Pipcorn: Jennifer and Jeff Martin
Jennifer and Jeff Martin, co-founders of Pipcorn, explain how they turned a discovery of heirloom corn into a national snack brand, expanding from hand-popped popcorn to extruded cheese balls and chips. They detail the operational nightmares of surviving early viral moments on Oprah and Shark Tank, including cash flow crises and fulfillment backlogs, and describe the strategic pivot to wholesale distribution through Whole Foods. The episode covers their recent $6 million fundraising, product development challenges with extrusion technology, and their current focus on profitability and brand identity as Black founders.