How a Father-Daughter Duo Went Viral Selling Cheesecake | Tarek Hassanin (The Dirty Cheesecake)

On this week’s episode of New York’s Business Podcast, we sit down with Tarek Hassanin, the founder of Made by Lili’s and The Dirty Cheesecake—a wildly creative dessert brand that started as a bonding activity with his daughter and grew into one of Long Island’s most talked-about sweet spots.Tarek’s story is anything but traditional. After Uber disrupted his limo business, he pivoted careers entirely—baking in his kitchen with his young daughter Lili and experimenting with flavors that would one day go viral. From Times Square success, a post-COVID rebrand, and rebuilding after a fire, to expanding with the help of strategic influencer marketing and a killer in-store experience, his journey is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs.In this episode, we discuss:• The power of product storytelling• How to build culture in a small team• Creating viral word-of-mouth experiences through customer interaction• When to turn down investors—and why• The difference between reacting to change and pivoting with purposeWhether you’re a startup founder, food brand, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is a masterclass in staying agile, authentic, and focused.🎧 Now streaming on all podcast platforms📍Tag someone who needs to hear this story#NewYorksBusinessPodcast #LongIslandBusiness #SmallBusinessSuccess #Entrepreneurship #BakeryBusiness #TheDirtyCheesecake #MadeByLilis #PodcastClip #BusinessInspiration #FamilyBusiness #WordOfMouthMarketing #ViralBranding