changes she has seen over the decade in the...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of Uncle Matt’s Organic, Matt McLean. Starting with one item sold locally in his backyard, Matt founded Uncle Matt’s Organic in June of 1999. Today, it’s the oldest organic OJ brand in the US and is sold in over 15,000 stores nationwide. Throughout this conversation, Matt talks about the early stages of the company, selling the company to Dean...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of Uncle Matt’s Organic, Matt McLean. Since founding the business in 1999, Uncle Matt’s Organic is now the oldest organic OJ brand in the US and is sold in over 15,000 stores nationwide. Throughout this conversation, Matt answers questions from other founders about managing a budget while scaling, knowing the right time to raise capital, bring...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and co-founder of Genius Juice, Alex Bayer. Alex founded Genius Juice with a mission to make nutrition widespread and available to everyone. Genius Juice is the world's first all organic plant-based smoothie made from whole coconut,  simply blending two ingredients: organic coconut water and organic meat to make a delicious and clean smoothie. Throug...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and co-founder of Genius Juice, Alex Bayer. Alex founded Genius Juice with a mission to make nutrition widespread and available to everyone. Genius Juice is the world's first all organic plant-based smoothie made from whole coconut,  simply blending two ingredients: organic coconut water and organic meat to make a delicious and clean smoothie. Throug...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Kara Goldin, CEO and founder of Hint, Inc. Hint is a San Francisco-based beverage company that was founded in 2005 and is best known for its delicious unsweetened flavored water. Throughout this conversation, Kara tells the story of how her personal health journey led to her to leave her tech executive position to founding Hint, Inc. She talks about entering the...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Kara Goldin, CEO and founder of Hint, Inc. to answer founders’ questions. Kara answers questions about creating a direct to consumer strategy, switching delivery systems, and how to manage ingredients as the company scales. Kara founded Hint in 2005 when she decided to quit drinking diet soda and was in search of a delicious unsweetened flavored water. Follow Kar...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of IWON Organics, Mark Samuel. As a health enthusiast and serial entrepreneur, Mark has over 17 years of start-up experience. In 2016, Mark founded IWON Organics (I’m Winning On Nutrition), a legume-based food company that makes bold, flavor-infused snacks, cereal and granola made from plant-based proteins. Throughout this conversation, Mark t...

In this episode, Mike is joined by the CEO and founder of IWON Organics, Mark Samuel. In 2016, Mark founded IWON Organics (I’m Winning On Nutrition), a legume-based food company that makes bold, flavor-infused snacks, cereal and granola made from plant-based proteins. Throughout this episode, Mark answers questions from other founders regarding the direct to consumer landscape, co-packing, raising...

In this episode, Mike is joined by Suzie Yorke, the CEO and founder of Love Good Fats. As a marathon runner, cyclist, and 11x Ironman athlete, Suzie realized that her low fat diet was doing more harm than good and that incorporating fats in her diet could fuel her better. Suzie then founded Love Good Fats, a nutrition bar company that is low in sugar and loaded with good fats, and the company has...

In this episode, Suzie Yorke, the CEO and founder of Love Good Fats joins Mike for a Question & Answer session with other founders. Suzie has had incredible success since launching Love Good Fats bars in 2016, surpassing $100 million in revenue in just over 3 years. She answers questions about digital sampling, when to decide to co-pack, making a launch successful, fundraising, doing consumer...