# 362 - KEEP YOUR DIRTY FINGERS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH! Flip to Fill inventor Rao Murukurthy

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Length: 27m
- Episode: 362
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of

## Summary

Rao Murukurthy, founder of Flip to Fill, explains his transition from a career in mold making and custom blow molding (including work for GNC and Denver Custom Packaging) to creating a reusable, nested scoop that sits between the jar and cap. He details how the product solves hygiene issues by preventing hand contamination, automates insertion on production lines through its nested design, and meets Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements by being large enough to avoid falling through recycling screens. The device is made from post-consumer recycled polypropylene, features modular molds for different neck sizes (89mm, 110mm, 120mm), and includes a swappable logo insert to help brands reduce COGS while maintaining user experience.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=1) Introduction: Rao Murukurthy and Flip to Fill
- [4:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=251) Murukurthy's Background: Mold Making, GNC Bottles, and CU Boulder
- [6:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=373) The Problem: Hygiene, Contamination, and Dirty Hands
- [9:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=598) Design for Manufacturing: Nested Scoops and Automated Insertion
- [13:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=801) Business Models: In-Jar Inclusion vs. Add-On Items
- [15:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=943) Modular Molds, Neck Sizes, and Branding Inserts
- [18:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=1087) Recyclability, EPR, and Post-Consumer Recycled Polypropylene
- [21:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt#t=1270) Contact, Website, and Launch Timeline

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Flip to Fill (product)
- GNC (company)
- Denver Custom Packaging (company)
- Berry Plastics (company)
- Wrexham (company)
- CU Boulder (other)
- APR (other)
- Flip to Fill Scoop (product)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-10-21-362-keep-your-dirty-fingers-out-of-your-mouth-flip-to-fill-inventor-rao-murukurt. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to People of Packaging.