# Talenti: Josh Hochschuler

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-06-30
- Length: 1h 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=0) Introduction: Josh Hochschuler and Talenti
- [4:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=294) Life in Argentina and the Gelato Discovery
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=900) Raising Capital and Opening the First Store
- [23:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=1411) The Retail Failure and Pivot to Wholesale
- [33:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=2025) Surviving the Cash Crunch and Early Wholesale Growth
- [45:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=2754) Bringing in Investors Steve Gill and Eddie Phillips
- [54:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=3276) Scaling with Publix and Radio Advertising
- [1:00:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=3628) The Unilever Acquisition and Exit
- [1:07:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-30-talenti-josh-hochschuler#t=4037) Family, Faith, and Reflections on Success

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Talenti (product)
- Unilever (company)
- Bank of Boston (company)
- Costco (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Publix (company)
- Kroger (company)
- Sprouts (company)
- Ben & Jerry's (product)
- Häagen-Dazs (product)
- Belvedere Vodka (product)
- Chopin Vodka (product)
- Steve Gill (other)
- Eddie Phillips (other)
- Dean Phillips (other)
- Jorge (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#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)
- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-01-founder-fundraising-journey-victor-guardiola-bawi) (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)
- [Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-11-oddballs-path-from-idea-to-funding-a-nationwide-target-launch) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Marilyn Yang of Popadelics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-11-founder-feature-marilyn-yang-of-popadelics) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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