# Live Episode! Luke's Lobster: Luke Holden and Ben Conniff

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-11-07
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff

## Summary

Luke Holden and Ben Conniff, co-founders of Luke's Lobster, recount how a side project in New York’s East Village grew into a 40-location seafood brand. They detail the rapid launch of their first 200-square-foot shack, leveraging Holden’s family processing connections and Conniff’s operational hustle to achieve immediate cash flow. The founders discuss the strategic pivot to owning their own processing facility to control quality and margins, and their decision to accept private equity to scale nationally while maintaining a mission of sustainability and stakeholder respect.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=0) Introduction: Luke Holden and Ben Conniff
- [3:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=223) Holden's Maine Roots and Finance Career
- [11:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=707) The Craigslist Partnership and First Location
- [24:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=1476) Opening Day Success and Early Operations
- [35:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=2150) Scaling to a Second Location and Processing
- [42:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-11-07-live-episode-lukes-lobster-luke-holden-and-ben-conniff#t=2527) Private Equity, Sustainability, and Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Luke's Lobster (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Craigslist (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Cassie and Chelsey Maschhoff, Lottie’s Meats](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-02-founder-feature-cassie-and-chelsey-maschhoff-lotties-meats) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Shark Tank, Sea Moss, and an Ocean of Potential with Alexiou Gibson (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-01-03-shark-tank-sea-moss-and-an-ocean-of-potential-with-alexiou-gibson-2022) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Breanna and Jared Golestani of Kokada](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-14-founder-feature-breanna-and-jared-golestani-of-kokada) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [From Hand Sanitizer to Tomato Sauce - How Sauz Went From 10 Doors to 3,500 in a Year](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-29-from-hand-sanitizer-to-tomato-sauce-how-sauz-went-from-10-doors-to-3-500-in-a-ye) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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