Lawsuits & Lessons

From Chef to Founder: Tech, Burgers & Building a Life You Love with Dweh Toeque


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In this episode of Lawsuits & Lessons, hosts John Fagerholm, employment defense attorney and business advocate, and Steve Cooper, comedian and veteran podcaster, welcome entrepreneur, technologist, and private chef Dweh Toeque for a candid conversation about creativity, reinvention, and building businesses that actually reflect who you are.

Dweh shares his journey from culinary school and working under world-class chefs across Los Angeles, to tech sales and launching a free-speech focused social platform during COVID that has grown to nearly 200,000 users. Along the way, he talks about burnout, finding his purpose, and pivoting into new ventures that light him up.

The conversation also explores how Dweh built his premium barbecue brisket burger concept — selling out pop-ups, partnering with Airbnb Experiences, and turning customer feedback into a business model. They dive into how to define your ideal customer, develop pricing you can justify, and create genuine value that people will pay for.

Toward the end, John, Steve, and Dweh get into big-picture themes: the role of AI and robotics in society, the entrepreneurial mindset required to keep momentum, and Dweh’s vision for education, public policy, and long-term impact — including his goal to start a super PAC to influence policy once his business exits are complete.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • How Dweh transitioned from chef to tech founder
  • What it took to launch and scale a social platform during a pandemic
  • How to price and market a premium food experience people rave about
  • Why knowing your perfect customer makes all the difference
  • How to refine a business idea through testing and feedback
  • Thoughts on AI, automation, and the future of work
  • The value of entrepreneurship, flexibility, and lifelong learning
  • Advice for young entrepreneurs with big ideas but no roadmap

Hosts:

John Fagerholm — defendmybiz.com
Steve Cooper — coopertalk.net

Guest:

Dweh Toeque — Entrepreneur & Private Chef
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefdweh/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGp6QfTNMFo
🍔 Airbnb Experiences: https://www.airbnb.com/services/6689291

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Lawsuits & LessonsBy John Fagerholm