In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff sits down with Paul Voge, Co-Founder and CEO at Aura Bora, a craft sparkling water company that has experienced remarkable growth from just 2 stores in 2019 to an impressive 10,000 stores  in 2024. Paul shares his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the challenges and realities of running a consumer packaged goods (CPG) startup in a fiercely competitive beverage industry.

They explore the intricacies of distribution, retailer relationships, and the high stakes of navigating a market dominated by giants like Coca-Cola. Paul opens up about the operational hurdles of maintaining supply chains, forecasting demand, and the significant demands of fundraising, all while managing the emotional toll of entrepreneurship.

They emphasize the importance of resilience, setting realistic expectations, and finding fulfillment in the entrepreneurial journey, despite the sacrifices and stresses involved. Paul offers valuable insights on maintaining a healthy mindset and the continuous learning required to build a sustainable business.

Tune in to gain practical advice and inspiration for aspiring founders navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.

Listen in as they share about:

• Profitability and Challenges of the Beverage Industry
• Differences Between Big Brands and Small Startups
• Acquisition Pathway
• Distributor and Retailer Relationships
• Consumer Competition
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Excitement vs. Stress in Growing a Business
• Challenges in Operations and Logistics
• Constant Learning and Adapting
• Balancing Personal and Business Life
• Corporate Careers vs. Entrepreneurship
• Setting Goals and Expectations

Episode Links:

Website: https://aurabora.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvoge/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
• Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
• Follow @startupcpg
• Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics