Cotto reimagines classic dips with high-protein whipped cottage cheese and clean, simple ingredients to create lighter, fresher versions of nostalgic flavors. Founded by Kendall Kransdorf, Cotto was inspired by her personal journey to recreate classic foods with wholesome ingredients.

Kendall brings deep CPG experience, from strategy work at Boston Consulting Group to hands-on product development, to Cotto. Designed to be enjoyed straight from the container, Cotto brings ease, elevated flavor, and clean protein to modern eating.

Inside the Episode:

• How Kendall's personal wellness journey inspired her to launch Cotto and reinvent the classic dip category.

• Moving from CPG strategy at BCG to hands-on product development and launching her own brand.

• Key learnings on working with food scientists and co-manufacturers to bring a perishable product to market.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

Huwa is more than just olive oil; it is a direct connection to heritage, storytelling, and craftsmanship, rooted deeply in Palestine. Co-founder Bilal, raised between Little Palestine in Chicago and summers in Aqraba, Palestine, is building on his family's legacy that spans hundreds of years of olive oil production.

Today, they continue to harvest olives just as their ancestors did, preserving generations-old methods and community rituals. Every October, the entire village comes together to handcraft Huwa, ensuring their culture, craftsmanship, and land remain at the heart of every bottle. Bilal is currently balancing a career in creative tech with the dedication required to run this deeply traditional, family-owned business.

Inside the Episode:

• How Bilal navigates his career in creative tech while scaling a centuries-old family business.

• The cultural significance of Huwa's harvest rituals and the techniques used to handcraft the oil.

• What emerging brands can learn about translating deep personal and historical heritage into a compelling product narrative.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

Co-founded by Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich, Gato is a better-for-you treat brand reinventing indulgence with clean, nut-butter-stuffed, chocolate-covered Medjool dates.

Gabriella, a wellness entrepreneur, began crafting these elevated, real-ingredient treats from her kitchen, pairing high-quality chocolate with creamy nut butter and dates. When Tonya joined as co-founder, they turned this delicious creation into a business. What started at LA farmers markets quickly grew into a strong following, leading Gato into more than 100 stores as a go-to for cleaner, more satisfying sweets.

Inside the Episode:

• How Gato scaled its community-favorite, kitchen-born recipe into a retail-ready product found in over 100 stores.

• Why Medjool dates are the perfect centerpiece for a clean, indulgent, better-for-you sweet treat.

• The story of how co-founders Gabriella and Tonya combined their skills to transform a simple idea into a growing brand.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

As the mother-daughter duo behind Dancing, Lauren Russell and her mother sought a way to connect deeply with the rich Sonoma landscape. Their project soon blossomed into a vision far greater: a sensory collection celebrating life through taste, touch, and aroma. Born from a bond between two generations—one rooted in New York, the other in California—Dancing creates limited-release wines and fragrances designed to inspire your inner dance.

Dancing is more than a vineyard; it's an invitation to find what truly moves you. Their wines and fragrances are meticulously crafted to celebrate the convergence of diverse influences and passions, resulting in a collection that brings sophistication and joyful movement to everyday life.

Inside the Episode

• How Lauren Russell's personal journey, alongside her mother, built a multi-sensory brand inspired by a Sonoma landscape connection.

• The process of developing both limited-release wines and fragrances under a single, unified brand vision.

• What emerging founders can learn about building a legacy brand that harmonizes family influence and location-based inspiration.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

After a decade spent turning big ideas into bigger brands through design, engineering, and C-level strategy, Jane Miller grew tired of tech culture's broken rules and stifling politics. She realized innovation was being drowned out by ego, not collaboration. So, she walked away from the chaos to build the creative environment she wished existed.

JanesHaus Creative Agency is the result: a studio where creativity is taken seriously, collaboration is key, and good ideas actually hold. By fusing art with engineering and strategy with storytelling, Jane Miller now applies her unique expertise in design, UX, and systems-thinking to help CPG brands build structure from chaos and scale with a lean, results-driven approach.

Inside the Episode

• How Jane Miller's frustration with tech culture led her to walk away and build a purpose-driven creative agency.

• The powerful methodology of fusing art and engineering to create scalable brand strategies for CPG products.

• What emerging founders can learn about turning frustration into a framework by taking a lean, results-driven approach to strategy and design.

Connect here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

Tired of the uncomfortable, not-quite-clean feeling from dry toilet paper, friends Charlie Siciak and Sam Nebel set out to revolutionize the bathroom routine. They noticed a gap in the market for a genuinely effective, sensitive-skin-friendly, and truly flushable wipe—and thus, goodwipes was born in 2013.

goodwipes is an innovative personal care brand dedicated to an elevated, confident clean. Specializing in eco-friendly and sensitive-skin products (including flushable wipes, feminine hygiene wipes, and wash), goodwipes delivers a clean feeling that dry toilet paper simply can't match. Infused with soothing botanicals and free from harsh chemicals, parabens, and dyes, goodwipes helps you feel completely fresh and confident. Driven by a commitment to sustainability and responsible consumer education, goodwipes is a proud member of the Responsible Flushing Alliance.

Inside the Episode:

• How Charlie and Sam's frustration with traditional hygiene sparked the idea for goodwipes.

• The balancing act of innovating a product (like actually flushable wipes) while prioritizing sensitive skin and sustainability.

• The importance of consumer education and industry advocacy in building a successful personal care brand.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

Brian Folmer is deeply passionate about helping founders secure the capital they need to build their dream companies. Recognizing the challenge consumer brands face in connecting with early-stage investors, Brian founded FirstLook and FirstLook Ventures to bridge that gap.

FirstLook is a private, early-stage investor community that offers a unique, tangible experience: members receive a monthly box of emerging, high-growth consumer brands to test, experience, and then directly invest in—it's "Shark Tank in a box." Expanding on this vision, FirstLook Ventures is a syndicate group that focuses on later-stage, high-potential consumer brands, writing average checks of $500K in Series A and B rounds. Brian is actively redefining how investors discover and fund the next generation of breakout CPG companies.

Inside the Episode:

• How the "Shark Tank in a box" concept for FirstLook was born to create a better investment discovery process.

• The differences between investing in early-stage consumer brands via the FirstLook community versus the later-stage FirstLook Ventures syndicate.

• What founders of emerging brands need to know when preparing to raise capital from unique investor groups like FirstLook.

Connect here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

Motivated to cultivate a more equitable and supportive environment for creatives, Marisa Sanchez-Dunning, a Chicana woman, founded If Only Creative in the Bay Area in 2022. If Only Creative is a full-service creative studio that helps brands build and execute everything from brand design and strategy to social media management and trend-setting commercial photography.

Central to Marisa's vision are the core values of sustainability, equity, transparency, authenticity, and quality. If Only Creative became a reality because she was driven to craft a better world for creatives from all backgrounds, providing a space where diverse talent can thrive while delivering high-impact, value-driven work for their clients.

Inside the Episode:

• How Marisa's passion for equity and transparency inspired her to build her own creative studio.

• The essential elements of high-impact brand strategy and how to execute it across platforms like social media.

• What emerging founders can learn about integrating core values (like sustainability and authenticity) into their creative and commercial output.

Connect here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds — the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

This podcast episode was made possible by Glimpse — the AI-powered deduction management tool helping CPG brands recover lost revenue from invalid retail deductions. With in-house experts and custom-built AI, Glimpse saves founders time, money, and countless hours so they can focus on scaling. Try it free for 30 days at tryglimpse.com/trial.

While navigating the demands of motherhood and a busy career, Maggie Slavonic, a mom of two and former Emmy-winning creative director, recognized a significant gap: healthy, convenient, and truly nourishing snacks built specifically for the unique nutritional needs of mothers.

This personal realization, combined with her expertise as a functional nutritional therapist, sparked the idea for a brand designed to support mothers through every phase of their journey. Mom Snacks™ is the first functional snack brand created specifically to nourish moms. The brand crafts organic, nutrient-dense superfood snacks that offer essential support, allowing moms to feel their best while juggling everything else.

Inside the Episode:

• How Maggie pivoted from a nearly two-decade career in design and creative direction to launching a CPG brand.

• Why Maggie felt compelled to create a functional food brand specifically addressing the unique nutritional needs of moms.

• Key lessons for emerging founders on creating a mission-driven brand that balances convenience, taste, and superior nutrient density.

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This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!

Alyssa Arnold is a seasoned operator and strategic advisor with over 14 years of experience spanning M&A, operations, and scaling high-growth businesses, including founding Wildwood Growth Partners and ATex Energy. Now, as a partner at The Angel Group, Alyssa is focused on fueling the next generation of CPG companies.

The Angel Group is a private investor community dedicated to investing in breakout consumer brands. They go beyond capital, providing strategic support, deep industry connections, and hands-on guidance to help early-stage companies not just grow, but "grow smart and scale fast." The Angel Group serves as the critical early resource for founders ready to turn their innovative idea into a market leader.

Inside the Episode:

• How Alyssa's extensive background in strategic advising and scaling businesses informs her approach to early-stage investing in CPG.

• What The Angel Group looks for in a CPG brand and how their community model provides more than just funds to founders.

• Critical advice from Alyssa for emerging brand founders on structuring their businesses and pitches to attract early-stage investment.

Connect here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is the go-to platform built for creator-powered retail activations—connecting everyday creators with CPG brands to spark shelf-level awareness, drive in-store momentum, and generate authentic content in the markets that matter most. Learn more!