Hardware Podcasts

48 - Aimy Steadman, Co Founder and CGSDO at Future Proof

People of Packaging · 2 Feb 2021 · 44m

What this episode covers

Aimy Steadman, Co-Founder and CGSDO at Future Proof, discusses the evolution of Beat Box Beverages from a local Austin startup to a national brand, highlighting their pivot from 5-liter boxed wine to single-serving 500ml Tetra Pak cartons. She details the company's crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder, their pursuit of B Corp certification to verify sustainability claims, and how they navigated the 2020 aluminum can shortage by relying on their Tetra Pak supply chain. Steadman emphasizes that Future Proof prioritizes carbon efficiency over perfect circularity, achieving plastic neutrality while maintaining a focus on fun and community engagement through the Naturally Network.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Future Proof
Products
Beat Box Beverages, Tetra Pak
Also
Shark Tank, WeFunder, B Corp, recyclecartons.com, Naturally Network

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 43m

    Looking on the Starryside with co-founders Liz Seelye & Erin Fasano

    Starryside co-founders Liz Seelye and Aaron Pisano discuss launching Star Water, an organic, immunity-boosting beverage for kids in 8-ounce aluminum cans. They detail their journey from prototyping flavors with a former Ben & Jerry’s expert to navigating the 2022 can shortage and finding a co-packer willing to handle small, flat-beverage runs. The founders explain how they leveraged the Startup CPG community and Expo West’s Alley Rally to validate their product, secure feedback, and build relationships with retailers and media.

    Materials & manufacturing processesManufacturing partners & offshoring
    8 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 38m

    Founder Feature: Amna Mettmann of Brause

    Amna Mettmann, founder of Brause, explains how she launched a line of German-inspired craft sodas using whole food ingredients like organic apples and dates to avoid added sugars and artificial flavors. She details the brand's sleek, industrial design philosophy and her strategy of leveraging failed search data from her time at Postmates to identify the growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages. Mettmann also discusses how the Startup CPG community and the SF Grocery Run event helped her secure initial distributors and navigate early-stage growth.

    Validation & product-market fitDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    8 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 38m

    Founder Feature: Haylee Jordan and Tom Eddleston of FABRIC

    Haylee Jordan and Tom Eddleston, co-founders of FABRIC, discuss their rapid journey from concept to shelf in under a year, launching a THC-infused hop fizz with zero calories and zero sugar. They explain their strategic decision to incorporate purpose from day one by forming a Public Benefit Corporation and pursuing B Corp certification to protect their mission. The founders detail their product development, including the use of Australian botanicals like Galaxy hops, the creation of low-dose and CBG SKUs to mimic the beer experience, and their partnership with Protect Our Winters for social impact.

    Starting a product companyValidation & product-market fit
    9 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 41m

    #105 Equity Crowdfunding Insights: How Ghost Town Oats is Cultivating Community & Opportunities with Ezra Baker

    Ezra Baker, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Ghost Town Oats, discusses the rapid growth of the first Black-owned, queer-owned oat milk company. He details their product development process, leveraging their background as baristas to create a milk that steams well for coffee professionals, and their strategic choice of Tetra Edge packaging. Baker also explains their equity crowdfunding strategy via WeFunder, which raised over $210,000 in their first campaign with NBA star Jimmy Butler as a lead investor, and their current expansion into retail and school cafeterias.

    Crowdfunding & preordersIndustrial & consumer product design
    6 chapters

  • How I Built This · 56m

    nutpods: Madeline Haydon

    Madeline Haydon, founder of nut pods, explains how she grew a plant-based coffee creamer brand from a $30,000 Kickstarter into a national retailer staple before its acquisition by Emperor Rock. She details the technical challenges of creating a shelf-stable, unsweetened formula that wouldn't curdle in coffee, the pivot from single-serve pods to cartons based on Whole Foods feedback, and the strategic decision to launch on Amazon to build brand equity before entering retail. Haydon also discusses the difficulties of fundraising as a pregnant woman of color with no industry experience and the eventual sale of the company.

    Crowdfunding & preordersPricing, margins & unit economics
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.