Tom First (Nantucket Nectars & Culture Pop) | Juicing a $100M Beverage Brand
We delve into the journey of Tom First, founder of Nantucket Nectars & Culture Pop. Discover the challenges and triumphs of building a beloved brand, the importance of authenticity in product development, and the lessons learned from navigating the beverage industry. Tom shares his experiences from the early days of creating a juice company that redefined the market to the strategic decisions that led to its success. Learn about the critical moments that shaped Nantucket Nectars, the philosophy behind making a product to be proud of, and the personal and professional dynamics of co-founding a business. Tom also discusses his new venture, Culture Pop, and how it continues his passion for creating innovative and healthy beverages.Sponsors:RampIQBar - AmazonChapters:[00:00:00] Brand Building Challenges [00:00:34] Meet the Hosts [00:02:00] Introducing Sponsors [00:02:45] Welcome Tom First [00:04:00] Culture Pop Origins [00:06:30] Early Business Lessons [00:08:00] Nantucket Nectars Beginnings [00:10:45] Defining Soda and Seltzer [00:15:00] Early Business Challenges [00:17:30] Competing with Big Brands [00:20:00] Building a National Brand [00:21:45] Importance of Storytelling [00:24:00] Key Decisions in Business [00:27:00] Impact of Selling Business [00:31:00] Moving Beyond Nectars [00:34:00] Investor Dynamics [00:37:30] Post-Nectars Ventures [00:43:00] Developing Culture Pop [00:49:00] Market Positioning [00:52:30] Raising Capital [00:54:00] Future of Functional Soda [01:00:00] Advice for Entrepreneurs [01:02:00] Building a Strong Team [01:05:00] Personal Impact of Business [01:07:00] Defining Success TodayABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Tom:Culture Pop: https://drinkculturepop.com/X: https://x.com/drinkculturepopLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-first-532ab55/
--------
1:08:36
Mike Beckham (Simple Modern) | Missionary turned $225M drink-ware mogul
Join us as we sit down with Mike Beckham, the co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, a company that has gone from challenger to incumbent in the drinkware industry with a unique blend of style, quality, and philanthropy. Mike shares his journey from the nonprofit world to building a $250M+ profitable business, emphasizing the importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Discover how Simple Modern's commitment to giving away 10% of their profits has not only shaped their company culture but also fueled their remarkable success. This episode is packed with insights on scaling, maintaining a strong organizational ethos, and the real meaning behind business excellence. Don’t miss out on this inspiring conversation that goes beyond business to explore deeper questions of purpose and impact.Sponsors:RampIQBar - AmazonChapters:00:00:00 - Scaling and Overstimulation 00:00:25 - Welcome to Eating Glass 00:02:45 - Introduction to Mike Beckham 00:03:45 - Nonprofit World Insights 00:05:45 - Business with Dual Purposes 00:07:45 - Impact of Previous Experiences 00:09:00 - Quality of Life Insights 00:11:00 - Money and Contentment 00:12:00 - Responsibility and Trade-offs 00:13:45 - Rapid Company Growth 00:16:00 - Working with Family 00:17:45 - Business Partnerships 00:19:00 - Product Longevity Surprises 00:21:15 - Breaking Growth Barriers 00:22:30 - Sales Channels Expansion 00:23:00 - Drinkware Market Fragmentation 00:24:45 - Fashion and Trends 00:25:45 - Domestic Manufacturing 00:26:15 - Oreo Principle 00:27:45 - Challenges of Growth 00:29:45 - Entrepreneurship Motivations 00:31:00 - Market Opportunities 00:33:45 - Customer Satisfaction 00:34:45 - Amazon Strategy 00:36:15 - Product Excellence 00:38:00 - Digital Tools Advantage 00:40:00 - Brand Evolution 00:42:00 - Pricing Strategy 00:43:00 - Operational Excellence 00:45:15 - Competitive Advantages 00:47:00 - Challenger Brand Strategies 00:49:00 - Value and Quality 00:51:00 - Growth and Inventory 00:53:00 - Product Trends 00:55:00 - Licensing and Customization 00:57:15 - Focus vs. Variety 00:58:45 - Scaling and Distribution 01:00:15 - Strategic Insights 01:02:15 - Direct Response Marketing 01:04:00 - Business Model and Philanthropy 01:07:00 - Motivating the Team 01:10:00 - Building Organizational Values 01:12:45 - Financial Discipline 01:15:00 - Banking Relationships 01:18:00 - Forecasting and Growth 01:20:00 - Collateral and Credit 01:22:45 - Rapid Fire Questions 01:24:15 - Entrepreneurial Truths 01:25:45 - Startup Myths 01:27:15 - Personal Value Proposition 01:28:45 - Biggest Mistakes 01:30:00 - Personal Life Impact 01:32:45 - Long-Term Impact 01:35:00 - External Validation 01:36:15 - Hiring Strategy 01:37:30 - Cultural and Character Moats 01:39:00 - Wrapping UpABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Mike:Website: https://www.mikebeckhamblog.com/X: https://x.com/mikebeckhamsmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebeckham/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebeckhamsm/
--------
1:39:11
Peter Rahal (RXBAR & David Protein) | The $600M Man Gets Back Into Bars
Joe and Will sit down with Peter Rahal, co-founder of RXBAR, to delve into his journey from a challenging school experience to creating one of the most iconic protein bars on the market. Peter shares how early adversity shaped his relentless drive, the innovative approach behind RXBAR's success, and the pivotal moments that led to a $600 million exit to Kellogg's. Tune in to hear valuable insights on product development, navigating the nutrition bar market, and the importance of embracing failure.Chapters:[00:00:00] Peter Rahal's early challenges[00:03:00] Harnessing adversity[00:08:00] The origin of RXBAR[00:14:00] The importance of product iteration[00:23:00] Scaling without external funding[00:32:00] The legendary rebranding of RXBAR[00:45:00] The decision to sell[01:00:00] Launching David[01:12:00] Rapid fireABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Peter:Website: https://davidprotein.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterrahal/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-rahal-037bba43/
--------
1:15:54
Anne Mahlum (SolidCore) | Non-Profit to $100M+ Fitness Phenom
In this episode of Eating Glass, we sit down with Anne Mahlum, founder of Back on My Feet and SolidCore. Anne shares her incredible journey from growing up in North Dakota with an addict father, to starting a running club for the homeless, and ultimately building a nationwide fitness empire. Discover how Anne’s personal struggles fueled her drive to create impactful businesses, and learn the secrets behind scaling and maintaining a successful company. Tune in to hear about her unique approach to community building, overcoming challenges, and her vision for the future.Chapters:[00:00:00] Anne's Early Life and Challenges[00:00:11] Podcast Introduction[00:01:40] Ramp Sponsorship[00:02:40] Anne's Background[00:04:15] Starting a Running Club[00:06:00] Scaling Back on My Feet[00:07:52] Discovering Pilates and SolidCore[00:09:55] Early Stages of SolidCore[00:11:00] Building Community in Fitness[00:12:15] Nonprofits vs. For-Profits[00:13:30] Marketing and Brand Niches[00:15:15] Retention and Success Metrics[00:16:30] Brick and Mortar Challenges[00:18:45] Scaling and Geographic Expansion[00:21:00] Vertical Integration and Innovation[00:23:00] Community Building Strategies[00:25:30] Trust and Customer Relationships[00:27:15] Fitness Trends and Resilience[00:31:00] Selling a Company[00:35:15] Taking Money Off the Table[00:39:00] Money and Success Philosophy[00:43:00] Future Aspirations and Advising[00:47:45] Selling to Private Equity[00:52:15] Problem Solving and Leadership[00:56:00] Rapid Fire Questions[01:00:15] Episode Wrap-UpABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Anne:Website: https://www.annemahlum.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemahlum/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/
--------
1:00:53
Will Nitze (IQBAR) | Blitzscaling Brain Food to $50M+/year
We're getting meta as Joe interviews Will! Will Nitze is the founder and CEO of nutrition company IQBar. He shares his unconventional journey of growing his CPG business. Will discusses the importance of focusing on operational excellence and scaling quickly by taking calculated risks. He also dives into his contrarian approach to hiring, fundraising, and going to market, emphasizing the value of trust and taking advantage of opportunities others may deem too early. Throughout the conversation, Will offers candid insights on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the future of IQBar, and his personal aspirations beyond this venture.[00:00:00] Introduction[00:03:04] Will's background and starting IQBar[00:08:45] Early days of product development and manufacturing[00:14:35] Fundraising strategy and dilution[00:17:37] Measuring repeat purchase rate and customer retention[00:18:50] Marketing strategy and growing the business[00:20:21] Using Kickstarter[00:24:19] Expanding product lines[00:29:30] Breaking conventional wisdom[00:34:50] Building a team and thoughts on nepotism[00:38:17] LinkedIn strategy [00:40:39] Thoughts on selling[00:50:28] Rapid fire questionsABOUT THE HOSTS:Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.Connect with Will:IQBar: https://www.eatiqbar.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/X: https://x.com/willnitze
Welcome to Eating Glass! It's a podcast where we ask startup founders the questions no one else will. Our goal? Reveal what it's actually like to start, scale, and exit a company. Hosted by Joe Lemay, who bootstrapped his reusable notebook company Rocketbook to a $50M exit and Will Nitze, Founder/CEO at IQBAR, a nutrition company he's taken to $40M+ in annual revenue.
Polska