PODCAST · business
The Startup CPG Podcast
by Startup CPG
The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.
Episodes
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#271: Inside Scoop on Founders & Formulators Speed Dating
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Megan Castellon of Syren Spreads, Andrew Kuzera of Ono, and food scientist Andrew Firestone of Firestone Consulting Group to give an inside look at Startup CPG’s first-ever Founders & Formulators event, where brands...
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Built to Scale: Lessons from a Founder Who Sold
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Zoë Sakoutis, Co-Founder and CEO of Bittman’s and founder of Blueprint, to trace her path from bootstrapping a cold-pressed juice brand to a full acquisition, and now to raising capital again for a whole grain…
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Kitchen to 4,000 Stores: The Cold Email That Launched a Ghee Snack Brand
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Darin Alpert, founder of Gheelish, a snack brand built around ghee, the clarified butter, as its star ingredient, for the story of how a cold email to Sprouts turned a kitchen popcorn recipe into a nationwide launch. Darin co-created…
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#270 Insights from 34,000 in-store demos with Grassroots Marketing
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with David Heiser, Co-Founder of Grassroots Marketing, to walk through a new, free report analyzing 34,000 in-store demos at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Central Market, and Erewhon, and what it means for where, when, and how…
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R&D RADIO: Oil Analytics, Seed Oils and Adulterated Avocado Oil with Dr. Selina Wang of UC Davis
In this episode of R&D Radio, host and food scientist Adam Yee sits down with Dr. Selina Wang, chemist and Professor of Cooperative Extension at the University of California, Davis, to talk about a recent study suggesting that many store-bought products made with avocado oil may not contain 100%...
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How to Ask Someone to Invest in Your CPG Brand, with Fave's Ryan Raish
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Ryan Raish, founder of Fave, a first-to-market certified organic powdered drink mix bringing nostalgic flavors back to the category without artificial colors, flavors, or excess sugar. Ryan has spent nearly two…
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Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, who's reinventing the classic pizza bagel with real mini New York bagels and bold flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken. Jacob spent eight years as a CTO in AI and tech before making a…
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#269 Retailer Spotlight: Mariano's, with Amanda Puck
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Amanda Puck, Vice President of Communications and Brand Development for Roundy's, for the "Mariano's 101" episode listeners have been asking for. Amanda has been with Mariano's since 2014, working in the grocery retail...
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Partnership Not Ownership: Inside Main Post Partners' Investment Approach
In this Investor Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Tara Hyland, Principal at Main Post Partners, to break down how growth equity differs from venture capital and what founders should understand about building an enduring consumer business. Tara's path to Main Post started in…
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Why This Architect is Choosing to Build a National CPG Wellness Brand
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jane Kate Wong, founder of Noon World, a cognitive wellness company making dual-layer gummies designed for mind, mood, focus, chill, and sleep. Jane's path to Noon ran through architecture, where she designed urban planning projects,...
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#268 The Rise of Gymkhana Fine Foods with Gulrez Arora
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with his longtime friend Gulrez Arora, founder of Gymkhana Fine Foods, the retail brand born out of London's two-Michelin-star Gymkhana restaurant, to talk about building a global premium Indian food brand from scratch....
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R&D RADIO: The Real Science Behind Sugar Replacement with Icon Foods' Thom King
In this episode of R&D Radio, host Adam Yee sits down with longtime friend Thom King, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Icon Foods, for a deep dive on sweetener systems from a food scientist's perspective. Thom founded Icon Foods in 1999 (originally as Steviva Brands), becoming one of the...
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How "Taste to Retain" Built a Billion-Dollar Supplement Brand
In this Operator Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Hye Rin (Juliet) Choi, VP of Product at Grüns, to unpack the product philosophy and process behind one of the fastest billion-dollar acquisitions in CPG history. Hye Rin (Juliet) started her career in brand management at Johnson &...
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How This Ex-Attorney Reinvented Hard Candy as a Health Tool
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Erica Haft, founder of Sweeter Collective, an organic hard candy brand modernizing the category with just 16 calories, less than 3 grams of sugar, and nearly 2 grams of fiber per piece. Erica spent almost 10 years as an attorney before...
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Should You Apply for Startup CPG's Founders & Funders?
In this bonus solo episode, host Daniel Scharff breaks down everything founders need to know about Founders & Funders, Startup CPG's flagship fundraising event happening December 10th in New York City, to help you decide whether you should apply. Daniel explains why he built the event: after...
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#267: Term Sheets 101 with Giannuzzi Lewendon
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Adam Marsh and Gabrielle McGonagle, partners at Giannuzzi Lewendon, a top-tier CPG law firm, for a deep dive on term sheets and what every founder needs to understand before raising capital. Adam has spent nearly 13...
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The 4-Part Diligence Framework Every Founder Should Know
In this Investor Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Ashley Hartman, Managing Partner at Bluestein Ventures, an early-stage firm investing at the intersection of culture, science, and technology in modern wellbeing and consumer brands. Ashley's path to venture capital ran through...
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Meat Stick Who? How TofuGo Turned Tofu Into a Viral Protein Snack
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Caroline Dai, founder of TofuGo, a savory protein snack made from whole foods tofu with 12 grams of protein, zero sugar, and zero natural flavors. Caroline grew up eating tofu daily in her Chinese family before moving to Seattle at age...
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#266: Building an Organic Social Media Following with Lindzi Shanks, XO Marshmallow
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Lindzi Shanks, founder and CEO of XO Marshmallow, to unpack how she built an organic social following of 1.4 million across platforms and turned it into real, trackable sales. Lindzi started XO Marshmallow 10 years ago...
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R&D RADIO: How Startup CPG's Product Developer Database Helped This Founder Reformulate
In this episode of R&D Radio, host Adam Yee sits down with Drake Nickell, founder of Dimitri's Greek Kitchen, to talk through how he used Startup CPG's Product Developer Database to find the right partner for reformulating his brand's pita chips. Drake and his sister built Dimitri's Greek Kitchen...
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How Whole Foods Invests in Emerging Brands with Ellen Gorra
In this Investor Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Ellen Gorra of Whole Foods Market, who leads the retailer's equity investment and warrant partnership programs, to unpack how one of the industry's most influential retailers evaluates, invests in, and supports emerging brands.…
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Tallow, Trust, and Testing: Inside My Neighbor's Rapid Growth
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Harri Magaldi, founder of My Neighbor's, a regenerative tallow and vegan skincare brand manufactured in-house in the Hudson Valley. Harri left nine years on Wall Street after her daughter developed eczema as a baby. Unable to find...
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#265: Marion Nestle on Food Politics and the Cereal Aisle
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Marion Nestle, Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at NYU, to unpack decades of cereal industry marketing history and what it reveals about food policy today. Marion is one of the most...
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Turning Customers Into Investors: A Popcorn Brand's Crowdfunding Playbook
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Tal Moore, founder and CEO of Popsmith, a design-forward stovetop popcorn brand that's landed on Oprah's Favorite Things list and is heading into Williams Sonoma nationwide this year. Tal is a serial e-commerce…
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She Couldn't Find a Clean Electrolyte Brand, So She Created One
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Danielle Nuss, founder of Short Story, a clean electrolyte mix made with organic fruit powder and naturally sourced minerals - and notably, zero natural flavors. Danielle is a mom of two boys working full-time in tech who started making...
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#264 How Foundation Foods Became One of SoCal's Most Trusted Grocery Distributors
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Louis D'Angelo, founder of Foundation Foods, a beloved natural products distributor serving Southern California's most quality-focused retailers, to talk about how the company was built, what it takes to get on their...
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R&D RADIO: Building a Reliable Formula Brand with Casey Bauer, COO, Bobbie
In this special R&D Radio episode, guest host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Casey Bauer, COO of Bobbie, one of only four infant formula manufacturers in the United States, to dig into what "test obsessed" really means when your product is a baby's sole source of nutrition. Casey has spent almost…
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From Hand Sanitizer to Tomato Sauce - How Sauz Went From 10 Doors to 3,500 in a Year
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Troy Bonde, co-founder and CEO of Sauz, to trace the winding path from a college side hustle to building one of the fastest-growing brands in the tomato sauce category. Troy's road to Sauz started with a hand…
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Happy Caapi: The First Non-Hallucinogenic Ayahuasca Vine Supplement
In this special two-guest Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Gonzalo Bisquerra, founder of Happy Caapi, and Chris Kilham, the botanical expert known as Medicine Hunter, to talk about the first non-hallucinogenic supplement made from the ayahuasca vine. Gonzalo spent two decades…
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#263 - When Cookies Aren't Just Cookies - with Fields Good and Cognizin
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Ashley Fields and Kim Anderson, co-founders of Fields Good, and Katie Emerson of Kyowa Hakko USA (the makers of Cognizin) to unpack how a new functional cookie brand is trying to prove that healthy and heavenly don't...
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Meet the Bone Broth Protein Bar with 20g Protein & No Protein Powder
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Mackenzie Muth and Nolan Spencer, co-founders of HOL Health Club, makers of the first and only bone broth protein bar - with 20 grams of protein and no protein powder. Mackenzie and Nolan met in an accounting class at Indiana University...
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Honey 101 for CPG Brands: Trends, Formulation Tips & Resources with Keith Seiz of The National Honey Board
In this mini episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Keith Seiz of the National Honey Board to unpack why honey has become one of the most in-demand ingredients in food and beverage right now - and what that means for brands and formulators looking to work with it....
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#262 - Beverage Manufacturing Lessons with BevSource's Bob Williams
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Bob Williams of BevSource - a beverage industry veteran Daniel calls "the beverage Oracle" - to unpack the most common (and costly) manufacturing mistakes beverage brands run into with co-packers. Bob has spent over 25...
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R&D RADIO: How to Audit a Co-Packer: The Food QA's Hermi Galstian Explains
In this episode of R&D Radio, host and food scientist Adam Yee sits down with Hermi Galstian, founder of The Food QA, to break down the real difference between food safety and quality - and what founders should actually be looking for when they walk into a co-manufacturer's facility. Hermi's path...
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Why Investor Ryan Ball Wants You to Pivot Fast and Fundraise Smart
In this Investor Spotlight, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Ryan Ball, founder of Sperian Ventures, to unpack the data, mindset, and founder qualities he looks for before writing a check into an early-stage CPG brand. Ryan's path into investing started almost by accident, coordinating a group...
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How Quincy Is Reinventing the Dirty Martini, One Perfect Jar at a Time
Host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Halli Sigel, co-founder of Quincy, to talk about how a jar of olive brine turned into a category-defining mixers and garnishes brand. Quincy's mission is simple - build brand love for the other half of the glass by redefining mixers and garnishes for the modern...
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#261 - What Makes Brands Investable at Founders & Funders? with Hannah Dittman
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff turns the mic around on one of his own co-hosts. Hannah Dittman, former investor and host of Startup CPG's Saturday investing episodes, spends a huge amount of her time talking with founders and VCs and reviewing applications for...
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Springdale Ventures' Dan Graham on Financial Forecasting and Investor Communications
In this Investor Spotlight episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Dan Graham, Co-Founder of Springdale Ventures, a firm writing seed-to-Series-A checks into fast-moving consumer brands. Dan breaks down exactly what Springdale looks for between early traction and institutional readiness - and...
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Founder Feature: Sheena Hamby of Mac Squares
In this founder feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Sheena Hamby, founder of Mac Squares, baked mac and cheese frozen into squares, made with real aged cheddar cheese straight from the block, fresh milk, eggs, and spices, with zero cheese powder. Needing a fast comfort food that wasn't...
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#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Eve Ackerley, founder of Evie's Snacks, and Cody Ponsler from Belmark, one of the most recommended packaging partners in the Startup CPG community, to talk through how packaging evolves as a brand grows. Evie's Snacks...
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R&D RADIO: Natural Flavors and Taste Modulation with Lauren Senne of Imbibe
In this episode of R&D RADIO, host and food scientist Adam Yee sits down with Lauren Senne, Senior Manager of Applications and Taste Modulation at Imbibe, a drink consultancy in Chicago, to break down the real difference between characterizing flavors and taste modulation. Lauren has spent over a...
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Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi
In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Victor Guardiola, Founder and CEO of Bawi, a sparkling agua fresca brand bringing authentic Hispanic flavors into the modern beverage aisle with a healthier twist. Beyond the product, Victor is equally driven by a...
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Founder Feature: TUYYO FOODS - Jocelyn Ramirez, Regina Trillo, Stefanie Garcia Turner
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jocelyn Ramirez, Regina Trillo, and Stefanie Garcia Turner of Tuyyo Foods - a heritage-rooted modern Latin food company born from the merger of three separate brands. Toto Verde's umami chef-crafted taco seasoning,...
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#259 - Mini-Episode: Legal Considerations for Co-Branding Agreements with Foster Garvey
In this mini episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Hillary Hughes from Foster Garvey - a full-service legal firm supporting CPG brands across business formation, capital raising, IP protection, and regulatory compliance - to break down the legal fundamentals of...
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Founder Fundraising Journey: Frozen One, Alan Chen & Conner Mennig
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Alan Chen and Conner Mennig, co-founders of Frozen One - a protein ice cream brand built to prove that "better for you" doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste. Frozen One delivers 40 grams of protein and under 400...
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Founder Feature: Bar Bruhis of Boostcous
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Bar Bruhis, founder of Boostcous - the world's first better-for-you couscous, built to fill a gap in a grocery aisle that hasn't seen a single innovation while pasta brands like Banza and Goodles have completely...
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#258 - How Dossier Disrupted the Fragrance Industry
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Sergio Tache, co-founder of Dossier, the fragrance brand that grew from hand-filling bottles in a Brooklyn basement in 2019 to $150 million in sales — including the #1 perfume spot at Walmart and #3 at Target —...
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R&D RADIO: Non-GMO, Organic, or Gluten-Free? How to Decide Which Certifications Are Worth It
In this episode of R&D RADIO, hosted by food scientist Adam Yee, Adam sits down with Esther Levy, founder of Evolve Food Consultants, to unpack the real decision-making process behind third-party certifications — organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and beyond. Esther holds a Bachelor of…
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The Case for Frozen Muffins: How Unrefined Foods Is Bringing Whole Grain Nutrition to the Freezer Aisle
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Melissa Bermudez, founder of Unrefined Foods — frozen muffins made with 100% stone-milled whole grains and real fruits and vegetables. Melissa's path to founder started far from the kitchen: investment banking at JP...
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#257 Co-Man Due Diligence 101 with Riot Energy and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Laura Jakobsen, founder of Riot Energy, and Daniella Carelli, Special Counsel at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, for a deep dive into co-manufacturer due diligence — finding the right partner, evaluating them properly, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.
HOSTED BY
Startup CPG
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Startup CPG Podcast have?
The Startup CPG Podcast currently has 514 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Startup CPG Podcast about?
The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.
How often does The Startup CPG Podcast release new episodes?
The Startup CPG Podcast releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 514 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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You can listen to The Startup CPG Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Startup CPG Podcast?
The Startup CPG Podcast is created and hosted by Startup CPG.
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