Eating Glass

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:

Ramp

IQBar - Amazon

Chapters:

[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 Today

ABOUT 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/drinkculturepop

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-first-532ab55/

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:

Ramp

IQBar - Amazon

Chapters:

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 Up

ABOUT 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/mikebeckhamsm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebeckham/

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

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 fire

ABOUT 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=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-rahal-037bba43/

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-Up

ABOUT 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=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mahlum/

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 questions

ABOUT 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

Chris Hunter, of Four Loko & Koia, shares his wild entrepreneurial journey. From the meteoric rise and regulatory battles of Four Loko to launching the plant-based protein drink Koia, Chris gets personal about the challenges of building businesses in highly regulated industries. He discusses lessons learned from tumultuous business partnerships, the decision to vertically integrate, and how personal growth and reflection have shaped his leadership style. Chris also opens up about his upbringing and how it instilled the grit and resilience needed to overcome entrepreneurial adversity. Tune in for a candid conversation on the realities of building iconic beverage brands.

Chapters

[00:00:00] - Introduction
[00:02:58] - Chris Hunter's Background and Companies (Phusion Projects and Koia)
[00:05:04] - How Success Has Changed Chris
[00:12:56] - Chris's Early Years and Troubled Past
[00:16:39] - Grit and Resilience in Entrepreneurship
[00:17:46] - Navigating Identity as the "Four Loko Guy"
[00:21:36] - Lessons Learned from Business Partnerships
[00:29:26] - Operating in Highly Regulated Markets
[00:33:57] - Challenges of the Ready-to-Drink Beverage Industry
[00:36:20] - The Decision to Vertically Integrate
[00:40:51] - The Koia Journey: Vision and Evolution
[00:44:51] - Humility, Ego, and Confidence in Entrepreneurship
[00:50:45] - Harnessing Emotions as Entrepreneurial Fuel
[00:58:28] - The Role of Coaches, Peer Groups, and Psychedelics in Personal Growth
[01:03:11] - Writing a Candid and Personal Book
[01:11:17] - Rapid Fire Questions
[01:14:16] - Conclusion

ABOUT 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  Chris:

Chris' Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963678028?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_PY8TMGHWK9J8Q4ARPF1W
Koia: https://drinkkoia.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hunter-890a2315/

Sean Riley, CEO and co-founder of Dude Wipes, shares the story of how he and his friends started the company from their apartment with the goal of creating a better way to wipe. He discusses the challenges of bootstrapping the business, building the bold and irreverent Dude Wipes brand, and scaling the company to over $150 million in revenue. Sean dives into topics like viral marketing, focus and saying no, hiring, company culture, and his long-term vision for Dude Wipes. An insightful and entertaining look at building an iconic CPG brand.

[00:00:00] - Intro and Origin Story
[00:04:21] - Starting Dude Wipes
[00:08:12] - Bootstrapping Out of Necessity
[00:11:10] - Founder Dynamics and Goals
[00:13:00] - Developing the Dude Wipes Brand
[00:18:25] - Hiring Consultants vs Employees
[00:23:15] - Dude Wipes Company Culture
[00:25:11] - Word of Mouth Marketing
[00:28:46] - Making Butt Wipes Fun
[00:31:13] - Brand Positioning and Moats
[00:33:00] - Evolving Brand and Gender Dynamics
[00:36:56] - Defining the Dude Wipes Enemy
[00:39:30] - Personal Branding Benefits
[00:42:51] - Building to Sell vs Cash Flow
[00:48:00] - Acquisition Interest and Market Trends
[00:52:06] - Focusing on the Core Business
[00:57:45] - Rapid Fire Questions
[01:04:56] - Wrap Up

ABOUT 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 Sean Riley:

DUDE Wipes: https://dudewipes.com/

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

In this episode of Eating Glass, we dive into the rollercoaster journey of Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, as he takes us behind the scenes of building a successful video marketing platform from scratch. From failed viral ideas, living on a shoestring budget to discovering product-market fit and growing a loyal customer base, Chris shares the ups and downs of bootstrapping a tech company in the early days of online video. Tune in for valuable insights on pivoting, marketing strategies, and the power of perseverance in the face of entrepreneurial challenges. Don't miss this inspiring story of turning a passion for video into a thriving business.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:56 - Motivations for starting a company
00:05:18 - Early failed ideas and pivots
00:11:04 - Surviving on a shoestring budget
00:16:50 - Building a simple solution for customers
00:20:35 - Raising angel money
00:22:29 - Navigating 2008
00:24:02 - Marketing strategies and content creation
00:26:40 - Growing the team and revenue
00:33:48 - Personal content creation
00:37:12 - Keeping creativity alive
00:41:40 - Balancing family and work
00:43:00 - Dealing with burnout and stress
00:49:43 - Trial and error as the best strategy
00:52:07 - Avoiding boredom
00:57:27 - The Next Decade
01:02:56 - Rapid-fire questions
01:13:13 - Wrap-up

ABOUT 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 Chris Savage:

Chris' Podcast: https://wistia.com/series/talking-too-loud
Wistia Website: https://wistia.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjsavage
X: https://twitter.com/csavage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csavage

In this episode of Eating Glass, Pete Maldonado, co-founder and co-CEO of CHOMPS, shares his entrepreneurial journey from hitting rock bottom to building a successful meat snack brand. From bootstrapping with just $6,500 to navigating existential crises during COVID-19, Pete offers candid insights on focus, innovation, and the importance of people in scaling a startup. Join hosts Will Nitze and Joe LeMay as they dive deep into Pete's experiences, uncovering valuable lessons on resilience, leadership, and redefining success in the face of adversity.

00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:05 - CHOMPS: Better-For-You Meat Snacks
00:06:00 - Broke to Rich: Pete's Evolution
00:09:15 - Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital
00:12:30 - Hand-to-Mouth: Financing Early CHOMPS
00:16:46 - Urgency and the Brand Enemy
00:18:39 - Throwing Out the Playbook
00:22:36 - Product Innovation Through Simplification
00:25:02 - Surviving Two Existential Crises
00:34:41 - Filtering Advice and Trusting Instincts
00:38:30 - Transitioning from Startup to Corporate
00:43:08 - Rapid Fire: Hiring and Platitudes
00:47:29 - Rapid Fire: Mistakes and Success

ABOUT 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 Pete Maldonado:

Chomps Website: https://chomps.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermaldonado/
X: https://x.com/petemaldonado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petemaldonado/

Ever dream of taking a wild product idea and turning it into a $50 million exit? Your co-host (and today's guest) Joe Lemay did just that with Rocketbook.

His initial idea was an app to digitize whiteboards in real-time. When that didn't pan out, Joe pivoted hard - creating the Rocketbook, a reusable notebook you could literally microwave to erase and reuse. This wacky "microwave to erase" gimmick went viral on Kickstarter, raising over $1 million. But actually manufacturing the microwavable notebooks was a nightmare...

Hear the full story of constant pivots, huge challenges, and 24/7 hustle behind this wild entrepreneurial journey.

00:00:00 - From Engineer to Entrepreneur
00:03:50 - The Whiteboard App
00:09:15 - Pivoting to Notebooks
00:13:25 - Going Viral: Microwave to Erase
00:19:20 - $1 Million in Pre-Sales
00:22:20 - Manufacturing Nightmares
00:26:45 - Surviving by a Thread
00:30:10 - Shark Tank Roast
00:31:25 - A Wipeable Wonder
00:33:20 - Crowdfunding Kings
00:38:15 - Word-of-Mouth Magic
00:41:30 - Brick & Mortar Struggles
00:44:50 - Exploring Exit Options
00:53:50 - Selling to Bic: The $50 Million Deal
00:56:40 - Post-Exit Life
01:00:05 - Rapid Fire
01:04:50 - Wrapping Up

ABOUT 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 Joe Lemay:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemayjoe/
X: https://twitter.com/lemayjoe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemayjoe/?hl=en