Summary

Andrew Buehler, CEO of Urban Smokehouse, shares his journey of starting a company that provides precooked barbecue foods. He discusses the challenges of urban living and the lack of access to traditional barbecue equipment and time. Andrew explains how Urban Smokehouse cooks barbecue foods the right way, vacuum seals them, and ships them nationwide for convenient reheating. He talks about the crowdfunding process and the importance of market fit. Andrew also discusses the logistics and shipping challenges of delivering perishable products. He shares his strategies for competing in the market and his vision for future growth and expansion.

Takeaways

• Urban Smokehouse provides precooked barbecue foods for people in urban environments who lack access to traditional barbecue equipment and time.
• Crowdfunding can be an effective way to de-risk a business idea and gauge market interest.
• Logistics and shipping are crucial considerations when delivering perishable products.
• Differentiation through quality, health attributes, and customer advocacy can help a small business compete against larger players.
• Future growth for Urban Smokehouse includes expanding the product line, pursuing retail partnerships, and targeting corporate gifting.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

04:42
Starting Urban Smokehouse

08:11
Transition from Finance to Food

11:51
Crowdfunding and Market Fit

14:15
Logistics and Shipping Challenges

17:35
Competition and Differentiation

20:31
Future Growth and Expansion

23:45
Growth Expectations and Product Development

27:20
Shameless Plug