Dan Kurzrock: From Beer to Bread to Business in the Circular Economy

About Dan Kurzrock: Dan Kurzrock is the co-founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods, Inc., a pioneer in upcycled food innovation and food system circularity. He holds a BA from UCLA, where underage homebrewing started it all, and a sustainable MBA from Presidio Graduate School.In this episode, Gary and Dan Kurzrock discuss:Food waste and inefficiencies in the global food systemInnovation through sustainable entrepreneurshipBuilding a business from a college hobbyCreative approaches to raising capital and scaling a startupKey Takeaways:Recognizing that one pound of spent grain is created for every six-pack of beer — totaling 20 billion pounds annually in the U.S. — Upcycled Foods developed a proprietary ingredient called SuperGrain+ to reintroduce this overlooked source of protein and fiber into the food supply chain.Entrepreneurs looking to start sustainably can begin by identifying overlooked resources in everyday systems — like brewing byproducts — and experimenting with low-cost, marketable solutions such as baked goods or ingredient blends to test demand.By leveraging equity crowdfunding through platforms like WeFunder, startups can convert their most passionate customers into investors, creating not only financial backing but a broader ownership community aligned with the company’s mission.Aspiring innovators should pursue mission-driven ideas even before perfect data or market validation exists, taking action on gut-level logic and curiosity to begin building momentum and uncover deeper purpose over time. "It’s okay to take two steps forward and one step back — that’s actually really solid work if you’re pursuing something entrepreneurial." — Dan KurzrockConnect with Dan Kurzrock:  Website: https://upcycledfoods.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkurzrockFor more great content, sign up for Gary’s free Patreon channel- https://www.patreon.com/FA_Masterclass/home Or his LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7206743428141895681/To get in touch with Gary:Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.