Matt Pound from Varsity Group shares his journey with Varsity Bar, Boat Parties, Consulting, Accelerators, Tech Gnomies, Burgers and Long-Machs in this episode. Matt's mix helped him create a unique hospitality experience and a cult following for American food & culture that has seen them open 6 restaurants in five years. Learn how he did it in this episode of Weird Growth.

Company

Varsity Bar – American college style food & culture

Customers

University/College students

One big piece of advice

Be intensely focused on your customers and giving them what they want. If people have a bad experience with your product or service, make sure you do everything in your power to turn it around.

Bullets

(0:00) – Introduction

(3:00) – How Matt got involved in the hospitality sector

(4:34) - What Matt learnt from his early experience hosting events (including boat parties on the Swan River)

(6:43) – The background and beginnings of the flagship Varsity Bar in Nedlands

(10:55) - The important learnings from the second Varsity store in Northbridge

(13:11) - Matt’s Tech Gnomies Side Project and key learnings: Persevering with your ideas

(16:52) – The media cycle flywheel: How early press relations can drive virality for a product

(18:28) – Differentiating Varsity burgers through careful media and high-quality products

(21:35) – Scaling-up and maintaining a culture that people love

(23:50) – Creating Fenway for sports lovers and an older demographic

(25:27) – The common thread among successful founders: Customer focus

(26:16) – #LMTU - Long Mac Topped Up – What is it and why is it important to Perth?

(32:00) – Varsity’s role in the local West Australian Burger movement

Show & Tell

https://www.shaktimats.com.au/pages/yoga- Shatki Meditation Mats

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts- Alan Watts