In this episode, we break down how to actually get a return on your investment at Expo West — and it’s not just about buyer meetings or badge scans. Using our Expo West itinerary as a guide, we talk through how to approach everything from the Innovation Summit and Pitch Slam to CPG Sisterhood, Ladies Lounge, Anti-Expo, and the after-hours house parties with real strategy and intention. The biggest takeaway? ROI at Expo is built through proximity and community. The founders who win aren’t standing on the sidelines — they’re putting themselves in the middle of conversations, building relationships before they “need” them, making introductions, and becoming part of the ecosystem. This episode will help you shift from short-term transactional thinking to long-term momentum building, so you leave Expo with more than leads — you leave with positioning, visibility, and real community equity that compounds long after the show floor closes.

Links to events mentioned in this episode:
Expo West new Hope Innovation Summit
Naturally Network HERE
Snaxshot & Misfits Party HERE
CPG Sisterhood Social HERE
America's Next Top Snack HERE
Startup CPG Ally Rally HERE
Ladies Lounge HERE
Anti Expo HERE
cpg house party HERE  

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Alyssa Fernandez is the founder of Ollin, a cake mix company that is making cakes real again with better grains. She's bringing stone-milled heritage wheat from Texas farmers to your kitchen— because gluten isn't the problem, it's what we did to it.

Ollin (pronounced all-in) is a Nahuatl word meaning "movement" or "to come full circle"—which is exactly what Alyssa is doing with baking. She's calling a truce with gluten by bringing heritage grains back where they belong: in your kitchen, at your celebrations, on your Sunday table.

Every box is hand-packed in North Texas. Every grain is sourced from Texas farms. Every cake you bake tells a story—one that connects culture with celebration, tradition with taste, and Texas soil with your table.

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Cotto reimagines classic dips with high-protein whipped cottage cheese and clean, simple ingredients to create lighter, fresher versions of nostalgic flavors. Designed to be enjoyed straight from the container, added to everyday meals, or shared with friends, Cotto brings ease, elevated flavor, and clean protein to modern eating.

Founded by Kendall Kransdorf, Cotto was inspired by her journey to recreate classic foods with wholesome ingredients that supported her wellbeing. After her cottage cheese–based dips became favorites among friends and family, she realized there was an opportunity for a new kind of dip—nostalgic, delicious, and genuinely better-for-you.

Kendall brings deep CPG experience to the brand, from strategy work with major retailers at Boston Consulting Group to hands-on product development with food scientists and co-manufacturers at a supplement startup. She brings this expertise and passion to Cotto.

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With 16+ years in CPG, Danielle has scaled brands from zero to $40M, revived a legacy brand, guided 100+ brands to $75M+ in sales, and secured hundreds of SKUs with top distributors and retailers.

It’s All Happening™ was built for founders who refuse to watch from the sidelines. From the CPG School to the high-touch Brand Catalyst Advisory, everything is powered by the proprietary IAH Launch Formula™. Build sales and marketing systems that drive velocity, repeat purchase and increase company valuation is what we do. This isn’t a theory, it’s the proven path to shelf, margin, and scale.

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