Talenti: Josh Hochschuler

How I Built This · 30 Jun 2025 · 1h 12m

What this episode covers

Josh Hochschuler, founder of Talenti, explains how he pivoted from a failing retail gelato shop in Dallas to building a national brand sold in clear jars, eventually selling to Unilever. He details the early struggles of validating the product, securing $600,000 from friends and family, and the critical decision to shut down the physical store to focus on wholesale distribution. Hochschuler also discusses the pivotal role of investors Steve Gill and Eddie Phillips, who helped scale the business and navigate the 2008 financial crisis, leading to Talenti's acquisition in 2014.

Mentioned

Companies
Unilever, Bank of Boston, Costco, Whole Foods, Publix, Kroger, Sprouts
Products
Talenti, Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, Belvedere Vodka, Chopin Vodka
Also
Steve Gill, Eddie Phillips, Dean Phillips, Jorge

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