The Startup CPG Podcast
The Startup CPG Podcast is a top podcast in the consumer packaged goods industry, featuring stories from founders, buyer spotlights, and practical industry insights to help listeners succeed.
Episodes
Meet the Bone Broth Protein Bar with 20g Protein & No Protein Powder
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Mackenzie Muth and Nolan Spencer, co-founders of HOL Health Club, makers of the first and only bone broth protein bar - with 20 grams of protein and no protein powder.Mackenzie and Nolan met in an accounting class at Indiana University and are now married co-founders. Both spent six years in investment banking on Wall Street bef
Honey 101 for CPG Brands: Trends, Formulation Tips & Resources with Keith Seiz of The National Honey Board
In this mini episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Keith Seiz of the National Honey Board to unpack why honey has become one of the most in-demand ingredients in food and beverage right now - and what that means for brands and formulators looking to work with it.Keith has spent 17 years working with the National Honey Board, traveling the country to talk w
#262 - Beverage Manufacturing Lessons with BevSource's Bob Williams
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Bob Williams of BevSource - a beverage industry veteran Daniel calls "the beverage Oracle" - to unpack the most common (and costly) manufacturing mistakes beverage brands run into with co-packers.Bob has spent over 25 years in the beverage industry, most of it around co-packing, quality, and manufacturing opera
R&D RADIO: How to Audit a Co-Packer: The Food QA's Hermi Galstian Explains
In this episode of R&D Radio, host and food scientist Adam Yee sits down with Hermi Galstian, founder of The Food QA, to break down the real difference between food safety and quality - and what founders should actually be looking for when they walk into a co-manufacturer's facility.Hermi's path into food safety wasn't a straight line. She started as a business major on track for law
Why Investor Ryan Ball Wants You to Pivot Fast and Fundraise Smart
In this Investor Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Ryan Ball, founder of Sperian Ventures, to unpack the data, mindset, and founder qualities he looks for before writing a check into an early-stage CPG brand.Ryan's path into investing started almost by accident, coordinating a group investment while getting his MBA at the McCombs School of Business. That first deal evolved int
How Quincy Is Reinventing the Dirty Martini, One Perfect Jar at a Time
Host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Halli Sigel, co-founder of Quincy, to talk about how a jar of olive brine turned into a category-defining mixers and garnishes brand. Quincy's mission is simple - build brand love for the other half of the glass by redefining mixers and garnishes for the modern consumer.Before Quincy, Halli spent nearly a decade inside high-growth, venture-backed startu
#261 - What Makes Brands Investable at Founders & Funders? with Hannah Dittman
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff turns the mic around on one of his own co-hosts. Hannah Dittman, former investor and host of Startup CPG's Saturday investing episodes, spends a huge amount of her time talking with founders and VCs and reviewing applications for Startup CPG's Founders and Funders events. Daniel puts her on the other side of the interview to
Springdale Ventures' Dan Graham on Financial Forecasting and Investor Communications
In this Investor Spotlight episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Dan Graham, Co-Founder of Springdale Ventures, a firm writing seed-to-Series-A checks into fast-moving consumer brands. Dan breaks down exactly what Springdale looks for between early traction and institutional readiness - and why founders who lead with data, not narrative, win the room.Dan's path to venture was anythi
Founder Feature: Sheena Hamby of Mac Squares
In this founder feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Sheena Hamby, founder of Mac Squares, baked mac and cheese frozen into squares, made with real aged cheddar cheese straight from the block, fresh milk, eggs, and spices, with zero cheese powder. Needing a fast comfort food that wasn't messy, Sheena created Mac Squares in a hospital kitchen while her daughter Nova was going throu
#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Eve Ackerley, founder of Evie's Snacks, and Cody Ponsler from Belmark, one of the most recommended packaging partners in the Startup CPG community, to talk through how packaging evolves as a brand grows. Evie's Snacks makes direct-from-farm pecan snacks with only a third of the sugar of leading brands, sourced
R&D RADIO: Natural Flavors and Taste Modulation with Lauren Senne of Imbibe
In this episode of R&D RADIO, host and food scientist Adam Yee sits down with Lauren Senne, Senior Manager of Applications and Taste Modulation at Imbibe, a drink consultancy in Chicago, to break down the real difference between characterizing flavors and taste modulation. Lauren has spent over a decade at Imbibe and more than 13 years in the flavor industry, and is a certified flavor
Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Victor Guardiola, Founder and CEO of Bawi, a sparkling agua fresca brand bringing authentic Hispanic flavors into the modern beverage aisle with a healthier twist. Beyond the product, Victor is equally driven by a mission to increase representation for Latino and minority founders in CPG.Victor's path started
Founder Feature: TUYYO FOODS - Jocelyn Ramirez, Regina Trillo, Stefanie Garcia Turner
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jocelyn Ramirez, Regina Trillo, and Stefanie Garcia Turner of Tuyyo Foods - a heritage-rooted modern Latin food company born from the merger of three separate brands. Toto Verde's umami chef-crafted taco seasoning, Tuyyo's redesigned agua fresca stick packs with electrolytes, and Nemi Snacks' high-protein chip
#259 - Mini-Episode: Legal Considerations for Co-Branding Agreements with Foster Garvey
In this mini episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Hillary Hughes from Foster Garvey - a full-service legal firm supporting CPG brands across business formation, capital raising, IP protection, and regulatory compliance - to break down the legal fundamentals of co-branding agreements.Brand collaborations are everywhere right now, from Doritos Locos Tacos t
Founder Fundraising Journey: Frozen One, Alan Chen & Conner Mennig
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Alan Chen and Conner Mennig, co-founders of Frozen One - a protein ice cream brand built to prove that "better for you" doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste. Frozen One delivers 40 grams of protein and under 400 calories per pint, a fraction of what a traditional pint of ice cream contains, and has grown into
Founder Feature: Bar Bruhis of Boostcous
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Bar Bruhis, founder of Boostcous - the world's first better-for-you couscous, built to fill a gap in a grocery aisle that hasn't seen a single innovation while pasta brands like Banza and Goodles have completely reinvented their category. Boostcous delivers 18 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving
#258 - How Dossier Disrupted the Fragrance Industry
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Sergio Tache, co-founder of Dossier, the fragrance brand that grew from hand-filling bottles in a Brooklyn basement in 2019 to $150 million in sales — including the #1 perfume spot at Walmart and #3 at Target — culminating in a recent successful sale of the business. Though Daniel and Sergio go back to their bu
R&D RADIO: Non-GMO, Organic, or Gluten-Free? How to Decide Which Certifications Are Worth It
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Esther Levy, founder of Evolve Food Consultants, to unpack the real decision-making process behind third-party certifications — organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and beyond. Esther holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and an MBA, brings over 15 years of experience in manufacturing, regu
The Case for Frozen Muffins: How Unrefined Foods Is Bringing Whole Grain Nutrition to the Freezer Aisle
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Melissa Bermudez, founder of Unrefined Foods — frozen muffins made with 100% stone-milled whole grains and real fruits and vegetables. Melissa's path to founder started far from the kitchen: investment banking at JP Morgan, a hedge fund, business school, and stints at Walden Local Meat and a Big Ag financing f
#257 Co-Man Due Diligence 101 with Riot Energy and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Laura Jakobsen, founder of Riot Energy, and Daniella Carelli, Special Counsel at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, for a deep dive into co-manufacturer due diligence — finding the right partner, evaluating them properly, and getting a solid contract in place before things go wrong.Riot Energy has scaled from an ear
Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Sophia Cheng, Founder and CEO of Oddball, for a Founder Fundraising Journey conversation. Oddball is reimagining snacking for a new generation with jiggly, nostalgic fruit cups made from real fruit juices and purees — no artificial flavors or colors — inspired by the fruit-based snacks Sophia grew up with in Si
Building a Clean-Label Tart Cherry Beverage with No Natural Flavors and No Added Sugar in the Midst of a Booming Ingredient Trend
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Lindsey Fredrick, founder of Tart, a healthy lifestyle beverage built around tart cherry and house-made mineral water — just five organic ingredients, with zero natural flavors and no added sugar. Lindsey's path into CPG started in her college kitchen, where she was managing 35 different food allergies and sea
#256 - What Is Grocery Run? with Dan Choi (NA Beverage Co) and Stephanie McGregor (Ringa)
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with two founders who have attended and sampled at some of the most Startup CPG Grocery Run events: Dan Choi, founder of NA Beverage Company, and Stephanie McGregor, founder of Ringa. Together, they share what Grocery Runs are actually like from a brand perspective, how they decide which ones to attend, and what fou
R&D RADIO: Consumer Research, Product Platforms, and How to Scale Food Products the Right Way with Guru Hari of Guru Food Design
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Guru Hari Khalsa, founder of Guru Food Design — a product development and innovation consultancy helping CPG brands move from creative product vision to commercially scalable food and beverage products. Guru has over 40 years of experience in food and beverage product development, food science, manufa
Latest CPG Deals and Market Insights: Drew Fallon, CEO Iris Finance
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Drew Fallon, Co-Founder and CEO of Iris Finance, an AI-powered financial planning and forecasting platform helping emerging consumer brands make smarter financial decisions, improve profitability, and prepare for long-term growth.Before launching Iris Finance, Drew spent nearly a decade building and scaling con
Founder Feature: Reinventing Honey Through Design, Packaging, and Consumer Psychology with Noah Phillips of Honey Department
Honey is one of the world's oldest pantry staples—yet it's also one of the least changed. After years working in branding and design, Noah Phillips couldn't stop wondering why consumers were still buying honey from the same bear-shaped bottle they'd seen for decades. That question became Honey Department, a brand using thoughtful packaging, premium ingredients, and consumer psychology to
#255 - Mini episode: Non-UPF Verified Update
In this Startup CPG Mini Episode, Daniel Scharff sits down with Hans Eisenbeis, Director of Mission and Messaging at Non-UPF Verified, for an update on one of the fastest-growing conversations in food and beverage: ultra-processed foods.Since launching its certification program, Non-UPF Verified has seen growing interest from brands, retailers, and consumers looking for greater transparen
Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Retail Growth, and Building a Modern Hydration Brand with Alex Michaelsen of Leisure Hydration and Ryan Springer of Midnight
In this episode of Founder + Funder, Hannah Dittman sits down with Alex Michaelsen, Co-Founder and CEO of Leisure Hydration, and Ryan Springer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Midnight, for a conversation about fundraising, founder-investor relationships, retail expansion, and what it takes to build a next-generation beverage brand.Leisure Hydration was founded by brothers Alex and Ste
Founder Feature: Building a Women's Health Beverage Brand and Landing Nationwide Sprouts Distribution in Months with Anastasia Sartan of The Cycle
In this Founder Feature episode, Startup CPG Managing Editor Caitlin Bricker sits down with Anastasia Sartan, Founder and CEO of The Cycle, a functional beverage brand supporting women through their pre-period, period, perimenopause, and menopause stages.Before launching The Cycle, Anastasia spent nearly two decades building products in the tech industry, including leadership roles at Sna
#254 - Buyer Spotlight: Hannah Koch, Supplements Buyer, Kimberton Whole Foods
Startup CPG's Daniel Scharff sits down with Hannah Koch, Category Manager for Supplements at Kimberton Whole Foods, one of the most beloved independent natural retailers in the country. Based in Pennsylvania, Kimberton Whole Foods has built a reputation for thoughtful merchandising, strong community relationships, and a deeply mission-driven approach to retail.Hannah's path to retail is a
R&D RADIO: Commercialization, Pilot Runs, and Scaling Food Products the Right Way with Jamie Valenti-Jordan
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Jamie Valenti-Jordan, founder of Catapult Commercialization Services, to discuss the realities of commercializing and scaling food products. Jamie has helped more than 400 brands commercialize thousands of products and has become one of the most trusted voices in the Startup CPG community when it come
Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures
In this episode of Founder + Funder, hosted by Hannah Dittman, Hannah sits down with Emily Groden, Founder and CEO of Evergreen, and Brian Bernstein, Principal at Rich Products Ventures, for a conversation about fundraising, founder-investor relationships, and what it takes to build an emerging food brand into a category leader.Emily founded Evergreen after struggling to find frozen break
Founder Feature: The First Better-For-You Nutrition Company for Older Adults with Jess Haghani of Lucille
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jess Haghani, founder of Lucille — the first better-for-you nutrition company specifically designed for older adults, named after her 92-year-old grandmother. Lucille is reimagining what senior nutrition looks like from the ground up: better ingredients, better taste, better packaging, and a brand that finally
We're launching Founders & Formulators - Here's Why
Host Daniel Scharff sits down with R&D Radio host and food scientist Adam Yee for a special mini episode previewing Startup CPG's first-ever Founders & Formulators event—happening July 12th in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton, the day before the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual convention.With a room full of formulators already heading to Chicago for IFT, Startup CPG
#253 - Private Label Arrangements: What CPG Brands Should Know Before Signing the Deal | Hillary Hughes, Foster Garvey
In this mini episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Hillary Hughes — CPG legal legend and leader of the Consumer Brands Industry Group at Foster Garvey — to break down everything emerging brands need to know before entering a private label arrangement.Private label can be a powerful revenue stream and a fast path to scale, but it comes with real tradeoffs:
Investor Spotlight: Consumer Psychology, Channel Strategy, and What Actually Makes Brands Win — David Bell, Idea Farm Ventures
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with David Bell, co-founder of Idea Farm Ventures and one of the most academically grounded voices in consumer. David has spent decades studying what actually drives success in consumer brands and retail — from analyzing Nielsen and IRI barcode scanner data as a PhD student at Stanford GSB, to building Wharton's fir
Founder Feature: Bone Broth Tomato Sauce and a New Twist on a Family Recipe- Liana Krasnow, Noodo
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Liana Krasnow, founder of Noodo — a tomato sauce made with grass fed bone broth that's redefining what a premium Italian sauce can be. Growing up watching her grandparents harvest tomatoes from their Connecticut garden and make traditional sauce every summer, Liana took that family recipe, removed the wine, ad
#252 - The Rise of Laurel's Coffee: Whole Foods, Wegmans & 1,800 Target Stores in Two Years
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Isabel Washington, founder of Laurel's Coffee — an A2 dairy canned latte brand bringing coffee shop flavors like Dirty Chai and Matcha to retail shelves. Isabel left McKinsey in February 2024, launched in August 2024, and has already landed Whole Foods, Erewhon, Wegmans, and a chain-wide 1,800-store Target laun
R&D RADIO: Food Microstructure, Ultra-Processed Foods, and the Contract Manufacturer Formula Trap with Abbey Thiel
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Abbey Thiel, a food scientist, science communicator, and consultant with a PhD in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and postdoctoral training at Wageningen University. Abbey specializes in food formulation, ingredient functionality, and technical problem solving for food and bevera
Investor Spotlight: Founder Investor Fit, Gross Margins, and the KPIs That Actually Drive Consumer Businesses - Rana Taghdisi Argenio, Palette Ventures
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Rana Taghdisi Argenio, co-founder and General Partner at Palette Ventures, an early stage fund focused on pre-seed through Series A consumer brands. Rana brings a rare full stack perspective to investing, having started her career at Goldman Sachs, taken over a legacy manufacturing business, and bootstrapped he
Founder Feature: Single Origin Soy Sauce and Award Winning Branding with Christine Liu and Clarissa Wei of HEYDOH
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Christine Liu and Clarissa Wei, co-founders of HEYDOH — a single origin soy sauce brand built to fill a gap in the American grocery market. The global soy sauce market is worth $40–59 billion, yet there is not a single origin option on the shelves of America's largest grocery stores. HEYDOH is here to change t
#251 - Scaling the Brand: Ops, Systems, and Simplicity with Mezcla and Doss
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Yoga Charya, President and COO of Mezcla, and Sebastiaan Debrouwe from Doss, the operations cloud built for fast-growing CPG brands. Together, they trace the rise of Mezcla — one of the breakout brands in the crowded protein bar category — and unpack the operational philosophy that made it possible: simplicity
Investor Spotlight: Graham Garzon, Ground Force Capital — Growth Stage Investing, Business Fundamentals, and What It Takes to Build an Acquirable Brand
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Graham Garzon, Vice President at Ground Force Capital — a consumer focused growth equity fund with deep roots in food and beverage. Graham brings a background in investment banking and private equity to a firm whose two founding partners are CPG entrepreneurs themselves, giving Ground Force a rare combination o
Founder Feature: Bringing Froyo Back, Building in Public, and Why Pressure is a Privilege - Ashley Whalen of Chara
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Ashley Whalen, founder of Chara — a Greek frozen yogurt brand bringing back the joy of froyo with a modern, better-for-you twist. High in protein, packed with certified living probiotics, naturally sweetened with maple and agave, and completely lactose free, Chara is the frozen treat today's health-conscious c
#250 - Jacob Trumbull of Roaring Fork Mill: Heritage Grains, Regenerative Organic Certification, and How Startup CPG Opportunities Unlocked 700 Stores
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jacob Trumbull, founder of Roaring Fork Mill — a family owned and operated stone flour mill based in Carbondale, Colorado. Jacob is the only Regenerative Organic Certified mill in the Mountain West, a recent recipient of the Greg Stoltenpohl Pragmatic Visionary Award, and someone who went from exhibiting at hi
R&D RADIO: Lara Tiro of Rebel CPG — The PB&J Framework, COGS, and How to Scale a Food Product the Right Way
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Lara Tiro, founder of Rebel CPG — a commercialization and innovation agency helping food entrepreneurs bridge the gap between a great recipe and a retail-ready product. Lara is a food scientist with over 20 years of experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, product development, and commerci
Investor Spotlight: Luba Safran of Mondelēz SnackFutures Ventures — How Corporate Venture Capital Works and What It Means for CPG Founders
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Luba Safran, Venture Capital Lead at Mondelēz International's SnackFutures Ventures — the corporate venture capital arm of one of the world's largest snack companies. Luba brings nearly a decade of experience at AB InBev, where she helped build their Disruptive Growth Organization and spent seven years doing co
Founder Feature: The OB/GYN Formulating Pharmaceuticals for Period Care - Margo Harrison of Wave Bye
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Margo Harrison, founder and CEO of Wave Bye — a menstrual health company developing a proactive, OB/GYN-formulated treatment for period pain and bleeding. Margo is a board-certified OB/GYN, former NIH-funded academic researcher at the University of Colorado, Planned Parenthood provider, and founder of a femtec
#249 - Expo Pitch Slam Recap with ChiChi Foods
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Chiara Munzi, co-founder of ChiChi Foods — the winner of Startup CPG's first-ever Expo West Pitch Slam, powered by Advantage FDM Sales. ChiChi makes the world's first chickpea hot cereal: a shelf-stable, high-protein, high-fiber breakfast that cooks just like instant oatmeal but delivers everything oatmeal does
Investor Spotlight: Bill Schultz, Beliade Consumer Partners
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Bill Schultz, Partner at Beliade Consumer Partners — a venture fund focused exclusively on founder-led consumer brands across food and beverage, personal care, beauty, and lifestyle. Bill brings a rare combination of Wall Street pattern recognition and early-stage brand investing experience to the table, having
Founder Feature: Marc Brown of ONOIN
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Marc Brown, founder of ONOIN — a line of shelf-stable, pre-chopped and flavored onions in 100% olive oil designed to save you time and tears in the kitchen. ONOIN comes in four flavors — original, garlic and herb, jalapeño lime, and ginger and lemongrass — and is designed to go on or in anything, from eggs to
#248 - How to Work with a Formulator with Rebecca Urciuolo from BevSource (FB Solutions Group)
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Rebecca Urciuolo, a formulator with over 23 years of food and beverage experience at BevSource (FB Solutions Group), to dig into one of the most exciting and most misunderstood parts of building a CPG brand: working with a formulator to bring your product to life. From how to write a great project brief to what
R&D RADIO: Monte Ammons from Liquid Sherpas
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Monte Ammons, founder of Liquid Sherpas. With more than 30 years spanning food service, Coca-Cola, Community Coffee, and natural ingredient sales at Dohler, Monte brings a uniquely operational lens to product development — one built not in a lab, but on the floor of real businesses learning hard lesso
Founder + Funder: Anabel González, Founder of Good Bacteria and Hayden Williams, Partner of BrandProject
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Anabel González, founder of Good Bacteria, and Hayden Williams, Partner at BrandProject, for the podcast's first-ever founder and funder episode—a behind-the-curtain look at what the investment process actually looks like from both sides of the table.Good Bacteria is the first rotating probiotic system deliveri
Founder Feature: Sean Knecht of Tantos!
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Sean Knecht, co-founder of Tantos—the first and only puffed pasta chip. Tantos is built on a simple but revolutionary idea: a snack whose base ingredient is wheat and water, the true definition of pasta, bringing a brand new category to the salty snack aisle alongside business partner and celebrity chef Joe Sa
#247 - How to Build a Board with Seth Goldman, JUST ICE Tea
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Seth Goldman—co-founder of Honest Tea, co-founder and CEO of Just Ice Tea, and one of the most experienced board members in the CPG space, having served as chair of Beyond Meat, Plant Burger, and Mission Guardians of Tony's Chocolonely—to answer the questions most founders never get a straight answer on: When d
Bonus Episode: Khalil Khamis of Crafty Ramen
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Khalil Khamis, CEO of Crafty Ramen—a brand reimagining what frozen ramen can be by bringing restaurant-quality bowls to the freezer aisle. No water, no assembly. Just heat and eat in seven minutes.Crafty Ramen started as a 24-seat ramen shop in Canada, founded by husband-and-wife duo Jared and Mickey Farrell—a
Founder Feature: Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Lex Evan, founder of LEXINGTON BAKES, a luxury baked goods brand serving protein cookies, protein oat bars, and dessert brownies. But the luxury isn't in the price — it's in the ingredients. Lex just won a NEXTY Award at Expo West for best vegan product, and he's bringing that energy into this conversation.Cai
#246 - BevNET 101 with John Craven
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with John Craven, founder and CEO of BevNET, to trace the remarkable 30-year journey of one of CPG media's most essential platforms. From a college web project in 1996 to a full media empire spanning BevNET, Nosh, Brewbound, live events, and multiple podcasts, John shares the origin story, the industry inflection po
R&D RADIO: Colleen Cottrell, Independent Consultant at C Cottrell Consulting
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Colleen Cottrell, independent consultant at C Cottrell Consulting. With over a decade of experience spanning ingredient suppliers, finished CPG brands like RXBAR, and now independent consulting, Colleen breaks down one of the most underappreciated forces in product development: ingredient functionalit
Opportunity Knocks: Get Direct Access to Top Retailers
In this special episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff and Caitlin Bricker — a former retail buyer and managing editor at Startup CPG — pull back the curtain on the biggest thing Startup CPG has ever built: Opportunity Knocks. This is a brand new platform designed to give emerging CPG brands a direct line to some of the most exciting retailers, distributors, and industry
Investor Spotlight: Rogers Healy, Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Rogers Healy, Founder and CEO of Morrison Seger Venture Capital Partners—a consumer-focused venture firm backing some of the most iconic CPG brands of this generation. Rogers is a serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building and scaling businesses, including one of Texas's largest independen
Founder Feature: Maria of The Purple Drop
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Maria Velasquez, founder of Purple Drop — a Peruvian super drink made from purple corn grown high in the Andes. Maria is bringing chicha morada, a staple in every Peruvian household, to the US market for the first time as a better-for-you RTD. And she is doing it with her mother-in-law's recipe, organic agave,
#245 - Growing Your Brand with Influencer Marketing with Joybyte
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Myriah Castillo, president of Joybyte, and Val Ponce De Leon, head of influencer at Joybyte, to dig into one of the most talked-about topics in the Startup CPG Slack: influencer marketing. Not the celebrity post-and-pray version — but the strategic, scrappy, content-engine approach that actually moves the needl
How to Make the Most of Expo West as an Emerging CPG Brand | Little Latke, Gato Dates & Hola Mija Chips
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host and managing editor Caitlin Bricker sits down with three emerging brands to unpack what Expo West really looks like on the ground — from first-time exhibiting to scrappy Alley Rally wins to landing a yes from a buyer on the spot.First up is Taylor Blue, founder of Little Latke, the first shelf-stable potato crisp inspired by the crispy edge
Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Craig Dubitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy Products — a modern beverage brand reimagining how coffee can make us feel. Craig is one of CPG's most iconic brand builders, having created category-defining household staples like eos and hello. With hello, he built the fastest-growing oral care brand in North Ameri
Founder Feature: Matt Beaman of Goodburn Sauce Co.
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Matt Beaman, co-founder of Goodburn Sauce Co., a regenerative, farm-focused hot sauce brand based in Austin, Texas with a deep love for rare and exotic chili peppers from around the world.Matt shares how a career that took him from writing for kids' television to Disney marketing to Facebook brand management u
#244 - Live Pitch Practice & Feedback
In this special episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff and Managing Editor Caitlin Bricker — a former retail buyer — run a live pitch practice session recorded on YouTube Live, where founders jumped up to deliver their 30-second pitch and got direct, actionable feedback in real time. The result is one of the most broadly useful episodes we've ever put out: whether you pit
R&D RADIO: Travis Zissu from Scale Food Lab
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Travis Zissu, founder of Scale Food Labs — an FDA-registered pilot food manufacturing facility in Golden, Colorado helping emerging brands turn benchtop formulas into scalable, production-ready products. With over a decade of food industry experience spanning culinary school at the CIA, GNT Natural Colors, and Chew
Investor Spotlight: Elly Truesdell, New Fare Partners
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Elly Truesdell, founder and Managing Partner at New Fare Partners — a seed and Series A venture fund investing exclusively in food and beverage across the value chain. Elly brings one of the most distinctive full-stack perspectives in consumer investing: she spent nearly a decade at Whole Foods leading local br
Founder Feature: Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Hannah Pollack, founder and CEO of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches—a high-quality ice cream novelty brand celebrating its 10th anniversary. Nightingale crafts elevated ice cream sandwiches using non-GMO, sustainably sourced ingredients in flavors like key lime pie, banana pudding, and caramel churro that melt
#243 - Building Your Team Legal Considerations with Giannuzzi Lewendon
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Blake Horn and Ryan Hall, both partners at CPG-exclusive law firm Giannuzzi Lewendon, to dig into one of the most overlooked parts of building a brand: doing it legally right from day one. From horror stories at the closing table to the nuances of vesting schedules and co-founder agreements, Blake and Ryan shar
Investor Spotlight: Denise Lambertson, Constellation Capital
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Denise Lambertson, founder and Managing Partner at Constellation Capital — a boutique follow-in venture fund investing in consumable CPG and wellness brands. Denise brings one of the most distinctive backgrounds in consumer investing: she began her career as Madonna's executive assistant, spent six years produc
Founder Feature: Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich of Gato Dates
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich, co-founders of Gato Dates—dark chocolate covered, nut butter stuffed Medjool dates in four decadent flavors: pistachio butter, cashew butter and walnut, almond butter, and peanut butter.Gabriella shares how years of working with functional medicine doctors, studying nutrit
R&D RADIO: Brian Chau from Chau Time
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Brian Chau, founder of Chau Time — an R&D operations consulting firm lowering the barrier to entry in the food industry. With a team of 12 spanning every U.S. time zone and experience across 20+ countries, Brian walks through the full concept-to-commercialization process and shares why setting clear parameters —
#242 - KeHE Grocery Run Recap
In this special episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with the three winning brands from Startup CPG's biggest-ever Grocery Run event — held the night before the KeHE Summer Show in Denver. Kiki Couchman (co-founder of Sourmilk), Cam Loyet (founder of Honeymoon Chocolate), and Ryan Raish (founder of Fave) share what it was like to compete among 70 vetted brands
Investor Spotlight: Josh Resnick, OpenSky Ventures
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Josh Resnick, co-founder and General Partner at OpenSky Ventures—an early-stage consumer venture firm investing in food, beverage, health, wellness, lifestyle, and the technology that powers growth for consumer brands. Josh brings a rare combination of serial entrepreneurship, deep operating experience, and inv
Founder Feature: Edouardo Jordan of The Food with Roots
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Edouardo Jordan, founder of Food with Roots—an ethnic food brand based in Seattle, Washington, celebrating Black food ways through products like their award-winning pimento cheese and Southern cornbread mixes.Edouardo shares how a love of cooking with his mom and grandmother in St. Petersburg, Florida led him
#241 - Breaking Into Misfits Market: What the Buying Team Actually Wants
Think Misfits Market is just a place to offload short-coded inventory? Think again. In this episode, Daniel Scharff sits down with the Misfits Market buying team — Steve Edelman, Jessie Kimsey, and Emma Dineen — to pull back the curtain on the "new" Misfits Market and what it really takes to get your brand into their curated assortment.From the treasure hunt experience they've built for s
Investor Spotlight: Mollye Santulli, Springdale Ventures
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Mollye Santulli, Principal at Springdale Ventures—an early-stage consumer venture firm investing in food, beverage, beauty, pet, personal care, and supplements. Mollye brings a rare combination of brand-side operating experience and investor pattern recognition to the table, having started her career at RXBar,
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