# Dave’s Hot Chicken: Arman Oganesyan

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-06-10
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan

## Summary

Arman Oganesyan, co-founder of Dave’s Hot Chicken, explains how a parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood grew into a 200-unit franchise chain. He details the accidental discovery of their pickle-juice brine, the strategic decision to start with chicken tenders to manage operations, and the pivotal role of Eater LA critic Farley in generating initial hype. Oganesyan also discusses securing franchise partners like Bill Phelps and celebrity investors such as Drake to scale the business while maintaining brand integrity.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=0) Introduction: Arman Oganesyan and Dave's Hot Chicken
- [5:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=316) From Comedy to Culinary Inspiration
- [11:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=710) Developing the Recipe and Brine
- [24:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=1470) The Parking Lot Pop-Up Launch
- [32:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=1925) Media Hype and Operational Scaling
- [44:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=2679) First Brick-and-Mortar and Franchise Strategy
- [52:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=3167) Securing Partners and Celebrity Investors
- [1:00:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-06-10-daves-hot-chicken-arman-oganesyan#t=3651) Global Expansion and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Dave's Hot Chicken (company)
- Holland Ray's Hot Chicken (company)
- Eater LA (company)
- Wetzels Pretzels (company)
- Blaze Pizza (company)
- The Rock (other)
- Kevin Hart (other)
- Drake (other)
- Samuel L. Jackson (other)
- Maria Shriver (other)
- Michael Strahan (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Sam Davis-Allonce of  Hot N Saucy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-07-26-founder-feature-sam-davis-allonce-of-hot-n-saucy) (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)
- [Founder Feature:  Elan Halpern & Kiki Couchman of Sourmilk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-07-founder-feature-elan-halpern-kiki-couchman-of-sourmilk) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature - Fane He and Kyle Nguyen of  The Lucky Ox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-20-founder-feature-fane-he-and-kyle-nguyen-of-the-lucky-ox) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#211 - Acquisition Story: How Hector Saldivar Grew Tia Lupita Foods From a Family Recipe to a Successful Acquisition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-26-211-acquisition-story-how-hector-saldivar-grew-tia-lupita-foods-from-a-family-re) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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