# HIBT Lab! The Sioux Chef: Sean Sherman

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-02-02
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman

## Summary

Sean Sherman, founder of The Sioux Chef, explains how he revitalized Native American cuisine by eliminating colonial ingredients like wheat, dairy, and sugar in favor of indigenous foods such as bison, wild rice, and heirloom corn. He details the journey from a food truck to opening Owamni in Minneapolis, a restaurant that won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, and his work with the nonprofit Indigenous Food Lab to restore food sovereignty and address health disparities in tribal communities.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=0) Introduction: Sean Sherman and The Sioux Chef
- [2:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=135) Growing Up on the Reservation and Early Career
- [8:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=528) Burnout, Mexico, and the Epiphany on Indigenous Food
- [15:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=903) Researching Indigenous Ingredients and Philosophy
- [19:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=1168) Launching the Tatonka Food Truck
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=1444) Crowdfunding Owamni and Pandemic Challenges
- [28:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=1717) Opening Owamni and Winning the James Beard Award
- [33:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-02-hibt-lab-the-sioux-chef-sean-sherman#t=1984) The Indigenous Food Lab and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- The Sioux Chef (company)
- Owamni (product)
- Tatonka Truck (product)
- Indigenous Food Lab (company)
- NATIFS (company)
- James Beard Foundation (company)
- Kickstarter (tool)
- U.S. Bank (company)

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- [#249 - Expo Pitch Slam Recap with ChiChi Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-05-19-249-expo-pitch-slam-recap-with-chichi-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Chef V of Alchemy of Food](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-02-13-founder-feature-chef-v-of-alchemy-of-food) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#119 Lil Bucks: Cultivating Health and Sustainability Through Buckwheat with Founder Emily Griffith and Luke Peterson from A-Frame Farm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-12-19-119-lil-bucks-cultivating-health-and-sustainability-through-buckwheat-with-found) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Nemi, The Original, All-Natural Crunchy Cactus (Nopales) Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-06-14-nemi-the-original-all-natural-crunchy-cactus-nopales-snack) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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