# #179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-01-21
- Length: 30m
- Episode: 113
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-21-179-bootstrap-heroes-hazards-hop-water-swair-gourmend-foods
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/da0911b9

## Summary

Host Daniel Scharff interviews Ryan Hansen of Hazard's Hop Water, Carrie Sporer of SWAIR Hair, and Ketan Vakil of Gourmend Foods about bootstrapping their consumer packaged goods brands to six-figure revenues without venture capital. Hansen details scaling a non-alcoholic hop water brand to $500k by targeting golf courses and breweries, while Sporer explains how SWAIR reached $350k in revenue by focusing on fitness enthusiasts and managing co-founder dynamics. Vakil shares how he built Gourmend Foods to nearly $850k in revenue by reformulating low-FODMAP broths and leveraging online sales and dietitian networks.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Bootstrap Heroes Theme
2. Ryan Hansen on Scaling Hazard's Hop Water
3. Carrie Sporer on Bootstrapping SWAIR Hair
4. Ketan Vakil on Building Gourmend Foods
5. Conclusion and Show Housekeeping

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Hazard's Hop Water (product)
- SWAIR Hair (product)
- Gourmend Foods (product)
- Daintree Capital (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Erewhon (company)
- Macy's (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Fair and Air Goods (company)
- Instacart (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How I Built Resilience: Kara Goldin of Hint](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-01-how-i-built-resilience-kara-goldin-of-hint) (How I Built This)
- [Health-Ade Kombucha: Daina Trout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-09-28-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout) (How I Built This)
- [Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Sam and Mariah Calagione (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-02-03-dogfish-head-craft-brewery-sam-and-mariah-calagione-2022) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-02-13-advice-line-with-travis-boersma-of-dutch-bros) (How I Built This)
- [Happy Family Organics: Shazi Visram](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-20-happy-family-organics-shazi-visram) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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