Advice Line with Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros co-founder Travis Boersma joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders: Sean Chang of Mukja Korean Fried Chicken, who is struggling with delivery app margins; Trenton Yoder of Pine Ridge Coffee, deciding between DTC and wholesale; and Yasmin Santos of Altar Native Bar, seeking to scale her non-alcoholic elixir business. Boersma and Raz suggest Mukja pivot to corporate catering and unique street snacks, advise Pine Ridge to differentiate through storytelling and local university partnerships, and encourage Altar to consider ready-to-drink formats like cans or bottles to reach the mainstream. The episode highlights the importance of adapting business models, protecting margins, and educating consumers on new product categories.