In this episode of Ground Up Growth, Paul Hopper is joined by first-time co-host Hannah Pittman and guest Will Puckett, founder of Tuk Tuk Boom. Will shares the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes story of how a finance major with zero culinary background walked away from insurance, reverse-engineered Thai recipes on a Belhaven back porch, and built one of Mississippi’s most loved fast-casual restaurant brands. From a stolen truck that sparked an unexpected friendship, to cooking curries in crawfish pots during COVID, to growing a team of nearly 90 employees across two locations—this episode is a true ground-up story. The conversation dives into risk, timing, humility, culture, and the people who make a business work—including the powerful story of the team member who helped make Tuk Tuk Boom possible. This is part one of a two-part conversation, focused on Will’s background, the origin of the idea, and the messy early days of building something from nothing. Part two will dig deeper into labor, leadership, and scaling a business once the doors are open. If you like honest entrepreneurship stories, this one’s for you.