Startup To Scale

Michelle and her co-founder Nikki launched Elavi , a line of collagen protein bites during the pandemic. We check-in after their first year in business on all the lessons learned. We discuss everything from the mental toll of entrepreneurship to an effective strategy to fundraise during the pandemic. This is a great episode that you don't want to miss. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbev...

Selling on Amazon is a full-time job, but take it seriously and you can see great returns for your brand. Join me as I talk with Shannon Roddy, Amazon expert and founder of Marketplace Seller Courses about how to be successful in this channel. We discuss the role Amazon plays in your business the role known demand and unknown demand plays in your success, and much more. This is a great follow-up e...

What are VCs looking for when investing in CPG Brands? I talk with Diana Melencio, partner at XRC Labs on how brands can stand out to VCs, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how to show your brand can reach $200 million. We also discuss the XRC accelerator program which invests $135k in brands and provides in-kind services. You can learn more and apply to Cohort 13 here , the deadline is Decemb...

Trade show booths can be a polarizing investment for CPG brands. Some find it extremely helpful and others find it a complete flop. Join me for a conversation with Jonathan Wright, Design Director at Coppinger Exhibits to learn how to think strategically about trade shows and how to design your booth to stand out. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging...

Vanessa and her sister Kim created Omsom to celebrate Asian flavors from Asian chefs in an authentic and modern way. “No more diluted dishes, no more cultural compromise.” Join me as I talk with Vanessa about her journey starting Omsom and the lessons learned along the way. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great...

Founders love writing the text for their packaging, website, and branding, but sometimes you’re so deep that the language isn’t resonating with new customers. Join me as Chrissy shares how to build a “sticky” brand so that your copy can be memorable in your customer's mind.  You want your copy to: Use Clear Language Make Your Customer the Hero of Your Brand Have fun and standout Learn More ab...

When Chris moved on from his first CPG startup, he took everything he learned and leveraged it to launch Proper Good , 90sec meals for busy people. He created a digital-first brand, leveraged manufacturing partners to test and launch new products every 6 weeks, and infused the brand with a ton of personality. Chris shares the details of how he launched and leveraged Shark Tank to build his communi...

When Erica launched Gr8nola, she had a secret weapon. She worked in Silicon Valley and was able to get her premium granola into tech offices like Google and others. Business was good. When the pandemic hit, everything changed and Erica had to pivot into DTC and Retail, which wasn't as easy as it sounds. Erica had to change her packaging design and messaging to reach a new consumer. Startup to...

Crickets were all the rage in food a few years ago, and then seemingly dropped off the map. Not so said, Matt Beck. Learn how he founded Hoppy Planet Foods to make Acheta (Cricket) protein more accessible and then acquired EXO Protein to tap into a dedicated customers base. We talk about building a category that requires high education, overcoming an ingredient stigma, and what it looks like to ac...

Karen Green joins to discuss what most food founders don't understand about starting a company, and what they need to do to properly set expectations to succeed. Karen is the founder of Food Mentor and helps dozens of CPG founders start and grow successful businesses. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great...

Alex and his co-founder Denetrias created Avec as a better-for-you cocktail mixer utilizing unique flavors including Yuzu and Lime, and Jalapeño and Blood Orange. Learn about their journey, successes, and mistakes along the way. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business...

Saffi Foods is a line of premium oils and vinegar started by Sascha Dhanjal. Learn how she differentiated her products by selling a premium branded item in the bulk section of grocery stores, how she pivoted during covid, and the difficulties of changing consumer behavior. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great...

Bella Hughes is a CPG founder, Community Organizer, Artist, Curator, Mom, and does it all with a clear personal mission.  Join me for a fun and amazing conversation and learn how Bella helps farmers cultivate Mamaki Tea native to Hawai'i, grew Shaka Tea to 10,000+ doors, built an accelerator focused on AAPI-Female founders in Hawai'i,  and more. Shaka Tea: https://www.shakatea.com/ Found...

Amazon can be your best friend or your worst enemy. As a brand, there's so many nuances to succeeding that Amazon can be a full time job. Daniela Bolzmann spends all her time on Amazon helping brands get started and building optimized product listings using A/B testing and analytics.  Join me for a conversation on How to build your Amazon strategy. The 3 steps to optimizing your product listi...

Ashley created B.T.R. Bar, a functional protein bar while taking care of her parents battling cancer. Now she helps other's live a healthy lifestyle through her low sugar bars and mantra of "Be Bold, Tenacious and Resilient". Join me for a fun conversation about how she's been able to build an amazing and loyal community around her brand. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbe...

I talk with Perteet Spencer who co-founded Ayo Foods with her husband, Fred Spencer. Ayo Foods creates handcrafted West African dishes made accessible in the grocery store. Join me as we discuss what it was like starting a business during the pandemic, the challenges she faced, and how she's working to overcome them. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect e...

Genius Juice is an innovative line of coconut smoothies that is a rising star in the CPG industry. Alex Bayer has lead the company through many transitions and just recently raised over $1 million through equity crowdfunding. Join me as I talk with him about overcoming obstacles in building a beverage company. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food...

Selling in grocery stories is different in every single region, and Chicago and the Midwest have particular nuances that every CPG brand should know. Join me as Tina Adolfsson and I talk with industry legend, Don Fitzgerald on the launch of Dom’s Market and Kitchen, Chicago’s new innovative food hub. Don was previously the Group VP of Merchandising and Marketing for Mariano’s, another pioneering m...

Have you thought about getting started on TikTok but then felt completely overwhelmed! TikTok does require some work to be successful, but when done right, it can be amazing at quickly building a large audience. Join me as I talk with TikTok master Erica Rankin of Bro Dough who has grown her TikTok following to 130k followers and over 2 million likes in 5 months. She’s leveraged this channel to dr...

I talk with Liz Giorgi of Soona on new trends in content creation, how to stand out on Instagram, and why using models helps your brand stand out. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to learn about becoming a member or an industry partner...

I talk with Julie Blubaugh, the Local Coordinator for Whole Foods Market Midwest Region about how to launch a brand, being successful on the shelf, and how to grow from a regional to a national brand Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food, beverage, and CPG founders to great resources and partners to grow their business. Visit us at Foodbevy.com to...

Welcome to Startup to Scale, a podcast by Foodbevy. Foodbevy is an online community to help food and beverage founders and providers grow your business by providing access to tools, knowledge, and experts. If you run your own packaged food business or work with those who do, this podcast is for you. Every week I’ll be talking to founders, retailers, marketing experts, and everyone who works in our...