The Startup CPG Podcast

Health. Happiness. Hydration. Did you know the fruit of a cactus could help bring you all three? That’s why Kun Yang and four of his other pharmacist friends decided to found Pricklee, and create the quenchiest prickly pear cactus juice. Listen in to hear how coconut water is moving over for a new plant-based water with half the sugar and calories yet that’s filled with antioxidants. Kun is the CEO of Pricklee and an active member of our Startup CPG community, and he shares about Pricklee’s origin story, running around New York in a cactus suit, Pricklee's recent Today show spotlight, and his tips for other aspiring CPG entrepreneurs. Episode Links: Pricklee's website & IG @drinkpricklee Pricklee's recent feature on the Today Show Pricklee's recent feature in Entrepreneur  Show Links: Join the Startup CPG Slack community (4,500+ members and growing!) Follow @startupcpg Visit host Jessi's Linkedin or website Questions or comments about the episode? Email Jessi at jessi@startupcpg.com

We’ve got a bonus episode for you! Expo East 2021 took place Sept 22-25 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Startup CPG founder, Daniel Scharff hosted a live panel on LinkedIn with Jessica Rubino from the New Hope Network, John Craven from BevNET, and first-time exhibitor Sunanda Patel from TumiBee winner of the Startup CPG and New Hope Network booth giveaway. Listen in for how the first Expo event since 2019 unfolded and what to expect for Expo West 2022. Show Links: Join the Startup CPG Slack community (4,500+ members and growing!) Follow @startupcpg

Kirk Visola is an active member of our Startup CPG community with a heart for sharing his design expertise and helping people navigate the complex world of packaging and branding. He has a no-nonsense approach to life and client work. With over 20 years of design expertise working with some of the largest brands in the world, he now operates his own agency, Mind the Font, making his caliber of work available to brands of all sizes. Listen in as Kirk shares about why he started his own agency, tips for approaching a packaging project, and how to build a great relationship with a designer for long term success. Episode Links: Mind the Font website & IG @mindthefont Kirk's LinkedIn & IG @kirkvisola Check out Kirk's weekly Clubhouse session with his mom: Mondays With Marilyn every Monday at 12 noon PST Check out Kirk's weekly Startup CPG Clubhouse session on packaging with Andy Kurtts from Buttermilk Creative, "Kirk & Kurtts," every Thursday at 12 noon PST Kirk mentions Brandon Hernandez as a resource for operations, co-packing, and more at Whole Brain Consulting Kirk mentions Unsplash as a free photo resource Get a blast from the past and look up Iomega Zip Drives Show Links: Join the Startup CPG Slack community (4,500+ members and growing!) Follow @startupcpg Visit host Jessi's Linkedin or website Questions or comments about the episode? Email Jessi at jessi@startupcpg.com

It’s been my pleasure to be the host of Season 2, and now it's time to pass the torch for Season 3! This episode is to introduce you to Startup CPG's new podcast host, Jessi Freitag. She’s no stranger to entrepreneurship and and knows what it takes to build a CPG Brand. She’s a curious mind and a podcaster who loves conversations - so - let’s meet Jessi!  @livbars @irohs.corner Jessi's LinkedIn profile Say hi at jessi@startupcpg.com

Nopales, or cactus in English, is one of the oldest plants in Mexico, it's been said that nopales was grown and eaten in Central Mexico before the Spanish even arrived. Today, the vegetable is still widely eaten throughout Mexico and United States. It's being called the "Plant of the Future" due to it's drought-resistant qualities, needing little water to survive, plus it's packed with fiber and antioxidants.  Human rights attorney, Regina Trillo, is doubling down on nopales in a big way! She's combined her passion for health, transparency and love for chips to create Nemi's, a crunchy, nutrient-dense snack, inspired by Mexican flavors. Listen in as Regina shares how she's building a sustainable, better-for-you snack brand.  @Nemi @MindTheFont  @StartupCPG 

Janie's Life-Changing Baked Goods has been transforming lives, including her own. Janie credits baking as giving her hope after she struggled with addiction and homelessness as a young adult. She's also changing the lives of those around her through service and hiring historically marginalized community members. Listen in as she shares her journey through darkness to the bright lights of the Food Network's Chopped Sweets, QVC, and beyond. 

Sparkling craft cocktails from the heart of Los Angeles. Vervet is harnessing the cultural wealth of California and Co-Founder, Tuan Lee, is set on redefining what it means to be an American brand. @DrinkVervet  If your brand is needing clarity on how to show up authentically in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) space, email me. Along side executive producing the Startup CPG podcast I run my own consultancy, Merida Consulting, working at the intersection of DEI + Marketing Communications. Email me at JBlundell@meridaconsultingllc.com 

If your brand is feeling a bit stuck in a rut, not quite connecting with consumers, or if you're struggling to set yourself a part from competitors, it might be time to refresh your Brand Strategy. In this episode we'll hear from Rebekah Hubbard, Managing Director at Heart Creative, a content & digital marketing agency. Listen in and take notes as Rebekah lays out the framework for refining your brand in 3 simple steps. Special thanks to our Community Partner Heart Creative, you can find them at HeartCreative.co

Never mix your cocktails from scratch again. Meet Alison Nathenson, co-founder of Steep't cocktails. Alison and her partner Chole are making it easier for you to create restaurant caliber cocktails in your own home for the fraction of the cost. Not staken, not stirred, Steep't. Take a listen. 

If you are new around here, we are a  community dedicated to helping young CPG brands succeed. We do this a few ways like giving access to phenomenal resources like our guest today, Mary Allen, who has expertise in taking brands global. She not only advise brands in this space, but she's also done it herself! She sells Savvy Green, a line of eco-clean detergent products, internationally. Listen in, as Mary dives into what type of products should be thinking about expanding internationally and resources to help you on the journey.