Tardigrades, not unicorns

The food industry is an area that is in need for constant innovation and disruption, but innovation is something more than just renovating the brand or adding more flavor options. The MISTA innovation model takes a step further to ensure that its members remain vital and relevant in an ever-changing and highly-competitive market. MISTA is a member-based platform for food optimization and innovatio...

We can’t ignore what’s happening in the health space today. Customers are still going to want their hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs, and everything else, but there’s a growing group of people who want to make changes by eating healthier one day at a time. In that regard, there is a need for innovation and for healthier food products to taste delicious. On today’s show,  Diane Rubizhevsky  join...

The food and beverage industry is experiencing a kind of Renaissance as bold startups are trying out new things and new ways of doing things that have been done before. Often in this industry, you are hardly trailblazing as a startup. How do you differentiate yourself sufficiently so that you can attract the right customers and, equally importantly, the right investors? Witness another pitch sprin...

Business and entrepreneurship is an adventure full of ups and downs. There will be times where, as an entrepreneur, you will have to find funding solutions for your business.  Jessica Bates  discusses the world of finance, debt, and funding in today’s episode with Elliot Begoun. Jessica is a Director of Business Development at  Dwight Funding . This company focuses on its mission to...

Many first time entrepreneurs are apprehensive about working with a fund. It would be an advantage to work with a founder-centric fund that cuts through the BS, gives realistic valuations for your business, and helps you step by step into fulfilling your vision. Spiral Sun Ventures is dedicated to applying that philosophy inside their niche – investing in consumer product companies that promote a...

Pitching a new idea to anyone opens hundreds of opportunities for how it could go. Entrepreneurs dive into these opportunities by pitching a brand. In this episode,  Aditi Dash  and  Chuck Cotter  join Elliot Begoun to give their insights on pitching as four founders pitch to them live. Aditi is a partner at  CircleUp Growth Partners  whose mission is to help entrepre...

Empathizing with consumers allows you to get to know them better, and as a result, better understand how to give them what they need. Don’t underestimate the impact that this kind of consumer kinship will have on your brand going forward as you poise yourself for growth. Ryan Pintado-Vertner is the founder of Smoketown LLC . He joins Elliot Begoun to talk about why you should give priority to empa...

For too long, the industries around the country have been slow in recognizing and reflecting the changing needs of an increasingly diverse society. The JEDI Collaborative is committed to breaking down these systemic barriers to inclusion in the natural products industry. It is a newly-created platform that strives to get the industry to lean into justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Lara Dic...

Many changes in eCommerce today are prompted by the massive change in the way consumers are beginning to buy. A report shows that an estimated 40% of groceries are being sold online right now, with 55% to 60% of all searches starting on Amazon. With all these changes happening, there is no reason to lose money on Amazon, especially if you have a roadmap. In this episode, Elliot Begoun talks with&n...

More than anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to recognize that we are what we eat, that the earth is not our subsidiary, and that policy matters to protect our health and family. As such, we become more conscious of the chemicals that surround our system, our home, and our environment. Talking about the impacts of COVID-19 and the need for a cleaner world, Elliot Begoun sits down with n...

In unprecedented times such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard not to notice the overall speed at which our world is changing around us. It seems more of an upheaval that has dramatically accelerated us into a new way of living and doing business. In this episode, Elliot Begoun sits down with  Bob Burke , principal at  Natural Products Consulting , to talk about what we see in...

As an eCommerce business, an online presence is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle that you have to focus on. Without this online presence, of course, your business is rendered invisible, so you have to take every opportunity to keep your company top of mind. Alex Hanifin is the VP of Marketing at The Good Crisp Company . Alex and Elliot Begoun talk about the massive importance of main...

In the current business landscape, building an eCommerce brand from scratch is not the challenge it once was. There are so many platforms to take advantage of – that is, if you know where to look and you’re smart about how you move. Leon Lewis is the Founder of Daybreak Growth Partners . Joining Elliot Begoun, Leon talks about the foundations of building an eCommerce brand. No more punching around...

Finding the right people for your business can be a challenge. Fortunately, with recruiting companies around, you can easily tick that task off your list. However, not all recruiting companies are created equal.  Peggy Shell’s   Creative Alignments  is one that is a kind of its own. In this episode, Elliot Begoun sits down with Peggy to talk to us about what they are doing dif...

Third-party logistics has become a much more important industry given the rise of eCommerce spaces, so if you’re looking to tap into a whole new customer base in the digital sphere, you can’t lag behind. Elliot Begoun is joined by Mike Gammarino , the Founder of Bluprint Partners . Drawing on his breadth of experience, Mike dives into all things 3PL in relation to eCommerce. With Mike’s tips and a...

The current COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the economy, affecting all businesses, including the chain of supplies for retail. Elliot Begoun talks with  Mark Feinberg , the CEO of the  OTHRSource , and Brandon Hernandez of  Whole Brain Consulting  about the supply chain and the pressures it is going through, the opportunities for improvement, and the risks and pitfalls th...

When you’re creating something from scratch, as is the case when you’re founding a company, you always have to have your sights set on the degree of growth you want to see. Business growth is something that you should always have your eye on because at the end of the day, a business only grows as much as you see it growing.  Manuel Gonzalez  is the Founder and Managing Partner of  G...

Now, more than ever, brands have to be conscious of how their product is distributed. With the massive amount of orders coming in through various distribution channels, especially in the time of COVID-19, it’s important that supplies are spread out just enough so that they can make full use of the distribution channels at their disposal. Elliot Begoun speaks to Corinne Shindelar , the President Em...

With so many people stuck in their homes and an economy that is undergoing a paradigm shift, we are bound to see a lot of new players in the market in the foreseeable future. Evan Faber, CEO of Moxie Sozo, and Chuck Cotter, partner and lawyer at Holland & Hart LLP, join Elliot Begoun to give useful tips on building a brand, fundraising, and other things to consider for people who are looking t...