TrepTalks with Sushant

 Dr. Juan Salinas, founder of Pnuff Crunch, a baked peanut-based protein puff made with peanuts, navy beans, and rice with no added flavors or preservatives. Dr. Juan shares his journey from immigrating from Honduras in 1985 to earning a PhD at Rutgers and working 20–25 years at major CPG companies before starting Pnuff in 2015. He explains how fitness and performance nutrition work at Nestlé inspired a crunchy, high-protein snack, developed flavors at home while testing formulas on specialized equipment, and invested about $250K initially plus $200K from his brothers to buy equipment. He discusses allergen-driven manufacturing challenges, shifting from “peanut puff” to “protein puff,” 50/50 retail vs DTC, marketing via organic/social/events, and how Shark Tank (2020) led to a clean deal and ongoing support from Mark Cuban’s team. 

 Tim Swindle, co-founder of Paddle Smash, shares his journey from selling a venture-backed software startup to LinkedIn to building and scaling consumer products. He discusses launching the game Utter Nonsense (later acquired by PlayMonster) and how Paddle Smash evolved from a rough prototype into a viral outdoor game through a year of R&D. He highlights key growth strategies, including a DTC-first launch, early retail success, and leveraging social media (75M+ views). Tim also covers operational challenges like seasonality, manufacturing shifts from China to Vietnam, and fulfillment through Amazon and third-party logistics. Additional insights include navigating Shark Tank exposure, dealing with copycats, building a remote contractor team, and his core advice: focus on product quality and take action quickly. 

Steve Adams, founder of TiCK MiTT, a patented reusable microfiber mitt designed to quickly and safely remove ticks from people and pets, inspired by his family’s experiences with Lyme disease. Steve shares his entrepreneurial journey from early hustle and real estate to building a celebrity-home construction firm and then acquiring Magnolia Bakery, scaling it from one shop to 35–40 locations across 14 countries before selling amid the pandemic and partnership disputes. He explains how TiCK MiTT was developed with a tick scientist and product engineer, how trade shows and retail distribution accelerated growth, and how his daughter Olivia now runs the company as CEO. Steve recounts their Shark Tank experience, key lessons on failure, integrity, partnerships, and the impact of tariffs on CPG economics. 

Debbie Quintana, founder of Jocelyn & Company, shares how she transitioned from 12+ years in corporate security at Cisco to building a gourmet foods and corporate gifting brand during COVID. Starting with limited capital, she grew the business to $1M in 11 months and $5M in 2022 by leveraging her network, scaling B2B gifting (now 80% of revenue), and using platforms like Faire. Debbie discusses managing cash flow, running a lean team, integrating AI into gifting, and preparing to scale toward $10M. 

 Adam Myhoob, founder of Nuts On the Run. Adam shares his entrepreneurial journey, which began with a successful restaurant business in Vancouver, Canada. He details how he transitioned into the e-commerce space with Nuts On the Run, a brand that offers premium, small batch roasted nuts and snacks. Adam discusses his philosophy of never compromising on quality, his unique product flavors, and the strategies he used to grow his business, including sampling and diversification into wholesale and online sales.

 Anthony Coussa, the founder of DadBod apparel, a family-owned lifestyle brand based out of Northern California. Anthony discusses his journey into entrepreneurship, the inspiration behind DadBod Apparel, and how he successfully created a niche market focused on dads maintaining fitness, fashion, and health while embracing parenthood. He shares the initial challenges, the strategies used to build a community and grow the brand, and the importance of maintaining brand identity. Anthony also delves into the intricacies of marketing, distribution, and scaling the business. Tune in to learn valuable insights from Anthony's experience and discover practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Emma Rose Cohen, the innovative CEO and founder of Final Straw, on Treptalks. In this insightful episode, Emma shares her journey from being a ski bum to becoming a leading entrepreneur in the sustainability movement. She discusses how Final Straw, the pioneering reusable and collapsible straw, launched on Kickstarter and raised $1.8 million shortly after. Emma dives deep into the strategies she used to build her successful business, the challenges of targeting single-use plastics, and the lessons she learned along the way. Discover how she managed initial production hurdles, navigated virality, and her thoughts on the future of sustainability.  

Alex Stanford, the founder of St. Belford, a company specializing in lifestyle planners and journals designed to help individuals prioritize self-care, build healthier habits, and achieve personal growth. Alex shares her entrepreneurial journey, including her motivation behind starting the business in 2017 following personal burnout, and the unique features of St. Belford planners that differentiate them from others in the market. She discusses the design and manufacturing processes, the challenges faced during the initial launch, and the strategies used to market the product successfully. Alex also highlights the company’s expansion into the U.S. market and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy profit margin. The episode delves deeply into the struggles and triumphs of running a seasonal e-commerce business focused on wellness and productivity.

Mai Tran, the founder of Cavology, a Canadian-based lifestyle brand specializing in fashionable and functional accessories for dogs and their owners. Mai shares her inspiring journey from practicing law to becoming an entrepreneur in the pet industry. She discusses the development and growth of her brand, the strategies and tactics used to build an audience and scale the business, and the challenges faced along the way

 Nathan Rothstein, founder of Project Repat. Nathan shares the story of how Project Repat started in 2012 to convert customers' memorable t-shirts into high-quality quilts. Discussing his entrepreneurial journey, Nathan reveals the initial inspiration, challenges faced, and strategies used to scale the business to an eight-figure enterprise.