The Startup CPG Podcast · 26 Apr 2022 · 40m · Episode 19
Emily Kealey, Managing Director, and Michelle Breyer, Chief Marketing Officer, of SKU, a CPG accelerator founded in Austin, discuss their programs designed to support founders from garage-stage startups to scaling brands. They highlight success stories like Siete, which rebranded from Must Be Nutty, and Aura Bora, explaining how mentorship and community help these companies achieve national retail placement. The conversation covers the differences between equity tracks and the non-equity Elevate track, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and specific growth goals for applicants.
founders before launch, early-stage companies and companies scaling up
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S'well founder Sarah Kauss joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders on positioning and growth. She helps Chiara Moonzi of Chigi navigate grocery placement for a chickpea-based hot cereal, Jesús Rualcaba of Paper Tacos expand his Latino-inspired greeting cards beyond specialty stores, and Adam Barker of Bolt Skin and Shave determine his growth strategy for a razor brand targeting men who shave their legs.
CAVA co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders on scaling challenges. Devin Strahan of Spike Root Beer discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and managing rapid growth with limited bandwidth. Sophia Bowden of Little Me Allergy explores expanding sales channels for her allergy accessories through retail partnerships. Sean Murray of Rootless Coffee Company weighs the decision to seek outside investment to fund a national coffee shop expansion.
Becca Millstein of Fishwife, Brian Rudolph of Banza, and Caue Suplicy of Barnana discuss scaling their food brands from direct-to-consumer origins to national retail presence. They detail strategies for product-market fit, including influencer seeding, packaging design, and navigating supply chain disruptions and misinformation crises. The founders also share advice on co-founder dynamics, customer segmentation, and the importance of brand moats in the competitive CPG landscape.
Taylor Foxman, founder of The Industry Collective, explains her unique business model of connecting 80 beverage and cannabis CEOs with investors, media, and partners without traditional marketing or a public-facing persona. She details her background in PR for brands like Jameson and Beyond Meat, and how she leverages this network to help underrepresented founders navigate fundraising and brand visibility. Foxman emphasizes the importance of creating 'good news' through consistent press releases and maintaining levity to support founders through the high-pressure CPG landscape.
CAVA co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman joins Guy Roz to advise three early-stage founders on scaling challenges. Devin Strahan of Devin Spiked Root Beer discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and managing rapid growth with limited bandwidth. Sophia Bowden of Little Me Allergy explores expanding sales channels for her allergy advocacy accessories, while Sean Murray of Rootless Coffee Company weighs the decision to seek outside investment to fund national expansion.
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