Hardware Podcasts

Founder Feature: Todd Harris of Plift

The Startup CPG Podcast · 19 Jul 2024 · 34m · Episode 59

What this episode covers

Todd Harris, co-founder and CEO of Plift, explains the brand's mission to provide a socially acceptable, non-alcoholic, hemp-derived THC beverage that serves as a healthier alternative to alcohol. He details the product development process, including the strategic decision to use 4mg dosing and classic cocktail-inspired flavors like Paloma and Moscow Mule, while navigating complex state-by-state regulations and distribution challenges. Harris also discusses the company's focus on equity by supporting underrepresented founders and the current fundraising hurdles they face to meet surging wholesale demand.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Total Wine, Republic National, Glazers, Waterloo, Canteen, Cantina
Products
Plift
Also
Shrox

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • People of Packaging · 33m

    297 - Can functional THC beverages help with alcoholism? Jonny Locarni and Magic Cactus believe so!

    Johnny Locarni, founder of Magic Cactus, explains how his company developed a low-dose hemp-derived THC beverage as an alcohol alternative, navigating complex state-by-state regulations that force them to use shrink sleeves instead of traditionally printed cans. He details the R&D challenges of creating a low-sugar, natural product and the operational headaches of managing inventory and labeling changes due to shifting legal landscapes, such as California's temporary ban. Locarni highlights the strategic decision to focus on direct-to-consumer sales in compliant states to avoid the high costs and risks of wholesale distribution in a volatile regulatory environment.

    Packaging designCertification & compliance
    6 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 40m

    311 - Beyond Beers: How THC Drinks Are Disrupting the Beverage Market w/ Josh and Shea from Green Street Beverages

    Shea Coakley, CEO, and Josh Grab, CRO of Green Street Beverages, discuss their transition from the traditional alcohol industry to leading the hemp-derived THC beverage market. They detail the operational challenges of scaling production through co-packers, navigating complex state-by-state regulatory frameworks, and solving technical packaging issues like THC leaching and child-resistant closures. The founders emphasize how packaging has evolved from a functional necessity in the regulated cannabis space to a critical brand-building tool in the emerging THC beverage category.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringPackaging design
    6 chapters

  • How I Built This · 1h 06m

    21 Seeds: Kat Hantas

    Kat Hantas, co-founder of 21 Seeds, explains how she turned a home infusion hobby into a $160 million tequila brand sold to Diageo in 2022. She details the strategic decision to target moms with a cleaner, less sweet alternative to wine, navigating the complex three-tier distribution system by initially partnering with Bevmo and later Southern Glazers. Hantas discusses the operational challenges of scaling production in Jalisco, Mexico, and the critical role of timing and influencer marketing in achieving rapid growth and exit.

    Starting a product companyValidation & product-market fit
    9 chapters

  • How I Built This · 1h 04m

    Athletic Brewing Company: Bill Shufelt

    Bill Shufelt, founder of Athletic Brewing Company, explains how he pivoted from a finance career to reinvent non-alcoholic beer after quitting alcohol to improve his health. He details the struggle to find a brewer, eventually partnering with John Walker, and the decision to build a capital-intensive brewery rather than using contract manufacturers. Shufelt describes his grassroots marketing strategy of sampling at athletic events and his wife's critical support during early funding rejections, leading to a company now valued at $800 million.

    Starting a product companyValidation & product-market fit
    7 chapters

  • People of Packaging · 31m

    259 - It's definitely NOT beer with Not Beer founder Dillon Dandurand

    Dillon Dandurand, founder of Not Beer, explains how he launched a zero-carb, zero-alcohol sparkling water in Dallas, Texas, leveraging his background at Brazi Bites and Jack Black. He details the operational challenge of sourcing a full truckload of 155,600 tall boy cans to meet minimum order quantities, opting for a turnkey manufacturer to simplify logistics. Dandurand discusses the brand's humorous packaging design, which mimics beer aesthetics, and his strategy of using sampling and influencer marketing to drive retail distribution in Texas before expanding nationally.

    Packaging designDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    8 chapters

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