E109: Will Sold 100 Million Protein Bars

In this episode the Operators interview Will Nitze, the founder of IQ Bar, a rapidly growing nutrition bar company. They discuss Will's journey from the software industry to launching IQ Bar, the challenges of introducing a consumable product, and the impact of market dynamics such as cocoa prices on business operations. The conversation also delves into the current state of the CPG industry, investment trends, and the role of crowdfunding in startup success. Will shares insights on building a profitable business in a competitive landscape and the importance of survival in the ever-evolving food and beverage market. 00:00 Introduction 02:52 The Growth of IQ Bar and Market Strategy05:50 Challenges in Launching a Consumable Product09:05 The Impact of Cocoa Prices on Business11:55 Navigating the E-commerce Landscape17:52 The Role of Crowdfunding in Startups21:12 Building a Profitable Business in CPG24:00 The Future of Food and Beverage Industry41:14 The Challenges of E-Commerce and Brand Adaptation45:51 Navigating Supply Chain and Ingredient Sourcing50:45 Building a Brand: From Kickstarter to Retail Success55:51 The Importance of Trend Adaptation in Business01:00:11 The Risks and Rewards of Entering Mass Retail01:07:52 The Long Game: Strategies for Retail Success01:12:46 Maintaining a Long-Term Perspective in BusinessOperators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/shared_invite/zt-2tdfu426r-TepSHJP~evAyDfR29U2qUwDr James Richardson's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/premiumgrowthsolutions/ Powered By:Fulfil.io.https://bit.ly/3pAp2vuThe Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam.https://www.northbeam.io/Postscript.https://postscript.io/Richpanel.https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=9O&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescSaras.https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/to/T8jpuAEb?utm_source=9operator_lp&utm_medium=find_out_moreSubscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingOperatorsSubscribe to The Finance Operators here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPS Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/