Startup To Scale

What should you do when capital markets dry up? Aaron and I share 10 concrete strategies and tactics on Problem Solved, a new Startup To Scale Podcast mini-series co-hosted by myself, Jordan Buckner, and Aaron Gailmor, founder of Brass Roots. In this series, we invite CPG founders to submit questions about the most pressing issues with their businesses. We’ll then share some ideas and perspectives...

Do you have a good grasp on your business financials? I’ve invited on Brad Ebenhoeh, founder of Accounfully on the show to discuss how to build a strong financial and accounting foundation for your business. We break down the top financial mistakes most CPG brands make and how to fix them. We discuss: Inventory and COGS Unit Economics Managing Cashflow Distributor Chargebacks and more… Startup to...

Retail buyers are looking for brands with great stories and compelling data to bring on shelf. Does your pitch effectively sell why your product will be a fit for the retailer in a way that gets them to say yes? Join me for a conversation with Marc Santos who works with emerging brands at NielsenIQ to help them create compelling stories using data. We discuss: What data you need for buyer pitches...

Vasa Martinez created Perfy after he developed pre-diabetes (which he's now reversed). He needed to cut carbs and sugar from his diet. The traditional sodas and diet sodas he loved so much did nothing for him nutritionally (and were part of the reason I ended up pre-diabetic), and all of the healthier sodas were for gut health. So he created Perfy, a delicious, low-sugar soda enhanced with no...

Are you looking to build an army of affiliates to support your brand? Most find it nearly impossible to get started because of the amount of work needed upfront. Those who get it right can see amazing sales coming in from their outsourced community of salespeople. I invited on Kelsey Eyers, founder of Rexxy to discuss how to build an affiliate program.  We talk through the details of her 4-step pr...

CPG is one of the most wasteful industries when it comes to packaging, with most products sold in single-use bags, pouches, and boxes. While many brands talk about sustainability, my guests today are taking action.  Join me as I discuss the future of sustainability and creating a circular economy with my guests Mike Newman - CEO of Returnity and Alex Torrey - CEO of The Rounds. Startup to Scale is...

What do consumers expect from online delivery these days? Join me as I talk with Sada and Jordan, founders of XpressRun about consumer delivery options in 2022. We discuss how to enable Same-Day and Next-Day delivery for your 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 busi...

We're entering Q4 and it's a wild time for CPG. Retail buyers are focused on holiday items and DTC will have its largest buying events of the year. On top of all this we're in a quasi-recession, affecting consumer demand in unknown ways. I sit down with my friend and retail expert Alli Ball to discuss both mindset shifts and tactics to increase sales during Q4. Listen to the episode...

It's no secret that consumer behavior is changing. But how are you responding? Join me for a conversation with Sherry Frey, VP of Total Wellness for NielsenIQ, as we break down the generational shift in wellness shopping habits. Listen in to learn how consumer behaviors are changing and discover new opportunities to market to each age group. Want to explore data further? NielsenIQ is offering...

Have you ever purchased a product from QVC or those late-night TV ads? Probably not. But live-stream shopping is getting a facelift with companies like Amazon and Crafted pioneering it's rise in the US.  While current usage has a long way to go, nearly 30% of people in China have purchase products from live-streams, showing the potential in the US. Join me for a conversation with the founders...

Let's talk through the Four Financial Tools You Need as a CPG Brand. Joining me for this conversation is Jim Shehigian with Aion . We can discuss: Banking AR/AP Bookkeeping and Insights Flexible Working Capital 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...

Do you have a clear picture of your business? There's a lot to manage between sales, marketing, operations, and finance. It's easy to get conflicting information about how your business is performing. Join me for a discussion with Rick Wingate, founder of Sherpa ERP on how to create an operating system for your business. SherpaERP helps founders manage their ingredient ordering, manufact...

There are dozens of incubators, accelerators, and programs for emerging CPG brands and it's difficult to know when and if you should apply. I sit down with Michelle Breyer, CMO of SKU to discuss the benefits and differences of programs. We also discuss criteria to evaluate if a program is right for you. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy , an online community to connect emerging food,...

Have you considered influencer marketing but haven’t figured out how to make it work for your brand? In today’s episode, we break down the six-step process of building an effective influencer marketing program and walk through exactly how to do it. I’m joined by Yash Chavan, founder of Saral, an influencer marketing tool that makes tracking each step much easier.  We discuss: Creator Prospecting ...

Jane McKay and her co-founder Meg Barnhart founded the Zen of Slow Cooking a line of spice blends made for easy slow cooker meals. What started off as a blog quickly turned into a CPG company that grew from selling in Farmer's Markets to Walmart. Now, Jane helps other founders grow along the same journey through her company Astute Ideas. We'll also discuss her current work in the Low/No...

Building a consumer brand in 2022 has fundamentally changed. Brands are looking for more than good taste (although that's still the most important attribute). Consumers are looking for authentic brands that represent their values, and bring some fun and entertainment along the way. Join me for a conversation with David Howitt, Founder of Meriwether Group as we discuss how to build a successfu...

If you've been on Linkedin, I'm sure you've seen Parker Olson's daily posts sharing his journey building Forij. The content is fun, exciting, and raw, as he showcases the highs of landing new accounts, to the lows of having his van break down in the middle of nowhere and having to sleep at a rest stop.  Join me for a fun conversation as we discuss why he decided to publically s...

This is episode 3 in our 3 part Finance Mini-Series for CPG Brands with Alice Zhang, founder of myPocketCFO .  Today we’re discussing working capital and cashflow for CPG brands including: Cash conversion cycle How to track and finance your working capital Cashflow forecasting Cash runway forecasting myPocketCFO helps founders to take care of all the above. E-mail alice@mypocketcfo.com to: Try out...

This is episode 2 in our 3 part Finance Mini-Series for CPG Brands with Alice Zhang, founder of myPocketCFO .  Today we’re discussing common CPG accounting mistakes including: Incorrectly adding inventory as an expense Distributor Chargebacks Amazon sales Shopify Sales myPocketCFO helps founders to take care of all the above. E-mail alice@mypocketcfo.com to: Try out their auto-bookkeeping for an i...

This is the first episode in our 3 part Finance Mini-Series for CPG Brands with Alice Zhang, founder of myPocketCFO.  We're discussing capital raising and financing for CPG brands including: Overall Strategy (Angels, VCs, Equity Crowdfunding, Rewards Crowdfunding, Debt) Pros and cons of each approach (Angels, VCs, Equity Crowdfunding, Rewards Crowdfunding, Debt) Getting your Balance sheet and...

Are you a fan of hummus?  Amy and her sisters started Soom Foods to bring the world's best tahini (a key ingredient in hummus) to you. Join me for a conversation as we discuss what it's like building a family business, how they go their start in foodservice working with top chefs, and navigating changing consumer behaviors during the pandemic. Startup to Scale is a podcast by Foodbevy ,...

Building a business takes time.  For Jeff Wiguna at Kuju Coffee , it took 6 years to break even.  That was after years of investing in a vertically integrated manufacturing process and building their customer base. Join me for a conversation on how building a financially sustainable company is now giving him more options to grow the business during this next phase. Startup to Scale is a podcast by...

Steve launched Traveler’s Soda in 2017 and ultimately decided to shut down the business 5 years later. Join me as we discuss why he started the company, his journey in building the brand, and his final decision to close it. We discuss the operational hurdles he experienced, along with the mental and emotional feelings that came with the decision. If you're looking to start a beverage business...

What does your company stand for? Many people think that a brand is your logo, font, and colors, but those are just markers. "Brand" is a promise you make and how you go about making that promise real. Join me as I talk with David Lemley, President of Retail Voodoo as we discuss how to build a brand that stands for something, and why that's central to creating customer loyalty. Star...

Are you leveraging smart sampling to gain customer trial? Smart sampling is utilizing a virtual platform to identify target customers and individually send samples to them for feedback. Join me as I talk with Mathieu Gamache, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Zero dB on how he leverages Sampler's   smart sampling program to: Get 1000s of new customer product trial Create a target custome...